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Al Schumacher, |
Automated Collection System Proposed For Madison
A new system for the collection of refuse and recycling has been proposed for the City of Madison. The new collection system is called AUTOMATED COLLECTION. The proposal currently being considered by the Madison City Council will be phased in over a two year period. Automated collection of recyclables would begin in the fall of 2005. Automated collection of refuse would begin in the spring of 2007. Cart Chronicle Frequently Asked Questions: Q: What is automated collection? An automated collection system uses special trucks equipped with robotic arms to lift and load carts filled with either refuse or recycling. Each household will be provided with one wheeled cart for recycling and another for refuse. Residents would wheel the carts to the curb where they will be collected by the Streets Division. The carts used in automated collection systems are made from heavy weather resistant plastic. The carts have attached lids and two wheels. Each cart will come with City of Madison logos, an identification number, and recycling and/or refuse collection information on the lids. The Streets Division has selected the Rehrig Pacific Company to supply carts for the new program. A 95 gallon cart will be approximately 45.13" tall, 28.7" wide and 33.73" deep. The 65 gallon cart will be 40.58" high, 26.7" wide and 28.11" deep. The 35 gallon cart will be 39.13" high, 20.2" inches wide and 22.98" deep. The trucks used for automated collection are slightly smaller than those currently in use. The same type of truck will be used for both refuse and recycling collection. Q: When will these changes occur? We are planning to start the automated collection of recycling in September 12, 2005. Automated collection of refuse is planned to begin in May, 2007. Q: Why change collection systems? There are several reasons we are proposing a new collection system. 1) Growth of the City: The Streets Division is taking on 820 new customers every year. Our current system is stretched to the limit. In order to accommodate the growth we know will occur in the next ten years we will have to add 4 to 6 new trucks and operators to our collection services. The system we are proposing will be able to handle the anticipated growth in the next ten years without additional staff or vehicles. 2) Productivity: With our current system we are able to serve an average of 450 stops per day. Automated systems are capable of serving 600-800 stops per day. This increase in productivity will allow us to reduce our refuse and recycling fleets in addition to dealing with our growing city. 3) On The Job Injuries: Injuries to refuse and recycling operators cost Madison taxpayers $550,000 per year in medical costs and time lost. Communities that have automated collection systems have reduced their worker's compensation costs by 50-75%. 4) Expansion of the Recycling Program: It is very hard to add new materials to our present recycling program. An automated collection system will make it easy to add new materials for recycling. 5) Cleaner Neighborhoods: Automated collection carts have lids. The lids prevent material from blowing around the neighborhood on trash day. The carts also prevent crows from getting into the trash and spreading it around. The carts also provide a neater looking curb line on trash day. 6) Customer Satisfaction: Communities with automated collection systems report that the vast majority of their customers prefer the cart system to their old bag and can system. Carts are easy to wheel to the curb and they look good. Also, there will be NO MORE TYING BUNDLES OF CARDBOARD, MAGAZINES, OR NEWSPAPERS. 7) Fewer Trucks on Neighborhood Streets: Automated collection will mean that we will use fewer trucks for the collection of refuse and recycling. This means less traffic, noise, and air pollution. Q: Will the recycling program change? There will be several changes to the recycling program. 1) Bi Weekly Collection: We will change from our current weekly collection to bi-weekly collection. Your recyclables will be collected every other week. Our surveys have show that most of our customers use the recycling service every two to three weeks. This change will allow us to switch our service to conform with our customers needs. 2) More Material Will Be Recycled: We will be expanding the recycling program to include more paper and plastic bottles. We will add mixed paper, office paper, junk mail, and cereal and soda boxes to the program. We will also begin to collect all types of plastic bottles, not just #1 and #2. 3) Single Stream Recycling: All of the recyclables will be mixed together in a single cart. This type of collection is called Single Stream Recycling. You will no longer have to tie newspapers and magazines in bundles or put them in paper bags. You will still have to flatten cardboard boxes, but they will no longer have to be bundled. You will no longer have to buy special recycling bags for your glass, plastic, and metal cans. Q: What is single stream recycling? Our current recycling system is called dual stream. Each truck has two compartments, one for paper products and the other for the bags of containers. These compartments are emptied at separate processing lines at the recycling center. Single stream recycling is a system where all recyclables, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal cans are mixed together in one cart. The cart is emptied into a separate recycling truck with only one compartment. The mixed recyclables are then separated at a special processing center. We have chosen to contract with the Recycle America Alliance (RAA) to process our recyclables. They plan to build a new, single stream recycling processing center at 2200 Fish Hatchery Rd. The site of the current Madison Recycling Center. Q: Will everything collected be recycled? Yes. People are rightfully concerned that mixing all of their recyclables in a single container will result in contamination that will make it impossible to recycle the material they work so hard to separate. Our partner, RAA, uses the latest sorting technology and operating procedures to insure that all of the material you separate will be recycled. Q: What will the new system cost? Our current recycling system costs $25.52 per household per year. In addition, residents are required to purchase recycling bags. We estimate that the average household spends $3.40 per year on bags for a total cost of $28.92 per household per year. The proposed automated recycling collection system will cost $27.98 per year. Our current refuse collection system costs $46.35 per household per year. The proposed automated system will cost $43.38 per year. The refuse costs do not include transfer or disposal costs which will remain the same under either system. Once the automated collection systems are fully implemented the average Madison household should save $4-5 per household per year. Those savings