Responses To Recycling Project Varied Trash Project 'success'

i An interim report to the city by the Ann Arbor Ecology Center on its pilot neighborhood recycling project indicates residents in the relatively new Bromley subdivisión are apparently more ! ecology conscious than those in an older west side neighborhood off Jackson. In the f i r s t pickup of paper, glass and cans for recycling on J u 1 y 21 in the Bromley-northeast area, 58 per cent of the residents of that area participated, compared to 30 per cent of the residents in an area bordered b y Dexter, Virginia and Revenna on July 22. During the second Bromley pickup on July 28, a total of 43 per cent of the residents put out materials for recycling, compared to 25 per cent in the west side area on July 29. In the latest pickup on Aug. 4, in the Bromley area, 47 per cent of the residents took part, compared to 20 per cent of those in the west side area the next day. In other words, a decline was followed by an increase on the city's northeast side, while in the west side área there has been a steady decline. Bromley subdivisión area residents have contributed a total of 6,600 pounds of paper, 6,500 pounds of glass, and 850 pounds of cans for recycling to conserve natural resources and help prevent pollution, according to the report. , West side residents have contributed 3,000 pounds of paper, 3,200 pounds of glass and 500 pounds of cans in comparison. Russel Linden of the Ann Arbor Ecology Center, author of the report, states, ently some neighborhoods in the city are more ready for the recycling concept than others. A study after the project might indícate why one area so far responds much better than another. "A study of residents in I Ann Arbor bringing glass to the recycling station was cond u c t e d by Owens-Illinois (glass conipany) in April, and it showed that, among other things, people between the I ages of 20 and 45, with above average incomes and college educations, brought in, by far, the most glass. "One possible conclusión is that it may make more sense I to begin neighborhood I cling only in certain neighborhoods, and spread to other areas after more intense education occurs," the report states. ' The report also states in part: "One possible conclusión is that the city may be ready now to initiate I cling with its present sanitation trucks and workers. If a i grant can be found to pay for f installation of containers on I' the sanitation trucks, door collections of [ pers and cans (for recycling) P might prove quite easy within the present garbage B tion setup." A six-week experiment iií collection and recycling of discarded items, conducted in two city áreas, has been concluded and termed a success. "Overall, the coördinators of the program feit it was successful in terms of citizen participation, with over 70 per cent of the residents in the two target areas contributing materials for recycling during f. f. -'t the experiment," a statement from the Ann Arbor Ecology Center said. The Ecology Center and city Department of Public Works cosponsored the project. In the six weeks that glass, cans and newspapers were picked up, 38,000 pounds of materials were collected and sent to factories for essing, it was reported. Areas chosen for the pilot program were a Bromley ' division-northeast sectíon of the city and a west side section in the vicinity of Dexter Ave., Jackspn Ave., and Revenna Blvd. The Bromley totals were 11,300 pounds of glass, 11,900 pounds of newspapers and 1,620 pounds of cans. Ninetyfour per cent of residents in that area participated. Totals for the west side area, where 51 per cent of the residents participated, were 5,400 pounds of glass, 6,700 pounds of newspapers and 1,050 pounds of cans. An attitude survey is being conducted in the two areas to find answers to such questions as whether the residents found it inconvenient to save recyclable materials, whether they would be willing to save for a bi-weekly or monthly pickup. Af ter the survey is complete, staff members of the Ecology Center and city officials will begin working toward finding an efficiënt and I economical method for 1 ing up separated materials on I a city-wide basis. The glass collection center I at Arborland is open from 10 I a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sundays I through Thursdays. Cans and I newspapers are collected at I Westgate station from 10 a.m. I to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.