Adopt Resolution #20-264 to Enter into a Residential Recycling Program Agreement with Anoka County

Each year, Anoka County receives funding from the State of Minnesota pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 115A.557. The County distributes these funds, known as SCORE (Select Committee On Recycling and the Environment) funds, to municipalities within the county. In 2021, the allocation includes a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. Ramsey’s base allocation for 2021 is $57,990.

The funding is intended to help municipalities achieve their recycling goals as established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Ramsey’s 2021 recycling goal, established by Anoka County, is 2,858 tons. The goal is based on 215 pounds per person (single family households, up to four [4] units) and 160 pounds per person for multi-tenant households (five [5] or more units). The City of Ramsey has traditionally used these funds to promote recycling and waste reduction education and awareness, notifying new residents of the recycling program components, to offset costs of the spring and fall recycling day events and other collection events/opportunities, and to fund the recycling coordinator position, which duties are a component of the City Planner position.

To receive the SCORE funding, each municipality must enter into an agreement with Anoka County that outlines required components of a municipality’s recycling program. These required components include providing households an opportunity to recycle at least four (4) broad types of materials, a public information program, recycling drop-off opportunities, and notifying new residents of the recycling program. Furthermore, municipalities are encouraged, but not required, to look at opportunities to expand its recycling program by offering additional drop-off events, enhance recycling at community events, enhance multi-family recycling opportunities, and/or develop opportunities for source separated organics collection.

For the third consecutive year, the tonnage goal, which is based on both single family and multi-family homes, is being increased, from 2,077 tons (2019) to 2,840 tons (2020) to 2,858 tons in 2021.  The increase reflects the County's attempt to incrementally move toward the State's goal of recycling 75% of total solid waste generated (by weight) by 2030, which is a very optimistic benchmark.

Other challenges to recycling have been growing throughout the last couple of years. China has implemented very restrictive thresholds for contaminants in bales of recycled materials that it will accept.

The downturn in the plastics recycling markets has also brought into question what is truly recyclable. At this time, items such as black, plastic frozen dinner trays, refrigerator and freezer boxes, and fiber egg cartons, should not be put in the recycling cart as there is no longer a market for these materials (this is a change from past years).

Due to the day to day changes in the recycling world, there needs to be a greater emphasis on the basic tenets of recycling, which would be to focus on fiber (paper and cardboard), aluminum and steel/tin cans, glass, and plastic containers, tubs, bottles and lids that have a #1 or #2 stamped on them.

It is now more important than ever to focus on recycling education to avoid the 'wish-cycling' mentality. Wish-cycling is the thought (or hope) that by placing a material or product in the recycling cart, somebody will find a way to recycle it. This is leading to excessive contamination. The recycling motto has now shifted to 'when in doubt, throw it out'. This is where our efforts should be focused. 

Funding Request to Anoka County

In addition to the base allocation ($57,990.00), there are four (4) broad funding categories where additional funds can be requested (Drop-Off, General Enhancement, Organics, and an Open-Grant option for general program expansion). Staff sought additional funding for drop-off programing ($15,000.00), general program enhancements ($3,000.00) and organics ($3,300.00) programming.  This resulted in a total funding request and approved allocation of $62,950 for recycling programming.

Alternatives

Alternative 1: Enter into the Residential Recycling Agreement for the base allocation of $57,990 plus an additional $21,300 for recycling drop-off programming, general program enhancements and continuation of the organics recycling drop-off program. The additional funds will assist the City with efforts to meet the 2021 tonnage goal established by Anoka County. Staff supports this alternative.

Alternative 2: Do not enter into the Residential Recycling Agreement with the County. By not executing this agreement with the County, the City would not receive any SCORE funding for 2021 (a loss of $57,990.00). A portion of the City Planner position is funded through this allocation (duties related to managing the recycling program) as are all recycling related activities, including the spring, summer, and fall recycling events. Staff does not support this option.

Ramsey's recycling program and related staff time are funded with SCORE funds received from Anoka County annually and recorded under the Recycling Enterprise Fund.

Motion to Adopt Resolution #20-264 authorizing SCORE funds for 2021.