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Comments
Once again: This is an enforcement issue.
I've never seen Boston ticket for improper/illegal trash disposal, the way that cities with much more successful recycling programs do. There also seem to be plenty of slumlords (especially in JP, Mission Hill, Allston) who don't provide proper equipment for their tenants. I would guess that high-density neighborhoods like those have very low recycling rates. If slumlords were getting slapped with fines, maybe they'd think twice (or once) about recycling.
I used to put out the proper
I used to put out the proper bags with recycling in them, but people just go around before the trash pick up ripping open the bags to see if any of the items have a deposit. The city needs to crack down on those people before recycling can be successful. If it's in an open container, help yourself, but ripping open bags hoping to find something and leaving the contents spilling out everywhere is more hassle then it's worth.
First I want to acknowledge
First I want to acknowledge those who recycle platitudes, campaign promises, fantasies, and "news" stories.
Second, I encourage some cost/environmental effectiveness studies and data. Can you tell us which of the recyclables are actually processed and which not, by name and code number? How much water should be wasted to clean containers which may or may not be processed?
"They are seeking to expand recycling in public places by installing 400 solar-powered recycling receptacles, which will wirelessly alert officials when they need to be emptied."
MassDOT figures show solar-powered trash cans cost well over $3,000 each. What is the pay-back period on them? Long after they are trash for sure. Stupid waste of money.
Any ref other than yo'self for that claim?
Solar trash cans will never pay for themselves? Based on what assumptions? Let's be extremely generous and assume they need to be emptied one third as often as regular trash bins (mftr claims 80% reduction in waste which would be one fifth as often) and that the cans they replace are free.
In the Back Bay retail district these are deployed roughly a block apart. The time necessary to travel a block and empty a can - maybe three minutes zoom zoom. Two man crew and vehicle. Assume salary and benefits cost of $25/hr/employee + $10/hour/vehicle.
When I lived in the back bay, the street cans in Boylston/Newbury neighborhood were emptied ~3 times a week. So if you are reducing trips down to one a week you are saving 10.5 man hours plus 5.25 vehicle hours per year per solar can.
That's $350 per year per can. So under these most conservative of estimates we might assume a payback period of eight years.
None of that takes into consideration improved quality of life because of better litter control (no open container = less blowing debris, less smell, fewer rats and pigeons), fewer big noisy vehicles on the street during the day, and upstream savings by pre-compressing waste.
If it takes a crew an average of four minutes to service the block instead of three, and if the old-style cans being replaced cost $150, the payback period drops to six years.
As a home owner, a 6-8 year payback for a typical house improvement with significant increase in QoL would be considered a *really* good value.
The best litmus test for many
The best litmus test for many things is whether or not the private sector without public subsidy has appreciable market share. $4,000 pedestrian scale lights look nice, but few private individuals line their driveway with them. I don't know anyone owning a computerized trash can. Home kitchen trash compactors are nearly extinct. When one takes the trash to the curb, then I'll be more interested.
I maintain that a conventional trash can is far more reliable and has a longer life span than a solar powered, computerized, compacting trash can. I doubt solar cans will be maintenance free for 8 years, let alone function that long. If nothing breaks, the batteries still wear out. Some people like me even do their own compacting prior to putting plastic and paper cups or bottles in bins. A sign requesting it is much cheaper, even if little effective - a place to start. Low tech is cheaper and more reliable - too often people want to employ technology for its own sake instead of the best solution.
Yea well if you rent from the
Yea well if you rent from the Copley Group you often see their cleaners taking recyclables out of blue bins in the alley and toss them into the dumpsters because the bins are too full. God forbid asshole landlords get a clue teach their non speaking employees what recycling is and get more bins!
Proof computerized trash cans are a complete waste!
The recycling goes straight in with the trash! Since it saves taxpayers money to single stream trash, Menino will insist added trucks and crews for recycling pick up and 100 more solar trash cans!
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/18850951/2012/06/...
Blew the lid off of that one
Ah, the venerable Mike Beaudet. Recycled story ideas, garbage "journalism."