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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-22 City Council (9)TO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: CITY MANAGER FEBRUARY 22, 2000 DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS CMR: 146:00 SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING PROGRAM CHANGES IN THE YEAR 2000 This is an informational report and no Council action is required. DISCUSSION On August 9, 1999 Council approved a new agreement (CMR: 337:99) with Palo Alto Sanitation Company (PASCO)/USA Waste of California/Waste Management Company for solid waste and recyclable materials handling services. This new agreement became effective September 1, 1999 for a term of ten years. This new contract allowed for the expansion, implementation and elimination of solid waste & recycling programs. The new PASCO agreement: 1) expands the collection of curbside recyclable materials to include mixed paper and colored number 2 plastic bottles; 2) phases out the interim mixed paper drop-off program; 3) implements an annual citywide recycling/cleanup event; 4) phases out the use of dump passes at the City landfill; 5) implements a new program to supply solid waste and recycling services at specific City events; 6) Provides for a PASCO "Customer Satisfaction Survey"; and 7) implements a backyard recycling collection service to residents who are physically limited. The following is the status on these programs. Mixed Paper and Colored Number 2 Plastic PASCO is scheduled to start collecting mixed paper and colored number 2 plastic at single family homes and multi-family complexes beginning July 1, 2000. A fourth stacking container has been ordered (dark green) for the collection of mixed paper at single family homes. Distribution is planned for June 2000. Residents will utilize either the existing blue and/or yellow stacking containers to recycle the number 2 plasiic bottles. Additional 64-gallon recycling carts have been ordered for multi-family complexes. This new program will be promoted to residents through the residential newsletter, local newspaper advertisements, utility bill insert, Internet, flyers, and brochures distributed with the new container. In preparation for the new service, PASCO has been changing collection routes to accommodate the new materials and the logistics for the collection vehicles. Residents ~ CMR: 146:00 Page 1 of 4 may see a change in .the time of day their collections are made (within the allowed working hours in the agreement), but the collection days will remain the same. The new sorting line at the recycling center is on schedule and is planned to be installed in March 2000. Interim Mixed Paper Drop-off Program With the impending start of a curbside mixed paper collection program from single family homes and multi~family complexes, the interim mixed paper drop-off program will be phased out. Informational signs will be posted before July 1, 2000 at all mixed paper collection locations, which included the public libraries, Greer Park and Foothills Park. These signs will inform users about the curbside program and the date that the bins will be removed. The public will also be notified about discontinuance of the mixed paper drop-off sites through the residential newsletter, advertisements, utility bill insert, flyers delivered with the new containers and through the Internet. Bins are scheduled to be removed on September 1, 2000. Citywide Cleanup/Recycling Day Staff will work with PASCO to implement an annual Citywide Recycling/Cleanup event. The implementation of the Citywide Recycling/Cleanup event is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2000. The program will be on a two-year trial basis. Staff and PASCO have worked together, to create an "on-call" cleanup day service that is convenient and flexible for Palo Alto.residents. The on-call service will provide residents with the opportunity to schedule one unlimited collection of rubbish (one call annually per single family home) at curbside for no additional cost. Residents will be required to call PASCO one week in advance of their normal collection day to schedule the event. PASCO will then pick up the extra garbage and recyclable materials on the resident’s normal scheduled collection day. Set out requirements: -All articles must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. -All articles must be safely manageable by one person. -Poles, pipes, wood and lumber must be cut down to 3 feet in length. -No tires, batteries, dirt, concrete or construction debris will be collected. -No hazardous materials Will be collected (paints, thinners, acids, chlorine or pesticides). -The following can be picked up at a reduced charge rate: refrigerators, washers, dryers, water heaters ($25.00); sofas, beds, mattresses and box springs ($10.00). The on-call "clean up" service has been done successfully in other communities and has advantages for the residents of Palo Alto. The on-call service allows the residents to schedule the cleanup day when it is most convenient for their schedules and needs. The on-call cleanup service will be integrated into PASCO’s current daily operations, which will minimize the program costs. The on-call cleanup service will prevent unnecessary CMR: 146:00 Page 2 of 4 weekend noise and traffic through neighborhoods. It will also reduce the concern of illegal dumping from non Palo Alto residents. The material collected during the cleanup events will be directed to the SMART Station, where additional recyclable materials will be recovered before disposal. Staff will continue to educate residents on options available to reuse and recycle their materials through the City’s existing recycling programs and resources. The new cleanup day will be promoted through the residential newsletter, advertisements in the local newspapers and the utility bill insert, press releases, the Internet, and in brochures and flyers distributed to residents with the new recycling crate. Phase Out of the Landfill "Dump Passes" The phase out of the landfill "dump passes" continues to be on schedule. Information about the phase-out of the program began September 1, 1999 with flyers distributed out at the landfill, ads placed in the local newspapers and a brief announcement in the utility bill. PASCO discontinued issuing "dump passes" as of December 31, 1999. City staff has received minimal objection to the elimination of the "dump pass" program. The next and final phase of this project will occur on July 1, 2000, when the City will cease honoring previously issued passes. Staff will continue to educate residents about the elimination of this program through the residential newsletter, utility bill announcement and the Internet. Providing Recycling and Solid Waste Services at City Special Events. The new PASCO agreement requires the collector to provide solid waste and recycling services at six specified annual City events. On December 2, 1999 (Snowmen and Sleigh Rides Event), PASCO delivered, placed, removed and processed recycling and garbage containers as required in the new contract. Prior to the event PASCO worked with City staff to locate various containers throughout the downtown area. Other events in which this service is provided include the May Fete Parade, Black & White Ball, the Sand Castles Event, the Summer Concert Series (8 total) and the Chili Cook-off. Customer Satisfaction Survey As required in the collection agreement, City staff will conduct a Customer Satisfaction Survey and report results to Council in September 2000. The objective of the survey is to gauge the general satisfaction level of the community with the service being provided by the PASCO. City staff has worked with PASCO on the development of the survey and is planning to distribute the survey this summer. Physically Limited Recycling Service The new Agreement requires PASCO to provide (at no additional charge) backyard collection service of recyclable materials and yard trimmings for residents who are physically limited. Residents can obtain this special service by completing an application from the City and providing medical certification that their disability, handicap, or age- CMR:XXX:00 Page 3 of 4 related challenge limits their ability to take recyclable materials to the curb. This service has been advertised in the Utility bill insert and will be promoted through the residential recycling newsletter, advertisements and flyers in the next few months. Since the beginning of the new Agreement (September 1999), twelve applications have been sent out and four residents are now receiving this special service. PREPARED BY: Michael Jackson, Deputy Director, Public Works ~ Russell Reiserer, Solid Waste Manager DEPARTMENT HEAD: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: GLENN S. Direilor ,of Public C ty~/Manager CMR:XXX:00 Page 4 of 4