City of Cleveland Expands Its Recycling Efforts
Ronnie M. Owens, Commissioner of the City of Cleveland's Division of Waste Collection and Disposal is a man of many words and "talking trash" is definitely one of his specialties. Fortunately for Cleveland, Owens talk has brought improvements to the City's waste collection programs. When challenged by Mayor Frank Jackson, to recommend operational efficiencies for the collection of more than 200,000 tons of solid waste, Owens was up for the task. "The launch of our automated waste collection process is the culmination of the mayor's vision and the Division of Waste Collections' efforts to keep Cleveland clean and provide a better quality of life for its residents," said Owens.
In 2007, the City of Cleveland initiated a pilot program that provides residents an automated and semi-automated waste collection operation, and curbside recycling. Roughly 15,000 households, spanning the city's 21 wards, were selected to participate in this pilot program and each household was given a 96-gallon container for solid waste and a 64-gallon container for recyclables. The current program has improved operational efficiencies, reduced employee injuries, increased landfill diversion which results in a reduction of disposal cost, and has improved route efficiency.
Cleveland is currently achieving roughly 28 percent participation rate from the curbside recycling pickup program which has diverted more than 1,800 tons of waste from the landfill.
Owens has been the catalyst for many grassroots efforts within the Division of Waste Collection and Disposal. The programs he has implemented have provided significant operational efficiencies, resulted in a positive environmental and economic impact for the city, and has helped assist Cleveland in meeting its sustainability targets.
In addition to the pilot program, Owens established a commercial collections section within his division enabling the City of Cleveland to be recognized as a competitive waste disposal and recycling service. He also implemented a successful city-wide recycling drop-off program with more than 65 locations. For drop-off locations visit www.city.cleveland.oh.us/government/departments/pubservice/waste.
For more information on recycling in the City of Cleveland call the Recycling Hotline at 216-664-3717 or visit online at www.city.cleveland.oh.us.