Comments on: Savannah gets hip to the recycling game http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02 A place for Savannah news, opinions, community and general tomfoolery in and around Savannah's Creative Coast Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:16:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: cluelesshues http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-43806 cluelesshues Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:27:56 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-43806 Hi Summer. A warm greetings to you all the way from Singapore. This is my second day in your site and im already learning a lot. Your blog above sparked a hope for my little community too who more than having the need to know about recycling is also seeing face to face the ailing mother nature back in my town. Expect more visits from me and my friends. Keep it up! Xie Xie Ni Hi Summer. A warm greetings to you all the way from Singapore. This is my second day in your site and im already learning a lot. Your blog above sparked a hope for my little community too who more than having the need to know about recycling is also seeing face to face the ailing mother nature back in my town. Expect more visits from me and my friends. Keep it up! Xie Xie Ni

]]> By: John McMasters http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-37582 John McMasters Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:10:29 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-37582 Excellent idea Joyce. Maybe those who do this blog could pass that along or perhaps someone over at the Chatham Environmental Forum could bring this idea up... becoming "the Greenest County in the State of Georgia" will take some work. Excellent idea Joyce. Maybe those who do this blog could pass that along or perhaps someone over at the Chatham Environmental Forum could bring this idea up… becoming “the Greenest County in the State of Georgia” will take some work.

]]> By: Joyce Murlless http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-37444 Joyce Murlless Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:50:47 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-37444 Since it's going to be awhile for County residents to have curbside recycling, I wonder if there's a way to set up a barter system of sorts where County residents could make use of some underused City recycling containers. Any hope for small business participation within the City? Since it’s going to be awhile for County residents to have curbside recycling, I wonder if there’s a way to set up a barter system of sorts where County residents could make use of some underused City recycling containers.

Any hope for small business participation within the City?

]]> By: John McMasters http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-37083 John McMasters Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:49:29 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-37083 Tommy Let's set the record straight. In 2006 one particular group of well connected, well intentioned, Savannah Recycles? type people decided to work quietly (mostly behind the scenes) to try and persuade the City of Savannah to institute a curbside recycling program. They took trips to Jacksonville and Charlestown to see how successful other programs worked. This group was motivated by and picked up on the grassroots citizen calls for curbside recycling that had been growing louder and louder. At the end of the day, the City told you guys it was a no go, at least for a while and that burning trash was the way the city wanted to go. Citizens were looking at their government extending the dreadful practice of burning recyclables while ignoring pressure to use best practices and recycle materials. Then some of the grassroots citizens who had been patient and supportive of the process grew frustrated and were amazed that the city was going to extend the incinerator program. At this essential point, the average everyday citizens discovered they had constitutional authority to petition the government for change and they stepped into the breach and began what came to be the first City citizens initiative (O.C.G.A. 36-35-3 c) in the history of Savannah. 11,000 signatures were collected in 60 days, more than enough to mandate an election to decide the recycling issue. The city agreed with the organizers of that petition to make curbside recycling a law and to stop burning our city's trash and recyclables and in exchange we would not submit the petition and cause an election. Everyone should be very pleased with where we are now and yes it took a long time to happen and many different people from all strata and position came together to achieve that. The people Tommy, the people, were not whining or bashing anyone - they were just using their constitutional rights granted them by our founding fathers. Tommy

Let’s set the record straight. In 2006 one particular group of well connected, well intentioned, Savannah Recycles? type people decided to work quietly (mostly behind the scenes) to try and persuade the City of Savannah to institute a curbside recycling program. They took trips to Jacksonville and Charlestown to see how successful other programs worked.

This group was motivated by and picked up on the grassroots citizen calls for curbside recycling that had been growing louder and louder.

At the end of the day, the City told you guys it was a no go, at least for a while and that burning trash was the way the city wanted to go. Citizens were looking at their government extending the dreadful practice of burning recyclables while ignoring pressure to use best practices and recycle materials.

Then some of the grassroots citizens who had been patient and supportive of the process grew frustrated and were amazed that the city was going to extend the incinerator program.

