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Home My WebLink About0180.095~.~. ""'. -""" -. -, ". "~ -,:;:::-:. -~.::.:'".\". -,"- {} City of Palo Alto City Manager's Summary ~eport --- TO: . HONORABLE CITY COt.'NCIL FROM: AGENDA DAW.: CITY MANAGER MarclilO. 1995 DEPARI'MEl'o': PL'BUC WORKS CMR:180:95 SUBJECT: ImpI"""'lIfatioD of Curbside CoDeciion and Management of Housebold Batteries Prognun REQUEST The: purpose of !his report is 10 provide Council with wormation regarding the efforts undertaken 10 date, and the current status 0( the development d • residential curbside wIlcction ond ~cling Center ~ program for housebold batteries. RF£QMMFNnATION CruociI direct staff 10 implement I residential curbside co!Iection and Recycling Center drop-off progr&Di for household batteries. POUCY IMPUCA11QNS The implementation 0( • residentlal curl>side cOileWoo and Recycling Cenrer drop-off program for household batteries does not represent any char.ge 10 existing policy. EXECUfIVE SUMMARy In late 1992, Council Member Ron Allderscn asked stalf aboot the possibility 0( imj>Iementing I coIlectiOII program for household baaeries, whlch woold furnish residenrial curoside co!Iectiro as wen as drO(Hlff 3C<:opUOCe at the Palo Alto Recycling Center. At that lime, there were a number of regul.lory requirements prohibiting the imp1ementation of the prvgr.nn then envisioned, the most difficult cne being the requireme!lt dial: the 00I!eries be recycled, when no ""'imoIogy d Ibis type was available. For the next year and a half, staff attempted 10 get exisfing regulations m60Ified through the legislative process ond investigate alt.:mative approaches for regulatory relief. In Seprember 1994. an enviromnenlal roanagemelll. corr.pany announced an exclusive art:Itl8eme1l1. ",ith • hazardous waste facilily that had developed. recycling IeClmology for smaIl bai1eries. At the MI!le lime, !be California Department d Toxic Substances Coo!roI. iIIdic3ted the recycling ~ iO< hcusehoId batk:rj' collection programs bad been re-interprel<d to allow for the use of OODcrccyding managemem methods. 'These two developments have cleared the way for the implementation d !he residential ba!lery coIlec6on program. hgelofS J " . :: ... -. _ ~ __ I .. ", • ",. -, , .'-./' fISCAL IMPAct Budget ~limatcs are Wt I sin&k family household barrery colleclion program WI be kDpIandlIed foe lcss !ban $10,000 per year. If approved, fJOOIDg will be included in !he FY 1995-96 Refuse Fund operating rodget f2l/VIRQlIiMENI'AI. ASSESSMENT Tbis project is exempt from che California EnvirOllllleIltal Quality Act, because DO possibility exists that it may produce significant enviroornental effects. PREPARED BY: Chad Centola, Maoager-Emir=nenW Control Pr~ "'"" 2 of 5 ... -..., 'J SUBJECT: Curbside Collection and Management of O"usehold Batferns BECQ1\fMENJ)A11QN Council direct sI.aff 10 implc:men!: I residential curbside co!Jectioo and Recycling Cenlu drop-off program for bousehoId batteries. BACKGRom.]) In late 1992, Council Member Roo Andenen asked staff about !he possibility of cxpand"mg the collection and management of household batteries beyood !he monthly HruseboId Hazardous W."te (HffiII) Managc:men!: Program. Specifkally, the elpl<nded progt am wood furnish boIh curbside picIrup by Palo Aho Sanitation Company and drer off acceplanCe at the Palo Alto Recycling Center foe household batteries. At that time, severa! regulatory issues probibited Ihe implementation of such a program. Brealahrooghs have developed lila! allow for !he impIemerualion of the progr..". This report details the effort .. undertaken during Ihe past tw() years 10 deal ,~th !he regulatory issues and the current status of program implemenlaoo.._ . POLIO-IMPUCATIONS The implemenlatioo 0( • resid<:h!U!l curbs ide coilectioo and drop-off acceptance program foc household batreries does not represen! any cbang. 10 existing policies. DISCUSSION Nih<: time 1ba! staff began 10 ovaluate • residenlial curlJ<ide pickup and Recycling Center drop-off program for household batleri<:s, !here were a oumber of impedimenls in California', hazardous waste regulalioos that prohibited the implementation of sucb I program. In California. spent hoosebold batteries (mcbling the • envirornnentaJJy safe' I<lw mercury batteries) lIe regu1at:d as a hazardous "",aste ~ 10 the cont..'"l1! of metals sud! as mercury. ziIlc and cadmium. AI1hoogh regulatioos "'ere in place in 1992 10 aDow for !be coIlec!ion of booseOOId baIleries indepcndenl of permitted HHW programs, several regulatory prOOlems p«lbibited the practical implementation of a battery collection program. In addition 10 hazardous waste transportation and facility pennitting requirements. the requirement that the collecled ballerks be recycled made program irnpIemen!a!ion difticult, if not iD:Jpo5sib1e, as no recycling technologies ""ere available for !he vast majorily 0( siIlgk-usc battery type •. In February I99J, a letter was seut ID Assemblyman Byroo SlIer requesting be cOIlSi&r legislation \() eliminate !he prOOlems in existing regulations, 'Oihlch would allow for !he implementation of Ihe envisioned balltry program. Staff contacted Assemblyman Shcr', office in April 1993, 10 learn tbe slatus 0( !be City', request, and was asked by his staff 10 prepare recommended changes \() !he appropriate regulations addressing the City'. concerns. In J\me 1993, Assemblyman Sber responded to Ibe City', request, indicating thaI legislation had been passed in 1993 which would allow implementation of the battery CMlllSO,95 pag.::-3 of S ll'· . <" ,,~.