HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 429-07City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER
DECEMBER 3, 2007
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
CMR:429:07
UPDATE LISTING THE ZERO WASTE OPERATIONAL PLAN MINOR
BUDGETARY IMPACTS
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
On September 17, 2007, City Council approved a tiered approach for the continuing review,
approval, and implementation of the Zero Waste Operational Plan that included the following:
Programs - Direct staff to immediately begin implementing and recommend programs
that will have minor budgetary impacts. As for the other programs, direct staff to begin
identifying costs and funding mechanisms, including inclusion of specified programs in
the Request for Proposals for new collection services to be bid in spring 2008.
Implementation of such programs will be reviewed and evaluated based upon their cost
and diversion effectiveness.
Policies - Approve plan and continue the discussion of new policies and re~o~ulatory
requirements such as mandatory recycling and product bans to give staff direction on
whether to pursue such actions in conjunction with the start of the new collection contract
in 2009.
Facilities - Approve the regional facilities approach in the Request for Proposals for new
collection services and continue the discussion of local facilities such as the relocation of
the recycling center in a separate process which is already underway. These activities
will be included in the new waste hauling RFP as alternatives, to be reviewed and
evaluated at that time based upon their cost effectiveness.
DISCUSSION
During its discussion of the Zero Waste Operational Plan (ZWOP) on September 17, 2007,
Council directed staff to return to council with a listing of ZWOP items that would have minor
budgetary impacts. This report summarizes the ZWOP programs that have minor or no
budgetary impact. For reference, this report also describes the other ZWOP programs which will
likely have budget impacts.
CMR:429:07 Page 1 of 3
Actions Requiting No Additional Funding (funding in current budget)
Below is a list of programs which have minor budgetary impacts and which are currently being
implemented by staff per Council’s direction.
¯ Integrate climate protection analysis into the Zero Waste decision-making process;
¯Expand collaborative efforts with targeted businesses to reduce the use of disposable items
such as plastic shopping bags and take-out containers;
¯Ensure that new waste collection and processing seladce bids include Zero Waste service
options (e.g., expanded organics collection, expanded construction and demolitions (C&D)
debris collection and container inspections upon collection);
¯Retool the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMART) Station to increase diversion
rate from 18% to 25%. Comacil approved the funding mechanism on July23, 2007
(CMR:318:07);
¯Facilitate connections between food rescue organizations and Palo Alto businesses to reduce
the mnount of food discarded into the waste stream;
¯Collaborate with the Planning and Community Environment Department to increase Green
Building and adaptive reuse efforts;
¯Expand efforts in waste prevention through legislation, policies, ordinances, outreach and
technical assistance;
¯Reduce the amount and toxicity of consumer product waste through measures that place the
appropriate level of responsibility on manufacturers for the end-of-life of their products;
¯Encourage innovative reuse and recycling Selwices to be added by the private sector and
nonprofit groups, such as electronics and building materials, so the City does not have to invest
in those activities;
¯Work with residents, businesses, community organizations, Bay Area Product Stewardship
Council, Bay Area Zero Waste Communities, Bay Friendly Regional Coalition and other such
groups to further the City’s Zero Waste efforts; and
¯Enhance business, multi-family and school waste reduction programs.
The following categories of actions and listings of specific items are provided for information
beyond that which was requested by Council. This is being done so that the full extent of
outstanding issues and actions can be understood prior to staff returning to Council with the key
elements of the new waste hauling Request for Proposal (RFP), including Zero Waste services,
on December 17, 2007.
Actions Requiring Approval. But No Additional Funding
The following programs will likely not have budgetary impacts, but will require further Council
action to implement. Staff will be bringing these items to the Council for further discussion and
direction.
¯ Propose modifications the C&D debris ordinance to:
o Increase the amount of materials salvaged for reuse;
o Increase the diversion percentage required for demolition permits from 50% to 75%; and
o Increase the number of projects that are covered by the ordinance.
¯Propose materials to be banned from the Palo Alto landfill (may lose revenues from landfill,
but could gain them from recycling the material instead);
CMR:429:07 Page 2 of 3
Propose Susta~_able Gardening and Lmudscaping Policy and Lmplementation Plan; and
Propose possible product bans or fees to reduce product use.
Actions Requiring Additional Funding
The following programs will require additional funding. Staff will be seeking budgetary and/or
policy autho~ty Dora Comncil either as p~ of the new- waste hauling contract or separately.
Divert remaining debris boxes rich in C&D material to C&D processing facilities;
Support development of a Sustainable P~chasing Policy and impiementation Pian;
Propose a grant or loan progr_am for !ocal reuse and recycling;
New collection contract:
o Expand the organics program;
o Provide recycling services to all commercial customers; and
o Divert additional industrial loads to C&D debris processing facilities.
Propose a phased-in mandatory recycling ordinance;
Lncrease staffing levels (3 additional fu!l time employees);
Expand the types ofrecyclable materials collected by the c~bside program;
Improve the current bukky item co!lection wogram to fiarther reuse and recyc1~g;
Modify garbage rotes to encourage Zero Waste;
improve recycling in public areas; and
Find a !ocation for a !ocal recycFmg drop-off center and household hazardous waste facility.
Actions Needing Analysis to Fig ,~e Out CosffBenefit ~piications
~ne following ZWOP action items will require fin’ther analysis to assess budgeta-y impacts and
wi!l al~o req:aire addkional budgetary direction Dora Comnci!.
~ F~d a location for a !ocal recycling drop-off cemer and household hazardous waste
PREP_~ED BY:
DEP~,~RTM%ENT
RUSSELL REiSE~R
Solid Waste Manager
GLEI\rN S. ROBERTS
D-~ector of Public Works
CITY M~2"gAGER APPROVAL:
EMPTY
Assistant Ci~- Manager
CMR:429:07 Page 3 of 3