Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/16/2008 Urban Affairs Advisory Minutes 9-16-2008 Page 1 of 5 URBAN AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 1 CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Urban Affairs Committee was brought to order at 6 30 p.m. MOTION Sandy Breuer moved, seconded by Pam Sohlberg, to appoint Sharon Schwartz as Acting Chair The motion carried 4-0 Members Present: Sandy Breuer, Shirley Doering*, Sharon Schwartz, Pam Sohlberg and Earl Wilson. * Shirley Doering arrived at 6.54 p.m. Members Absent: Barry Berg and Robin Curran Staff Present: Kathy Bodmer, Associate City Planner; Margaret Dykes, Associate City Planner; and Susan Bast, Dakota Valley Recycling. Guests present: Eric Dahlager, Waste Management; and Victoria Nelson, Resident. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION Earl Wilson moved, seconded by Pam Sohlberg, to approve the agenda. The motion carved 4-0 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008 Sharon stated that she would like the minutes on the second to the last paragraph on page 3 to reflect that she was saying that residents might be confused and may have placed storm debris on the boulevard because that is where the yard waste is placed for collection. MOTION Sandy Breuer moved, seconded by Pam Sohlberg, to approve the minutes as revised. The motion carried 4-0 4 DISCUSSION ITEMS A. RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING AND DAY-SPECIFIC COLLECTION PROGRAM Margaret Dykes began her presentation by stating that the Urban Affairs Committee requested additional information concerning four topics. single sort recycling collection, neighboring cities' screening rules, overflowing garbage cans and weekly vs. bi-weekly collection costs. Margaret discussed the pros and cons of single-sort and dual-sort recycling collection programs. In the case of single sort, the pros are• resident convenience, larger recycling cart, haulers can switch to an automated collection system, reduction m worker compensation claims and fewer trucks servicing routes and neighborhoods. The cons of single sort are greater level of contamination of recyclables, an increase m residuals, and an increase m cost for sophisticated sorting equipment. http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/urban affairs/2008/09-16-08.html 4/28/2009 Urban Affairs Advisory Minutes 9-16-2008 Page 2 of 5 In the case of a dual-sort recycling collection program, Margaret explained that the pros are• more convenient than the individual sort system, allows for addition of other materials in the future and it requires only a two compartment truck. The cons for dual sort are: greater levels of contamination, an increase m residuals and increased cost for sophisticated sorting equipment. Kathy Bodmer discussed how neighboring cities regulate the placement of garbage cans and screening. The codes from Burnsville, Eagan, Edina, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount were reviewed. While the majority of the communities do not allow the placement of garbage containers on the front of the home, most of them allow them to be placed on the side or rear yard. In most of the cities, garbage containers that are store outside must be screened from neighboring properties and the street. Kathy noted that none of the six communities prohibits residents from placing their garbage containers outside. Shirley Doering arrived at 6.54 p.m. Margaret discussed how the haulers handle overflowing garbage cans. She said that in general, they charge an additional fee for bags that are sitting outside of the container If the haulers see that a household has overflowing garbage containers on a regular basis, the hauler will contact them and offer them a larger or an additional garbage container The haulers stated that it is usually cheaper to move to the larger container rather than paying extra for extra bags each week. Margaret then discussed how the haulers responded to the question of the difference m cost between a weekly and bi-weekly recycling collection programs. In general, the haulers stated that they save fuel and labor costs by not collecting recyclables each week. However, there are significant costs for the new carts, the new trucks and the recycling processing facility Shirley Doering said she was surprised by the fact that she is considering curbside collection. Sharon Schwartz asked whether the rate of recycling goes up with a single sort recycling program. Sue Bast stated that studies show that, yes, initially both the number of people who participate and the amount of material collected increases. Earl Wilson commented that the increase m recycling participation in the beginning of the program is probably due to the fact that everyone receives a new container and they think they should use it. Sharon commented that the purpose of recycling is to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. She said that a recycling program that creates a high percentage of residual material that has to be disposed in a landfill is defeating the purpose of recycling. She also stated she has concerns about the size of the large recycling containers. Sharon said that she can see her neighbors' garbage containers that are stored outside now She doesn't want to have to look at additional containers stored outside. Eric Dahlager, Waste Management, said that his company is currently using aone-pass truck that collects recycling and garbage at one time. The trucks contain two compartments so that one side contains garbage and the other contains commingled recyclables. Eric acknowledges that mApple Valley, Waste Management currently provides single stream recycling with weekly collection. If the City went to curbside single sort program, Waste Management would have to use 2 trucks, because the single pass trucks used m Apple Valley aren't set up yet for the automated single sort program. Victoria Nelson, a resident of the Cobblestone Lake neighborhood, asked why the City allows yard waste to be placed at the curb, but not garbage or recycling. Kathy responded that the City Council amended the ordinance to reduce the number of trips up and down the driveway the haulers must make http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/urban affairs/2008/09-16-08.htm1 4/28/2009 Urban Affairs Advisory Minutes 9-16-2008 Page 3 of 5 during the peak yard waste collection seasons. Earl stated that it's easier to wheel a cart rather than carry a tub Sue commented that if one hauler offers wheeled carts for recycling collection, other haulers likely to follow suit. She noted that the garbage hauling business is very competitive. The committee noted that residential education is a big key Shirley asked Sue what Burnsville did with the old recycling tubs when the haulers converted over to the single sort recycling program. Sue said that they allowed residents to keep the tubs at their house with