Karl Nurse: Give discount to recycling residents

ST. PETERSBURG -- Residents who recycle should get a discount on their waste collection bill because they put out less trash, according to City Council member Karl Nurse.

By charging eco-responsible residents the same as everyone else, the city discourages recycling, Nurse said during a council meeting this afternoon. He directed staffers to research how a green discount program would work.

St. Petersburg is one of the few governments in Pinellas County without curbside recycling, but residents can take their recyclables to drop sites across the city.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

I think Karl is hot!

Great idea. Financial incentives work.

[Scott K Wagman]

Karl's heart is in the right place,but this "green discount" concept merely adds costly billing and tracking complexity to an easily "gamed" system. Full curbside recycling is the real answer and I believe it can be done at NO additional cost to the taxpayer....if the political will is there to initiate it.Then the public must be shown how some changed behavior can make it happen.

Mr. Wagman,

Have you worked to implement curbside recycling? Met with your councilmember about it? I don't recall your voice being in the debate a few years ago...

"Political will" is a safe phrase, but if you have specifics, please share them. Otherwise, this is much like McCain saying "I know how to get Bin Laden" but keeping it a secret until he is elected...

[True Blue]

Let's carry this to the logical conclussion.Why should I,who only fills the trash container 1/3 full once a week,pay to support those who fill the container to the top twice a week?? We should have once a week collection for a set price and let those who want and need twice a week collection pay a higher set price. If I had my way there would be a scale on the trucks and you would pay by the weight of your trash - the same way the city pays the county at the collection center. I'm tired of being ripped off at every turn.

[Scott K Wagman]

5:21,consider asking the right questions about the issue rather than autopsy my motives in the past. True Blue,you are getting warmer...all in due time. BTW I only seriously engage in debate with real people,not those who comment with opaque anonymity

Pinellas County is offering curbside recycling to everyone in Pinellas County at no cost to the resident. That would be a 100% "discount".

St. Pete has opted not to participate.

Candidates who blog:
Norm Roche
Scott K. Wagman
Max Linn?

Who am I missing?

WHEN is Pinellas offering curbside? I have been ribbing commissioners for nearly SEVEN YEARS to get it! Last time I checked-no curbside offered. I hear it is in the works-I've heard that for a couple of years now!

Seminole has had it for more than a decade!!!!!!

I'm ready to annex if the county doesn't get off their @$$!

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/23/Neighborhoodtimes/10_000_000_curbside_r.shtml

It's embarrassing our community is still stuck in this debate. The County- nor laggardly St. Pete- deserves no hero awards for stepping into the 21st century to do the right thing.

I applaud Karl for dragging the City kicking and screaming to take the step forward to recycle. Maybe we can get mass transit in the next 350 years.

[Everett]

I can't believe I agree with True Blue on something.

Yet I pay for garbage service and I pay alot in gas to drop off my recycling. The nearest drop off to me is 48 blocks south and about 8-10 blocks east. Thats a longer trip than I have going to work!

So I pay twice in a sense and I have less impact on the landfill than my neighbors who don't recycle but pay the same fee. Thats upside down.

Pinellas County has not only had the administrative infrastructure in place for quite some time to make this happen, we also have the financial support mechanism. Moreover, it’s a great opportunity for real economic growth. Unfortunately, the politicians and their political will has been absent common sense.

http://www.vote4norm.com/New%20Pages/ToyTown.htm

From that 2008 article linked above, "But the county's plan, which is still in the money-crunching stages, would potentially provide curbside recycling free of charge to every community in Pinellas."

Nope. No it's not really about political will. When I went back and forth with the county and the commissioners, I finally called the trash company. The one I pay. They said they couldn't provide recycling. I called the one from the city of Seminole- they couldn't do it either. I couldn't pay anybody to provide the service. I was told by one of the trash companies that they couldn't even service the entire county. They said they didn't have the capacity and neither did the recycling center.

I know Ken Welch and Karen Seel are up on the issue. I'd like to see them push a little harder to make it happen sooner rather than later! But, they both have the political will-no doubt about that!

We have the resources, we have the organization, we have the funding... If they had the will, it would be done.

I think recycling is hot!

[True Blue]

Everett: Be careful - God will strike you down for agreeing with me!! Is it possible that there is more that unites us than there is that devides us?? Lets explore!!

[Dr_Dug]

It's a nice dream...But will never happen. Here's why. Florida progress pushes a Go Green Attitude. They get money for initiating programs to use less power and increase efficiency. They even send people to your house to check for power loss and efficiency.
Then comes the bottom line... As people cut back on using power and learn to conserve...Floida Progress notices people aren't using as much power .....meaning their making less money from the sale of power and utilities.
So...Florida Progress tells Tallahassee their "growth" is down and asks for a 31% increase.THATS RIGHT....31%!!(You do realize they have Share holders that expect a profit)
And that's what they get...an increase. So, how does any of this makes sense? Easy...it doesn't. As we learn to conserve and cut back...they raise the price to maintain their profits...Meaning you will continue to "Pay more and get less"!!
And never forget...you voted for the AssClowns that allow this to happen..

[Never Land]

Wow....
You hit the nail on the head Dr_Dug !!!
It's always about the money!! And your right 100%...we did vote those idiots in office. They need to go.

WELL SAID DOUG... oops, Dug!

Public utilities, public health, public law, even news & information... these are NOT places where share holder profit should be a concern. If anything, these concerns should generate enough revenue to work well, and no more.

Eventually it'll be that way, and those who oppose it will be marginalized... and who knows, maybe they'll have to give back their money and assets. God I hope so.

Why is Rick Baker so vindictive against recycling? It boggles the mind how truly ugly and small-minded his attitude is.

The entire problem rests with the "Free Market". It is time to modify this concept to return to a market driven by consumer "wants" only. Basic human needs should not be traded on the market, nor managed with profit motive. This is where government belongs. Government should control and manage the public's needs... the market should control and dabble in the public's wants.

Problem Solved!