Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association (HONNA) posts an Alley Recycling Update

Recently posted on HONNA's Facebook page:

ALLEY RECYCLING UPDATE: Mike Dove, the newly appointed administrator overseeing Sanitation at the City, was at the HONNA Board of Director's monthly meeting last night. Please note the following:

1. It was a positive step for the HONNA Board to hear directly from the City for the first time on this issue. We thank Mike Dove for coming.

2. Dove is the process of conducting a study to find solutions to make alley recycling work in St. Pete. He is using at least 6 other examples. His study should conclude on August 31st.

3. Dove stated the Old Northeast's participation rate is around 30% while most other neighborhoods are sitting at 50%. Participation is measured by how many times the robotic arm moves because the bins are not chipped.

4. There are some alleys in his study that have problems with narrowness where garbage trucks barely fit, and things like over brush. When asked about the Old Northeast particularly, it seems a lot of these problem alleys mentioned are outside our neighborhood, in West St. Pete.

5. Dove was asked by a Board Member if he would consider recommending an alley recycling test phase of some neighborhoods with alleys that do not have some of the problems he mentioned in #4 while they think of other solutions more suitable for the problem alleys in other neighborhoods. He mentioned he is open to the idea.

6. A question was asked if the city would look at code enforcement for 22nd avenue from the highway because it is covered in blue bins in front yards. Dove stated he would look into it.

7. Dove mentioned that Seeitclickitfixit is available to report blue bin code violations. He also mentioned his Sanitation Department is in training to identify code violations with the blue bins.

8. President Motzenbecker sent a letter late last Thursday to the Mayor Kriseman, requesting to meet with the 3 neighborhood coalition (HONNA, HKNA, St. Pete DNA) shortly after this study. When asked, Mike Dove said Mayor Kriseman would be willing to meet after the study. We will keep you updated on when we hear back from the Mayor's Office with a date for that meeting.