Adopt Resolution #17-02-055 to Enter into a Residential Recycling Program Agreement with Anoka County to Receive SCORE Funds for 2017

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 funds (Select Committee On Recycling and the Environment) to municipalities within the county. In 2017, the allocation includes a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. Ramsey’s base allocation for 2017 is $53,450.00.

The funding is intended to help municipalities achieve their recycling goals as established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Ramsey’s 2017 recycling goal, established by Anoka County, is 2,555 tons. The goal is based on 205 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, implement and/or enhance recycling at community events, enhance multi-family recycling opportunities, and/or develop opportunities for source separated compostables/organics collection.

While Staff recognizes the benefits that could be realized by the community with additional funding, there are not sufficient staffing resources to really take advantage of the additional funding at this time.  However, the parks recycling program is now well established, thanks largely to the efforts of Public Works staff, and additional funds will assist with those collection efforts.  Also, Staff continues to look at improving recycling at our community events (e.g. Happy Days) and thus, additional funds are being requested to assist with those endeavors.  Staff is currently in the process of developing a pilot program for organics recycling (a drop-off program).  Thus, additional funds are being requested to assist with education, marketing, and program implementation.   

In addition to the base allocation of $53,450, Staff is proposing to request $3,000 for parks and community event recycling as well as $3,000 for organics collection.  The assumption is that these additional funding options will continue into the future.  If a new public works campus is eventually constructed, it would include some space specifically for recycling.  At that time, Ramsey would hopefully be able to take better advantage of this additional funding.

Alternatives:

Alternative #1. Enter into the residential recycling agreement for the base allocation of $53,450.00 plus an additional $6,000.00 to focus on municipal parks/community event recycling and an organics pilot program. Both of these areas of focus will not only assist the City in meeting the 2017 tonnage goal established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners but will also offset ongoing expenses incurred by the City in collecting recyclables throughout the parks system. Staff supports this option.

Alternative #2. Enter into the residential recycling agreement with the County for the base allocation of $53,450.00 only. 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 $53,450.00 plus the full additional funding of $37,035.00 for targeted programs. Staff does not believe there are sufficient resources available to develop and implement additional programming entirely in 2017 to justify the full allocation.

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 2017 (a loss of $53,450.00). 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/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 #17-02-055 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 2017 as well as an additional allocation of $6,000.00 for municipal park/community event recycling and an organics pilot program.

Adopt Resolution #17-02-055 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 $53,450.00 and an additional targeted program funding allocation of $6,000.00 to continue with and expand municipal park/community event recycling and to develop and implement an organics collection pilot program.