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Summary of Residential Solid Waste Management Recommendations Memorandum Planning 763-593-8095 / 763-593-8109 (fax) Date: June 17, 2011 To: Environmental Commission From: Joe Hogeboom, City Planner Michael Simmons, Planning Intern Subject: Summary of Residential Solid Waste Management Recommendations Background In recent months, the Environmental Commission has identified and discussed several measures that it felt would improve the City’s residential solid waste hauler licensing agreement. Staff conducted research on this and other issues regarding the general policy of solid waste management in the City. In light of staff’s findings, the Commission is considering making key recommendations to the City Council concerning residential waste management policy. This report will list and briefly describe each recommendation. 1. Enhancing Hauler Licensing Requirements The Commission is considering recommending changes to the City’s residential waste hauler licensing agreement to implement new criteria to which any licensed hauler must conform. Upon meeting these new standards, haulers would be bringing a higher level of service to the residential customer and the improved licensing agreement would encourage innovation amongst all licensees, the Commission believes. The new criteria proposed are as follows: Offer neighborhood group rates. Require that a minimum plan for service be an available option. o If the resident does not generate enough waste to need weekly service, that the hauler is able to work with that resident to establish a biweekly or other collection plan in their contract. Offer appliance and electronics collection. Offer a separate container for yard waste (as opposed to bags only). Require that waste containers be made from recycled materials. Offer specialized pickup service options for senior citizens and disabled persons. 2. Requiring All Households to Contract for Waste Collection Services In an effort to help reduce illegal dumping of solid waste in City parks, nature areas, and private property, the Commission is considering requiring all residential households to have a contract in place for waste hauling. The following values have been identified to support this requirement: Helps to reduce littering and illegal dumping in the City. o By requiring residents to contract, it may stimulate awareness amongst residents in illegal dumping and burning of garbage. Helps to keep neighborhoods and open areas visually appealing. o Every resident having waste collection service again ensures that all have a means of disposing their trash and not letting it collect in their yard or any public area. May make neighborhoods quieter and safer. o Requiring a contract to be held by every resident in the city may reduce the number of companies operating on different days and encourage service to take place on one day because residents may choose the same company as their neighbor to make it easier to sign up. This may reduce truck traffic and therefore reduce noise levels, reduce air pollution, and make the neighborhood safer for children, seniors and the disabled. Addresses a public health concern by ensuring that solid waste is removed from neighborhoods. o Provides piece of mind for all in the City that potential public health hazards are being prevented at least through proper solid waste management; that problems such as disease and rodent infestation do not arise. Helps to encourage environmental stewardship. o Residents will feel more confident in each other’s ability to take care of their space and neighborhood, thus empowering the population to be more vigilant against pollution. May prove to be the most financially sound option for the resident. o Neighbors can be encouraged to enter into discounted group rates with their hauler. Not having the requirement in place might see the resident customer being quoted and signing on with the highest possible rate. This may happen because they would be on their own, less likely to compare their service to the next and thus, less awareness in fair pricing. 3. Limiting Residential Solid Waste Collection to Fridays Only The Commission is considering adopting an ordinance that would require that all residential waste collection is done on Fridays. Doing so would ensure that garbage collection is done on the same day as recycling collection, thereby limiting the number of days that trucks are on residential streets. This requirement would provide a convenience to residents and having only one day of collection may reduce truck traffic, making for quieter, safer and generally more peaceful neighborhoods. Further Actions Staff requests that the Environmental Commission votes to recommend approval of these items to the City Council and appoint a member of the Commission to represent the items to the Council at a future Council/Manager meeting.