A Plan forCity-wide Curbside Recycling

Committee of the WholeMarch 23, 2009

Dear East Hill Sanitation Customer,Dear East Hill Sanitation Customer,The City of Pensacola and Escambia County are The City of Pensacola and Escambia County are

partnering to provide a curbside recycling pilot project partnering to provide a curbside recycling pilot project for approximately 400 sanitation customers in the East for approximately 400 sanitation customers in the East Hill Neighborhood. This recycling pilot project will help Hill Neighborhood. This recycling pilot project will help us evaluate the feasibility of a implementing a citywide us evaluate the feasibility of a implementing a citywide curbside recycling program. The project should begin curbside recycling program. The project should begin sometime in July depending on when the new recycling sometime in July depending on when the new recycling containers are delivered. Residents will be informed of containers are delivered. Residents will be informed of the actual start date when their new recycling container the actual start date when their new recycling container is delivered. We anticipate that the study project will is delivered. We anticipate that the study project will last several months before a conclusion can be made on last several months before a conclusion can be made on the program’s effectiveness and a recommendation the program’s effectiveness and a recommendation concerning citywide curbside recycling program can be concerning citywide curbside recycling program can be made.made.

Residents in the pilot project area will receive onceResidents in the pilot project area will receive once--aa--week curbside collection of garbage on Tuesdays (in week curbside collection of garbage on Tuesdays (in your existing black garbage container) and onceyour existing black garbage container) and once--aa--week curbside collection of recyclables on Fridays (in week curbside collection of recyclables on Fridays (in your new recycling container). The success of the your new recycling container). The success of the project depends on citizen participation so we ask you project depends on citizen participation so we ask you to recycle all that you possibly can within the guidelines to recycle all that you possibly can within the guidelines listed to the right. You may find there are many items listed to the right. You may find there are many items that you normally throw away that can now be that you normally throw away that can now be conveniently recycled once you get your new recycling conveniently recycled once you get your new recycling container. Please note that glass is not an acceptable container. Please note that glass is not an acceptable item in this recycling project. This is due to the fact item in this recycling project. This is due to the fact that broken glass will contaminate the paper products that broken glass will contaminate the paper products that are collected and compacted in the recycling truck. that are collected and compacted in the recycling truck. However, you can continue to recycle glass by taking it However, you can continue to recycle glass by taking it to a recycling dropto a recycling drop--site location. Please call 435site location. Please call 435--1890 1890 if you have any questions. Thank you for your if you have any questions. Thank you for your cooperation. cooperation.

City of Pensacola City of Pensacola –– Sanitation ServicesSanitation Services

CURBSIDE RECYCLING GUIDELINESRecycling collection will be every

FRIDAY

•Aluminum Cans (rinse if possible)

•Steel (Tin) Cans (any empty steel cans such as soup cans – labels and lid ok – rinse if possible)

•Plastic Bottles (# 1-7, generally any plastic bottle with a “neck” opening that is smaller than the base – please empty and remove caps or lids. No oil bottles.)

•Plastic Bags•Cardboard (clean, empty, dry, flattened – no pizza boxes)

•Paperboard (cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc.)

•Newspapers•Mixed Paper (junk mail, office and notebook paper, paper bags, wrapping paper, etc.)

•Catalogs•Magazines and Paperback Books •Phone Books

CURBSIDE RECYCLING GUIDELINESRecycling collection will be every

FRIDAY

•Aluminum Cans (rinse if possible)

•Steel (Tin) Cans (any empty steel cans such as soup cans – labels and lid ok – rinse if possible)

•Plastic Bottles (# 1-7, generally any plastic bottle with a “neck” opening that is smaller than the base – please empty and remove caps or lids. No oil bottles.)

•Plastic Bags•Cardboard (clean, empty, dry, flattened – no pizza boxes)

•Paperboard (cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc.)

•Newspapers•Mixed Paper (junk mail, office and notebook paper, paper bags, wrapping paper, etc.)

