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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 11/27/2012 - INCREASED CARDBOARD RECYCLINGDATE: November 27, 2012 STAFF: Susie Gordon Pre-taped staff presentation: available at fcgov.com/clerk/agendas.php WORK SESSION ITEM FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Increased Cardboard Recycling EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City Council will discuss whether Fort Collins should adopt regulations that would prohibit placing corrugated cardboard boxes/packaging in trash containers for disposal in landfills, including commercial, industrial, and residential generators. The City may elect to place restrictions in order to increase the community’s ability to meet a goal of diverting 50% of trash from landfill disposal, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. Should staff continue to pursue the idea of prohibiting cardboard in the trash? 2. Should staff provide an ordinance for Council consideration that will prohibit cardboard from being placed in the trash? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Even though cardboard is recyclable, a lot of it continues to end up in our landfill. Stricter policies to prevent cardboard from entering the waste stream would reduce trash by an estimated 12,000 tons/year, as well as representing 42,000 tons/year of avoided carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), as identified in the City’s 2008 Climate Action Plan as a top strategy to meet stated goals. Using updated data, staff estimates over $500,000 in commodity value based on current market prices for 12,000 tons of cardboard, and $216,000 in avoided landfill fees annually. This would also increase the life of the landfill. Cardboard is a valuable recycling commodity, easily recognizable, well-developed in terms of recycling collection systems, and generally in command of good prices. Keeping it in circulation to make new boxes and packaging stimulates the economy and creates more jobs per ton than landfilling cardboard1. In 2012, Fort Collins’ newly adopted building codes became effective requiring cardboard recycling at construction sites (as well as recycling for metal, wood, and concrete). After the first year, results show that builders and site managers are capable of setting up the services and bins needed to separate the cardboard from the trash to be collected for recycling. Awareness and commitment to recycling on construction sites appears to be growing steadily. 1 http://www.tellus.org/publications/files/More_Jobs_Less_Pollution.pdf November 27, 2012 Page 2 Other Communities Landfill disposal of cardboard is banned by nine states: California, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Vermont, as well as in Washington DC. Local communities that have taken the step of restricting cardboard disposal include Wake and Orange counties in North Carolina, and Linn County, Iowa. Precedent for Local Waste Stream Ban In 2007, the Fort Collins City Council took the step of prohibiting disposal of electronic waste in the trash for both commercial/industrial generators, and for households. (In 2012, Colorado’s State Legislature followed suite by voting for a state-wide e-waste ban.) A local ordinance that prohibits cardboard from being placed in the trash would be similarly applied to the community’s waste disposal system, for both residential and commercial trash customers. Restrictions on Disposal of Cardboard Cardboard recycling is available for anyone in the community to use at the City’s recycling center. In addition, a significant number of households in Fort Collins already have access to convenient cardboard recycling through their curbside collection program as a part of their trash hauler’s services at no additional fee. This service is a requirement - through the City’s Pay-as-you-throw Ordinance (1995) – for licensed haulers to provide. Some households that may not have curbside recycling include residents of multi-family units (MFU) where recycling is not offered to tenants. A new ordinance that requires cardboard to be diverted from the trash may cause the remaining MFU site managers who don’t offer recycling to initiate subscriptions for services with their hauler. Among commercial customers, a new cardboard disposal prohibition will similarly create new recycling accounts. The larger retail stores (grocers, “big box” stores, department stores) have routinely used the services of a recycling company to handle their cardboard discards for 10-20 years. The large volumes they generate make it both cost-effective and logistically successful to mechanically compact and/or bale cardboard to be marketed to the recycling industry. And, as noted above, members of the construction industry have already been required to separate cardboard for recycling since January, 2012. Smaller