At this essential point, the average everyday citizens discovered they had constitutional authority to petition the government for change and they stepped into the breach and began what came to be the first City citizens initiative (O.C.G.A. 36-35-3 c) in the history of Savannah. 11,000 signatures were collected in 60 days, more than enough to mandate an election to decide the recycling issue.

The city agreed with the organizers of that petition to make curbside recycling a law and to stop burning our city’s trash and recyclables and in exchange we would not submit the petition and cause an election.

Everyone should be very pleased with where we are now and yes it took a long time to happen and many different people from all strata and position came together to achieve that.

The people Tommy, the people, were not whining or bashing anyone - they were just using their constitutional rights granted them by our founding fathers.

]]> By: Summer Teal Simpson http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-36951 Summer Teal Simpson Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:34:31 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-36951 Tommy, <a href="http://thecreativecoast.org/savannahnews/view/1609-savannah-joins-partnership-for-a-sustainable-georgia" rel="nofollow">This just in.</a> Exciting stuff. Tommy,
This just in. Exciting stuff.

]]> By: Tommy Linstroth http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-36948 Tommy Linstroth Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:25:29 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-36948 Summer thanks for the great update! It has indeed taken sweat, blood and years of work for many in the community. What's important to remember is this type of grassroots advocacy works and shows results. And it comes as a result of working with the City and trying to come up with a win-win solution instead of just bashing them about it or whining about it. True civic action at its best has helped get us here! To the best of my knowledge the county is examining it and it is certainly a top recommendation from the Chatham Environmental Forum. Since the county does not have an official waste management program where they collect (indeed there are over 4 private firms cruising around collection trash) it is much more complicated to swiftly impelement. However, I believe it is coming, hopefully as part of a comprehensive greening program. And note, for the City, recycling is just one of many initiatives that is being undertaken to green the city, from their own LEED buildings, to encouraging employees to bike or take mass transit, to hybrid vehicle fleets. Much of this is going under the radar, but great things are happening in our own town, after what seems like years of nothing green going on. Very positive things - and a great way to kick of 2009! And for Kayne, I believe you will see 1 dollar added to your waste collection fee per month. I spend more than that on gas getting to dropoff locations! Summer thanks for the great update! It has indeed taken sweat, blood and years of work for many in the community. What’s important to remember is this type of grassroots advocacy works and shows results. And it comes as a result of working with the City and trying to come up with a win-win solution instead of just bashing them about it or whining about it. True civic action at its best has helped get us here!
To the best of my knowledge the county is examining it and it is certainly a top recommendation from the Chatham Environmental Forum. Since the county does not have an official waste management program where they collect (indeed there are over 4 private firms cruising around collection trash) it is much more complicated to swiftly impelement. However, I believe it is coming, hopefully as part of a comprehensive greening program.
And note, for the City, recycling is just one of many initiatives that is being undertaken to green the city, from their own LEED buildings, to encouraging employees to bike or take mass transit, to hybrid vehicle fleets. Much of this is going under the radar, but great things are happening in our own town, after what seems like years of nothing green going on. Very positive things - and a great way to kick of 2009!

And for Kayne, I believe you will see 1 dollar added to your waste collection fee per month. I spend more than that on gas getting to dropoff locations!

]]> By: Kayne Lanahan http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-36939 Kayne Lanahan Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:45:09 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-36939 Yea! No more carrying large amounts of plastic and newspapers around in the back of the mini! Summer-Do you know if there is an incremental charge for this that will be added to our regular utilities bill? Yea! No more carrying large amounts of plastic and newspapers around in the back of the mini!

Summer-Do you know if there is an incremental charge for this that will be added to our regular utilities bill?

]]> By: Summer Teal Simpson http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-36935 Summer Teal Simpson Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:14:44 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-36935 John, Great question that I don't really know the answer to. When posed to Anne Robinson, recycling coordinator with the City, she responded as such: "John may want to speak with a man named David Nash who works as the Environmental Services Coordinator of The Chatham County Department of Public Works and Park Services. His e-mail is danash@chathamcounty.org. He's an incredibly nice guy and may be able to provide some insight as to where the county is with their recycling initiatives." If anyone else knows more about the recycling situation in the county, please weigh in!! John,
Great question that I don’t really know the answer to. When posed to Anne Robinson, recycling coordinator with the City, she responded as such:

“John may want to speak with a man named David Nash who works as the Environmental Services Coordinator of The Chatham County Department of Public Works and Park Services. His e-mail is danash@chathamcounty.org. He’s an incredibly nice guy and may be able to provide some insight as to where the county is with their recycling initiatives.”

