State lights fire under Clark County recycling

Wednesday, March 13, 2002 | 10:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state plans to spend about $100,000 to revitalize a lagging recycling effort in Southern Nevada.

The state Division of Environmental Protection said Tuesday the recycling rate in Southern Nevada is now 11 percent, compared to 23 percent both in Washoe County and Carson City.

"We need to send the County Commission a message they need to show leadership" in this area, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said.

The report, made to the state Board of Examiners, of which Del Papa is a member, said the statewide rate is 14 percent.

Dave Emme, chief of the division's Bureau of Waste Management, said he didn't know why Clark County trailed but speculated it has a "huge tourist population that contributes to waste but not to recycling." He also said the large transient population might add to the problem.

"The local leadership in Clark County has not picked this up," Emme told the examiners board.

Another obstacle that keeps Clark County from reaching its goals is that 4 out of every 10 residents live in apartments, condominiums or townhouses. Few residents place recycling bins on their property, local officials have said.

Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said he is uncertain whether it is the board's responsibility to enact aggressive recycling campaigns, but added that the program could be stronger.

"I have to confess, I haven't done anything as a commissioner in recent years," Woodbury said. "I don't know who should be taking a leadership role. It's an area the community needs to do more in. I'm willing to listen to who has ideas."

Woodbury said incentives and an improved curbside pickup program would be a start to encourage more residents to recycle their waste.

Emme said his division would start a "multi-media advertising campaign that promotes the benefits of recycling." The division hopes to roll out the campaign by Earth Day in April and continue it for several months, he said.

A 1991 law set the state's goal for commercial and residential recycling at 25 percent. But none of the state's 17 counties have ever complied and there are no penalties for failing to reach the target.

Washoe and Clark counties are required to provide residential curbside collection of recyclable materials, set up recycling centers and provide for collection of household hazardous waste.

But only about 30 percent of the 400,000 households in Clark and Washoe counties and Carson City participate, according to state estimates.

Del Papa said the state might put a clause in each contract when vending machines are placed in state buildings. She said there should be a provision to recycle the cans.

She also complained that white paper is not recycled at the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas. The local disposal company refused to take the white paper. Emme said the company complained that people were dumping garbage in with the white paper. He said the company will try a different approach.

Starting in July, Clark and Washoe counties must provide collection service to public buildings whose occupants wish to participate in a recycling program. State agencies are required now to recycle paper and paper products."