businesses may encounter space restrictions, such as small alleys or cramped trash enclosures that make it more difficult to separate cardboard from the trash to be recycled. They may also encounter objections from the property management companies that rent a good deal of the commercial real estate in Fort Collins. If a property manager contracts for trash to be collected, their reluctance to add recycling has the effect of deterring even those businesses that are ready to practice get started with waste diversion and recycling. Costs for Cardboard Recycling Services The Pay-as-you-throw Ordinance means that for residential customers, the cost of curbside recycling is bundled into the price for trash service. The PAYT Ordinance, however, does not apply to November 27, 2012 Page 3 commercial or MFU accounts. While haulers are obliged to provide recycling to these customers whenever it is requested, they are allowed to charge a fee for the service. Prices vary among haulers; it costs between $10-40 per month to pay a hauler for cardboard recycling at a small or mid- sized business. By separating cardboard from the trash dumpster or bin, however, customers may potentially offset recycling costs through lower trash bills. Implementing Cardboard Disposal Restrictions A decision by the City to increase cardboard recycling through regulatory actions would be moderately impactful to those members of the community who currently access recycling systems without too much inconvenience or extra cost. For households and larger businesses, an ordinance would have the likely effect of increasing participation, motivating more people to take the amount of extra time and effort it takes to break down packaging and cardboard boxes so that the material fits into recycling containers. Staff perceives that a new ordinance could be rolled out to these sectors of the community within six months, after an outreach-heavy educational program is carried out. As part of the enforcement program for the new prohibition, staff could work with small-to-medium businesses that are struggling to come into compliance by working with them to develop specific compliance schedules. The City’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Assistance Program (WRAP) could be expanded to help more businesses, in addition to the businesses and MFUs that currently make up WRAP’s clientele. City staff would work closely with new-to-recycling companies, property management companies, and apartment managers to develop cardboard recycling capabilities. After conducting assessments for specific customers, staff would help prepare tailored on-site plans, offer training for business’ employees, and potentially locate funds to expedite the transition to recycling. For instance, tenants at a cluster of businesses might elect to share leased compacting equipment that makes it easier to store cardboard for collection. Other programs could be considered for businesses and MFU properties to support initiation of cardboard recycling programs. The City could potentially provide zero- or low-interest loan or grants to assist in purchasing or leasing recycling equipment. The City might also look at options to purchase certain types of equipment, such as specialized cardboard bins, to be made available for small businesses to borrow for up to 12 months. Enforcement Staff recommends that a new ordinance that prescribes recycling for cardboard instead of allowing it to be sent to landfill for disposal be structured so as to place the primary responsibility for recycling on the generator of the materials. The obligations of trash haulers should be limited to refusal to collect trash from containers that can be observed to contain a substantial share of cardboard by volume, using 50% as the threshold for refusal Haulers should be expected to be in direct and immediate contact with the customer if cardboard is found in a customer’s Dumpster or collection bin. However, staff does not recommend that haulers’ employees be required or expected to remove cardboard materials from the trash container as a simple matter of safety. From a regulatory perspective, the residential and commercial generators should be held responsible for failure to comply with the ordinance, especially if on repeated occasions their trash is observed to contain cardboard. Hauling companies are in the best position to make that observation, remind November 27, 2012 Page 4 their customers about the restrictions, and urge customers to sign up for the recycling services offered by the hauler. Staff recommends that enforcement be carried out on a complaint basis, and/or when City employees such as Code Enforcement Officers make note of cardboard in a generator’s waste stream. With an emphasis placed on warnings and education about the importance of recycling cardboard during the first 18 months, enforcement