will increase in future years as injuries are reduced and we are not forced to add new staff and equipment to meet the service needs caused by continued growth of the city. The current system is funded by property taxes. This proposal would continue that practice. Property owners would receive one cart for recycling and one cart for refuse per household. Additional carts may be purchased by the property owner from the City. Q: Can I still use my old trash cans for collection? NO. Once the new refuse collection system is in place in 2007 you will no longer be able to use your old trash cans for collection. Our trucks will only collect the City issues carts. You may use your old trash cans for chores around your home or yard. We will make arrangements to collect your old trash cans and get them recycled. You will receive instructions on trash can recycling when we distribute your new cart at the beginning of the program. Q: What if I rent? If your recycling is currently put out at the curb for collection, you will be participating in the new program. Your landlord will choose the carts for your building. If you use dumpsters for recycling you will not be affected by the new program. What about parked cars and other obstacles? The Streets Division has divided the City into two collection zones. The residents in one zone will have fully automated collection. In the fully automated zone, residents will be asked to place their carts at the street edge, either on the terrace on in the driveway at least 4 feet away from any obstruction such as a tree, mail box or utility pole. The new truck are very maneuverable and can work around parked cars in many instances. If the cart gets completely parked in, the operator can move the cart to a spot were the collection arm can reach it. The residents in the other zone (the downtown, Isthmus and portions of the ear west side) will have semi automated collection. This area of the City has a high concentration of parked cars, one way streets, alleys and areas without driveways. Residents in this zone will also wheel their carts to the curb. In the semi automated zone, the truck operator will wheel the cart up to the truck and attach it to a cart lifter that will empty the cart. The operator will then return the cart to the terrace. Q: What if I have too much material to fit in the cart? We know that people will have extra trash and/or recyclables after parties, spring cleaning, or when moving. We would prefer that you hold on the extra material and put it in your cart for the next collection. If that is not practical due to the large volume of material you have, you can take the trash that does not fit in the cart can be bagged and placed next to the curb and we can collect it. However, RESIDENTS THAT REGULARLY HAVE TOO MUCH TRASH TO FIT IN THEIR CART WILL BE ASKED TO USE A LARGER CART OR PURCHASE ADDITIONAL CART(S). The extra trash will be picked up by either our large item crews or by crews working semi-automated collection routes earlier in the day. When semi automated routes have been completed operators will have time to collect extra trash. Q: What if I have too many recyclables to fit in the cart? If you have too much recycling to fit in your recycling container put the extra recycling in a cardboard box or paper bag. Set it out next to your recycling container for collection. Q: What if I am disabled? In order to assist persons with disabilities who do not have anyone to help them with their chores, the Streets Division will have a program in place to help these residents get the recycling and refuse collected. The City of Madison will pattern its assistance program after those in place in other communities with automated collection systems. Qualified residents will have their carts wheeled to the curb and back by our truck drivers. Residents will need to be certified by a physician as needing assistance in order to qualify. To learn more about the program... Many people value living in Madison because they can maintain their independence in spite of the physical challenges they face. We want Madison residents to know that we will be able to assist all of our residents who need assistance with the new program. Q: Will this system work in winter when we get snow? Automated collection systems are in use throughout the snow belt. Cities like Superior and Appleton, WI and Albany and Rochester NY have been using automated collection systems for many years. When it snow, residents can place their cart in the driveway or clear a spot next to the driveway at the curb for their cart. If it snows heavily overnight, the collection arms are capable of lifting carts out of the snow. Q: How will I know which cart is mine? The carts will remain the property of the City of Madison. Carts will have either a serial number. The ID numbers will be used to assign a cart to a given address. When you move, the cart must remain with the home or apartment it is assigned to. You may put your address on the cart with paint or permanent marker if you want. Can I leave my cart at the curb all the time? No. You can bring your cart to the curb after Noon on the day before collection. Your cart must be removed within 24 hours after collection. This is the same ordinance that is in place now. Q: Can I store my cart outdoors? Yes. Many residents have garages that are too small to accommodate the carts, and some have no garage at all. The carts are UV resistant so they will stand up to sunlight. They are also made of heavy duty plastic to withstand cold weather. If you store your cart outside it must be stored at behind or next too your home or apartment building. Carts may not be left in front of your house or on the terrace. Q: What happens if my cart is damaged or stolen? The carts will remain the property of the City of Madison. If your cart gets damaged, through no fault of your own, the Streets Division will repair the cart or replace it free of charge. Stolen carts will also be replaced free of charge. Q: Will there be ads on my cart? No. The proposal for ads on the carts was withdrawn. Q: If I want an extra cart how much will it cost? The Streets Division will provide you with one cart at no charge. We will also replaced missing carts at no charge. If you need a second cart you will have to purchase it and the estimated cost for additional carts is:
If you have additional questions, drop and e-mail to: gdreckmann@cityofmadison.com Staff Team Report The 2004 Operating Budget directed the Streets Division to assemble an interdepartmental staff team to study the modernization of our refuse and recycling collection systems. The report of that staff team is the basis for the plan currently before the council. The report contains more details on the plans and a full analysis of the estimated cost of the program. To read the staff team's report go to: Automated Collection of Recyclables and Solid Waste (PDF, 104Kb) (please note this is a 31 page document) |
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