INC NEWS - Waste Management response to List-serve questions

[pat carstensen]

Stacey asked me to post this.  She actually sent me a nice word document, 
which I can forward to you, but it is bigger than the size at which the 
list-serve software starts to snarl at you.

Thanks, pat


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DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
1833 Camden Avenue  _  Durham, NC  27704
101 City Hall Plaza  _  Durham, NC  27701




We, the City of Durham’s Department of Solid Waste Management, are 
encouraged by the continuing dialogue among members of the InterNeighborhood 
Council and other citizens regarding the functions, successes and challenges 
of our Department and would like to provide some additional details 
regarding the latest postings to the listserv.

We are executing our current mission well. The Citizen Satisfaction Survey 
conducted in December 2005 by ETC Institute, on behalf of the City of 
Durham, indicated that the satisfaction rate for trash collection services 
and curbside recycling satisfaction was one of the highest positive 
responses on the entire survey. According to the survey results, "the 
highest level of satisfaction with City utility services based upon the 
combined percentage of ‘very satisfied’ and ‘satisfied’ responses of 
residents, who had an opinion, were City trash collection services (84%), 
the City curbside recycling (82%)…Residents were less satisfied with bulky 
item pick up and removal services (54%)."

The one area where the Department needs improvement is addressed as a part 
of the proposed Comprehensive Yard Waste program. This survey document as 
well as previous surveys may be read in their entirety at 
http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/bms/survey_Index.cfm.

Federal mandates have required all cities to modify their Solid Waste 
Policies.  Changes in federal statutes have required states and 
municipalities to reduce the amount of debris being disposed of in 
landfills.  The resulting regulations necessitated the creation of a Yard 
Waste collection program in the City of Durham, separate from the rollout 
garbage collection.  Source separation of disposable debris, yard waste and 
recyclables, while effective in reducing total volumes, is expensive due to 
the required investments in staffing and equipment.  Recently, a Federal 
audit of Durham’s storm water program, called for improving our Yard Waste 
program to prevent vegetative material from depositing into the storm 
drainage systems.




The proposed Comprehensive Program is an effective and efficient solution to 
consistent complaints regarding illegal dumping and yard waste program 
concerns and will improve the appearance of our community.  For the past 
several years, numerous citizens have complained about the amount of illegal 
dumping that occurs in our community and the ineffectiveness of the yard 
waste program due to lack of participation (approximately 20% currently 
participate).  The Department of Solid Waste Management has heard these 
complaints at PAC meetings, INC meetings, telephone calls, e-mails, Durham 
One Call requests, from current customers and various other forums where 
employees interact with citizens.

With these two primary citizen concerns in mind, the Department of Solid 
Waste Management, with extensive citizen input, has crafted a Comprehensive 
Plan which seeks to remedy both issues.  The solution proposed by SWM would 
provide a comprehensive collection program to collect both bulky items and 
yard waste curbside on a weekly basis, fund a Code Enforcement Officer, and 
provide a pilot program for leaf vacuum collection.

Contact us directly if you have questions.  Our staff is here to answer any 
questions you may have about our proposed plan and why we think this plan 
will help to clean up our community.  Feel free to contact us via telephone 
at (919) 560-4186 x260 or via e-mail at stacey.poston at durhamnc.gov.  We are 
committed to improving the aesthetic beauty of our city and look forward to 
implementing a plan that encourages all of our residents to help keep Durham 
beautiful.