should be intended to gradually increase over time, with a particular focus on repeat offenses. ATTACHMENTS 1. List of outreach measures completed 2. Analysis of benefits (tons of cardboard diverted, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, landfill lifespan) 3. Summary of public comments 4. Powerpoint presentation Attachment 1 Increased Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 Public Outreach – Cardboard Recycling Initiative October 1, 2012 – fcgov.com/cardboard website installed to inform public about a potential cardboard initiative and collect comments. Late September/early October – staff met individually with each of Fort Collins’ licensed haulers to discuss restrictions on disposal of cardboard in waste stream. October 15, 2012 – fcgov.com/recycling/ ‐ Spotlight on City’s webpage October 24, 2012 – City Calendar listed information on open house and website October 24, 2012 – Press Release distributed to local media on two recycling initiatives October 29, 2012 – PDF Invitation to the open house distributed via e‐mail and in print October 30, 2012 – Staff’s “Green” Column published in Coloradoan November 1, 2012‐CityNews article about cardboard initiative November 1, 2012 – Social Media Campaign Placed invitation/announcement on various social media websites including the City’s Facebook page. November 4, 2012‐Neighborhood News article November 7, 2012 – online interstitial ad on the Coloradoan’s website photo gallery November 8, 2012 –print ad in the Coloradoan Ticket special section to the newspaper November 8, 2012 – Open House, 4:30pm to 7pm Public open house held to allow community to share comments on the cardboard initiative. November 9, 2012 ‐ Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee ‐ presentation by staff November 14, 2012 – Tri 102.5 Radio on‐air commentary and article about recycling initiatives November 15, 2012 – K99 Radio on‐air commentary and article about recycling initiatives November 15, 2012‐Coloradoan News Article published in the Coloradoan. November 16, 2012 – City of Fort Collins Economic Newsletter article November 16, 2012 – Coloradoan again featured information on their Facebook page (16 comments). November 19, 2012– Tri 102.5 Radio on‐air commentary and article. Attachment 2 Calculations Narrative: Banning the Landfill Disposal of Cardboard November 2012 Tons of Cardboard Diverted Based on 2011 Fort Collins community waste and recycling data, an estimated additional 12,000 tons of cardboard would be diverted from the landfill annually if a cardboard disposal ban were enacted1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions The 2008 Climate Action Plan2 includes analysis of ways to meet the 50% waste diversion goal. One of these strategies is to “Ban cardboard from the Waste Stream.” At the time, this action was projected to avoid an estimated 46,000 to 58,000 short tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually in 2012. Using the updated estimate of the amount of cardboard sent to the landfill and the WARM (the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waste Reduction Model – a tool to calculate the greenhouse gas impacts of waste reduction actions3) life cycle emission factor of 3.11 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) per ton of cardboard recycled, an estimated 42,000 MTCO2e would be avoided by a landfill disposal ban of cardboard. The current estimate of avoided greenhouse gas emissions is lower than the 2008 projection for a few reasons: 1) The overall amount of material landfilled is less than was projected in 2008. The economic downturn and the community’s waste reduction and recycling activities have all contributed to this. 2) The City now collects and makes use of a greater level of detail in data about community waste. The increased level of information about industrial waste, in particular, means that the amount of cardboard actually being generated by this sector may not align with 2008 projections. Landfill Lifespan While specific data is not available at this time, all additional tons of cardboard recycled will not take up space in the landfill and will help to extend the life of the landfill. 1 Assumes cardboard composes 15% of the residential waste landfilled and 20% of the commercial waste landfilled (per Fort Collins Solid Waste 5‐Year Strategic Plan: Strategies to Reach 50% Diversion from Landfill Disposal prepared in 2006 by SERA Inc.), applied to 2011 Community Waste and Recycling Data compiled by City of Fort Collins Environmental Services (39,665 tons of residential waste and 47,471 tons of commercial waste). Tons diverted assume an 80% capture rate of the cardboard that is currently landfilled. 