Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2017-30:  A resolution adopting the Rethink Waste Plan.

In an effort to better prepare for changes in the waste and recycling landscape in Flagstaff, as well as to most effectively reduce the impact of the community’s waste and material consumption, City staff have created the Rethink Waste Plan (“Plan”) to guide future efforts. The Plan establishes a framework for institutionalizing a new approach to managing our waste and materials, known as materials management. Additionally, the Plan establishes a vision and goals to evaluate future success and provides a near-term strategy for setting a foundation to be built upon in future planning.

Resolution 2017-30 adopts the Plan and establishes an effective date and is being presented to the Council for consideration and possible action.

While the Plan makes recommendations for future programming and infrastructure that will have a financial impact, these recommendations will be addressed through the regular budget process.

The Plan includes several future policy recommendations including changes to the Solid Waste Code, Zoning Code, and Engineering Standards. Each of these policy recommendations will be brought back to City Council at a future date for discussion.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Take meaningful climate change action. Actively manage and protect all environmental and natural resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES: Actively manage and protect all environmental and natural resources.

• Further develop sustainability and waste removal policies and programs.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Grow and strengthen a more equitable and resilient economy.
 
REGIONAL PLAN:
Policy E&C.1.4. Maintain air quality through pursuit of non-polluting industry and commercial enterprises.
Policy E&C.2.1. Encourage the reduction of all energy consumption, especially fossil-fuel generated energy, in public, commercial, industrial, and residential sectors.
Policy E.1.3. Empower all community members to make smarter energy choices through education and incentives.
Goals CD.1. Improve the City and County financial systems to provide for needed infrastructure development and rehabilitation, including maintenance and enhancement of existing infrastructure.
Goal PF.2. Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics.

No.

Option A. Adopt Resolution 2017-30 as submitted and adopt the Plan to guide City staff.
Option B. Recommend changes to Resolution 2017-30.
Option C. Not adopt Resolution 2017-30 and not establish goals and a planning framework to improve recycling rates, reduce waste generation, and increase community participation.

As part of the FY 2017 budget, Council approved a Request for Service Level increase for recycling outreach in an effort to increase the recycling rate, currently at 13%. This is compared to 34% nationally. In the past, much of the City of Flagstaff’s focus has been on expanding access to and participation in recycling services. While these efforts need to continue, a sole focus on material recovery will not allow the municipal organization and community to most effectively reduce their impact. Before determining how to best achieve zero waste conditions, multiple barriers need to be addressed in the near term. A solid foundation needs to be established that can be used as a launching pad to achieve ambitious goals and to better utilize the existing recycling and diversion system. The Plan mostly focuses on how to address the largest barriers that exist including a poor framework for thinking about waste, gaps in data, poor access to recycling infrastructure, and counterproductive incentives.

The purpose of this resolution is to adopt the Plan as a living document.  The Plan provides a path forward to implement a materials management framework here in the City and to guide recycling and waste prevention efforts over the next three (3) years.

While there are proposed initiatives in the Plan that have financial implications, these initiatives will still be subject to review and approval through the regular budget process in the future. Initiatives will be evaluated against the goals of waste diversion, waste prevention, climate change impacts, community participation, and cost-effectiveness. 

Many Flagstaff residents, businesses, and institutions lack the knowledge and access to services needed to reduce the impact of their waste and material consumption. The Plan outlines the barriers that prevent these actions and guides City staff over the next three years in implementing the most cost-effective initiatives that will empower the community to be more resourceful, reduce waste, and make recycling more efficient.

CONSULT: To get a better idea of community opinions on waste and recycling, staff surveyed the community through the Flagstaff Community Forum in August 2017. There were 236 responses. 89% of respondents felt it was extremely or very important for Flagstaff to become a leader in minimizing the impact of its waste and material consumption. 95% felt it was extremely or very important that all residents have access to recycling. 89% felt it was extremely or very important to have a robust outreach and education program. 95% supported a City goal of reducing overall waste generation. 89% supported a City goal of achieving zero waste.