Residential Curbside Recycling Contract

State Statute (Chapter 115A Waste Management) requires that residents, including both single family and multifamily residences, have the opportunity to recycle, which means having access to either a recycling drop-off center or curbside collection of recyclables. Ramsey has historically satisfied this requirement with a contract for curbside collection of residentially generated recyclables. In January of 2006, the City entered into a five (5) year curbside recycling contract with ACE Solid Waste, Inc.  Prior to the expiration of that contract, the City implemented a two (2) year extension of the curbside contract with ACE Solid Waste, Inc, which is now due to expire December 31, 2012.

Ramsey has worked hard over the last decade to improve it’s recycling program and under the current recycling contract, Ramsey has met its annual tonnage goal (set by Anoka County, equivalent to 175 pounds per person per year) each year, has been recognized by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners as a Rethink Recycling Champion twice (2007 & 2008, which recognizes the efforts of a community that recycled the highest total pounds per person per year) and in 2006 was recognized as the most improved recycling program in Anoka County.

While these are great accomplishments of the residents of Ramsey, they may not have been possible without the efforts and service of ACE Solid Waste, Inc. Staff does want to note that ACE Solid Waste, Inc. has provided excellent service over the course of the current contract; has been very accommodating of requests by the City and residents; and of course, is a local business that has been located in Ramsey since 2000.

Utilizing a contract for recycling services does ensure that each household has curbside service, which limits the volume of trucks going up and down roads collecting material and bolsters participation.  In fact, when the City made the switch from a dual sort to a single sort collection method, which required a cart to be delivered to each household in Ramsey, participation jumped from about 70% to 90% and it is still at 90% today. Another benefit of the current contract is that the service provider is required to provide staff and equipment for the City’s spring and fall recycling events at no additional cost (savings of about $2,000 to $2,500 per year).

There are, however, several options the City could consider regarding recycling service: (1) negotiate a new contract with ACE Solid Waste; (2) draft an RFP for City Council consideration for contracted curbside recycling services; (3) shift from a contracted service for curbside collection of recyclables to an open hauling system, which residents can select any city-licensed hauler for service.

When contemplating these options, the following should be considered:
• Traffic volumes (under contract, just one hauler sending trucks out for collection of recyclables, open hauling would generate more traffic and more wear and tear on roads).
• Collection days/zones (currently all recycling is collected on an every other Monday schedule).
• Ordinance updates (if shifting to open hauling system) necessary to ensure haulers provide tonnage data for reporting purposes and specified collection days/zones should the City want to limit the days that trucks can be in neighborhoods.
• Potential reduction in materials recycled, which means more materials being landfilled (based on data from Anoka County, generally speaking cities that contract for recycling services tend to have greater participation, greater tonnages of recycled materials and more successful programs. Two exceptions would be Andover and Coon Rapids, but both of these cities also offer a recycling center for their residents to drop off materials year round).
• Education and information for residents (materials accepted by various haulers often differ slightly, making promotion and education more complicated).

Funding for Ramsey’s recycling program is provided by the state through the Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE). The state distributes the SCORE funding to each county and then the county allocates those monies to the municipalities. In Anoka County, each municipality receives a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. In 2012, Ramsey’s allocation of SCORE monies is $50,165.00.

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners annually establishes recycling goals for each municipality, which is typically the equivalent of recycling 175 pounds per person. The County allocates the SCORE funding to the municipalities to assist them in meeting their tonnage goal. Each municipality must enter into a recycling agreement with the County, which specifies certain program requirements, to be eligible to receive this funding. Ramsey uses the SCORE dollars to cover expenses associated with the spring and fall recycling events, to promote waste reduction and recycling in the community, for educational outreach purposes and to reimburse salary expenses specifically related to recycling activities.

Funding for administering the recycling contract and all recycling related activities is covered by SCORE monies. The City will remain eligible for SCORE funding whether it continues with a contract for recycling services or if it shifts to an open hauling system. However, regardless of which type of system is implemented, the City will still be subject to the requirements of the recycling agreement including:
• Ensuring that each household (including multi-tenant units) has the opportunity to recycle at least four broad types of materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal.
• The recycling program must be operated in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
• The City must implement a public information program that contains at least the following components: • The City must submit semiannual reports to the County detailing the quantity of materials recycled through curbside collection, recycling events etc.
• The City must submit semiannual reports to the County detailing all expenditures and revenues associated with recycling activities.

Provide direction for Staff related to recycling services for the community.