Cranberry recycling earns an A+
98% of homes participate in 1st quarter of program
March 4, 2005
By Bob Schultz
Butler Eagle Staff Writer
CRANBERRY TWP - The township has gone from having a failing grade for recycling
to an A-plus.
After completing the first quarter of its new garbage and recycling program, 98
percent of all homes now recycle. In the past that figure was 57 percent.
The township supervisors Thursday night heard a report on the waste and
recycling program.
"In only three months, you (the township) are one of the highest recycling
communities in the country," said Michelle Nestor, a solid waste consultant
hired by the township last year to work on the project.
The new Collection Connection, which has the township using a single contracted
waste hauler, has substantially increased recycling rates and removed materials
from landfills. It also has paid dividends by bringing grant money to the
community.
The township's curbside waste collection program kicked off Nov. 1 for more than
7,000 customers under a five-year contract with Vogel Disposal Services Inc. of
Mars.
The new system allows residents to select their garbage collection services
based on the size of their collection carts, a relatively new concept for
Western Pennsylvania. Most communities use a flat-fee system for their garbage
collection services.
The township moved to this new collection system because the state Department of
Environmental Protection and Butler County required the township to provide
curbside collection of yard waste, a service that was unavailable to residents.
They had previously contracted individually with garbage haulers.
"This is a pretty good program. It met my expectations for success," said Lorin
Meeder, manager of water supply and sewage treatment, who was instrumental in
getting the program started.
One of the biggest goals of the township switching to a single garbage hauler
was for Cranberry to increase its recycling.
The new program has increased
the total material kept from going to landfills
from 9 percent to 31 percent.
The residential recycling rate has also increased from 9 percent to the national
average of 26 percent. That is expected to rise to around 34 percent when the
yard waste collection begins again this spring.
"Ninety-eight percent first quarter compliance, that's just fantastic. That just
doesn't happen," said supervisor John Milius.
"We gave the people a chance to do it. It wasn't easy because change is never
easy. It's an effort, but they did it," said Meeder. "Now, people are thinking
more about what they are throwing away."
Using a single hauler also has taken a number of garbage trucks off streets.
Township officials determined that move alone has saved more than 500 gallons in
fuel per month.
Collection Connection is the only all-automated system in the state, thanks to
Vogel Disposal Services adding trucks with hydraulic arms that can be operated
from within the truck.
The new program also provides a yard waste composting site in the county, which
was one of the main objectives of the county's solid waste management plan.
Because yard waste collection was included in the township's contract with
Vogel, the company has committed to build the composting site at the Seneca
Landfill in Lancaster and Jackson townships. Officials estimated that if the
county would have had to build the facility, it might have cost the county about
$5 million.
Another reason the township officials recommended going to a single trash hauler
was to increase the amount of grants given to the township.
The county commissioners gave the township a $250,000 grant to begin the new
program. Then several weeks ago, the township received a $500,000 state grant to
help offset the start up costs of the program.
Before the new program was launched, the township received about $50,000
annually in recycling grant money. With the new program, the township has
projected it will receive about $125,000.
"We're now getting back what we paid at the landfills for tipping fees," said
township manager Jerry Andree.
Nestor pointed out the township has already met the national average of
residential recycling and it's only the first quarter for the new program.
"This was a crucial project for the township. It had its opposition that was
very vocal. But the majority of the people have embraced it, and it is doing
very well," said John Skorupan, supervisors' chairman.
"This is a community success story. It took the community working together to
make this happen. That's the success, and we've only just begun," said
supervisor Dick Hadley.
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