•Catalogs•Magazines and Paperback Books •Phone Books

July 9, 2008:July 9, 2008:375 East Hill Customers Receive375 East Hill Customers Receivea 96a 96--gallon Recycling Containergallon Recycling Container

July 18, 2008:July 18, 2008:The Pilot Program The Pilot Program

Recycling Collection BeginsRecycling Collection Begins

Pilot Program ObjectivesPilot Program Objectives

• Determine citizen acceptance and participation

• Determine the impact of a once-a-week garbage collection

• Determine the potential recycling recovery rate

• Determine if cross-contamination is an issue

• Determine the best method of implementation

The Stats thru 32 WeeksThe Stats thru 32 WeeksGarbage Landfilled 194.3 tons – 32.4 poundsper customer per week

Recyclables Recovered 54.9 tons – 9.2 pounds

per customer per week

78% by weight 22% by weight

The Recycling Recovery TrendThe Recycling Recovery Trend

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31

Recycling Recovery Percentage

The East Hill Customer SurveyThe East Hill Customer Survey

In December 2008 staff mailed a survey to the In December 2008 staff mailed a survey to the 375 customers in the East Hill Recycling 375 customers in the East Hill Recycling

Pilot Project area and 178 surveys, or 47%, Pilot Project area and 178 surveys, or 47%, were returned. were returned.

The survey results are as follows…The survey results are as follows…

Question #1Question #1How many persons live in your household?How many persons live in your household?

6.2%

11.3%

10.2%

42.9%

29.4%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Five or more

Four

Three

Two

One

Question #2Question #2Did the informational flyer you received with your Did the informational flyer you received with your recycling container adequately explain the recycling recycling container adequately explain the recycling program?program?

93.8%

6.2%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

No

Yes

Question #3Question #3Question 3 was a followQuestion 3 was a follow--up to question #2.up to question #2.What additional information concerning the program What additional information concerning the program would have been helpful?would have been helpful?

14.1%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Comments received

Question #4Question #4How often do you normally place your recycling How often do you normally place your recycling container at the curb for collection?container at the curb for collection?

0.6%

1.1%

7.3%

35.6%

55.4%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Never

Rarely

Once-a-month

Every other week

Every week

Question #5Question #5When you set your recycling container out for When you set your recycling container out for collection is it:collection is it:

6.2%

29.0%

27.3%

37.5%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Less than half full

More than half full

Half full

Full

Question #6Question #6Before being involved in the recycling pilot Before being involved in the recycling pilot project how often did you use the recycling project how often did you use the recycling dropdrop--off sites?off sites?

50.3%

24.3%

25.4%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Never

Occasionally

Regularly

Question #7Question #7What level of satisfaction would you rate the What level of satisfaction would you rate the curbside recycling system used in the pilot curbside recycling system used in the pilot program?program?

1.1%

0.6%

4.5%

25.4%

68.4%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Don't know

Not satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Satisfied

Very satisfied

Question #8Question #8Did the onceDid the once--aa--week garbage collection schedule, week garbage collection schedule, together with the oncetogether with the once--aa--week recycling, meet your week recycling, meet your waste disposal requirements?waste disposal requirements?

92.6%

7.4%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

No

Yes

Question #9Question #9When you set your garbage container at the curb during the When you set your garbage container at the curb during the pilot program was your garbage container generally:pilot program was your garbage container generally:

17.0%

11.4%

31.8%

39.8%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Less than half full

More than half full

Half full

Full

Question #10Question #10Would you like to see the onceWould you like to see the once--aa--week recycling week recycling and garbage collection program continued in and garbage collection program continued in East Hill and expanded throughout the city?East Hill and expanded throughout the city?

95.4%

4.6%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

No

Yes

CommentsCommentsTell us how we may be able to improve the recycling Tell us how we may be able to improve the recycling program. Your comments are important to us.program. Your comments are important to us.

66.7%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Commentsreceived

Breakdown of CommentsBreakdown of CommentsThis chart reveals a categorical breakdown of the 118 This chart reveals a categorical breakdown of the 118 concerns and comments that were made.concerns and comments that were made.

9.3%

9.3%

22.8%

49.1%

3.3%

1.6%

1.6%

1.6%

0.8%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Requested same collection day for all debris

Requested a smaller recycling container

Requested a lower rate

Requested every-other-week recycling

Objected to the program

Requested more information on recycling items

Requested twice-a-week garbage

Supported program but requested glass by added

Total support of program

Container UsageContainer UsageThis chart reveals container usage trends.This chart reveals container usage trends.

