Grand Rapids data show people read their property tax bill, amazingly recycle increases…

The Grand Rapids Press  03/01/12  Matt Vande Bunte

“Grand Rapids data shows more recycling, less Trash Collected”

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/03/grand_rapids_data_shows_more_r.html

The city’s curbside recycling collections have risen 64 percent since last April, compared to previous years, according to data in a report issued today. Meanwhile, city trash collections have shrunk 10 percent.

“It’s an absolutely astonishing figure,” said James Hurt, the city’s public services director. “It’s reflective of our community and how supportive they’ve been about recycling.”

Since April 2011, when Grand Rapids began its myGRcitypoints program, which gives points for use at local businesses to residents who recycle, the monthly haul has averaged 798 tons – up 64.2 percent from pre-August 2010 numbers. More than 7,000 households participate in myGRcitypoints.

City trash collections, which averaged 2,514 tons per month from 2006 through July 2010, have averaged 2,248 tons since single-stream recycling began in August 2010 – a decline of 10.6 percent.

Grand Rapids officials say the changes are cutting the cost of trash collection. In an effort to become more efficient, the city aims by summer – within a few weeks of July 1 – to scrap its current trash-bag program in favor of plastic carts. City leaders recently agreed to spend $2.4 million in Transformation Fund money on trash carts.

Subscribers will be charged a fee every time they put their trash cart by the curb: $2 per tip for a 32-gallon cart, $4 per tip for a 64-gallon cart and $6 per tip for a 96-gallon cart.

Residents still will be able to use any existing trash bags and tags they already have. But the price of new bags will increase to $2.50, from the current $1.50. And “they’ll be available only at our offices,” Hurt said.

Hurt said Grand Rapids already has about 12,000 trash carts in the city, and those customers pay quarterly pickup fees ranging from $30 to $50, depending on cart size. Those customers, if they choose to subscribe to the new cart service, would pay a per-tip fee instead of a quarterly rate, he said.

Common Sense Review

This article makes it sound like the citizens have seen the “Green” light.  However in the city of Grand Rapids recycling is not FREE, we pay it in our property tax.  The trash we get billed quarterly if you get the carts. 

I think people are wising up.  The city of Grand Rapids spends money for the “warm fuzzy” green ideas yet it cost citizens so much money.  The  city is constantly saying “there is no money” as they are working on redesigning Michigan and College with” Round Abouts” to lower auto emissions to make the city eligible for more fed grants.

With the city it isn’t about the people but qualifying for the Federal grant…