2 http://www.fcgov.com/climateprotection/pdf/climate_action_plan.pdf?1229621317 3 www.epa.gov/climatechange/waste/calculators/Warm_home.html Attachment 3 1 Increasing Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 Summary of Public Comments – Increasing Cardboard Recycling “Survey Gizmo” – Public Input Absolutely require that cardboard is recycled and banned from the waste cycle/landfill. All cardboard should be recycled. I cannot attend the meeting but am in favor of increasing cardboard recycling. I would like to see our city recycle cardboard, NOT dump it in the landfill. Makes sense to me !! Let’s make it a no-brainer for everyone. And make reuse in gardens easy too Please prohibit the landfill disposal of cardboard! There's no reason not to recycle it. Please require recycling cardboard. Sounds good to me. Are the trash haulers on board? Hope so. This seems like a simple step in Fort Collins' efforts to be a green city. Yes please recycle cardboard. Prohibiting corrugated cardboard in the landfill is a fine idea overdue. By diverting it, you can sell it and make the town some money, reduce the waste in the land fill and reduce methane in the environment. It's a no brainer! Make cardboard recycling required. Enough of the regulations and government bureaucracy! If the city really wants to divert recyclables from the land fill then all trash and recyclables should be single streamed and separated at the land fill. Not only could you get more recyclables you could also get compostable materials etc. Not to mention the energy savings of having one trash pick-up per residence etc. Just think of the carbon reduction! Look at the plan Loveland has in place for their recycling. They have a smooth running, easy to use recycling center on South Wilson. The only one I know of in FC is off of Riverside and in comparison it's a joke. Business is all about using successful models that are already in place and working, look at Loveland's and I'd love to see something akin to that in FC. Absolutely cardboard should be recycled and banned from the landfill. The elimination of methane, a greenhouse gas, is a high priority. The profits from recycling will help offset collection costs. The concept of recycling will be furthered. Thank you. Keep up the good work! I absolutely agree with banning cardboard from trash. It make sense economically and environmentally, and it's very easy to recycle. Because everyone has recycling available to them, there is no reason not to require the recycling of cardboard. I STRONGLY support the requirement of recycling cardboard, from residences and beyond, and I also support banning it from the landfill, ESPECIALLY if landlords of multi-family apartment complexes are contacted! I live in one of these complexes and am continually perplexed and frustrated as to why I don't receive curbside recycling like my neighbors!!!! I take my recycling to the Recycling Center every week but I know a lot of people who don't, who would utilize curbside recycling if they had it in their apartment complex!! YES YES YES. What are we waiting for? Reduce trash, including cardboard, through support for better or non-existent packaging, recycling, banning, etc., by whatever means necessary. I recycle cardboard most of the time, but I hate cutting it into 24" x 24" pieces. That can be dangerous esp. if you have children around when you are cutting it. Why not just flatten it? Then put in the recycle bin. Some boxes are so big I say the heck with it and put it in the garbage bin. We also recycle by lining Attachment 3 2 Increasing Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 the bottom of our garden with the cardboard to prevent grasses and weeds from coming through. That is only once every 1 to 2 years. Fort Collins and all other government offices need to keep their hands out of our lives; we can do just fine without all these rules and laws. I definitely favor increasing the pressure to re-cycle cardboard. It is relatively easy to break down a small box but very large boxes are difficult to cut up. Large boxes that have been made into flat pieces should be permitted in recycling without requiring that they be cut into smaller pieces. Education is key including recycling locations if you live in an apartment complex. Because more and more people are renting and living in apartment complexes, there is a strong need to work out ways for all types of recycling to be done at apartment complexes. