TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement with EDCO Transports Services, LLC (EDCO) to construct a permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility, to reimburse EDCO for redesign expenses and the purchase of a fixed canopy and to ensure availability to City of Long Beach residents. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On August 19, 2008, City Council authorized the City Manager to apply for grant funding to establish a permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility to serve Long Beach-area residents and to execute all agreements to secure that funding. On February 23, 2009, the City was awarded a $400,000 grant from the State (CalRecycle) to build an HHW facility.
Per State law, there are several types of waste, such as sharps, electronic waste, paint, and household chemicals that cannot be disposed of with regular refuse. An HHW facility will allow residents to properly dispose of such materials and ensure that they do not contaminate the waste stream. This HHW facility will be co-located with a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that EDCO is developing in the City of Signal Hill at 2755 California Avenue. The MRF is fully permitted for this use, however, minor design changes are required to accommodate the HHW facility.
Staff proposes to utilize the grant funds to pay EDCO $54,000 for the redesign of the HHW facility within the MRF, $105,000 to purchase and install a fixed canopy, and additional grant funds to provide public education and outreach efforts. EDCO will provide access to the residents of Long Beach at no cost. All of the entitlements are in place, and the building is currently under construction. The HHW facility is projected to be operational by summer 2011.
To ensure long-term success of this facility, City staff is working in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW) to operate this facility. DPW has committed to provide $600,000 annually for operating expenses of the HHW facility. Since the City of Long Beach received the initial grant for the design and construction of the HHW facility, the operating expense will also need to flow through the City. Therefore, an agreement with DPW to fund the annual operating expenses, as well as an agreement with a qualified contractor, will be presented to the City Council for approval at a future date.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Burton and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on February 14, 2011.
SUSTAINABILITY
A permanent HHW facility will provide a convenient and readily available alternative for residents to properly dispose of household hazardous materials and keep them out of the regular waste stream. It will also provide the opportunity to recycle materials, such as tires and e-waste, and help maintain or increase the City of Long Beach's overall waste diversion levels.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 8, 2010 to ensure that the purchase of the canopy can be completed in time to be reimbursed from State grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
All costs related to this Refuse Fund (EF 330) expense will be reimbursed from the State grant. There is no impact on the General Fund. It is not anticipated that there will be any local jobs associated with this request.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER