INC NEWS - Re: INC NEWS

[TheOcean1 at aol.com]

Richard,
 
 Surprised that the New Hope Creek issue  is one PAC would address. While any 
issue that is important to PAC, is also  important to INC, and we would hope 
visa versa, this one seems a far  reach.
 
 Another issue, closer and important to both our  organizations, has moved to 
the next step. We hope PAC will affirm our  position below on Yard Waste.
 
Bill Anderson
INC President
688-4550 
 
INC sent a letter on the yard waste resolution to mayor and council, but  
it would be a lot more effective if they got some more letters supporting  
the idea of a citizen committee to get a better solution and more solid  
support for the resulting solution (before they go off and make a bad  
decision).  The text of the resolution is below for your  information.

Attachment A: Yard Waste

Resolved: ______INC______  formally requests that the City of Durham 
re-examine its policies on the  collection of yard waste within the city 
limits. This re-examination should  include a review of the purpose of 
collecting yard waste, the methods of  collecting yard waste, and the 
distribution of the costs of collecting yard  waste. Thorough examination of 
the practices of other municipalities,  including cost structures and 
collection practices, should also be included.  A working committee comprised 
of relevant city employees, department heads,  and representatives of 
community organizations should conduct this review,  and be charged with 
making specific recommendations to City Council as to  how this policy should 
be rewritten.

The City of Durham has  gradually, over the past few years, increased the out 
of pocket costs to its  citizens of participating in the yard waste 
collection program by requiring  the purchase of a specified yard waste cart, 
instituting an annual fee to  register the required cart, increasing that 
annual fee by 20% in the current  fiscal year, reducing the amount of yard 
waste that will be picked up with  the payment of these required fees, and 
charging additional fees for the  removal of normal amounts of yard waste.

The result of these policies has  been a continued decline in participation 
in the yard waste program among  Durham citizens. According to figures 
published in the Durham Herald-Sun on  20 December, 2004, approximately 
13,000 Durham households are currently  participating in the program, down 
significantly from approximately 18,000  in the previous fiscal year, and 
down dramatically from the period before  annual fees were instituted. The 
revenue generated by current levels of  participation is lower than that 
generated in recent years, despite the  increase in fees.

A search of the internet for the published yard waste  collection policies of 
other North Carolina municipalities shows Durham is  currently in the 
minority in both the restrictions on yard waste and the  fees charged for 
picking such waste up. Although we applaud the city's  efforts to encourage 
citizens to reuse as much of this material as possible,  we urge the city to 
recognize that it's efforts are counterproductive. As  fewer citizens 
participate in the program, more yard waste is is either  dumped illegally or 
simply pushed out onto the city streets. The results are  increased pollution 
in our creeks and streams, unsightly streets, and  blocked storm drains, 
creating esthetic, health, and safety problems for all  residents.


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