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the need to improve the rate of cardboard recycling in Ft. Collins. Our view is that mandatory recycling of cardboard is an important step in reducing carbon emissions and diverting a valuable resource from the landfill. The landfill is within 20 yrs. of capacity, thus, we would encourage consideration of mandatory recycling for as many recyclables as possible. I think recycling card board is a really good idea. In fact, I recycle or repurpose any cardboard I get. Why shouldn't everyone do the same? I am shocked to hear they are not! Tsk, tsk Fort Collins should keep cardboard out of the landfill! Long-Term it will save money and the environment! Yes, please do more to increase cardboard recycling. When I worked at a restaurant years ago, it was actually profitable to recycle cardboard and we had a separate bin for it. I think a system working with the lumber yards would help with construction cardboard. When a lumber yard makes a delivery, their truck goes back empty. Maybe cardboard collection containers could be located at lumber yards for City pick-up? Lumber trucks could pick-up from job sites, and delivered to the containers. The City could pick up from there. Yes, the City Council should adopt regs to prohibit (or at least really limit) the disposal of cardboard in the landfill. It is really not that hard, as I recycle all of my cardboard at home, and while my office doesn't generate much, it would be helpful if the office were required to do so, as it would result in the entire building where I work would as well be required to do so. There are other offices in the building where my office is located that generates a lot of cardboard and I see too much of it being thrown in the trash and not recycled. Thanks. the more we can do to encourage recycling of everything the better. curbside recycling ought to be free (or at least significantly cheaper than trash hauling), and be funded by city via taxpayer dollars. Trash- hauling fees ought to be increased. we need more yardwaste collection / composting sites...every neighborhood needs one or two As a concerned citizen, I support adopting regulations to prohibit placing corrugated cardboard boxes/packaging in trash containers for disposal in landfills, including commercial, industrial, and residential generators. This sounds like another silly idea which is not well thought out and is of little benefit to anyone or anything. Trendy? yes. Value? No. Just how are folks supposed to dispose of cardboard received in packages etc. Will the city do it for a fee? I am originally from new jersey and find it astonishing that we as a city continue to allow recyclable resources to enter the landfill. We need to show greater foresight and require all recyclables be recycled This is a huge concern. It is alarming that in a time when some cities have implemented regulations no only against recycling cardboard but also against disposing of compostables that this would be a discussion. The fact is that our environment can't afford any more waste than we already create. Not recycling cardboard or any recyclable item is choosing to destroy the world for everyone who inhabits it. These types of selfish acts cannot be prohibited and need to be changed. If implementing regulations Attachment 3 3 Increasing Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 requiring that people recycle cardboard is going to the only way to ensure that it happens than we have no other choice. My feedback is to require that cardboard be recycled. It makes good sense. Thank you for all you do, I am in complete support of a ban on putting cardboard in the landfill. Cardboard is clean and easy to break down. Sometimes people and businesses just need the financial or legal incentive to do the right thing. This is the type of problem you have in a wealthy community where residents don't need money from returned cardboard, nor care about paying a fee for plastic bags. The City needs to put a LOT more pressure on trash collection companies who pick up anything, right or wrong. Our trash man picks up our can, dumps it in the back of the truck, and looks it over to see if there are improper items. If there are, the items are returned to the can or sidewalk. If any trash collection company dumps improper material at a dump, charge them a very hefty fee. It's past time to get tough. This seems obvious, something I thought was already happening in Fort Collins. Many people recycle everything they can in their own households. I would like to see the city do the same. I support the effort to recycle cardboard within the city of Fort Collins. It is incredibly important for our community to understand the functionality of cardboard. It is not difficult to recycle, and helps immensely. More education regarding the functionality could be implemented through a PR campaign to raise awareness. We recycle cardboard at Riverside. We do have recycling pickup, but I wonder whether cardboard becomes contaminated with moisture and then is not recyclable. As a Fort Collins citizen for 20 years, I am writing to encourage the landfill to prohibit cardboard. Cardboard should be recycled. In fact, as a young girl growing up in Japan, recycling was a mandatory stewardship requirement of citizens in dealing with trash and with our environment. That was 50 years ago!! Let's continue to become a city of inspiration and just doing what's right