“Miami Twp. is always looking for new opportunities to be a leader in our region and state, and this program is another example of that leadership,” said township trustees president Deborah Preston.
Fairborn and West Milton also are rolling out similar programs, making the three communities the first in Ohio to offer this type of recycling program.
John Minear, Waste Management public sector representative, said California’s organics recycling program has been in place for about 10 years.
With the addition of Ohio to the list, and the state’s goal of reducing waste by 45 percent, Minear said he sees this type of a program taking-off at a faster pace, nationally.
“I think you’re going to see a much faster movement toward the zero waste initiatives,” he said, adding that as more and more states voluntarily take part of such programs, the less likely is the potential for it to be legally mandated.
Preston said numerous residents have asked the township to find “a new way to recycle their yard waste in a more efficient manner without increasing their property taxes.”
After meeting with Waste Management, Preston said the company “met the challenge,” creating “the largest organics recycling program in the state of Ohio.”
Township officials said it’s difficult to track exactly how many of the estimated 11,000 households in the 26,000-resident community participate in the existing program, which involves the use of biodegradable paper bags and not reusable containers.
The containers, which will carry a brown lid, will hold the equivalent of three bags.
Township assistant administrator Greg Rogers said the program is entirely voluntary. There also is no charge to residents for the organics container and that participation is $11.50 per month, or $5.50 per pickup.
Rogers said residents in other communities participating in the program may see some tax and fuel costs charges on their bill, depending on their municipality’s refuse contract. In Washington Twp., for example, he said that community charges residents an additional $2.
Because it’s a volunteer program, Preston said the cost to participate will equal what residents pay for yard waste bags.
Minear estimates that about 5- to 8-percent of Miami Twp. residents now participate in the existing program.
After seeing an average of 10 to 15 calls per week from residents wanting an alternative way to get rid of organics, Preston said, “We expect that to increase significantly now.”
Officials said residents can continue to use-up their remaining paper bags and call the township to get signed up for the new program.
“It will not increase taxes, but will improve the environment,” Preston said. “Were taking one more step in preserving the earth for future generations.”
Having the option of paying per pick-up, as opposed to on a monthly basis, is helpful to residents who do not produce larger volumes of organic waste, said Trustee Mike Nolan.
“This is something, I think our senior residents will really like,” he said.
Through it, residents get to reduce the amount of refuse that goes to landfills by recycling organics, including things like banana peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruits and vegetables.
All materials are collected in a separate truck and taken to PayGro, a processing facility in South Charleston, which is south of Springfield.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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