Cigarette butt recycling kicks off
Contrary to popular belief, cigarette filters are not biodegradable. They are made from cellulose acetate, which is produced from wood fiber and takes many years to break down in the environment. This summer the City of New Orleans and the Downtown Development District kicked off a new pilot program to collect and recycle cigarette butts downtown in the hopes of keeping the city’s streets cleaner.
New Orleans is the first city in the United States to implement a city-wide collection system, which launched with the installation of 50 new cigarette-recycling receptacles on several blocks downtown. The receptacles are easily identified with stickers that say “Cigarette Butts Recycling.”
“We’ve heard loud and clear that people want easy and convenient ways to keep our streets and public spaces clean,” says New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “This innovative recycling pilot project is a great example of how we are forming new partnerships to reduce waste, provide job opportunities, and keep New Orleans beautiful.”
The New Orleans pilot program is an extension of the Cigarette Waste Brigade, meaning the program will be of no cost to the city. Cigarette butts collected through the nationwide program and now in New Orleans are recycled into a variety of industrial products, such as plastic pallets. Any remaining tobacco will be repurposed via tobacco-specific composting methods. The entire program is free to consumers.
“The DDD is committed to keeping downtown New Orleans one of the cleanest areas in the city and continuously looking for ways to improve the quality of life for our downtown stakeholders,” says DDD President and CEO Kurt Weigle. “Addressing the cigarette butt litter problem is key to that effort. We are especially pleased that the recycling fits in with our mission to promote a green downtown.”
Performance Management Highest Honor
The City of New Orleans recently received a Certificate of Excellence for superior performance management efforts from the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Center for Performance Analytics.
The certificate program assesses a local government’s performance management program and encourages analysis of results by comparing to peers and gauging performance over time. The city is among 29 jurisdictions receiving the Certificate of Excellence – the highest level awarded.
“When we took office in 2010, we made a commitment to set goals and track our performance so that our citizens could hold us accountable like never before,” says Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “I want to thank the International City/County Management Association for this honor and for recognizing the City of New Orleans as a leader in performance management.”
“Our goal is to promote better city services through data-driven management decision-making and accountability to deliver results for our citizens,” says Deputy Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer Andy Kopplin. “Once again, our aggressive work is being recognized on a national stage.”
ICMA assesses a local government’s performance management program and encourages analysis of results by comparing to peers and gauging performance over time. Performance management aids in cost reduction, program prioritization, and quality improvement. It also encourages accountability and transparency. Certificates are awarded at the levels of Achievement, Distinction and Excellence.
Dauphine Orleans Hotel Named to “Top 100” list
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel, a hotel of the New Orleans Hotel Collection announced its selection as one of the Top 100 Southern Hospitality Hotels for Groups by the editors and readers of Convention South Magazine.
This honor, given to only five hotels in Louisiana, recognizes the ease of booking, warm southern welcome and charming appearance of the Dauphine Orleans Hotel’s group facilities, including its superior location.
“It is with great honor that we recognize these exemplary hotels located at meeting sites across the south,” says Convention South’s Associate Publisher Marlane Brundock. “For a hotel to offer true Southern hospitality, its aesthetics, amenities and staff must present an all-around welcoming spirit for groups and attendees from across the country and around the world.”
“We are delighted with this recognition of the Dauphine Orleans as a great hotel for small groups,” says Craig Hulford, Area General Manager. “This award reinforces what our clients have been telling us… As a locally owned and operated hotel, we strive to provide the southern experience that guests expect and deserve.”
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel is a hotel of the New Orleans Hotel Collection, located in the French Quarter at 415 Rue Dauphine.
