Renew America Success Stories

Imperial City Recycling Project

Description

Imperial City's Recycling Program has achieved the highest waste reduction rate of any recycling program in Nebraska's 93 counties and 535 municipalities as a result of aggressive public education and economic incentive campaigns. By reducing solid waste generation by 50% since its inception, the program has diverted tons of material that otherwise would have been buried in a landfill, and consequently has helped reduce solid waste pollution and the risk of groundwater contamination. The program provides city and county residents a 24-hour-a-day drop off site in the center of the downtown area. Labor for processing is provided through the City's Sanitation Department, which is funded by City Resident user fees.

Several years ago, the City of Imperial encountered a dilemma. Confronted with new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) landfill regulations scheduled to take effect in 1993, the city was faced with performing expensive modifications to the Imperial landfill to achieve compliance or to shut the landfill down. Closing the landfill appeared to be an unattractive option. Doing so would significantly increase the cost of solid waste disposal since waste would have to be shipped to neighboring disposal sites.

Some quick math, however, revealed that by enacting an aggressive recycling policy designed to reduce solid waste, the city could not only afford to close the landfill, but they could save money doing so. With solid waste disposal costs projected to run $40 a ton, a recycling program receiving even moderate compliance would keep solid waste disposal costs within reason. Additionally, the enactment of a recycling program would give the city a headstart on a new state law mandating a 50% reduction in solid waste by 2004.

Since its inception, the recycling program has continued to grow in success for two reasons. First, the city has engaged in a vigorous public education campaign, informing residents about higher solid waste disposal costs, distributing mailings, holding training programs and publishing newspaper articles explaining the environmental and economic importance of recycling. Second, the city switched in July 1992 from charging all residents the same flat fee for solid waste removal to a volume-based pricing schedule in which a resident's or business's solid waste bill is based on the amount of solid waste generated. Pick up of recyclables is free, so increased participation in the recycling program results in lower solid waste bills. Businesses in which cardboard has historically comprised the bulk of their solid waste have found their solid waste bills drop dramatically.

In addition to achieving compliance among its residents, the City of Imperial has been successful in locating markets for the recyclables and receives calls from manufacturers coast to coast in search of a steady supply of materials for their products.

Program Highlights

• Mailings, newspaper articles and personal contact through training programs to various groups were utilized to effectively educate residents as to the importance of recycling and using products made from recycled materials.
• The city and county governments have adopted "buy recycled" purchase policies.
• The city provides a compost pile for use by all residents, and operates a tree chipper to grind tree branches into chips. The resulting compost and chips are made available to residents free of charge and are used extensively in the city's landscaping projects.
• All of the paper used by the city offices for copying, computers, adding machines and file folders is made from recycled products.
• All funds from aluminum can proceeds are earmarked for Imperial grade school playground equipment. Proceeds from all other recyclables sold are placed in the city swimming pool fund.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Imperial City Recycling Project is managed by the City of Imperial with the cooperation of numerous city and county agencies and departments.

Budget: Approximately $750,000 was required to build a new transfer facility and establish the recycling program.

Community Served: The 2,000 city and 4,000 county residents of Imperial, Nebraska.

Measures of Success:

Recycling generates a savings of about $14,000 a year in avoided landfill costs.

More than $3,400 has been earned from the sale of recylables.

Every month, Imperial City recycles an average of:

13,600 pounds of cardboard

3,700 pounds of glass

450 pounds of plastic

8,200 pounds of newspaper

3,200 pounds of paper and magazines

750 pounds of tin

480 pounds of aluminum

Imperial was recognized as the "Recycling City of the Year" by the Nebraska State Recycling Association.

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