With the financial crisis pervading the collective mind, we may very well be entering a period of Regan-esque spending cuts, making just about every public program vulnerable. Gerard Santinelli believes that while dumping a lot of the pork out of the barrel is absolutely necessary to relieve taxpayers, municipalities across the nation should carefully consider the importance of projects that promote causes beneficial to the common good before swinging a hatchet at budgets.

1. Gerard Santinelli’s
Position On Mandatory
Recycling

2. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
With the financial crisis pervading the collective mind,
we may very well be entering a period of Regan-esque
spending cuts, making just about every public program
vulnerable.
Gerard Santinelli believes that while dumping a lot of
the pork out of the barrel is absolutely necessary to
relieve taxpayers, municipalities across the nation
should carefully consider the importance of projects that
promote causes beneficial to the common good before
swinging a hatchet at budgets.
Gerard Santinelli

3. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
One of those causes near Gerard Santinelli’s heart is
protecting the environment, which is why governments
shouldn’t be overly hasty in setting aside plans to
expand recycling and institute curb side recycling
programs.
Gerard Santinelli

4. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
Gerard Santinelli identifies the most prominent criticism
of curbside recycling as cities paying lots more for only
a marginal increase in recycling. This is especially true
when a city already provides opportunities for its citizens
to recycle. Critics say curbside will only increase
recycling by a marginal amount, and the cost is not
worth it.
The solution to the apathy problem is to make recycling
mandatory, says Gerard Santinelli. Implementing a
mandatory curbside recycling program is the most cost
efficient way to drastically increase the amount a city
recycles.
Gerard Santinelli

5. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
Mr. Santinelli points at states and cities on the cusp of
the green revolution such as Connecticut, Rhode Island,
New Jersey, New York City, Portland, Seattle,
Philadelphia, San Diego, and Newton, KS as good
examples. He says they have already implemented
mandatory recycling, and it’s not just a new trend either
— Connecticut has required citizens to recycle since
1991. San Francisco is preparing to begin a mandatory
recycling program later this year, in addition to
becoming the first city to mandate composting.
Mandatory curbside recycling comes in the form of a city
ordinance or state law banning certain recyclable
materials from the solid waste stream, according to
Gerard Santinelli.
Gerard Santinelli

6. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
Enforcement is simple and adds no extra costs: trash
collectors are instructed to inspect bags if they hear or
see recyclables. If the bags have a certain amount of
recyclable material — in Newton it’s 7 items; in Seattle,
10 percent, eyed by the collector — a warning notice is
posted on the bag and it is not taken.
Mr. Santinelli says that fines only become involved if a
household repeatedly disregards the ordinance. Gerard
Santinelli says that his research shows that compliance
is very good.
Gerard Santinelli

7. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
How much would a mandatory curbside program cost?
First of all, Gerard Santinelli says it’s important to
remember that the expenses of a mandatory curbside
program would not be any greater than a voluntary one.
When San Diego changed from voluntary to mandatory
recycling, they didn’t need to hire additional staff, buy
additional trucks, or expand their Material Recovery
Facility (MRF).
Gerard Santinelli believes that Americans need to shift
the way they think about recycling and reducing waste
in general, and a mandatory curbside recycling program
will help play the role of facilitator. The burden is
miniscule. Once a household plans out the logistics,
curbside recycling will be as easy and convenient as
managing trash.
Gerard Santinelli

8. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
As freedom-loving Americans, we’re bound to be leery
of a government that gives us too many orders. But this
isn’t a reinstating of the draft. It’s recycling! It’s
something that’s universally recognized as good and
necessary for the preservation of future generations.
Gerard Santinelli thinks it’s something city governments
should seriously consider.
Gerard Santinelli

9. Gerard Santinelli’s Position
On Mandatory Recycling
Gerard Santinelli
Thanks!- Gerard Santinelli’s