City Might Create $25K Fund for Business Recycling Costs

College Park businesses might soon be able to draw from a $25,000 city fund to help cover recycling costs.

The College Park Mayor and Council proposed an amendment to allocate the funds for the program, and other items, at a Saturday .

Councilman Marcus Afzali (Dist. 4), , said he imagined the fund being used largely to cover the one-time capital costs businesses would encounter to begin recycling.

The city’s is preparing to survey businesses about the obstacles that discourage them from recycling already—information that could be useful in determining specifics for the fund, Afzali said. Parameters for the fund—like how many grants would be available and what businesses would be eligible—would be determined after the fund is approved.

Council also proposed to allocate $80,000 of city funds for costs associated with establishing the . The Prince George's County public school system is currently reviewing an application from the to establish the school by fall 2013. Mayor Andrew Fellows said he expected to hear back from the school system by the end of spring.

The business recycling and charter school reserves were among a handful of amendments the council proposed on Saturday. The other amendments were:

• $4,000 to increase tree replacement;
• $1,000 for the ;
• an additional $500 for the , bringing the total contribution to the program to $4,000;
• $5,500 associated with Comcast service;
• $4,100 allocated for a one-day retreat for Mayor and Council and senior staff;
• replace $500 to the budget by eliminating volunteer programs.

The items proposed on Saturday would draw from a .

The council will continue to discuss the city budget and possible amendments at another worksession at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 21 at . It will be viewable on the city's website here.

The public can comment on the operating and capital budget at a hearing on Tuesday, May 8. The Mayor and Council are scheduled to adopt the fiscal year 2013 budget ordinance—which would include the adjustments discussed at the worksessions—on Tuesday, May 22. The complete requested budget accompanies this post.