By Susanne Wright. Apr, 13, 2017. On May 1, a new waste collection program begins for Hood River city residents. In response to customer concerns about public safety and negative environmental impacts, Hood River City Council teamed up with business owners, Hood River Garbage (Waste Connections), Tri-County Hazardous Waste and Recycling, and Dirt Hugger to create a user-friendly and environmentally sustainable waste collection.
Hood River City Councilors hoped the new program would: eliminate rolling garbage cans and lids in our windy city, reduce garbage waste trucked to the landfill, and increase recycling rates. They modeled their new system on one Portland started five years ago. Since the program began, Portland, metro residents reduced their garbage 32 percent, and increased recycling rates 250 percent.
[/media-credit] Small cart with black lid is for garbage. Green lid: compost. Blue lid: recycle items.
In late April, customers will receive three roll-carts. Garbage and recycling will be collected at the curbside on alternate weeks, kitchen organics and yard debris weekly. This specialized level of service comes at an increased price of $7.25 per month for most ratepayers. Prior to implementation customers were mailed detailed information. The City’s website also has FAQ, photos and a video.
Although the roll carts we be delivered April 17-28, the new collection doesn’t start until May 1. Hood River city residents should continue using their old garbage an recycling containers for about two more weeks.
“I’m proud of the program we’ve developed with Hood River Garbage,” says City Councilor, Becky Brun. “Jim Winterbottom and the rest of the staff have been very open to our suggestions and requests, and have gone out of their way to create a program that works for Hood River residents. The new three roll-cart system is more efficient and convenient.” Brun sees it benefiting the city in a number of ways:
- Reduced nuisance. The provided roll-carts with integrated lids will be much more stable in our windy environment.
- Improved safety. Carts are easier to move to the curb and reduce risks for both homeowners and the waste collection employees.
- Composting of yard and kitchen waste will produce high quality compost for local residents, farms, and businesses.
- Reduction of material to the landfill. This has environmental benefits (reduces methane emissions) and cost benefits (tonnage sent to the landfill).
“The big change will be the addition of curbside organics and yard debris collection, which will be weekly,” says Jim Winterbottom, District Manager of Hood River Garbage. “The opportunity for added diversion from the landfill will be one of the greatest benefits. The large recycle cart will allow for greater volume as well.” A Waste Connection Inc. guide explains the program, its benefits, and what to expect.
Composting is the most important of these benefits, says Pierce Louis of Dirt Hugger, a local compost supplier. “Composting beats every other recycling alternative. For one, when organic materials are placed in a landfill they create methane which is a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than CO2. The super cool thing is that composting can be an infinite recycling loop compared to materials in the landfill, which will remain there for a very long time. In our region, we have so much agriculture and demand on our soil and water resources that it is vital to return organic matter to the soil. Compost in the key ingredient.”
Some people may choose to opt out of garbage service. Others may want to compost their own yard trimmings and table scraps. Composting is a great way to go. Compost enriches soil, helps retain moisture, and discourages plant disease. Applied to soil it reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. Organic material can be converted to rich soil in your own back yard. All that is required is a simple compost recipe:
- Greens: grass clippings, plant material, food scraps, and coffee grounds.
- Browns: branches, twigs, dead leaves, straw, and cardboard.
- Water
- Air
Aim for a pile of material three cubic feet in volume. Begin with a layer of branches and twigs for air circulation and drainage. Cover it with a layer of browns followed by greens. Three parts brown to one part green is a good formula. More composting information can be found at www.epa.gov.
Hood River is ahead of the curve as the first city in the gorge to create a sustainable waste collection program. Pierce Louis sums it up, “More than anything we are proud to see that Hood River is embracing best practices in sustainable materials management. I’m personally excited to have collection, so that I no longer have to stuff my station wagon filled with yard debris to take to work.”
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