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Expenses force cutbacks in curbside recycling pickup

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: November 8, 2009

TRINITY - Accurate Waste executives took it upon themselves to start an experimental recycling program in July 2008, primarily in some newer southern Pasco communities. So far, no other trash haulers in Pasco have followed the company's lead.

Accurate Waste tried a pilot project with twice-a-week curbside pickup of blue bags filled with recyclables. The county only requires haulers to collect blue bags once every two weeks.

In addition, the company added curbside pickup for waste paper and cardboard.

The program proved quite popular in some subdivisions such as Plantation Palms in the Land O' Lakes area, and the Groves and Heritage Springs in the Trinity area. "Once they start (recycling), they don't stop," Accurate Waste's owner, Steve Serafino, said.

During the first 15 months of the pilot project, Accurate collected 301 tons of paper for recycling.

But the test produced mixed results, so the company in October cut back on the frequency of curbside pickup, Serafino and his partners said. "We elected to continue on with it," Serafino said.

Blue bags now are collected once a week, the same as curbside pickup for waste paper.

Fewer homes are included now on the routes for curbside paper pickup.

"There's a significant expense," Serafino said. Ledgers show it can cost about $13,000 a month for the company to pay the crews and to operate the trucks for the expanded recycling service.

Accurate brings in 20 to 25 tons of waste paper a month to be sold on the recycling market, Serafino said. Waste paper prices have varied from almost nothing to $110 a ton, settling at about $45 a ton in recent months.

At most, the company could recoup about $2,750 at peak prices for paper against the $13,000 expense.

Carl Orth can be reached at (727) 815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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