Explanation
The Refuse Collection Division is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. This fact bears recognition by City Council.
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Collection Division for 100 years of service and dedication to the citizens of the City of Columbus. To recognize and honor the men and women of the Refuse
To recognize and honor the men and women of the Refuse Collection Division for 100 years of service and dedication to the citizens of the City of Columbus.
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WHEREAS, the Refuse Collection Division is celebrating its 100th anniversary; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Garbage and Refuse Collection was established in 1906 by Columbus City Council and Mayor DeWitt Clinton Badger; and assigned the duty to "collect all garbage, ashes and manure in the City and to bury it in ditches in the English Farm; and
WHEREAS, the men and women of the division have worked to keep Columbus healthy and clean for 100 years; and
WHEREAS, whether using teams of horses and carts, open box trucks, packer trucks, modern automated rear-loaders, side-loaders, or other automated equipment; or whether carrying heavy containers on their shoulders or operating state-of the-art hydraulic lifting machines, the collectors' dedication to the citizens has not wavered, and
WHEREAS, The Department of Garbage an Refuse Collection, later named the Division of Sanitation and today known as the Public Service Department's Refuse Collection Division has a rich tradition of leading the nation by successfully implementing the newest and most efficient technologies; and
WHEREAS, beginning in the early 1980's, the division made Columbus the first city if its size to successfully implement a fully automated collection system; and
WHEREAS, in 1987, the Refuse Collection Division Customer Service Center, a forerunner of today's Citywide 311 Call center, was established; and
WHEREAS, in 1991 a successful pilot yard waste program was introduced to conserve landfill space and improve operation of the solid waste reduction facility and Columbus Clean Community (now called Keep Columbus Beautiful) was integrated into the division; and
WHEREAS, in 2001 the City of Columbus created its first year-round graffiti removal program to address the growing problem of graffiti on public property and purchased its first single-operator vehicle used to collect bulk items and large piles of debris; and
WHEREAS, in 2005 the Refuse Collection Division provided weekly service to 323,867 households, collected 343,480 tons of refuse and through recycling programs diverted 45,183 tons of additional waste from the landfill; and
WHEREAS, because of its grand tradition and continuing successes, today the City of Columbus Refuse Collection Division is considered a leader in the solid waste industry; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That this Council does hereby recognize the men and women of the Refuse Collection Division for 100 years of tradition, service and dedication to the community and the citizens of the City of Columbus.