COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Hauling recyclables to a SWACO drop bin or paying extra for curbside recycling pickup no longer are acceptable options for Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.
In his 2010 State of the City address Wednesday, Coleman said he wants the city to offer free curbside recycling pickup for every single-family household by 2012.
"A city cannot be truly green unless it has a comprehensive curbside recycling program," Coleman told the audience assembled in the Downtown Lincoln Theatre.
Coleman said only 5 percent of Columbus households recycle -- one of the worst rates in the nation -- and 60 percent of what goes into the landfill is recyclable.
He proposed the city rotate its collection schedule between recycling and yard waste -- with recycling collected one week and yard waste the next.
He did not suggest a frequency but argued that using less landfill space could save the city millions of dollars and delay the need for a costly new landfill down the road.
Coleman said he plans to seek public input on the recycling issue before making a decision in October.
Elsewhere in the speech, Coleman said the city "must extend domestic-partner health benefits" to city employees, and "we're going to try to do that this year."
He argued the city needs to catch up with companies, such as Nationwide and Cardinal Health, that already offer domestic partner benefits, calling it the right thing to do at a cost that's affordable to the city.
City Council President Mike Mentel said he is willing to discuss the issue but did not commit to taking action beyond that. Mentel wants more details on who would be covered, the type of coverage and the cost to the city.
Coleman said the city will spend $6 million to improve bike paths and another $13 million to clean up and fix recreation centers, parks, pools and playgrounds.
The mayor also announced the Ohio Department of Transportation plans to cap the Long Street overpass above Interstate 71 in the style of the Short North cap of High Street over Interstate 670.
Following the recent snowfall, Coleman said the city will double its pothole repair efforts in March, with crews working six days a week and at night.
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