Come November, Buffalo will move away from unionized recycling programs, as it granted a $1.57 million contract to a private company who will carry the brunt of the duties. The contracted company, BFI, is part of the second largest waste service company in the nation, which already holds contracts in 39 states. Since they have a record of efficiency and submitted the lowest bid, the city willingly handed over the keys to their trucks.
While seasonal and part-time jobs were cut, the remaining work force was transferred to other departments within waste management, saving the city $758,000. By privatizing recycling, Buffalo is taking a step toward improving the economy without sacrificing environmental standards and many jobs. Clearly, something had to be done to save city funds, and this saves both money and the services rendered.
Unlike New York City, which recently had to curtail certain recycling programs because they were no longer cost efficient, Buffalo is revitalizing its system to simultaneously maintain a clean city and increase available funds. The money that was saved must now be spent wisely and should not be wasted or lost in bureaucracy.
These three-quarters of a million dollars need to be funneled back into Buffalo, specifically into the struggling public school system. It is such an obvious area that is too often overlooked, but by helping the schools, the city will help the entire population. Whether in bonuses to teachers, increased supplies or classroom utilities, better schools mean a better community. Parents raising their children in the area will stimulate the economy, and if children enjoy growing up here, they will want to stay.
The only downside to privatizing the city's recycling program would be if individual families were forced to pay an additional fee for the service that is currently covered by taxes. If the city hands over recycling to BFI, which in turn passes the financial burden on to homeowners in the area, use of the program could very well drop off, due to financial concerns.
If BFI proves to be an efficient company committed to improving Buffalo without costing taxpayers any additional "user fees," privatizing recycling will be a step in the right direction toward rejuvenating Buffalo's suffering economy.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
