Adopt Resolution #15-02-037 to Enter into a Residential Recycling Program Agreement with Anoka County to Receive SCORE Funds for 2015

Each year, Anoka County receives funding from the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board and the State of Minnesota pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 115A.557. The County distributes these funds, known as SCORE funds (Select Committee On Recycling and the Environment) to municipalities within the county. In 2015, the allocation includes a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. Ramsey’s base allocation for 2015 is $51,835.00.

The funding is intended to help municipalities achieve their recycling goals as established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Ramsey’s recycling goal as established by Anoka County for 2015 is 2,291 tons. The goal is based on 190 pounds per person (single family households, up to four [4] units) and 175 pounds per person for multi-tenant households (five [5] or more units). The City of Ramsey has traditionally used these funds to promote waste reduction, recycling efforts, and awareness of waste reduction within in the community. The funds have been used to offset costs of the spring and fall recycling day events, 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, which Ramsey already complies with, include providing households an opportunity to recycle at least four (4) broad types of materials, a public information program and notifying new residents of the recycling program.

This year, there are optional additional funding allocations for targeted programs including monthly drop-off events (at least eight [8] per year), municipal park/community event recycling, multi-unit/curbside recycling, general enhancement grants, and source-separated compostables/organics. Ramsey is eligible for up to an additional $43,734.00 in targeted program funding ($15,000 for monthly collection events, $6,000 for municipal park/community event recycling, $6,000 for multi-unit/curbside recycling, $8,367 for general program enhancements, and $8,367 for organics).

Additional funding for municipal park/community event recycling and for multi-unit/curbside recycling would help to continue diverting recyclable materials from being landfilled.  Staff envisions the additional funding for multi-unit/curbside recycling being utilized to offer onsite collection events at individual apartment complexes for materials such as electronics and to better promote general recycling in these complexes.

The parks recycling program that was implemented in 2013 continues to be a success.  It has resulted in almost one (1) ton of recyclable materials being captured for recycling rather than being landfilled for each of the past two (2) years.  Staff would like to utilize the optional funding for municipal park/community event recycling to promote the parks recycling program more and to offset the cost of staff time to empty the recycling carts (done concurrently with the parks trash runs).  Furthermore, Staff would also like to utilize a portion of this funding to explore ways to make community events, such as Happy Days, more sustainable.  The Environmental Policy Board was supportive of both the community events efforts and the focus on multi-family (apartment complexes) recycling opportunities.

Alternative Actions:

Alternative #1.  Enter into the residential recycling agreement for the base allocation of $51,835.00 plus an additional $12,000.00 to focus on municipal parks/community event recycling (for the full allocation of $6,000.00) and multi-unit and curbside recycling opportunities (for the full allocation of $6,000.00).  Parks and community events are two areas where the City can continue to improve recycling opportunities.  Furthermore, this funding would help target multi-unit/apartment complexes with more recycling information to increase the recovery of recyclable materials.  Both of these areas of focus will assist the City in meeting the 2015 tonnage goal established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners.  Staff supports this option.

Alternative #2.  Enter into the residential recycling agreement with the County for only the base allocation of $51,835.00. This would allow the City to continue to promote recycling and waste reduction ideas and coordinating the spring and fall recycling events; however, it would limit the City's ability to pursue new opportunities to increase recycling efforts that would help the City continue to meet its established tonnage goals.

Alternative #3.  Enter into the residential recycling agreement with the County for the base allocation of $51,835.00 plus the full additional funding of $43,734.00 for target programs. Staff would need to explore how the other components (minimum of eight [8] monthly collection events, organics, and enhancement grant) could be implemented. While there are likely areas that could be enhanced or new ideas that could be implemented with this funding, with current staff resources it is uncertain that these program enhancements could be fully implemented.  However, it is worth noting that some of the funding could be used to hire an intern that could help with program development and implementation. 

Alternative #4.  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 2015 (a loss of $51,835.00). A portion of the City Planner staff position is funded through this allocation (duties related to managing the recycling program) as are all recycling related activities, including the spring/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.

Staff recommends adopting Resolution #15-02-037 authorizing the Mayor, on behalf of the City, to sign the Agreement for Residential Recycling Program with Anoka County, to receive the base SCORE funds for 2015 as well as the additional allocations for municipal park/community event recycling and multi-unit and curbside recycling.

Adopt Resolution #15-02-037 authorizing the Mayor to sign the Agreement for Residential Recycling Program between the City of Ramsey and Anoka County to receive the base SCORE funds of $51,835.00 and an additional targeted program funding allocation of $12,000.00 to continue with and expand municipal park/community event recycling and multi-unit and curbside recycling.