TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report by Public Works Department regarding a multi-family residential recycling program; and request City Manager to implement recommendations. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Currently, all City-serviced refuse accounts are provided with recycling collection service. This includes all single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, apartment buildings with ten dwelling units or less, small businesses and a small share of larger apartment buildings. The City competes with permitted private refuse companies to service apartment buildings with more than ten units.
In 2000, the City implemented a recycling incentive program that was intended to encourage private companies to offer recycling at their respective accounts. Currently, private companies report that they recycle an aggregate of 24% of the solid waste they collect. This number is mostly comprised of recycling conducted at businesses. Despite the incentives currently provided to private companies to offer recycling, residents that are serviced by these private companies increasingly complain that they have no recycling available at their multi-family residential buildings.
Municipal Code 8.60.087.5 gives the Director of Public Works the authority to approve recycling programs as submitted by private companies. Staff recommends that the following guidelines be accepted and implemented to ensure the greatest likelihood for Citywide success of a multi-family recycling program:
• Require private companies to offer recycling service to all multi-family dwelling buildings.
• Require recycling as a mandatory element of a private company's service charge.
• Ensure that private company multi-family dwelling recycling programs are consistent with
City-serviced accounts with regard to containers, targeted materials and public education.
• Allow exemptions by the Director of Public Works for individual accounts when\ appropriate.
• Suspend new Refuse Transportation Permits.
• Require 100% compliance one year from the date of City Council approval of these
guidelines with a 50% compliance requirement at the six-month point.
• Consider suspension or revocation of the Refuse Transportation Permit for failure of a
permittee to comply with any requirement of the program.
• Require all new construction and reconstruction to allow adequate space for recycling
service.
• Initiate a public education campaign with the support of permitted private companies
and the Apartment Owners Association to inform residents of this opportunity.
Staff met with the Apartment Owners Association on May 7, 2008 and with permitted private companies on May 30, 2008 to receive input and incorporate all parties' concerns in the development of this new program. The results of these meetings are summarized on the attached report entitled Multi-Family Private Hauler Recycling.
This letter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Burton on June 5, 2008 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on June 9, 2008.
SUSTAINABILITY
The City of Long Beach reported a 69% waste diversion rate for calendar year 2006.
We are currently awaiting certification of this figure from the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB). Implementing a multi-family recycling program will provide residents in larger apartment buildings the opportunity to recycle targeted materials that comprise their household waste as well as helping maintain or increase the City of Long Beach's overall waste diversion rate.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this item is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
None. There is no impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael P. Conway
Director of Public Works