Small Town News

Recycling system could go citywide

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Over the last nine months, 800 households in Kyle have taken part in an ambitious pilot program that diverts more than 20 percent of their trash from the local landfill and into recycling and compost piles.

The households, located in the Amberwood and Indian Paintbrush subdivisions, are part of a three-cart pilot program run by Texas Disposal Systems, a local waste disposal company that has won numerous awards for its strong environmental track record.

From September 2009 to April 2010, almost 150 tons of trash was diverted out of TDS's Creedmoor landfill with the system, one of the first of its kind in Texas, TDS officials say.

TDS hopes to roll out the system citywide, increasing monthly garbage bills by about $4. The Kyle City Council will vote on the proposal, following a public hearing in the near future.

DIVERTING TRASH

Going green by recycling may help save the planet, but it can also save money. The less garbage a city produces, the longer its landfill will last. Outsourcing trash to a distant landfill or building a new one is an expensive prospect.

"If the landfill closes because it's full, it affects the cost dramatically," said Rick Fraumann, TDS director of sales and customer care.

Some estimates show Kyle's population spiking to 90,000 by the year 2040. With rapid growth, councilmembers say recycling is essential to keep the strain off the local landfill, which currently handles 12,000 tons of trash a week.

"We either pay for it now or pay for it in the future," Councilmember Russ Huebner said at last week's council meeting. "I think we'll see great benefits down the road. The landfill isn't going to last forever."

If councilmembers approve the new system, about 7,500 households will receive three 96-gallon wheeled carts. One will be for trash, one for recyclables and the third for yard waste.

TDS would take the yard waste bin and process it into compost, which it would sell through its Garden-Ville store, established in 2001.

Kyle currendy gives its residents 18-gallon recycle bins, but the larger cans could allow residents to recycle more materials.

Environmental impact could be tremendous, with the city salvaging thousands of tons of garbage from the landfill each year.

Recyclables would be sorted through a new 100,000-square-foot recycling center slated to open in September at the 1,750-acre landfill site.

The new recycling center will handle 20 tons of recyclables per hour and bring in 100 new jobs, TDS officials say.

The extra services would add about $4 to the current monthly garbage rate of around $13. Charges could be lower if the city agrees to a long-term pricing plan.

In comparison, the City of Austin charges residents $26.95 plus a $5 anti-litter fee each month for two 90-gallon carts used for trash and recyclables. Yard waste is placed in and collected from a privately-owned bin.

Last year, TDS began single-stream recycling in San Marcos, using the same method as Austin. The program has been touted as a success, with about 50 percent of the city's population participating, TDS officials say.

For the three-cart system to be effective in Kyle, education would have to be the tip of the spear.

"Education is really the key," Fraumann said. "Kyle could be the leader that other cities follow."

Once approved, TDS and city staff would educate local organizations and schools on how to recycle with the new system. City staff is also researching grants to cut the cost of the system.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE DUMP

TDS was founded in 1977 by brothers Bob and Jim Gregory, and the Creedmoor landfill was built in 1991.

It's not the average garbage dump. The landfill site includes an upscale conference center and wild game preserve, complete with giraffes, zebras and a rhinoceros. The Garden-Ville program diverts organic waste such as tree trimmings, grass clippings and animal manure to produce compost and mulch, while employees at the TDS resale store pull usable items out of the trash, clean or repair them and sell them to the general public.

CUMBERSOME CARTS

Local residents say the program has some drawbacks. The three large carts take up a lot of space in the garage, and residents say they're sometimes confused about which cart goes to the curb on pick-up days. Additionally, carts sometimes litter the streets when strong winds knock them down.

Mike Rubsam, the vice president of Amberwood's homeowners association, has heard these complaints.

Despite these frustrations, he and many of his neighbors are still on board.

"The program, overall, is very beneficial," he said. "I believe that this is the right thing to do."

Former councilmember Ray Bryant, who also resides in Am-berwood, said he was skeptical at first but has since changed his mind.

"It seemed like a lot more work," he said. "But now, I think we should move this program forward."

"I think we'll see great benefits down the road. The landfill isn't going to last forever."

-Russ Huebner. Kyle councilmember



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© 2010 The Free Press Buda, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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