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Peak Oil Task Force Report - City of Bloomington - State of Indiana

Peak Oil Task Force Report - City of Bloomington - State of Indiana

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WASTE DISPOSAL: THE DETRITUS OF CONSUMPTION<br />

Waste is a systemic and inevitable aspect <strong>of</strong> our community. Yet, our ever‐increasing<br />

consumption <strong>of</strong> goods and their easy disposal has led to a very energy‐intensive waste<br />

disposal infrastructure. Re‐thinking our consumption and disposal habits with peak oil in<br />

mind has the potential to lead to greater cost savings to the taxpayers, increased<br />

efficiencies, and greater community resilience.<br />

SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING<br />

Trash inhabits an important, but invisible, cultural space in our community. It requires<br />

setting boundaries and setting margins, both physically and symbolically. 81 Out <strong>of</strong> sight, out<br />

<strong>of</strong> mind. At certain intervals – usually weekly – we put our garbage out by the curb and a<br />

truck takes it away. However, making trash “go away” by putting it on a truck is a fuel‐<br />

intensive process.<br />

A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT SITUATION<br />

The <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bloomington</strong> Sanitation Division collects residential solid waste, yard waste,<br />

and recyclable material from approximately 8,000 households within <strong>City</strong> limits. The <strong>City</strong><br />

collects neither trash nor recyclables from residences <strong>of</strong> more than four units.<br />

<strong>Bloomington</strong> residents pay a $2.00 fee for each 35‐gallon trash bag or container collected<br />

by the <strong>City</strong>, and a $1.00 per bag fee for yard waste. Curbside recycling, which began in<br />

1991, is free <strong>of</strong> charge. Materials eligible for recycling in <strong>Bloomington</strong> and Monroe County<br />

include paper products, glass containers, steel cans, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles.<br />

The <strong>City</strong> also collects leaves and yard waste. The <strong>City</strong>’s Sanitation Division picks up yard<br />

waste from early March to early January and takes it to Good Earth Compost and Mulch,<br />

LLC for mulching. Both the <strong>City</strong>’s Sanitation Division and Street Division provide leaf pick‐<br />

up services.<br />

81 Mary Douglas, Purity and Danger: An Analysis <strong>of</strong> the Concepts <strong>of</strong> Pollution and Taboo, Routledge, 1966.<br />

<strong>Report</strong> <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Bloomington</strong> <strong>Peak</strong> <strong>Oil</strong> <strong>Task</strong> <strong>Force</strong><br />

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