Thursday, March 28, 2024

Local college student conducts analysis of recycling needs in Leavenworth

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Submitted by Aubyn Honeysett

Growing up in Leavenworth, I jumped at the Ski Hill, floated down the Icicle, and hiked the Tumwater. I’ve met countless tourists who travel here for numerous outdoor activities. It seems natural the Bavarian Village would have interest in preserving the environment that surrounds it. One way of doing that is to reduce the amount of waste Leavenworth accumulates. 

In the summer of 2015, I conducted a survey in downtown Leavenworth focused on recycling. I collected survey results from 28 shop owners, many of whom owned more than one shop. Recycling is important to the city as well as to shop-owners. The city of Leavenworth offers a $5 rebate for residents who recycle. The pie-chart below reflects how important recycling is to shop-owners who participated in the survey. 

Importance of recycling to survey participants

The recycling center located at 216 14th St. accepts aluminum, newspaper, tin, as well as cardboard, and is open for commercial use and to tourists; however, results show that only half of shop owners were aware that they could drop off their recycling at the center. 

Waste Management also offers recycling for commercial businesses. Unfortunately, the narrow alleyways in downtown Leavenworth make maneuvering the large vehicles difficult and the lack of space for the containers, impossible. Only 2 percent of the shop owners agreed they could accommodate Waste Management’s 6-feet-long, 3-feet-deep, and 3.5-feet-tall, container. 

Participants able to Accommodate Waste Management’s container

The issue with recycling isn’t the desire to recycle, it’s making recycling more feasible for businesses. For participants with room for recycling containers, there’s also an option to split containers. The hefty fee of a little more than $140 could be split among multiple businesses as long as there’s a single customer responsible to Waste Management. A large majority of 71 percent said they would be willing to split a recycle bin with another business.

Participants willing to split Waste Management Recycling bins

Recyclable materials are purchased by brokers based on the quality of the material being purchased. When waste products are mixed with recyclables then the load becomes contaminated. The most prevalent issue with curb-side recycling in Leavenworth is with contaminated loads. There are currently four street side recycling containers. The city will be expanding to eight additional recycling containers on the right-of-way in Leavenworth. Perhaps clarifying the signage so visitors who can’t read English could easily determine what materials go into that container would help reduce contamination. More diligent sorting would be necessary as well. Although, the benefit of this process would likely outweigh the financial cost of implementing fees to expand curb-side recycling.

Saving waste saves money. In 2013, the city of Leavenworth spent $192,963 on disposal fees for 2,417 tons of trash collected in the city. Reducing the amount of waste reduces disposal fees for businesses and for the city as a whole. Remaining a popular tourist hub is vital to the growth of the city and community. Promoting cost-effective solutions to include recycling will positively influence environmentally conscious sightseers and help to preserve the environment they come to enjoy. 

If you would like to learn more or you have suggestions for success, please attend April 11 City Council study session at 9 a.m. This item will be addressed at 11 a.m.

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