Beach Trash is recycled environmentally

The three new recycling containers on the beach look like a slightly larger version of the bins in people's homes and condominiums, but that's where the resemblance ends.

These recycling bins work on a completely different principle, and will ultimately save the city a great deal of money in labor and equipment. Where trash on the beach ordinarily needs to be picked up every day, these containers can go for weeks between pick-ups.

The recycling containers are four feet underground, according to Cheryl Miller, head of recycling for the city. They not only have a far greater capacity than the standard above-ground bins, but they also store the materials in an environmentally correct fashion, deep in the earth where the coolness kepps them free of decay and odor. This allows the city to pick them up every six weeks rather than every day.

The recycling bins were put on the beach about five months ago, and have proved to be an unqualified success, said Miller. More than 99 percent of the materials thrown in the bins is recyclable. This has the added benefit of getting the city a rate on trash disposal from the county, which represents another substantial savings.

The two recycling containers located directly across the street from the parking lot, are blue, and are clearly marked with the acceptable types of materials. One is for plastic bottles, aluminum cans, steel or metal cans, and juice boxes or milk cartons. The other blue one is for newspapers.

Between them is a green garbage container which extends six feet underground. Gravity compacts the materials and the coolness of the earth keeps them odor-free.

The containers are made by Alfa Products, Inc. out of plastic and recycled materials. The city is considering purchasing more of these tecnologically advanced, expensive containers on a lease-purchase basis, according to City Manager Larry Deetjen. Alternatively the city is exploring financing the bins through the sale of image advertising, carefully selected and rigorously controlled by the city.

City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

I have to admit, the first time I looked at the brochures about your product, I was sceptical. In fact, I was not interesterd at all. With the heat and the amount of trash our tourists generate, I could not see how these containers could work. After speaking to Vesa, who is passionate about trash and garbage, I became more interested, but still unconvinced that this could work. I was willing, however, to give it a shot.

We put four containers in the ground on our beach on July 13, 1998. We checked the containers on a regular basis for odor, which there was none and to see how quickly they filled up. On August 4th, 1998, we opened the containers to change them and found out that after 22 days, one was about half full and the other three were only about a quarter full. We changed them anyway and we still have not changed them as of October 16th. We are amazed and thoroughly convinced that this is the way for the City of Myrtle Beach to handle all of its public trash containers.

I received many phone calls about the attractiveness of the containers and people's amazement that there is no odor. We enjoy the fact that we do not have to empty these containers on a daily basis.

We plan on changing the entire beach section of containers, which is about 400 of the Alfa Maxi units. The City Manager is pleased that you offer a choice of colors, which we will also take advantage of.

I have to say thank you beyond all thanks. Not only have you delivered a superior product, but you guys are fun and easy to work with.

Nancy O'Connor, Parks Superintendent
City of Myrtle Beach

City of Windsor, Ontario

The City of Windsor has had an opportunity to test the Alfa Receptacles in use in the heaviest utilized park in our riverfront system. Prior to installation of the Alfa units our practice was to empty thirty (30) metal garbage barrels in this park once a day. July to October, the replacement ten (10) Alfa units have been emptied three times. We estimate 1500 cars and 6000 visitors to the park per week.

Patrons of the park have complimented our Department on the appearance of the new receptacles and on an operations level, we have noticed no odour or the nuisance of bees and wasps.

We have ordered an additional twenty-four (24) Alfa receptacles this season and have budgeted the same amount in 1999.

The concept of the Alfa receptacle does work and we expect in some neighbourhood parks to place one receptacle and empty it once per year in the off season. When we have had a full season to calculate our maintenance costs, we can calculate the payback period but already the existing units have cut into our operational costs significantly.