A former policy allowing residents to place reusable items in a designated part of Sterling’s Solid Waste facility was reinstituted on July 5 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Peter Micciche.
The new system reinstates a tradition of leaving items that have some use left in them for friends and neighbors in Sterling.
Mayor Micciche stated;
“This is a win-win for not only the residents of the Sterling area but for every taxpayer within the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The bottom line is that municipal solid waste (MSN) costs have increased dramatically over the past several years. Every item that can remain out of our landfills will incrementally save money, in other words, allow us to reduce the overall cost of managing the KPB for our residents and taxpayers. There is also a significant positive social and cultural element. Folks out here in Sterling will again have the opportunity to reuse items and materials, while the borough reduces the significant cost of storing those items in our landfill forever. There is a real savings to be had in space and management costs, and one of many commonsense ways we can be more accountable and efficient with sacred tax dollars.”
If this system works well, the mayor plans to expand the program to other solid waste sites in the borough. Some commonsense rules will apply:
- The site attendant has the final say on allowable items.
- Items left must be clean and not damaged or broken.
- Maximum parking of ten minutes per user is allotted and users must not block disposal areas.
- Items left in the reuse area will be cleaned out as needed.
- Allowable items include building materials, cookware, decorations, electronics, furniture, kitchen appliances, outdoor equipment, sport and recreation equipment, tools and toys.
- Restricted items include large appliances, car seats, chemicals, liquids, clothing, large furniture, mattresses, and perishables.
Mayor Micciche also had this to say on this policy’s potential expansion plans;
“So if the remainder of the site can function as intended, and this site is successful with the rules that we have in place, we’ll be looking at expanding reuse sites around the borough. It just makes good common sense to not put things forever in the landfill that people can use today.”
The Sterling transfer site deposit/reclaim policy was originally terminated during the tenure of former Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, Charlie Pierce.
