"A pilot program, also called a feasibility study or experimental trial, is a small-scale, short-term experiment that helps an organization learn how a large-scale project might work in practice.
A good pilot program provides a platform for the organization to test logistics, prove value and reveal deficiencies before spending a significant amount of time, energy or money on a large-scale project. Typically, a pilot program begins with a proposal that lists the objectives of the pilot program and documents how the program will be carried out. The documentation should also provide a time-line for the pilot and metrics for how success will be determined."
Brownsville's Curbside Recycling Pilot Project is labeled on the United Brownsville website as a program/study, yet the reality may be that the program is being forced on taxpayers whether or not it proves feasible or successful.
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| Rose Timmer, Executive Director, Healthy Communities of Brownsville, Inc. |
Timmer referred to the city's attempt at a recycling program in 2009, the actual pilot, as a "failure." "We didn't follow up or educate properly," she said.
This time around, volunteers were invited to training sessions, involved in "role-play," taught how to approach citizens and given the objectives and rationale for the program.
During October and November of 2013, teams of block-walkers went into four distinct areas of the city to offer the service to 1,200 pre-selected homes. Door hangers, letters to the homeowner and other materials were provided in English and Spanish. According to Ms. Timmer, 447 of the 1,200 homeowners approached agreed to participate.
During the initial trial run, January 6, 2014, the program has a participation rate, Timmer said, of 13%. That means that 58 homes in the four areas actually pushed their recycle bins to the curb. Compared to the 1,200 homeowners offered the program, the participation rate is actually 5%.
Timmer stated that the City of Brownsville spent $17,000 on 1300 recycle bins of which 8 were stolen
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| Rose Timmer holding recycle bin (Brownsville Herald photo) |
Following behind the Allied Waste truck picking up the contents of the recycle bins, Timmer was able to follow up on the program. Noting that one homeowner with whom she had personally talked had not put her bin curbside, she knocked on her door. The lady still had her bin, but felt that, with just three cans in it, it was not ready to take curbside. Timmer assured her that the program was weekly, regardless of the contents, and the bin was brought curbside.
In another situation, a man had an extraordinary amount of aluminum cans towering over his bin. Timmer was concerned that the cans might be stolen by someone wanting to exchange them for money.
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| Curbside recycling block-walkers |
So, the question is, with only 5% actual participation so far, is the goal to test this project's feasibility, practicality and acceptance by the citizens of Brownsville or will it be implemented come hell or high water because some in the city desire it so?
Hopefully re-cycling will become part of the culture of Brownsville and citizens will participate....but it is doubtful that citizens will change. We have too many people who think that "to recycle" means throwing trash out on the roadside. It is easier to dump than to recycle; it is easier to illegally dump because its free. To recycle means you have to have a garbage account...especially in the county.
ReplyDeleteWhat were the areas of the city that were "targeted"? When did these people ask the citizens that wanted to participate in the program? I recycle. I take water bottles, and other plastics, cardboard, bags, to the recycle center on Elizabeth Street. I asked the people there how I could get them to pick up my recycling from my home (I mentioned the program I had seen in the newspaper), I also called the Brownsville Help line and not a single person gave me information. Some didnt know what I was talking about, others knew about the program but didn't know how to answer my questions. If that is how they handle these programs, no wonder they have very low response.
ReplyDeleteWe have selected 1200 homes in the 4 different districts of the city. This is a pilot program to see how much participation we get and what our contamination rate is. No one was forced to recycle. Please call my office at 956-882-5067 to see if your street is on the pilot program.
DeleteHope its well thought their unlike the plastic bag B/S you can still get the plastic bags but you have to pay for them wow what jeaneous thought of that one.Why didn't they implement a program that the customer would get credit for the plastic bags they brought in ,for instance you bring in 10 used bags you get credit for 10 that's recycling you dont have that now just a ban stupid.The way its structured now there's no recycling isn't that the whole point ,not just to make money off of citizens.
ReplyDeleteIn Brownsville you have a choice of paper, plastic or reusable bags. If you chose plastic bags you will be charged a transaction fee of which 95 cents goes to the city for environmental projects, like the new street sweepers, the grinder for the landfill and other equipment that the city could not afford to buy. Plastic shopping bags are very had to recycle and gum up machines. The energy to recycle or breakdown the plastic bags is huge. Please if you bring your own plastic bags the merchant will let you use them also.
DeleteThe plastic ban people and the recycling pilot people are the same ones. They arent even city employees. Make sense now?
ReplyDeleteUsually the City imitates programs already working in big Cities, curb side collection of sorted garbage is not recycling, it is about 10% of a recycling program, high garbage generating Cities have a processing program at the City dumps, where a large crew of garbage sorters go thru the garbage picking the different kinds of recyclable material not only plastics, a water bottle collected in a bin for plastics is not ready to be recycled unless is cap less and label less due to the fact that the 3 parts re made of 4 different plastics that don't get along well if mixed while being recycled, recycling is a labor intensive operation that unless is done in large quantities can be profitable
ReplyDeleteThe City paid $13.00 a piece for those little red bins, dang! Could of bought the same thing at Walmart for $5.00, maybe less if you bought 1300. Just another example of Government waste.
ReplyDeleteMRS TIMMER UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMITMENT TO RECYCLING I RECYCLE MYSELF ESPECIALY ALL PLASTIC IN MY OWN HOME.I AVERAGE AT LEAST 18 TO 20 LARGE BAGS OF PLASTICS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YRS.YOU MENTIONED THE MONIES COLLECTED (TAX)IS USED FOR STREET SWEEPERS,GRINDERS A NEW RECYCLING TRUCK,BINS ETC DON'T WE PAY FOR THIS ALREADY IN OUR PUB BILL?I PERSONALLY FEEL YOU AND BOARD DON'T REALLY HAVE GOOD IDEA'S, SEEMS YOUR TRYING ANYTHING TO SEE IF IT STICKS,WHILE SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TAX PAYER MONIES
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