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....
Click here for full text