If anyone else knows more about the recycling situation in the county, please weigh in!!

]]> By: John McMasters http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-36827 John McMasters Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:50:09 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-36827 Summer Where is the County on curbside recycling? Do you have any idea? I heard some of the cities in west Chatham may make the move and join the city of Savannah? What do you know? Summer

Where is the County on curbside recycling? Do you have any idea? I heard some of the cities in west Chatham may make the move and join the city of Savannah? What do you know?

]]> By: Jeremy http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/savannah-gets-hip-to-the-recycling-game/2008/12/02#comment-36819 Jeremy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:39:41 +0000 http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/?p=687#comment-36819 Summer, thanks for posting on this subject. Curbside recycling is a necessary municipal service and will be successful in our community - as it has been in many others. Not only does the program benefit the local environment (and, of course, in a small, important way the global environment), but it says a lot about who we are as a community, what we value and the kind of clean/green/creative/thriving future many of us work toward and desire for our area (remembering previous post 'Thanksgiving'). Hopefully, our local leadership (County still against Curbside recycling and 'green' skeptics BTW) will realize that adopting more environmental public policies serves to perpetuate a positive image of our area to visitors, entices those who are relocating (businesses, too) and, yes, (gasp) improves the quality of life for those already living here :) More green public policies and programs - like curbside recycling, connecting economic centers with bike paths/lanes, and improving mass transit - will do wonders in attracting new residents, new businesses, new tourists, new students and green industry. (I am also sure this is not news to the people at TCCa :) Maybe some local leaders and power brokers are realizing it's not sustainable (or at least not as profitable) for the Savannah area to keep a pretty face, but behind the scenes look like opening day at Disneyland... The future of our world, country and state is clean and green. The sooner our local leaders acknowledge this and meaningfully act on it, the better. The sooner the Savannah area will be known for it. The sooner 'green' will be amongst the area's selling points. Curbside recycling in Savannah is a great start and I'm proud to have it. Also, to wrap up recycling, let us not forget that our City leadership did not skip happily into adopting a recycling program. The petition process - advisory and binding - started and helped finish the debate on curbside recycling. It can be a powerful tool - a megaphone if you will - when expressing policy demands to local leadership. Happy holidays and thanks for reading. Summer, thanks for posting on this subject.

Curbside recycling is a necessary municipal service and will be successful in our community - as it has been in many others. Not only does the program benefit the local environment (and, of course, in a small, important way the global environment), but it says a lot about who we are as a community, what we value and the kind of clean/green/creative/thriving future many of us work toward and desire for our area (remembering previous post ‘Thanksgiving’).

Hopefully, our local leadership (County still against Curbside recycling and ‘green’ skeptics BTW) will realize that adopting more environmental public policies serves to perpetuate a positive image of our area to visitors, entices those who are relocating (businesses, too) and, yes, (gasp) improves the quality of life for those already living here :)

More green public policies and programs - like curbside recycling, connecting economic centers with bike paths/lanes, and improving mass transit - will do wonders in attracting new residents, new businesses, new tourists, new students and green industry. (I am also sure this is not news to the people at TCCa :) Maybe some local leaders and power brokers are realizing it’s not sustainable (or at least not as profitable) for the Savannah area to keep a pretty face, but behind the scenes look like opening day at Disneyland…

The future of our world, country and state is clean and green. The sooner our local leaders acknowledge this and meaningfully act on it, the better. The sooner the Savannah area will be known for it. The sooner ‘green’ will be amongst the area’s selling points. Curbside recycling in Savannah is a great start and I’m proud to have it.

Also, to wrap up recycling, let us not forget that our City leadership did not skip happily into adopting a recycling program. The petition process - advisory and binding - started and helped finish the debate on curbside recycling. It can be a powerful tool - a megaphone if you will - when expressing policy demands to local leadership.

Happy holidays and thanks for reading.

]]>