the expectation that the tub would stay with the house and be available for future homeowners. In cases where the residents didn't want their tubs, the haulers were directed to pick them up Shirley asked whether most other neighboring communities offer single sort recycling and every other week collection. Sue responded that yes, most neighboring communities offer these programs. Eric from Waste Management commented that another benefit of the single sort recycling program is that the lids on the containers help to reduce litter Shirley asked Eric how districting affects their personnel distribution. She asked whether they do some districting now Eric responded, yes, hauling areas are set up in distracts depending on the number of customers in the area. Shirley asked whether districting might affect haulers who have fewer customers m an area. Eric replied, yes, it was likely to impact haulers with fewer customers. Shirley asked Eric how they advertise and get more customers because she seldom sees ads for waste haulers in Apple Valley Eric responded that there is low competition for new accounts in Apple Valley because of the need to walk up the driveways. Rates might become more competitive if Apple Valley converts to curbside collection. Pam asked Eric how zoning would be fair to haulers. Eric responded that m Burnsville, Sue brought the haulers together and the City and haulers negotiated the distracts. He said it took two meetings to create the hauling distracts. Pam asked whether Burnsville collect 5 days during the week. Eric responded, yes, they do Sharon stated that she continues to be concerned about contamination. She asked, what about other cities with dual sort programs? Will some start with single sort and see a high volume of residuals and then convert back to dual sort? Sue responded that her take was that recycling programs aren't going to go back to more sorting. It's too inefficient to have trucks with multiple bins for separating the material. Also multiple sort recycling programs are inflexible; rt is difficult to add new materials m the future if markets become available for that product. Sue went on to say that to address the residuals issue, how the recyclables are processed will need to change. New technology using optical scans can help with sorting glass into different colors. End markets may also need to create other products that allow for higher contamination rates. New equipment will also need to be designed to help prevent breakage and residuals. For example, in the case http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/urban affairs/2008/09-16-08.htm1 4/28/2009 Urban Affairs Advisory Minutes 9-16-2008 Page 4 of 5 of automated collection, a simple change in the height of the automated collection drop height from 8' down to 2' would also help to reduce breakage. Earl stated that from a resident's standpoint, they will do what's easiest for them. The residents don't necessarily think about impacts on the landfill as much as they think about their own convenience. Margaret concurred and said that most residents want to do what's both easy and right. Pam asked whether every other week collection a problem for residents. Sue responded, no, other neighbors remind people of collection day when they set out recycling containers. Eric from Waste Management said his company distributes calendars to help remind people. Pam asked whether there were many complaints from residents who converted over to a single sort recycling program. Sue responded that she received very few complaints, maybe two, when single sort was implemented in Burnsville. She said the complaints dealt with the size of the container, that it was too big. Sue said that two complaints out of 25,,000 households is negligible. Eric stated that one thing Waste Management does to address the size concern is to offer different sized recycling carts. They distribute 60 gallon carts, but a resident could request a 30 or 90 gallon cart if preferred. The Committee asked Eric and Sue how long it took to implement the Prior Lake program. Eric responded that it took approximately 9 months. The Committee then asked how long it would take to implement a single sort program in Apple Valley Enc said, to purchase the carts, distribute them, and obtain the vehicles, would probably take a minimum of 3 months to roll out. Sharon said that the only way she would be wilting to go with curbside collection is if City implement collection zones. She said she is concerned about enforcement and garbage containers being left at the curb If the program goes to curbside, she said she doesn't want to see cans at the curb seven days a week. She said she is also concerned about storage of larger containers and the enforcement of screening requirements if containers are kept outside. Earl said he believes the size of containers should be a wash because the footprint of a cart will be nearly the same as the tub everyone is using today The Committee asked Sue how many complaints she received from changing resident's hauling days when the districts were established m Burnsville. Sue said the complaints have mostly been related to assigning a neighborhood with a Friday or Monday from people who go out of town on weekends. Sue said she received 7 or so complaints from residents regarding the new collection days. Sue noted, though, that she has primarily received question rather than complaints. Eric noted that if the City decides to allow curbside collection, they would be able to go from 4 routes to - 3 routes m Apple Valley Margaret then polled the Committee members on the following topics. 1 Day- Specific Collection Zones All members present supported day-specific collection. 2. Biweekly Collection of Recycling: All members present supported biweekly collection of recycling. 3 Single-Sort Recycling -Sharon was undecided, but the other members supported single-sort recycling. 4 Curbside collection -Sharon and Pam were undecided, Shirley, Earl, and Sandy supported curbside http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/urban affairs/2008/09-16-08.htm1 4/28/2009 Urban Affairs Advisory Minutes 9-16-2008 Page 5 of 5 collection. Kathy asked the Committee what issues rt would like to discuss at the next meeting. The Committee decided they would like to review draft language for any ordinance amendments, and would like to hear from waste processors, including one single-stream, one dual or more stream. Sue volunteered to contact Tun Goodman, the author of the recycling study that compared single stream and dual stream recycling programs. 5 OTHER BUSINESS Next Meeting Date The Committee tentatively set the next meeting for October 27 at 6.30 p.m. 6 ADJOURNMENT MOTION Sandy Breuer moved, seconded by Pam Sohlberg to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7 57 p.m. http.//www ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Minutes/urban affairs/2008/09-16-08.html 4/28/2009