All About Recycling & Coffee with the Mayor - D15 Update 7/14/19

This week I went on a tour of the Pellitteri MRF (Material Recovery Facility) with several other council members and city staff. This is where all of the recycling from our green bins is sorted from single-stream into useable materials. The MRF uses a combination of mechanical processes and sensors to sort the material. This video does a nice job of demonstrating how the process works.

Recycling contamination (when non-recyclable materials are placed in bins) is a real problem for recycling in Madison - up from 5% a decade ago to over 10% today - and is mostly due to 'wishcycling'. Wishcycling is when we're unsure about whether an item is recyclable or not and so we place it in the green bin just in case. The reason this is such a big issue is that these non-recyclable items actually cause many other recyclable items to be diverted to the landfill along the way. Keeping our recyclables clean (free from non-recyclables) is the best way to ensure that materials will ultimately be recycled and kept out of the landfill.

The biggest contaminant that we deal with locally is plastic film. This includes all types of plastic packaging material and loose plastic bags. While many plastic items might have labels or stamps that say they are recyclable, they are not recyclable in our single-stream process and cause other materials to not be recycled when they're placed in the bins. Recyclable plastic in Madison is primarily limited to plastic containers and their lids. You can find a mostly comprehensive list of recyclable items in the 2019 Recyclopedia.

It's hard to remember all the details and we don't always have time to read a guide before making a decision to place something in the trash or the recyclables, so the best guidance for everyone to remember is "When in doubt, leave it out." If you're not absolutely positive that the item can be recycled, put it in the garbage and not the green bin.

In the news:

• Madison Finance Committee strongly objects to plan for separate affordable units in JDS building
• Seeking candidates to fill vacant seat on Board of Education
• Proposed apartments on Madison's east side would provide over 200 units of workforce housing
• City prepares for small cell expansion
• National Disability Voter Registration Week
• Bus to Sun Prairie a good first step
• 'The party's over': Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway targets bad behaviors at top of State Street
• Madison Still Bans Scooter Rentals As State Regulates
• It's time for Madison to give up on the hotel dream for Judge Doyle Square
• Green Infrastructure is (de)paving a pathway to resilience
• UW-Madison sculpture honors hero of Nazi resistance
• School Board's Gloria Reyes disputes ethics complaint filed over SRO contract vote
• Call for Street & Graffiti Artists (apply by July 22)

This week's highlights:

Monday, July 15, 2019

5:00 pm - Madison Police Department Policy & Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee: The ad hoc committee works to complete its report to the common council and considers recommendations to forward to the Common Council and Mayor prior to publication of the final report. 

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

6:30 pm - Common Council: 56. Lake Edge Seafood Co. request to extend premises to outdoor patio - RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO GRANT; 58. Crucible request to extend premises to include a "beer garden" area on the south end of the building - RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO GRANT WITH CONDITIONS; 62. Garver Events 21+ Entertainment License - RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO GRANT WITH CONDITIONS; 83 Establishing a President's Work Group to Review Council Communication Tools & Processes - I will be chairing this workgroup.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

5:30 pm - Alcohol License Review Committee: 21. Crucible 18+ Center for Visual & Performing Arts License - Crucible is applying for a license to host 18+ events; 25. Public Hearing - New License Small Change LLC - Chad Vogel is applying for a license for a new bar in Lake Edge Shopping Center.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

6:00 pm - Garver Path - Public Involvement Meeting: The meeting will be an open-house format from 6-8 pm, with a formal presentation beginning at 6:15. Attendees will have an opportunity to review project displays, ask project related questions, and provide input during the meeting. More details available in the calendar event below.

Friday, July 19, 2019

8:00 am - Mayor Satya & Alder Foster at Java Cat: Join me and the mayor for a cup of coffee or tea and some conversation at Java Cat.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

12:00 pm - Unity Picnic: The 5th Annual Unity Picnic is a family friendly event with food, music, dance, face painting, and more! The event is held on the grounds of The Village on Park.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

10:00 am - Blooming Butterflies: Experience the magnificence of free-flying butterflies while strolling through the tropical Bolz Conservatory. Live butterflies emerge from chrysalises daily in the Conservatory, including low-flyers like the playful yellow and black striped zebras and bright orange julias.

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Click on 'details' in the events below for links to additional details and meeting agendas. You can find a full list of city meetings here.

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