5.
City Council Combined Special Meeting/Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 09/08/2015
- Co-Submitter:
- Nicole Woodman, Sustainability Manager and Interim Public Works Section Head
- From:
- Jeff Meilbeck, City Manager
- Department:
Co-Submitter:
TITLE:
Update on Management Plans Related to Plastic Bags
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Desired outcome is for Council and the community to understand how staff will proceed with plastic bag management in response to the passage of Senate Bill 1241.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Flagstaff has considered plastic bag management three times in calendar year 2015. An interim City Manager focus group was formed with the goal of finding a common ground solution for plastic bag management in Flagstaff. However, following formation of the group, the State of Arizona Legislature passed Senate Bill 1241 that prohibits cities, towns and counties from charging a fee or banning the use of “auxiliary containers” such as plastic bags.
Staff have considered our options, met with the Sustainability Commission and sought the opinion of the interim City Manager focus group. These discussions led us to three alternatives and an intended course of action:
1) File a lawsuit against the State of Arizona. This option is not recommended due to time, expense, defensibility, and other relative priorities for the City's limited resources.
2) Develop and execute a City of Flagstaff operated plastic bag recycling program. This option would include wide scale collection of commercial and residential plastic bags and the sale of plastic bag material to the private sector. This option is not recommended due to the significant cost, approximately $1.5 million, to initiate such a program and the greater overarching need to invest time and fiscal resources into the City’s existing residential and commercial recycling program. The City’s recycling program does not currently meet its “put or pay” requirements to Norton Environmental (Materials Recovery Facility). Not meeting annual recycling tonnage requirements obligates the City to pay Norton Environmental for lost revenue, which has cost the City $674,831 since 2012 ($197,236 in CY 2012, $195,608 in CY 2013, and $281,987 in CY 2014).
3) Continue to execute a modestly funded recycling education initiative and plastic bag use reduction campaign. Currently, limited resources are allocated to recycling education. The Sustainability Program allocates 15% ($12,370) of its $ 84,110 operating budget toward recycling education (one of its numerous focus areas). Sustainability staff provide in-person waste prevention and recycling education to more than 1,000 community members annually and distribute recycling informational to more than 3,500 customers annually. In addition, more than 2,000 school students receive educational programming. Reusable bags are also distributed to the community. In 2014, staff launched a free reusable bag initiative, where free reusable bags are available to residents and tourists year round. This month, staff will launch the MyWaste website and APP, which provides personalized waste and recycling collection information to City customers, recycling and disposal instruction, as well as communication and engagement tools. This option is recommended. If Council wishes to increase funding to recycling initiatives from $0.25 per resident to $1.00, a budget request could be submitted in FY 2017 to increase funding to improve recycling rates.
This item is presented to Council for information purposes only. Staff will continue to execute a modest recycling and reduction effort. If Council wishes to provide direction on a different approach, such as suing the State or launching a City run plastic bag recycling program outside of the budget process, staff will bring this item back in a regular session.
Staff have considered our options, met with the Sustainability Commission and sought the opinion of the interim City Manager focus group. These discussions led us to three alternatives and an intended course of action:
1) File a lawsuit against the State of Arizona. This option is not recommended due to time, expense, defensibility, and other relative priorities for the City's limited resources.
2) Develop and execute a City of Flagstaff operated plastic bag recycling program. This option would include wide scale collection of commercial and residential plastic bags and the sale of plastic bag material to the private sector. This option is not recommended due to the significant cost, approximately $1.5 million, to initiate such a program and the greater overarching need to invest time and fiscal resources into the City’s existing residential and commercial recycling program. The City’s recycling program does not currently meet its “put or pay” requirements to Norton Environmental (Materials Recovery Facility). Not meeting annual recycling tonnage requirements obligates the City to pay Norton Environmental for lost revenue, which has cost the City $674,831 since 2012 ($197,236 in CY 2012, $195,608 in CY 2013, and $281,987 in CY 2014).
3) Continue to execute a modestly funded recycling education initiative and plastic bag use reduction campaign. Currently, limited resources are allocated to recycling education. The Sustainability Program allocates 15% ($12,370) of its $ 84,110 operating budget toward recycling education (one of its numerous focus areas). Sustainability staff provide in-person waste prevention and recycling education to more than 1,000 community members annually and distribute recycling informational to more than 3,500 customers annually. In addition, more than 2,000 school students receive educational programming. Reusable bags are also distributed to the community. In 2014, staff launched a free reusable bag initiative, where free reusable bags are available to residents and tourists year round. This month, staff will launch the MyWaste website and APP, which provides personalized waste and recycling collection information to City customers, recycling and disposal instruction, as well as communication and engagement tools. This option is recommended. If Council wishes to increase funding to recycling initiatives from $0.25 per resident to $1.00, a budget request could be submitted in FY 2017 to increase funding to improve recycling rates.
This item is presented to Council for information purposes only. Staff will continue to execute a modest recycling and reduction effort. If Council wishes to provide direction on a different approach, such as suing the State or launching a City run plastic bag recycling program outside of the budget process, staff will bring this item back in a regular session.
INFORMATION:
COUNCIL GOALS:
Plastic bag management does not specifically relate to any of the 11 Council goals adopted in December 2014.
REGIONAL PLAN:
E&C.6. Protect, restore and improve ecosystem health and maintain native plant and animal community diversity across all land ownerships in the Flagstaff region. E&C.10. Protect indigenous wildlife populations, localized and larger scale wildlife habitats, ecosystem processes, and wildlife movement areas throughout the planning area.
WR.5. Manage watersheds and strormwater to address flooding concerns, water quality, environmental protections, and rainwater harvesting.
Plastic bag management does not specifically relate to any of the 11 Council goals adopted in December 2014.
REGIONAL PLAN:
E&C.6. Protect, restore and improve ecosystem health and maintain native plant and animal community diversity across all land ownerships in the Flagstaff region. E&C.10. Protect indigenous wildlife populations, localized and larger scale wildlife habitats, ecosystem processes, and wildlife movement areas throughout the planning area.
WR.5. Manage watersheds and strormwater to address flooding concerns, water quality, environmental protections, and rainwater harvesting.