Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory

Recycling

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

With the financial crisis pervading the collective mind, we may very well be entering a period of Regan-esque spending cuts, making just about every public program vulnerable.

Gerard Santinelli believes that while dumping a lot of the pork out of the barrel is absolutely necessary to relieve taxpayers, municipalities across the nation should carefully consider the importance of projects that promote causes beneficial to the common good before swinging a hatchet at budgets.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

One of those causes near Gerard Santinelli’s heart is protecting the environment, which is why governments shouldn’t be overly hasty in setting aside plans to expand recycling and institute curb side recycling programs.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

Gerard Santinelli identifies the most prominent criticism of curbside recycling as cities paying lots more for only a marginal increase in recycling. This is especially true when a city already provides opportunities for its citizens to recycle. Critics say curbside will only increase recycling by a marginal amount, and the cost is not worth it.

The solution to the apathy problem is to make recycling mandatory, says Gerard Santinelli. Implementing a mandatory curbside recycling program is the most cost efficient way to drastically increase the amount a city recycles.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

Mr. Santinelli points at states and cities on the cusp of the green revolution such as Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York City, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Newton, KS as good examples. He says they have already implemented mandatory recycling, and it’s not just a new trend either — Connecticut has required citizens to recycle since 1991. San Francisco is preparing to begin a mandatory recycling program later this year, in addition to becoming the first city to mandate composting.

Mandatory curbside recycling comes in the form of a city ordinance or state law banning certain recyclable materials from the solid waste stream, according to Gerard Santinelli.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

Enforcement is simple and adds no extra costs: trash collectors are instructed to inspect bags if they hear or see recyclables. If the bags have a certain amount of recyclable material — in Newton it’s 7 items; in Seattle, 10 percent, eyed by the collector — a warning notice is posted on the bag and it is not taken.

Mr. Santinelli says that fines only become involved if a household repeatedly disregards the ordinance. Gerard Santinelli says that his research shows that compliance is very good.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

How much would a mandatory curbside program cost?

First of all, Gerard Santinelli says it’s important to remember that the expenses of a mandatory curbside program would not be any greater than a voluntary one. When San Diego changed from voluntary to mandatory recycling, they didn’t need to hire additional staff, buy additional trucks, or expand their Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

Gerard Santinelli believes that Americans need to shift the way they think about recycling and reducing waste in general, and a mandatory curbside recycling program will help play the role of facilitator. The burden is miniscule. Once a household plans out the logistics, curbside recycling will be as easy and convenient as managing trash.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

As freedom-loving Americans, we’re bound to be leery of a government that gives us too many orders. But this isn’t a reinstating of the draft. It’s recycling! It’s something that’s universally recognized as good and necessary for the preservation of future generations. Gerard Santinelli thinks it’s something city governments should seriously consider.

Gerard Santinelli

Gerard Santinelli’s Position On Mandatory Recycling

Gerard Santinelli

Thanks!- Gerard Santinelli’s