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The Helena City Commission should ensure that the cost saving for city services from residents who recycle or otherwise generate less cost to city services are recognized. Initially, the most effective way to do this is to allow resident to have a choice in how their solid waste and recycling assessment is spent. Residents who utilize community trash collection bins, or residents who would be adequately served by collection of their person trash bins every other week, should be allowed to voluntarily choose a once a month recycling option without additional assessments or charges. To ensure all cost are covered, these residents would also need to accept halving their transfer station tonnage allowance to 1,500 pounds.
Helena's current solid waste system was establishing with a promise of recycling, including curbside collection. Wednesday's decision should allow resident who want to recycle to have a basic option to do so without an increased assessment or charge. Not doing so is not only an unfair use of their tax dollars, but is fiscally and environmentally wasteful as garbage trucks and recycling trucks will be spending more time, fuel and vehicle wear collecting partially full bins.
Item 5c, regarding new charges for permit holders use the City of Helena Transfer Station should be amended to allow sixty trips a year per residents, especially for persons living outside of the city who do not have private trash collection. I write in more detail here.
Please join the City Commission this Wednesday at 4pm to show your support for recycling or write the Mayor and Commission by sending an email to MayorandCommission(at)HelenaMT.gov
Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
- Matt E
Matthew Elsaesser, Commissioner
City of Helena, Montana, USA
406.431.0815 / 59624-321
