January 22, 2010

Dear Fellow Omahans,

You may have read an article in the morning edition of today’s Omaha World-Herald regarding LB 1099, a bill that would establish a voluntary, fee-for-service recycling program. Unfortunately, this article was inaccurate and does not adequately describe what the proposed legislation changes.

LB 1099 proposes allowing the residents of the City of Omaha to participate in a voluntary, fee-for-service recycling program. This type of recycling program has been extremely successful in other municipalities, resulting in as much as a 300% increase in recycling collection rates.

This legislation is also beneficial for the City of Omaha because it diverts would-be landfill costs and provides retail coupons and rewards to participants who voluntarily join the program.

Let me be clear, this legislation does not allow the City of Omaha to impose a new garbage fee. I have stated numerous times that I do not support allowing the City of Omaha to impose a garbage fee, which would not change under LB 1099.

While LB 1099 was not accurately described in today’s Omaha World-Herald, I believe we can find common ground that a voluntary, expanded recycling program that saves property tax dollars for the City of Omaha and provides meaningful incentives to its participants is beneficial to the greater Omaha-area.

Working for you,

Senator Heath Mello