City to implement new program

City residents generate more than 3,800 pounds of organic waste every week, according to the 2009 Recycling Recovery Rate Study. That’s almost 1 ton of organic waste every year that could have been composted.

St. Louis Park hopes to implement curbside organic waste collection as part of its garbage collection process beginning October 2013.

An administrative specialist for St. Louis Park Shannon Hansen said the program will decrease the amount of energy used to process waste.

“Organic waste is generally wet and heavy, so it takes far more energy to burn, which makes our city and state more polluted,” Hansen said.

Sophomore Autumn Baloesteros said being environmentally conscious should be a top priority for the city.

“Being green is very important, our city should be environmentally friendly,” she said.

Although a contractor for the new garbage program has not yet been selected, St. Louis Park is working with companies across the Twin Cities to find a program that meets its needs.

According to Hansen, the City Council started discussing a new waste collection program this fall, as the city’s current contract with Waste Management and Eureka Recycling ends September 2013.

While composting is popular in other parts of the county, the concept is new to many St. Louis Park residents.

Freshman Mario Colacci said he doesn’t think the public is educated about composting.

“I don’t know anyone who knows a lot about composting,” Colacci said. “My family composts, but I don’t think many others do.”

In addition to helping the environment, the proposed program will help families save money on waste collection. According to Hansen, St. Louis Park currently requires households to pay more money for using larger trash bins. If some of the waste that was previously put in trash bins is put in a curbside organic waste collection bin, families could save hundreds of dollars every year.

Junior Jozlyn Wandersee said she believes her family will participate in the program to save money.

“If it would help us save money we would definitely start composting, especially because of the current economy,” she said.

Although the proposed program will help St. Louis Park residents save money, it will likely cost the city additional money.

“We are hoping to get grants, and we will divert money from other solid waste programs into an organic waste collection program,” Hansen said.

In the end, Hansen said she believes the benefits of composting outweigh the price.

“We’re really just trying to become a greener city,” she said.