6.
City Council Work Session (rescheduled from 06/09/2020)
- Meeting Date:
- 06/11/2020
- From:
- Dylan Lenzen, Sustainability Specialist
TITLE
Rethink Waste Update
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Informational only.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff will provide an update on the Rethink Waste Plan. In September 2017, staff adopted the Rethink Waste Plan, which institutionalized a materials management approach to decision making and identified foundational recycling and waste prevention strategies. Over the past year, staff have moved multiple initiatives forward. While the current revenue projections have delayed the rollout of a volumetric pricing pilot program, staff will continue to take key steps to improve the viability of its recycling operation and explore new waste diversion opportunities. Staff will be implementing regular recycling inspection efforts to reduce contamination. Additionally, staff have completed an important analysis of the expiring Materials Recovery Facility contract, as well as explored new composting initiatives.
INFORMATION:
The Rethink Waste Plan lays the foundation for a materials management approach to administering Flagstaff’s waste and consumption. It identifies key actions necessary in the near and long-term to achieve goals and inform staff and City Council moving forward to improve waste prevention and diversion.
Prior to the City implementing the Recession Plan, staff intended to roll out a pilot of the volumetric pricing program (often called Pay-As-You-Throw), which offers smaller trash cart size options that would be available for a lower price. Potential savings provide an incentive for households to reduce the amount of trash they throw away. This program was identified as a key strategy to reduce waste and increase recycling. While volumetric pricing does not have major long-term costs associated with it, it does take significant one-time infrastructure investment to purchase various cart sizes and maintain inventory. With recent revenue losses staff recommend delaying the introduction of this pilot and its associated costs. As the City’s future budget becomes clearer and revenue exists to fund this infrastructure investment, staff will proceed with the pilot.
Despite the delay of volumetric pricing, staff will continue with planned outreach efforts, including more recycling inspections to reduce recycling contamination and improve customer knowledge. Staff began targeted neighborhood inspections last year (Summer 2019) and saw significant decreases in contamination in residents’ recycling bins. With a high overall contamination rate (37%), it will be crucial to expand these outreach efforts to reduce costs and improve the viability of recycling operations in Flagstaff
Staff also procured consultant services to investigate the City’s options for managing the end of the Norton Environmental contract, the company that operates Flagstaff’s Material Recovery Facility. Staff received a final report that summarizes these options, which we will briefly touch on during this update. Staff will return to Council at a later date requesting direction on which option to pursue.
As part of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Northern Arizona University (NAU), approved October 2019, the City has been delivering organic material from Flagstaff to NAU’s composting operation. The City delivered almost 200,000 pounds of organic waste to NAU for composting. The vast majority of this material is coming from City parks, but staff plan to introduce other streams of organic material, including residential yard waste and commercial food scraps. Staff are currently pursuing federal grant funding to fund innovative programs to start diverting these materials streams. In order to continue these composting efforts, staff recommend that City Council renew this IGA for an additional one-year term. Staff will be return to City Council in the fall requesting approval.