Adopt Resolution #18-258 to Enter into a Residential Recycling Program Agreement with Anoka County to Receive SCORE Funds for 2019

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 (Select Committee On Recycling and the Environment) funds, to municipalities within the county. In 2019, the allocation includes a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. Ramsey’s base allocation for 2019 is $55,390.00.

The funding is intended to help municipalities achieve their recycling goals as established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Ramsey’s 2019 recycling goal, established by Anoka County, is 2,777 tons (this is up 81 tons from the 2018 goal). The goal is based on 215 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.

For the second consecutive year, the tonnage goal, which is based on both single family and multi-family homes, is being increased (increasing by five [5] pounds per person in single family homes; no change to the multifamily homes, which will once again be 160 pounds per person). The increase is the County's attempt to incrementally move toward the State's goal of recycling 75%, by weight, of total solid waste generated by 2030, which is a very challenging benchmark.

Other challenges to recycling have been growing throughout the year. China has implemented very restrictive thresholds for contaminants in bales of recycled materials that it will accept (0.5% contamination, about the equivalent of 9 pounds in an 1,800 pound bale). Furthermore, China has stated that by 2020 it will no longer import any recyclable materials. This is primarily impacting recycling of plastics and certain fiber (paper) products.

The downturn in the plastics recycling markets has also brought into question what is truly recyclable. At this time, items such as black, plastic frozen dinner trays, refrigerator and freezer boxes, and egg cartons, should not be put in the recycling cart as there is no longer a market for these materials.

Due to the day to day changes in the recycling world, there needs to be a greater emphasis on the basic tenets of recycling, which would be to focus on fiber (paper and cardboard), aluminum and steel/tin cans, glass, and plastic containers, tubs, bottles and lids that have a #1 or #2 stamped on them.

It is now more important than ever to focus on recycling education to avoid the 'wish-cycling' mentality. Wish-cycling is the thought (or hope) that by placing a material or product in the recycling cart, that somebody will find a way to recycle it. This is leading to excessive contamination. The recycling motto has now shifted to 'when in doubt, throw it out'. This is where our efforts should be focused. Staff recently met with ACE Solid Waste and it was agreed that we need to work together on properly educating the public so they are equipped with the knowledge to not only recycle but to recycle the correct items.

Funding Request

In addition to the base allocation ($55,390), there are four (4) broad funding categories where additional funds can be requested (Drop-Off, General Enhancement, Organics, and an Open-Grant option for general program expansion). At the October 23, 2018 meeting, the City Council authorized Staff to request an additional $2,700 for the Summer Recycling Event (Drop-Off), $12,800 for General Enhancement (covers parks recycling, event promotion, etc.), and $1,600 for the Organics program for a total funding request of $72,490 (base funding of $55,390 plus $17,100 for drop-off events, general enhancements, and organics).  The General Enhancement funds were capped at $9,078, which reduced Ramsey's general enhancement allocation request from $12,800 to $9,078, and resulted in a total allocation (base funding plus the enhancement funding) to $68,768.

Alternatives

Alternative 1: Enter into the Residential Recycling Agreement for the base allocation of $55,390 plus an additional $13,378 for general program enhancements and continuation of the organics recycling drop-off program. The additional funds will assist the City with efforts to meet the 2019 tonnage goal established by Anoka County. Staff supports this alternative.

Alternative 2: 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 2019 (a loss of $55,390). A portion of one of the City Planner positions is funded through this allocation (duties related to managing the recycling program) as are all recycling related activities, including the spring, summer, and 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 #18-258 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 2019 as well as an additional allocation of $13,378 for general program enhancements and the organics recycling drop-off program.

Motion to adopt Resolution #18-258 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 2019 as well as an additional allocation of $13,378 for general program enhancements and the organics recycling drop-off program.