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Curbside Recycling Could Come to Franklin-Erika Kurre
Kicking recycling to the curb.
Another Middle Tennessee city is hoping to be among those with curbside service.
Franklin city leaders are considering adding the service to trash collection at no extra cost for a year.
They say, as more people recycle, doing it curbside could save money.
Franklin resident BJ Rhodes says, "I’m just a little surprised they haven't had it before now."
It may sound odd that the wealthiest county in Tennessee doesn't offer curbside recycling.
Resident Cindy Caruth says, "I am surprised. Because where I moved from, they offer it everywhere."
From Franklin to Brentwood and Spring Hill, Williamson County residents either pay private recycling companies for home pick up or make special trips to recycling sites, mostly in grocery store parking lots.
Spring Hill resident Angela Jones says, "I come here very often-- at least once a week and recycle."
Carrying trash bags, boxes and unloading from their cars, for Cindy Caruth, curbside recycling is right up her alley.
"I think that would be great-- save us some time and effort."
It's an option the city of Franklin is considering as a way to save money.
Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey says, "We just saw a 25% increase just in the last couple of months per ton to take it to the landfill and that is a trend we know is going to continue and that is not going down, it's going up."
The city collects about 70 tons of residential trash daily, which costs more than $1,700 a day to dump at a landfill.
Stuckey says, "One of the best ways for us to control that cost is to divert waste and not send it to the landfill but recycle and reuse it."
The city is considering a blue bag pilot program where trash would remain in the bin at the curb and recyclables would sit beside the trash in a blue bag.
Solid Waste Collection Foreman Nate Ridley says, "Your blue bag and your cardboard will go in the same truck, which will go to Sumrall for recycling."
City leaders believe because of the economy, recycling has become more of a lifestyle.
It's a growing change, they hope they can finally bank on.
Franklin resident Breck Roberts says, "It's so much easier to throw it in the trash. But if it were easy to throw at the curb, you would probably have some people recycle that wouldn't otherwise do it."
Some worry the program could cause confusion or would cost more for a service people wouldn't use.
City leaders say the cost for collection wouldn't change during the pilot year.
If approved permanently, the cost could go up by a few dollars after the first year.
There will be several more city meetings before the idea is voted on.Curbside Recycling Could Come to Franklin-Erika Kurre
Posted: Wednesday, February 3 2010, 08:15 PM CST
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