Bloomington - Public Works Director Speaks
In a letter to the Bloomington City Council dated July 11, 2014, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel discounted all claims that Government Managed Trash Collection would improve safety, improve the environment, or would reduce road maintenance costs.
What is amazing is that 11 months later, some councilmembers and citizens, none of whom have any professional background in these areas, continue to make claims to the contrary in newspaper articles, TV interviews, and at city council meetings.
In fact, on May 4, 2015, Councilmember at Large Tim Busse, minutes after having Keel's report read out loud to him by Councilmember at Large Cynthia Bemis Abrams, made a speech contradicting most of what Mr. Keel wrote in his report as if the report never existed. Mr. Busse is not a road engineer, environmental analyst, or safety expert. He works in the public relations department at the U of M.
Mr. Keel made the following statements in his report:
"The recycling data collected by Hennepin County does not suggest that organized collection results in increased recycling rates. Organized organics recycling is still a fledgling program and may not be ready for mandated community-wide implementation."
"Most environmental objectives regarding solid waste can generally be implemented with any collection system. The reduction of air pollution realized by the reduction of vehicles under an organized system is relatively small in comparison to overall community emissions."
"Historically, garbage trucks have not contributed to the accident history in Bloomington. In fact, staff is not aware of a single incident involving a garbage truck in recent history."
"The reduction of garbage trucks realized by organizing collection...would not likely have a noticeable impact on actual safety or result in the need for less roadway maintenance."
Full report from Keel's Solid Waste Project Management Team.
In a letter to the Bloomington City Council dated July 11, 2014, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel discounted all claims that Government Managed Trash Collection would improve safety, improve the environment, or would reduce road maintenance costs.
What is amazing is that 11 months later, some councilmembers and citizens, none of whom have any professional background in these areas, continue to make claims to the contrary in newspaper articles, TV interviews, and at city council meetings.
In fact, on May 4, 2015, Councilmember at Large Tim Busse, minutes after having Keel's report read out loud to him by Councilmember at Large Cynthia Bemis Abrams, made a speech contradicting most of what Mr. Keel wrote in his report as if the report never existed. Mr. Busse is not a road engineer, environmental analyst, or safety expert. He works in the public relations department at the U of M.
Mr. Keel made the following statements in his report:
"The recycling data collected by Hennepin County does not suggest that organized collection results in increased recycling rates. Organized organics recycling is still a fledgling program and may not be ready for mandated community-wide implementation."
"Most environmental objectives regarding solid waste can generally be implemented with any collection system. The reduction of air pollution realized by the reduction of vehicles under an organized system is relatively small in comparison to overall community emissions."
"Historically, garbage trucks have not contributed to the accident history in Bloomington. In fact, staff is not aware of a single incident involving a garbage truck in recent history."
"The reduction of garbage trucks realized by organizing collection...would not likely have a noticeable impact on actual safety or result in the need for less roadway maintenance."
Full report from Keel's Solid Waste Project Management Team.