1.1%

16.3%

19.1%

18.5%

15.7%

9.6%

7.3%

3.4%

8.4%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Once a Month or Less

Every Other Week - Less than Half Full

Every Other Week - Half Full

Every Other Week - More than Half Full

Every Other Week - Full

Every Week - Less than Half Full

Every Week - Half Full

Every Week - More than Half Full

Every Week - Full

The Purchase of Recycling ContainersThe Purchase of Recycling Containers

The Recommendation:Staff recommends the purchase of 64-gallon containers. Funding is available in the Insurance Retention Fund and canbe paid back by the Sanitation Fund over a 10-year period.The 64-gallon recommendation is based on the following:

• 64-gallon containers will cost $144,000 less than 96-galloncontainers.

• The pilot program customer survey indicated that 82.5%of customers used less than the full capacity of the 96-gallon container.

• The slimmer design of the 64-gallon container is morestorage friendly than the larger design.

• The 64-gallon container has proven to be a good size inmany once-a-week recycling collection systems.

Customer EducationCustomer EducationContainer Labeling:Each container will have a full color graphic display on the lid withinformation relative to the recycling program including a listing andimages of items that can be recycled. This is included in the costof the containers. A recycling flyer will be attached to the containerupon delivery and a self-sticking label will be put on the lid lettingcustomers know what day their recyclables will be collected.

Periodic Mail-outs:We anticipate the need to spend significant time and effort to informand educate our customers on the recycling program. Initially thismay include regular mailings to update and remind customers of theprogram. It’s estimated that this educational program would costabout $40,000 annually for quarterly postcard. However, if this effortincreases recycling participation it’s likely that its expense would beoffset by higher recovery rates and additional disposal savings.

Potential SavingsPotential SavingsDisposal Savings:If we recycle 20% of our garbage waste stream wecan reduce our landfilled waste by about 4,640 tonsand realize a savings of $165,000 based on currenttipping fees. This savings assumes a $0 tipping feeon recyclables.

Transload Contract Savings:Based on the recovery of 4,640 tons of recyclableswe can realize a savings of $47,200 in our TransloadContract with Allied Waste. However, these savingsmay be slightly offset by the increased cost of city collection trucks having to direct haul to the recyclable processing facility.

Processing of RecyclablesProcessing of Recyclables

Recyclable Processing:It is recommended that city recyclables be taken to the County’s Material Recovery Facility for processing. An Interlocal Agreement securing a $0.00 tipping fee on recyclables over a period of 10 years has been negotiated with the County and is addressed in a separate agenda item.

Although Allied Waste/Gulf States Recycling has indicated a possibility of providing a revenue return on recyclables, city staff has reservations.

The County Material Recovery FacilityThe County Material Recovery Facility

Financial ImpactFinancial ImpactAdditional Costs:Container Cost (if amortized over 10 years):

$803,010 containers / 10 yrs / 19,000 customers / 12 months = $0.35 monthCustomer Education:

$40,000 annually / 19,000 customers / 12 months = $0.18 monthAdditional Costs = $0.53 month

Potential Savings:Disposal Cost Savings:

$165,000 disposal savings / 19,000 customers / 12 months = ($0.72) monthTransload Contract Savings:$47,200 transload savings / 19,000 customers / 12 months = ($0.21) month

Anticipated Savings = ($0.93) month

Net Savings = ($0.40) month

* The city-wide recycling system should also result in some reduction in fuel usage and impact the monthly Fuel Charge

The Proposed Change in Collection Schedules

Garbage RecyclingMonday ThursdayThursday MondayTuesday FridayFriday Tuesday

GarbageMonday/ThursdayTuesday/Friday

PROPOSEDCURRENT

If approved by Council, the container If approved by Council, the container vendor can begin delivery of containers vendor can begin delivery of containers

to all city sanitation customers within to all city sanitation customers within 60 days and we can establish the 60 days and we can establish the target date to begin the citytarget date to begin the city--wide wide

curbside recycling program as curbside recycling program as June 15, 2009June 15, 2009

Questions?