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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-21-2012 - 8eORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 21, 2012 Action Agenda Item No. ~ SUBJECT: Modify the Urban Curbside Single Stream Recycling Collection Schedule DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): December 5, 2011 Abstract - Conversion of Recycling Programs to Single Stream INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director, 968- 2885 Michael Talbert, Assistant County Manager, 245-2308 Frank Clifton, County Manager, 245- 2306 PURPOSE: To review a proposal to modify the previously authorized Urban Curbside Single Stream Recycling Collection implementation scheduled for July 2012. BACKGROUND: In the Fiscal Year 2011/12 Solid Waste Department budget, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the conversion of current dual stream recyclables collection programs to a commingled (single stream) recyclables collection program. A significant component of that conversion was the Urban Curbside Program's move from the current 18 gallon bin receptacles to 95 gallon roll cart receptacles. Subsequently, as a result of continuing discussions with the County's "Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste Management" partners regarding the closure of the Orange County Landfill and the future of joint relationships with the municipalities regarding solid waste management, staff is recommending modification of the implementation of single stream as it relates to the Urban Curbside Recycling program. This matter was discussed at the January 26, 2012 Joint Work Session where the Town of Chapel Hill indicated that it was reevaluating all of the solid waste related services and programs within its jurisdiction and could not commit to a continuing association with the County provided recycling program. Given the County's intention to purchase and distribute to the three municipalities approximately 18,970 roll cart receptacles estimated to cost about $948,500, a financial risk will be created for Orange County to purchase the roll carts at this time. Therefore, staff recommends a modification to the planned conversion to single stream recyclables collection that temporarily eliminates the purchase and utilization of roll carts and reduces the financial risk. The conversion to single stream for all other County recycling programs would continue as originally planned. The modification includes: • Continued utilization of 18 gallon bin receptacles 2 • Extension of the vendor collection contract that is to expire on June 30, 2012 for one additional year rather than award a new five year vendor contract through a request for proposals • Encourage the Town of Chapel Hill to complete its solid waste management system evaluation in a reasonable period of time so that the roll cart component of the Urban Curbside Program may be implemented in July 2013 • Postpone the anticipated addition of new materials (such as #5 plastic cups and tubs like yogurt cups and #2, #4, and #5 large bulky plastics like five gallon buckets, kid toys, and flower pots) to the curbside program due to the limited capacity of the existing 18 gallon bins as well as relaxing the quantity and size restrictions that now exists on cardboard County staff will monitor the progress of the Town of Chapel Hill's programs and services evaluation, cooperate with the Town's investigation as requested, and consider the overall impacts the Town's decisions may have on all County provided services, specifically with regard to future acquisition and distribution of roll carts for use in curbside recyclables collection within the municipalities. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The primary impact of this recommendation is to eliminate the planned Fiscal Year 2011/12 capital purchase of approximately $948,500 for 18,970 roll cart recycling receptacles. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize staff to proceed with implementation of single stream recyclables collection within the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough using the existing 18 gallon bin receptacles and negotiate a one- year contract renewal with the Waste Industries, Inc. for the collection of recyclables within the Urban Curbside Recycling Program. 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ,/~~~ ACTION AGEND Meeting Date: December 5, 2011 Action Agenda item No. C( ' (,~ SUBJECT: Conversion of Recycling Proqrams to Single Stream (Comingled) Collection DEPARTMENT; Solid Waste Management, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No County Manager ATTACHMENT(S~: Memorandum to County Manager INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Management, 919-968-2885 Michael Talbert, County Manager, 919-245-2153 PURPOSE: To receive from County staff information regarding p)anning for implementation of single stream recycling and to provide g.uidance to staff with regard to proceeding to implementation. __._ _ __ _ BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners and the Towns have for several years have expressed interest in moving to single stream recycling collection. The Solid Waste Planning Work Group, the Solid Waste Advisory Board and various individual County residents have also advocated this change. Consistent with the adopted Fiscal 2011/12 Solid Waste Budget, Orange County recycling programs are now planned to implement single stream recycling by July 2012. This change would -be implemented- for all County recycling programs -= Rural--Carbside; lJrban Curbside, Solid Waste Convenience Centers, Mu(ti-family, Commercial, Schools, etc. Single stream recycling is the practice of comingling all recyclable materials (paper and containers) together for collection rather than separating containers .from paper (normally referred to as dual stream). There may be some slight variations among programs as discussed in the attached memorandum to the County Manager. An example of the efficiencies gained by the switch to single stream can be best ilfustrated by the expected reduction in contract cost in the Urban Curbside program. The current cost to the County for this collection is $4.17 per household per month resulting in a Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget of $931,395 for this s~rvice. Once the County switches to single stream collection, staff hopes to reduce the cost down to befinreen $3.00 and $3.75 per household per month. Using the current population, if the cost is as high as $3.75 per household per month, the contract cost 4 cost could be as low as $823,500 per year. Staff has also had some estimates that indicate the cost could be as low as $3.00 per household per month, which would bring the contract cost down to around $658,800 annually. It is anticipated that roll-carts will be utilized for the Urban Curbside Program (contracted service) and that the Rural Curbside Program (County staff provided service) will continue to utilize 18-gallon bins, at least for the near term. It is currently understood from resident comments that portions of the Rural Program may not be suitable for roll-carts and staff will, over the next year or two, assess areas where roll-carts can be reasonably used with the expectation that eventually roll-carts can be provided for certain select rural areas. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The adopted Fiscal 2011/12 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) indicates an estimated expense of $948,500 to purchase 18,970 roll-carts. 1# is anticipated that the carts could be debt financed over a period of about five years with debt senrice paid from the increase in collection efficiency as reflected in a lower vendor cost per household. Alternatively the carts could be acquired through a piggyback contract purchase or by incorporating provision of the carts into the collection vendor scope of services. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the single stream recycling implementation update and provide staff with guidance relative to implementation or operation of the transition to single stream recycling.