The city used $500,000 in federal stimulus funds to purchase 10,000 containers and distribute them to residents in 10 targeted neighborhoods in April.
The city said its goal is to increase the amount of recyclables collected by 15 percent, from 300 tons per month to 345 tons per month.
Fred Stovall, Director of Public Works for the city, said Dayton pays $38.25 per ton to dispose of regular waste at the landfill compared to $6 per ton to dispose of recycled materials.
The $6 figure drops to zero once the weight total reaches 500 tons a month, which is the city’s long range goal.
The first set of neighborhoods to receive the bins included: Madden Hills, Miami Chapel, DeWeese, Northern Hills, College Hill, Five Oaks, University Park/UD Campus, Patterson Park, Eastmont and South Park.
The newest neighborhoods participating in the program are: Gateway, McPherson, Pheasant Hill, Forest Ridge/Quail Hollow, Residence Park and Walnut Hills. Fliers were recently mailed to residents in these neighborhoods explaining how to sign up for the program.
Stovall said that since disposal fees for regular waste are so much higher than for recycled products, the city stands to save significant amounts of money if it can increase recycling.
The Phase I recycling campaign is being funded primarily by a $500,000 Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant as part of the Federal Stimulus program, the city said.
In addition, the Montgomery County Solid Waste District provided $42,000 in grant funds, and the city contributed $18,000.
About the Author