Consider Potential Recycling Activities/Opportunities for 2015

Annually, the City receives funding through the Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) to administer and manage the recycling program.  Ramsey's funding allocation for 2015, which includes $10,000.00 (base funding that each community receives) plus an additional $5.00 per household, is $51,835.00.  However, there are also additional enhancement funds available for various focus areas including monthly drop-off events, park and event recycling, curbside and multi-unit recycling, general enhancement grants, and organics collection.  The purpose of this case is to consider possible opportunities for program enhancements that might qualify for additional funding.

The 'standard' funding ($51,835.00) is used for general program and contract administration, spring and fall recycling events, educational and marketing materials, etc.  The purpose of the additional enhancement funds is to assist municipalities in implementing new or improved recycling opportunities for the community that will help meet the tonnage goal for Anoka County established by the State of Minnesota.  In 2015, Ramsey's goal (based on 175 pounds per person per year in multi-unit buildings [5 units or more] and 190 pounds per person per year for single family homes [up to 4 units] is 2,291 tons (up from 2,263 tons in 2014).

There are several opportunities that Staff is researching for possibly implementation in 2015.  The following are ideas or concepts being considered:

Multi-unit (apartment complexes) recycling events.  Various communities have implemented a 'mobile' recycling event geared specifically toward apartment complexes.  Typically, the events focus on e-waste and the collection event occurs at the site of the apartment complex.  This would obviously require cooperation from the on-site management staff of a complex but could provide another opportunity for recycling.

Multi-city collection event(s).  Staff is also in discussions with Anoka to possibly develop a joint collection event or events.  This could prove beneficial as it may reduce the cost to residents if there is a greater pool of potential attendees and may also create an opportunity to offer collection of additional materials (e.g. carpeting and/or vinyl siding).

Zero waste Happy Days event.  Staff will be exploring opportunities to develop a more sustainable Happy Days event by possibly create a zero waste (or near zero waste) event (all waste can be recycled or composted).  Assistance through Anoka County's Integrated Waste Management may be available for ideas, volunteers, etc.

Yard waste drop-off opportunity.  Staff is still exploring whether this would be an eligible expense under the organics collection funding or not.  Recent changes to the composting rule now exempt small scale composting sites (less than 120 cubic yards of material at any given time) from the permitting process.  Thus, if found to be an eligible expense, this presents an opportunity provide a trial yard waste drop-off in the fall (really geared toward leaf collection), something that was identified as desirable several years ago by the Board. 

Monthly recycling events.  There could be an opportunity to work with a vendor or two to develop a more regular recycling event program.  The intent would be to develop a 'turn-key' style operation in which the vendor(s) staffs the event and the City provides the site and marketing.

These are only concepts at this time that Staff intends to research further.  Funding requests are due to Anoka County by the end of February or early March.  Staff is seeking feedback from the Board on these concepts as well as thoughts for other possible projects.

 

Funding for the recycling program and any potential enhancement projects is provide through SCORE funds.

Based on discussion.