for the earth. The impact of removing cardboard from the landfill will significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions for Fort Collins. This action is one of the most efficient ways to not only reduce gases responsible for climate change but will also lower the amount of solid waste that is placed into the landfill annually. I am pleased that the city is recommending cardboard recycling specifically for retailers and 'big box stores' who are the greatest contributors to cardboard waste and the greenhouse gases that are released by their decomposition. Additionally, I would like to thank the city for its efforts to make recycling centers that take cardboard accessible to the public and hope they continue to do so. I fully support the City of Fort Collins banning the disposal of cardboard in trash cans bound for the landfill. Thank you! I strongly support a ban of cardboard in our landfills. I would suggest we look at the best practices from other states that have banned cardboard and create our policy based which best practices would be best for Fort Collins. Why pay to put cardboard in the landfill when we can get others to pay us for the cardboard? Do the math! Including the savings in energy and trees. How would you regulate cardboard trash? How would you know who is throwing cardboard away vs recycling? What would the consequences be? Would you expect trash company to refuse trash if cardboard is mixed in? Yes. The city should do anything necessary to keep cardboard out of the landfill, including increasing tipping fees. I support requiring all residents and businesses in Ft. Collins to recycle cardboard. If we were to get all Attachment 3 4 Increasing Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 cardboard out of the waste stream and into the landfill, we'd reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2%. This is an important step in continuing our forward progress in meeting the City's Climate Plan goals. Attachment 3 5 Increasing Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 Written Comments on Increasing Cardboard Recycling Open House November 8, 2012 Poster 1 – “Your input is welcome” 1. The people want freedom and government off our backs!!! We don’t want to be another “Boulder”. We want the use of plastic bags and cardboard boxes to continue. Don’t pass these laws against us. Leave us alone! This whole thing is part of “Agenda 21” from the United Nations. They pay cities money and perks to force us into “Agenda 21”. Poster 2 – “Two Recycling Initiatives – draft proposals from staff” 1. Does anyone know what happens to cardboard that goes into recycling? Really? Why not say so? 2. Where does the recycled cardboard go to? To China? 3. Cardboard recycle centers would have a huge impact. 4. I support! (cardboard initiative) 5. I already am recycling all cardboard – easy and smart and right thing to do. 6. It would be prudent for us as citizens to keep cardboard out of trash. Rather than “oppression”, I see it as civic responsibility. 7. Cardboard: education NOT oppression! Don’t we have enough rules and regulations? 8. Yes, prohibit (cardboard) from trash stream. 9. Not hard to sort out cardboard. No brainer. I support. 10. Prohibit (cardboard) from being placed in trash and soon! 11. How hard is it to put cardboard into your recycle bin? I support enforcing cardboard recycling! 12. Prohibit penalty for cardboard scavenging Poster 3 – “Reducing Waste: Cardboard Recycling Initiative (In Fort Collins, about 12,000 tons of cardboard are thrown away each year)” 1. We need to move toward banning cardboard from the waste stream by requiring that it be recycled. It’s a valuable resource and results in significant greenhouse gas emissions when made from virgin materials and when it decomposes in the landfill. 2. We must look at the impact of cardboard, as well as all “waste”, on the capacity of the landfill. With less than 20 years of life remaining, we need to reduce all “wastes”! Mandating the recycling of cardboard would be significant help to extending the landfill for the non-recyclables. 3. Let’s quit putting cardboard in the landfill. It has value. We should ban it and do an education campaign as well as phase it in. Let’s work with the haulers to come up with creative ways to capture that cardboard from multi-family homes and businesses. Cardboard should not be going in the landfill. 4. How will this increase the cost of doing business in Fort Collins? Poster 4 – Reducing Waste: Cardboard Recycling Initiative (City ordinance) 1. Let’s ban (from landfill disposal) plastic bottles, tin cans, newspapers and all else from the recycle bins then the landfill will last longer and our trash fees will go down. Instead let’s place recycling bins in more places around the community where it is presorted and can be sold for a net profit. 