~,,~' ~ .:-~ .. :,(.'- o coIIcction ptogtam being puwed by !Ix: ClI)'. Staff was aware of Ibis Ieglalacion, which did elimIDa:e some of !be r~iremenIs for tr4!L<pOfIation and facility permittinll' "'-'1bOOgb Assemblyman SIler's letter indicare<! die ~irement that baru:ries be recycled bad ~ !'eIlI<:Ned, !be requirement .. as un<:ba'tge<! in !he fmal version of !be legislatioo staff received. However, !be letter referred staff 10 1be Caluornia Integral<d Waste Management Board (CIWMB) for addi!iooal information. and staff COOOICted !be C!w}'fB 10 00Wn tlarificatioo on die slatllS of !be recycling requirement. The CIWMB finaIJy resptrAed in February 1994 toofi<ming \bat the recyding req.Urement remained in effect. In MarcIl 1994. staff look an altmJatc appr03clt, investigating die possibilily of applying fix • variarx:e 1hrougIlthe Deportment of Toxic Substances CcoIroi (DTSC) which woo.Jd specifically exempt Palo "'-'10', program from die recycling requiremenl.. initial discussions with DTSC staff ~ iliat !hey .... 011.1<1 be Ie~tant 10 approve sucll & varlaoce, as it 1IIould set pr~e Illal could affecI o!ber WlISle streams thaI are probibilro troru landfill or incineration disposal. In Scp!<mber 1994, 2IlOIher letter was senl 10 As.;cmb/yman 5rer'. office requesting again that legislation be introduced 10 correct the problems in current regul,rio",;, that proIu"bil cbe implementation of the battery collection program. In late September. PuNic W o<ks ,tiff aaemed an infonnarion exchange meeting of Hff'.v program CQOnfltllltors, regulatory staff, and contraclOCS and learned of IWD major brealahrougbs lila! would fm.aIJy allow foc die implemenlalioo of cbe bouseOOld b.ttery coIIcction program. SIaff from !be DTSC irmcakd that !he battery "",ycling requirement bad been re-interpre!ed in a manner that 111001<1 alIo .... roc battery management through means oIhc:r !ban recycling, prO'l1ded that the manag= facility was fuU, permittro as • bazanlrus waste TrealrIJet1l/Skl<agelDisposal Facility. The IOOfe significant news came .... ben JI.omic Enviroonienw T echno!ogies announced !hey bad procured an exclusive arrangemcn! with !he nation', first all<.aIine battery recycling facility located in PecDS, Texas. that will be oper:.tiooal in !be immooJale future. swr bas spoken 10 Romic Errviroomenlal Technologies in more detail regarding !be balIery recycJiDg facility and will be reviewing Romic's environmental audit files, as well as condl iCting an independ<:n/: .ud"1t 10 enstrre the facility is fuUy permitted and not currently wJder any enfon;ement actions from Slale oc federal regulatocy agencies. Staff bas also submitted a !e\let 10 the OTSC requesfing !hey provide ... 'Tltten coofirnlation of the regulato<y ioJerpretation presented at !be HAW information exchange Illeeting last Seplemhcr. In !he event that Rom.ic's battery ,ecycling program fails to meet staff's expectations, the written interpretation from the DTSC will provide the rcgulatocy assuraoce necessary 10 implement the boosebold battery ccllecticn program without managing the b>l1erics Ihrough • rcc)'c1ing f""ilily. CM'R:180:9S Pase(ofS • .,.-_. ..':;' .'._ .. :..,., , StAff has also been' exploring means by whkh !he battery collection program can be impIeInonIed, 11K: most coovecient me1hod would be to use p1astk ziplock-type bags with preprinted mstr>ICOOns ornnually distributed al !he curb 10 each resident, by Recycling collection staff. The bag would be retair~ b , !he resident Wllil it was full and then set out and picked up "i/h the recyclables. The batteries ",oold !hen be trarlSJlOl1ed 10 !he Recycling Cenrer and accumulated in awopriare """tainers with OIlIers delivered 10 !he , Rccycling Cetl!er. The cont..riDers would be removed {rom !he Rccycling C<:nter on a routiDc cycle. 10 stoy wi!hin tile ac..'1lIII1JIation limit 0( 200 pounds set furth in !he State's hazardous wasIC reg'.Jlotions. The problems cncoun!ered with impleJ!letlting a battery collection program that is convenient for residents and complies .. ith the SUre', regulatioos appear 10 have been OVeJ'C(lU]e. It is anlicipated lila! !he residenfial curll5ide pickup and Recycling Center drop offprogram for bousehoId batlerles <:an be ready for implementation in mid-1995. AL1'EIl.~'ES No aJ"'<na!ives bave been coo.<idered. FISCAL IMPACT . Budget estimates are (hat a sillgle farnily bousebold battery co!1cction program can be 8npIemenIed for less Iban $10,000 per year. Furding will be included in !he FY 1995-96 Refuse Fimd operating budget. ENYIRONMENTAl, ASSF,<iSMF;N[ This Project is exempt Crom the California EnvirofllI!entaJ Quality Act, because 00 possibility exists that 1l may produce sigWf ICaDl envirorunentaJ effects. STEPS IDJ,I'oWING APPROVAL P\ircbase 0( one year', supply 0( collection bags, publication 0( infoonation announcing lbe program, and cmering into an agreement with Romk Enviroomen!aI Tecboologles for pickup and pr<>=sing 0( batteries, An ACHMENTSiEXHlBITS None hBeSoO