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When recycling was rolled out, it actually was profitable for the city to sell recyclable materials. HOWEVER, the New York Times article linked below suggests that, with the steep decline in oil prices, it no longer is profitable: “Despite decades of exhortations and mandates, it’s still typically more expensive for municipalities to recycle household waste than to send it to a landfill” [or trash-to-energy plant].
The article also provides evidence that, at least currently, recycling contributes little to reducing carbon emissions: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/the-reign-of-recycling.html?_r=2
MOVING BEYOND THE THEORETICAL, what is OUR current cost-to-expense data for New Haven’s Public Works? Will the city currently save money by processing everything as trash?
If this currently is the case, I’m NOT suggesting that we do away with recycling, since it ‘possibly’ will be profitable in the future. However, I assume taxpayers would like to know if our tax dollars are being wasted for a “cause” that has no current benefit—financially or environmentally.
Could Public Works please provide a breakdown:
• current cost to dispose of trash,
• current cost to dispose of recyclables (including extra personnel needed).
Thanks.
Christopher Schaefer