2. Yes, not in trash by either resident or commercial. Proceed with short period of education. Thank you for proposing this. Attachment 3 6 Increasing Cardboard Recycling Council Worksession November 27, 2012 3. I think the cardboard idea will be difficult to enforce and will cause conflict between the City and small business. The better approach would be an information and education program co- sponsored by the trash haulers on the reasons to move cardboard out of the waste stream into the recycle bins. You might also offer “cash for cardboard” to citizens/ businesses that can bring in significant amounts. This model is already in place at Larimer County and could be expanded to include new potential City site for difficult to recycle items, possible at hauler locations, etc. The haulers could re-coup their costs for educational efforts through extra containers and pickup fees for customers that are interested in getting on board. Finally, if the haulers could put out offer to customers explaining the benefits of cardboard recycling and be willing to perhaps reduce a customer’s six-yard container to two 3-yard containers, they would have the same pickup but could have two pickups (at a slightly higher cost) and have the benefit of clean cardboard they could settle without the expense of single stream recycling. 4. City ordinance best way to handle cardboard along with good education and gradual transition to increasing enforcement. 5. If cardboard is so valuable why do commercial (customers) have to pay to take it away? I’m for recycling but we do NOT need another law. 6. Why does it have to be a law? Maybe we just see it as a responsibility, not a law. 7. I like that this also applies to commercial generators. What would the penalty be for non- compliance? How would the trash haulers deal with this? 8. What if the cardboard is dirty (food, plastic, etc. on it)? 9. Good idea – very valuable resource to be just trashing. People need education and incentive. 10. All clean cardboard needs to be recycled. 11. Six months education – good. Ban in trash all residential and commercial. Good poster overall. 12. Consider leaning through impact fees toward manufacturers producing hard-to-recycle products and packaging. 1 1 City Council Work Session Susie Gordon, Sr. Environmental Planner November 27, 2012 Increase Cardboard Recycling Fort Collins’ Goal: Divert 50% of Community’s Waste from Landfill Disposal 2 Is Prohibiting Cardboard from Being Placed in the Trash a Waste Reduction Idea that Works for Fort Collins? ATTACHMENT 4 2 3 Why Cardboard? Even though cardboard is recyclable, a lot of it continues to end up in our landfill. 4 As noted in the City’s 2008 Climate Action Plan, stricter policies for cardboard would: • reduce greenhouse gas emissions, • increase the life of the landfill, • and help the community meet our waste diversion goals. 3 5 12,000 tons/year of Cardboard Thrown Away in Fort Collins Nearly 10% of community’s overall trash stream 42,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GHG) Market value between $360,000 (current price) and $780,000 (commodity price in November 2011) Savings on trash bills to divert cardboard to recycling bin $216,000/year in avoided landfill fees at $18/ton 6 Costs to Generators to Recycle 12,000 tons/year of Cardboard Residential Generators Curbside recycling provided as part of trash collection service; no additional cost Commercial Generators Savings on trash bills to divert cardboard Recycling services cost $10-$40/month for small and medium sized businesses 4 7 Increase Cardboard Recycling: Local Code Requirement Options • Apply ban to residential and commercial generators • Provide education, outreach and technical assistance during first 18 months • Encourage free cardboard recycling at City drop-off • Enforcement emphasis placed on warnings, education during first 18 months 8 Help customers transition with educational approach City staff provide additional technical support, signage and training Limit trash from customer if containers/bins contain more than 50% cardboard by volume Drivers will not sort cardboard from trash Trash Haulers’ Role: Increased Cardboard Recycling 5 9 Examples of States and Counties that Currently Ban Cardboard • California • Connecticut • Maine • New Jersey • Pennsylvania • Linn County, IA • Rhode Island • South Dakota • Wisconsin • Vermont • Washington D.C. • Wake County, NC 10 6 11 Public Involvement • Website fcgov.com/cardboard • Five newsletter and newspaper articles • Presentations to AQAB and NRAB • Presentation to Chamber of Commerce • Public Open House (35 attendees) 12 Public Comments: Is Prohibiting Cardboard from Being Placed in the Trash a Waste Reduction Idea that Works for Fort Collins? Collected Web-Based Public Comments Forty-six people provided online comments 56.8% of online responses came from unique Fort Collins IP addresses. 7 13 Questions?