INC NEWS - Waste Management response to List-serve questions
pat carstensen
pats1717 at hotmail.com
Wed Apr 19 15:57:35 EDT 2006
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 Durhams 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 Durhams 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.
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