HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/15/2016 - Community Recycling Ordinance - Air Quality Advisory Board
Environmental Services
215 N. Mason
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970.221-6600
fcgov.com/environmentalservices
MEMORANDUM
Date: August 15, 2016
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Mark Houdashelt, AQAB Chair
CC: Air Quality Advisory Board
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Re: Recommendations Regarding the Community Recycling Ordinance (CRO)
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Air Quality Advisory Board (AQAB) has reviewed the current version of the Community
Recycling Ordinance (CRO) and has discussed this program with City staff. The AQAB fully supports
the following provisions of the CRO, as these will lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the
landfill through the diversion of some organics and paper to composting and recycling facilities,
respectively:
requiring all grocers (except Beaver’s Market) to compost their organics by the end of 2017,
requiring all trash haulers to offer optional, seasonal yard trimmings collection starting in 2017,
and
requiring all commercial and multi-family units to be provided with recycling by 2020.
However, the AQAB is concerned that the primary greenhouse gas benefits of the CRO are being
delayed. Dealing with organics from restaurants and single-family residences has been postponed for
at least a year, and there has so far been no indication how or when each will be incorporated into the
CRO. While the AQAB supports the requirements for organics in the CRO presented at the January
2016 Council work session, we realize that this version of the CRO is no longer under consideration.
Therefore, the AQAB recommends City Council adoption of the current version of the CRO, but
Council should require City staff to come back in one year or less with a concrete plan for dealing with
organics in a manner that can be implemented on a timescale that will allow the City to still achieve its
Climate Action Plan and Road to Zero Waste goals.