HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/7/2020 - Memorandum From Susie Gordon Re: Covid-19 Impacts To Local Trash/Recycling CompaniesEnvironmental Services
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221-6600
970.224-6177 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 1, 2020
To: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers
Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director
From: Susie Gordon, Environmental Program Manager
Re: COVID19 Impacts to Local Trash/Recycling Companies
The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on requests from local trash / recycling
companies for adjustments to local licensing requirements as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Bottom Line:
The City is monitoring COVID19 impacts to private companies in Fort Collins that provide trash
and recycling collection services. Discussions with several local haulers, summarized in this
memo, resulted in a list of requests that staff has prepared for Council’s consideration (below).
In addition, COVID-related issues are likely to be part of the agenda for the next meeting of the
North Front Range Regional Wasteshed Coalition’s Policy Committee (a meeting scheduled for
April 9 was postponed and a new date has not yet been set).
Staff plans to continue conversations with haulers and Larimer County, as well as the City
Attorney’s Office.
Options Under Consideration:
1) Allow haulers flexibility for starting 2020 yard-waste collection
Staff supports giving haulers flexibility to start as late as June and extend longer if
necessary. This allows the haulers greater flexibility in usage of staffing and
equipment in a time of rapid changes.
2) Delay 12/31/20 implementation date of Community Recycling Ordinance (CRO)
requirements for business and multi-family recycling by 6-12 months
Staff supports an implementation delay of at least 6 months. Rolling out recycling
to customers that currently only have trash service requires staff time, additional
equipment, often involves face to face contact for training, and may involve
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additional cost for the business or apartment complex, all of which are challenging
at this time.
3) Temporarily allow residential customers to put out extra trash without extra charges
Staff recommends suspension of this aspect of Fort Collins’ Pay-as-you-throw
Ordinance (PAYT) if haulers choose to temporarily not charge additional fees to
haul more trash.
4) Require customers to bag their recyclables (and landfill the recyclables)
Staff does not recommend this. Since the processing plant only accepts
recyclables loose in the bin, it would essentially be the same as sending
recyclables to landfill.
5) Request recycling tip fee ($80) to be waived or reduced (to $20 price for landfill tip
fee)
Staff recommends that we send Larimer County a message inquiring about the
option with information from the haulers for consideration. There is consideration
that a temporary relaxation of the fees is warranted or at least an equalization of
the tip fees for recyclables and landfilled waste. Note that fee waivers are ultimately
not a City decision.
Basis for Staff Recommendations
No evidence of health difference between bagged vs unbagged recyclables
Relatively few communities in the US are eliminating their recycling programs due to
coronavirus
Unbagged recyclables as potential vectors: Occupational Safety and Health
Administration says existing practices are safe for handling trash and recycling.
There has been no warning or direction from Center for Disease Control, State or County
Health Department regarding special handling requirements or processing for recyclables
or landfilled waste.
Links to further information
o https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/controlprevention.html#solidwaste
o https://swana.org/docs/default-source/advocacy-
documents/guidance_on_coronavirus-2020_03_06.pdf?sfvrsn=fee6b88a_2
o https://wasterecycling.org/page/covid19workpractices
Next Steps
Staff will continue to work with Larimer County and the haulers to understand and
address issues, recognizing that things are rapidly evolving.
Staff will continue look for opportunities to apply education efforts to issues confronting
trash/recycling industry during these changing times.
Staff will work with the City Attorney’s office to explore processes associated with
temporary adjustments to ordinances
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