HUNTINGTON BEACH : City Redoubles Its Recycling Efforts

Recycling of waste paper at City Hall is getting increased emphasis, city officials announced this week.

Under Jim Sankey, the new manager for the City Hall paper-recycling program, the city’s administrative offices are now recycling about 20% of their used paper. The recycled paper includes computer paper, newspapers, white ledger paper and cardboard boxes.

“We want to do our bit to recycle and attempt to lead by example,” said Sankey, who is a senior analyst in the city’s Public Works Department.

Huntington Beach, like all other California cities, is under state pressure to reduce its solid waste and thereby save the shrinking amount of landfill space. A state law requires that by 1995, all cities reduce by 25% the amount of trash hauled to landfills. The same law requires a 50% reduction by the year 2000.

City officials said they want City Hall to set a good example by cutting down waste as much as possible. One way is through recycling.

Rick Amadril, the city’s purchasing director, said the Purchasing Department is trying to help the recycling effort by buying less colored paper, which many recyclers refuse to accept. Amadril said the city is also buying fewer Styrofoam cups and more products that contain recycled materials.

The city currently is recycling about 20 tons of paper and cardboard a month, which brings the city treasury about $4,800 a year.

Blue recycling bins are kept on every floor of City Hall. Sankey often is seen stirring through the paper-recycling bins, rooting out the colored paper.

“Colored paper mixed in with newspaper contaminates the load, and we lose money at the recycler,” he said.

In addition to paper, the city government is also recycling tires. Worn-out tires are ground up and mixed with asphalt for street paving. Used motor oil, batteries and chemicals are other substances recycled by city workers.