contract are very encouraged that--this time around--Northeast-based Eureka
Recycling is in the running. City Council begins considering Eureka's bid,
and Waste Management's bid, this next Tuesday.
There are very significant differences between these two companies, in
their recycling practices and philosophy, and in their workforce
relationships. The current holder of the recycling contract uses temporary
hires, kind of day labor, so they can avoid both paying well and any
benefits (the work is often very dangerous, too). Eureka treats its
employees with dignity, pays well, provides benefits. A real difference
here, for those of us who care about how hourly-pay employees can work and
thrive in our city.
Then, there's the whole recycling philosophy. When I toured Waste
Management's plant several years ago I was appalled at how its contract
with the city permitted a large amount of "recycled" materials to go either
to landfills or a burner--above the permitted contract amount,and more or
less the national average of about 10%. That's huge! By contrast, here's
an excerpt from Eureka's on-line statement about its practice on how much
recycling collected actually gets recycled:
Our overall residual rate (percentage of total material that cannot be
recycled) is 3.5 %, much lower than the national average of 10%!
I don't know if the city lets the public access the two formal bids before
the issue is decided. But it seems to me that we ought to support Eureka in
this round, for worker equity reasons and pure environmental soundness.
Call or email your Council Member!
Connie Sullivan
Como, in Southeast Minneapolis