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SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City has a goal to divert 50 percent of its waste away from the landfill in the next five years. A new yard waste recycle program is key to making that happen, but not all residents are happy about it.
The program is going to save a ton of yard waste and boost recycling in the city, and it means more space in residents' regular garbage cans.
33,000 yard waste containers will be delivered during September. New customers will start receiving service October 4th.
Salt Lake residents now have brown garbage bins for yard waste and food waste, giving folks like Hannah Mickelsen more room for other trash to fill her regular garbage can.
"They are awesome, we love them. We can clean up all of our yard clippings, it's great," Mickelsen said of the new waste bins.
But in at least one neighborhood, homeowners were a little confused about the program, and some were upset they have to pay for it even if they don't want it.
Mickelsen and some of her neighbors were still a little confused on when to put out the bins; pick-up doesn't start until Oct. 4, despite the cans going to homes before then.
Resident Nancy Mieldell said, "I don't like the fact if you opt out you have to pay for it anyway."
Her argument is true -- homeowners did have a flat fee increase to pay for the program even if you do opt out.
But what bothers Mieldell the most is the change in the yard waste program. With the addition of the brown cans, the city will no longer be distributing bags for leaves and picking them up once filled.
- Increase recycling rate from 19% to 42% by 2015
- Produce approximately 20,000 cubic yards of compost and mulch products from material collected over the next year.
- Eliminate almost 50,000 pounds of plastic leaf bag waste annually
Mieldell's street is lined with trees.
"Last year for the 92-year-old lady down (the street) we bagged 32 bags of leaves," she said. "How many bags of leaves are going to fit in the brown barrel?"
Not using those leaf bags will prevent 24 tons of waste from going to the landfill, and the brown bins will save 10,000 tons.
"(The landfill) is scheduled to have to close ... in another 20 to 30 more years. By diverting waste we're extending the life of the landfill," Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said.
In addition, 21 new glass recycling drop-off sites will help the landfill, too.
"That will divert an estimated 6 million pounds of glass every year from our landfills," Becker said.
Mieldell and other neighbors know that's a lot of waste, but she also knows she's going to pay for it with her time, especially this fall.
"Now we have to spend weeks and weeks of putting the leaves in the barrel every week, as opposed to just getting it done and over with," Mieldell said.
The city offers two sizes of waste bins and allows residents to choose their size or opt out completely. CLICK HERE for more information.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
