[sustran] nmt and recycling in Bangkok

[Milnor H.Senior, III]

John Ernst wrote:
> 
> An interesting item from today’s Bangkok Post (15-Jun-98, p.1) notes that
> Bangkok has 42 waste recycling trucks that are too big to use on narrow
> streets in the inner city areas.  Each truck can hold 8 tons of garbage,
> but reportedly has never collected more than 100 kg.
> 
> The city, through an unnamed official, acknowledges that the public already
> gives or sells recyclable garbage to garbage resellers on tricycles.
> Indeed, the recyclable garbage collectors pedalling their tricycle trucks
> around Bangkok neighborhoods are one of the last vestiges of non-motorized
> transport in the city.
> 
> The city’s solution to their big truck problem, however, is to order 120
> new trucks –in a slimmed down version.  The price tag is over 56 million
> baht total (about US$1.3 million).
> 
> It appears there is opportunity here for synergy between the low capital
> costs of non-motorized transport, the frequently low profit margins
> generated by recycling, and the need to provide employment opportunities.

     In the fall of 1991 the Fresh Aire Delivery was started in Ames, IA 
(pop. 50,000).  Initially, they focused on grocery delivery, but soon 
expanded to other areas.  In the summer of 1993, they began a curbside 
recycling service completely powered by bicycles.  In addition the 
service provides regular, scheduled deliveries of large items such as 
bulk newspapers, mail, and bulk commodities.  They operate year 'round, 
and have missed only a handful of days due to bad weather.
     They originally offered a curbside recycling service for 
residential and business customers.  In 1996, they received a contract 
to collect recyclables from all of the residence halls at Iowa State 
University.  They serve approx. 160 pick-up locations in the residence 
halls, serving about 8,000 students.  Each pick-up site has three 18 
gallon bins - one for newsprint, one for magazines and colored paper, 
and one for plastic, glass and steel.  They make a pick-up at each site 
weekly.  They also make pick-ups from offices on campus.
     Everything collected is sorted at a storage shed.  Once enough 
material is collected it is taken by bike to a recycling center.  For 
these trips they use two trailers in tandem with one bicycle.  Loads of 
500-900 lbs are not uncommon.  During the school year they pick up 
approx. 13,000 lbs of material a month.  In less than four and a half 
years since the service was started more than 400,000 lbs of material 
has been collected and recycled - all by bicycle.  They also manufacture 
bicycle trailers.  A trailer with a cargo area 96"L and 20"W can be 
purchased for $445 which includes delivery within the US.  The recycling 
service employs two full-time employees and 20 part-time employees.
                                     Sincerely,  Milnor H. Senior, III