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Sarno looking to make more recycling 'green'

Margaret Brace and Mayor Domenic Sarno looked over the plaque he presented to her for her efforts to promote recycling at Forest Park. Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs
By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Mayor Domenic Sarno has a new mantra when it comes to trash collection in the city: "Blue Bins to Save Green."

The slogan was used at a presentation last Wednesday in Forest Park of the first Waste Reduction Action Plan (WRAP) award. Park Department employee Margaret Brace received the recognition for her efforts to improve recycling in the park.

Since mid-March Brace, a park coordinator, and her staff have been making an effort to remove recyclable plastic such as water bottles from the waste stream at the park. Patrick Sullivan, the director of the Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, said the park has had a cardboard recycling program for the past 15 years.

Allied Waste Management has supplied the city with nine barrels to be placed in areas of heaviest use for recyclables, Sullivan added, who also said he intends to bring the recycling program to other city parks as well.

Brace thanked her co-workers in aiding her effort. Besides picking up water bottles, they also went through the park's trash cans to retrieve them.

"The amount of bottles is unbelievable," she said.

Sullivan said that since Brace started her recycling effort the park has seen a decrease in trash.

Sarno thanked Brace for "a tremendous job."

"Recycling is the key," Sarno said. "The city must lead by example."

Currently the city has a nine percent recycling rate, and although Sarno didn't set a goal, he said the city and residents must do better.

Sarno said there is still a committee working on improving trash collection in the city. One of Sarno's key campaign points was the rescinding of the $90 trash fee imposed by the Finance Control Board (FCB) last year to try to bridge the gap in the funding of trash removal.

Sarno said that he hasn't yet been able to remove the fee, but would continue to work to "alleviate the fee to the best of my ability."

The fee currently provides about $3.6 million to the city and Sarno said there is still $2.7 million in services that is funded directly from the city coffers.

The FCB had wanted the city to adopt a Pay As You Throw (PAYT) plan in order to encourage greater recycling and to have the residents who generate the most trash to pay the most.

Sarno has rejected that plan. "I heard the residents," he said.

Sarno said that he had been "more than willing to look at it," and was glad the city "had the conversation" on the proposed plan. Ultimately, though, Sarno said that other cities with a PAYT plan don't use the automated trucks and the wheeled barrels.

Sarno said there were questions on enforcing the PAYT system as well as what kind of bag to use.

"People appreciate the great system we have in Springfield," he added.

What concerns Sarno now is the absence of the blue recycling bins at many homes in the city. The city makes money through the sale of recyclables.

Sarno wants to renew the city's effort to have residents recycle their trash and spoke on possibly suggesting recycling enforcement and fines in the future.

"People might be mad at me again," he said.