Bismarck wants to recycle more.

This message was presented with supportive results at Tuesday night's Bismarck City Commission meeting where Jeff Heintz, public works service operations director, spoke on the progress of the plastic recycling pilot project.

Heintz reported Bismarck residents are already up 13.9 tons of plastics for 2008 compared to 2007. The entire year's total for 2007 was 21.45 tons.

"What we are seeing is an increased demand from residents of Bismarck," Heintz said.

In July 2006, the city purchased and installed ten plastic recycling containers at five of the recycling trailer sites to determine the demand and feasibility for recycling plastics.

Public support has been increasing since the program's inception.

"I think that it is an exciting report and survey," Commissioner Mike Seminary said. "I think it spells out that (Bismarck residents) are becoming far more progressive thinkers."

To reduce the overflow at the five locations, the city had to add a Saturday pickup for a total of four pickups each week.

A telephone survey conducted by the University of North Dakota affirmed suspicions that Bismarck citizens are demanding more recycling, Heintz said.

"I think our residents are becoming cognizant that the more we can remove and reuse and the more we can keep out of the landfill stream, that it's a money saver," Heintz said.

Another financial consideration was raised by Commissioner Steve Schwab, who wanted to know if recycling could be a source of revenue for the city.

Heintz said he looked into selling the recyclables but would need more quantities to make it profitable.

"When we talk about making a program financially viable, we need to look at other recyclables," Heintz added.

To help Heintz determine such matters, Mayor John Warford made a motion at the meeting to reestablish a task force to improve the program.

There was some debate as to what to name the program, as it was commonly agreed that calling it a Solid Waste Task Force might give the wrong impression.

It was deemed that the task force could find an appropriate name for itself and the commission approved its re-establishment.

"It looks to me like the community is ready to do more and I applaud that," Commissioner Connie Sprynczynatyk.

(Reach reporter Chris Rosacker at 250-8254 or at chris.rosacker@;bismarcktribune.com.)