November 28, 2006

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LITTER ABATEMENT & RECYCLING EXPANSION
The Midland City Council today, November 28, 2006, approved on first reading, several items that will enhance efforts toward litter abatement and recycling.  The decision helps to better define litter abatement from recycling yet addresses the need for both.

• The City Council approved reducing the current voluntary litter abatement fee from $1.00 to 50-cents per month. 
  Earlier this year, the City added a two-person “hot shot” crew to assist in litter pickup and related work, as well as increased the budgeted amount for lot cleaning, however revenues exceed expenses.  Permitted uses of this fund will now include: litter abatement, conservation and beautification along public owned right of ways, and recycling education. 
• The City Council approved adding a 50-cent recycling fee per month per customer. 
  The first priority of the Solid Waste Division is to ensure that customers receive twice weekly emptying of their alley trash containers.  Over the past few years, the number of containers for basic service has increased taking away from the additional service of emptying recycling containers.  In the past, the recycle containers were emptied twice a week.  They are currently being emptied twice a month.  Citizens are increasingly using the recycling containers and Solid Waste wants to provide top-notch service with the purchase of a side-load truck, roll-off truck, and two recycle drivers.  This will be funded with the 50-cent fee that will provide an estimated $200,000 in additional revenue annually.
• More funding was approved by the City Council for litter abatement and recycling education as well as a new pilot program aimed at litter abatement.
  Keep Midland Beautiful will add one person to their staff to coordinate educational programs in Midland schools and oversee a new program that will provide funds to non-profits seeking fund-raising opportunities to clean littered sites.  The amount a group could earn will be based upon the condition of the site, how many workers are involved, and how large an area is covered. 

If approved on second reading on December 19, 2006, the changes would go into effect on January 1, 2007.

Can't find what you're looking for? Try our search engine.