DATE: Wednesday, March 19, 1997             TAG: 9703190486

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   49 lines

RECYCLING COULD PAY OFF FOR NORFOLK CIVIC GROUPS

Civic leagues that increase recycling and litter cleanup in their neighborhoods soon will have more than community pride to show for their efforts.

The city unveiled a trial program Tuesday to hand out cash awards ranging from $200 to $700 to civic groups that convince at least half of their neighborhoods' households to recycle.

And they could earn up to $100 bonuses by sponsoring neighborhood litter cleanups and promoting a cleaner city.

``This is another effort to positively reinforce the fact that recycling is important,'' said John Deuel, executive director of the Norfolk Environmental Commission, which initiated the program along with the city's Department of Public Works.

The incentive program, Deuel said, could serve as a model nationwide, saying it ``has positive benefits not only for the environment but for the Norfolk taxpayer.''

About 32 percent of Norfolk's households, or 18,000 residences, now participate in the curbside recycling program run by the Southeastern Public Service Authority, the city's solid waste collector.

Last year, those residents recycled 4,352 tons of trash, officials said, saving the city about $209,766 in annual landfill disposal costs, which are based on garbage weight.

By getting at least 50 percent of households on board, the city could save an additional $100,000 in disposal costs, said city Public Works Director John Keifer. The savings would be tapped to pay the cash awards, with money left over for the city's use, he said.

``We'd be giving away money and making a profit doing it,'' Keifer told council members.

Council members verbally endorsed the program, called EARNN - for Environmental Award for Recycling in Norfolk's Neighborhoods.

``I think this is great,'' Councilman W. Randy Wright said.

Councilman G. Conoly Phillips said the city ought to kick it off with ``some hoopla to go with it.''

Deuel said the city plans to invite all of the city's 140-plus civic leagues to participate, and will present the idea to any groups interested. The first cash awards would not be handed out until next spring, Keifer said.

Civic leagues representing more than 1,000 households could earn up to $700 by getting 90 percent of the residences to recycle. They'd get $300 by signing up at least 50 percent of households.

Smaller civic leagues could earn from $200 to $550.

The groups could choose how to spend the money, Deuel said.

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