Consider Goals of Recycling Program

The City is currently in year four (4) of a five (5) year contract with ACE Solid Waste for curbside collection of recyclable materials. The current contract will expire on December 31, 2017. Please note that the current discussion focuses on the City's current organized curbside recycling contract. The current discussion does not contemplate extending the organized collection into solid waste disposal.

The purpose of this case is twofold.  First, to review the set of goals developed at the request of the EPB related to the recycling program.  The EPB had requested this information to assist in formalizing a recommendation for City Council consideration.  Secondly, it is to continue discussion on policy direction once the current contract expires.  

There are three (3) options that could be considered by the City:

1. Enter into negotiations with the current service provider to again extend the contract.
2. Prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) for competitive bids for curbside collection of recyclables.
3. Migrate to an open hauling system that would allow property owners to choose any City-licensed hauler to provide their recycling services.

Several goals were suggested/identified by the Board last month including: maximizing recyclable materials recovered, public education and marketing, customer service, and the ability to expand the program to include new materials.  Staff has prepared a brief document that not only addresses these objectives but also provides some basic background information about the community, the current recycling program, and County/State recycling objectives through 2030. 

Note that the goals are in draft format and thus, the EPB may request revisions, additions or deletions.  If they are found to be prudent and reasonable, they should be referenced as the Board contemplates which program option will best accomplish them.

As part of the discussion last month, Staff was also asked about how our contract rates compared with other communities.  This is a challenging comparison when factors such as community size, parcel size, and composition of housing (single family versus multi-family and apartment complexes).  Nonetheless, attached to this case is information from three (3) other communities that currently have a contract in place for recycling only (open hauling system for garbage).

Alternatives

Alternative 1.  Recommend that the City continue to provide recycling service via a curbside recycling contract either by entering into negotiations with the current hauler or draft an RFP for competitive bids.  Providing recycling as a contracted service will best position the City to continue to meet or exceed its recycling goals.  Furthermore, this would help to limit traffic volumes on residential streets and result in less wear and tear on roads.  This would also provide the City with an opportunity to potentially expand (or at least explore) services covered by contract, such as introducing organics.  This would also be most efficient from an administrative perspective as Staff would only be working with a single hauler regarding education, promotion, and reporting.  Staff supports this alternative.

Alternative 2.  Recommend that the City migrate to an open hauling system.  This would give each property owner the flexibility to choose their recycling service provider but more than likely would result in greater traffic volumes on collection day, more wear and tear and roads, and more Staff time when it comes to preparing required reports due to Anoka County.  Staff would be concerned that this would ultimately result in a decrease in participation as well as an overall decrease in the materials recycled.  Staff does not support this alternative unless an additional recycling opportunity such as a recycling center is considered.

This is being handled as part of Staff's regular duties and since it focuses on recycling, will be reimbursable with SCORE funds.

Motion to recommend that the City continue to provide recycling as a contracted service by either (1) initiating negotiations with the current hauler or (2) preparing an RFP for consideration.

-or-

Motion to recommend that the City move to an open hauling system for recycling.