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