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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Read Before Packet - 10/27/2020 - Updated Powerpoint Presentation Mitigating Plastics Pollution - Work Session Agenda Item 31Mitigating Plastics Pollution Jacqueline Kozak Thiel and Molly Saylor 10-27-2020 Questions to Council Which option would Councilmembers like staff to pursue for plastic pollution? 2 STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT Environmental Health • 4.4 Zero waste • 4.9 Poudre River health BUDGET Midcycle funding • $35K each for macroplastics and microplastics Plastics Pollution 3 COUNCIL PRIORITY Plastics Pollution • Microplastics • Macroplastics Background Context 4 Grounding in plastic pollution • Plastic pollution threats to waterways and wildlife • More information is needed on how to better quantify and monitor microplastic pollution • Litter as a source of pollution we can act on now • Peer cities and best practices recommend a comprehensive approach •Engagement – broad and targeted – is essential to good policy Councilmember Input 5 1) Targeted engagement and equity lens 2) Robust stakeholder and community engagement 3) Comprehensive approach to policy development 4) More data on the problem and existing solutions 6 Plastic Pollution Awareness 7 May the Fork Be With You - Adapted to be relevant to COVID-19 - Well-received Broad outreach - Businesses & groups: HP, Broadcom, League of Women Voters, Interfaith Council - Virtual Earth Day Upcoming - Business recognition and peer awareness - Business tip guide Engagement Insights Who we’ve heard from • 100+ people • Environmental groups • Seniors 8 Who we haven’t heard from • BIPOC • Small businesses • People with disability • People with limited English proficiency What we’ve heard • Broad support for action on most items • Specific interest in bags and polystyrene • Current lack of alternatives • Concern about plastic pollutions impacts COVID-19 and Staffing Impacts 1. Targeted engagement and equity lens • COVID-19 disproportionate impact on “most-impacted” stakeholders • Competing priorities for historically underrepresented community members, i.e. housing costs, job loss, childcare, health 2. Robust stakeholder and community engagement • Engaged to date: environmental groups and seniors • Broad engagement tools not getting results 9 COVID-19 Impacts 3. Comprehensive approach to policy development • COVID-19-related restrictions on reusable alternatives • Unclear timeline for return of reusable items 4. More data on the problem and existing solutions • Impact of COVID-19 on businesses makes data collection on existing practices challenging • Litterati campaign launched and data collected! Yet, limited reach due to COVID-19 10 Council Direction On track Significant challenges Significant barrier Outreach and awareness work Targeted engagement and equity lens Robust stakeholder and community engagement Comprehensive approach to policy development More data on the problem and existing solutions Key: COVID-19 Staffing On track COVID-19 and Staffing Impacts 11 Options for Moving Forward 1. Focus on Awareness and Delay Policy Discussion. Focus awareness work funded through 2020 on making single-use “opt-in” vs. “opt-out” and other simple actions; re-evaluate policy work in 2021 based on readiness criteria 2. Limited Policy Work. In addition to awareness, focus policy work on most feasible option with respect to COVID-19 (e.g. “utensils and accessory items upon request only”) and reevaluate comprehensive approach to other plastic items in 2021. 3. Comprehensive Approach.In addition to awareness, prioritize policy work and maintain comprehensive approach. 4. Discuss Ballot Measure.In addition to awareness, place single-use plastic bag regulation on the April 2021 ballot. 12 Questions to Council Which option would Councilmembers like staff to pursue for plastic pollution? 1. Focus on Awareness and Delay Policy Discussion 2. Limited Policy Work 3. Comprehensive Approach 4. Discuss Ballot Measure 13 Back up slides 14 Project Overview & Current Status 15 Assess current state of the science on microplastics, with focus on: • Analytical & monitoring methods - source identification and monitoring • Control technologies - drinking water, wastewater, stormwater Project Overview Current Status Constraints on staff capacity have delayed project: • COVID-19 has impacted workloads and priorities • Halligan Expansion Project technical support • Cameron Peak Wildfire response and recovery Macroplastic Pollution Pathways 16 Best Practices 17 Successful approaches: •Comprehensive strategy with multiple policies • Policy implementation over multiple years • Move away from single-use and toward reusables • Extensive stakeholder outreach Mitigation Options 18 Mitigation options Challenges Anti-littering awareness Not primary pathway Waste-to-Energy Risk of blowing out of bin Recyclable replacements Risk of blowing out of bin Compostable replacements Wildlife risk & contamination Mitigation Options 19 Mitigation options Benefits Fees on items Avoid plastic items entering the environment Avoid supply chain impacts Ban items/require reusables Ban/fee hybrids Item-specific restrictions Types of Plastic Items 20 Carry-out bags Polystyrene (Styrofoam) Foodware Accessory items Carry-Out Bags What is it? Bags made of thin, flexible plastic designed to transport purchases Mitigation options: • Fees • Bans • Fee/ban hybrid Peer cities: Santa Barbara CA, Palo Alto CA, Eugene OR, Portland ME, Santa Rosa CA, Tacoma, WA 21 Carry-Out Bags Fort Collins context: Bag Policy 2014: 10-cent fee on plastic and paper bags at grocery stores • Grocers retained fee; 50% for free durable bags to customers • Repealed in 2014 before implementation Current Efforts: Awareness; plastic film recycling at TRC, grocers and box stores 22 Polystyrene Food Containers What is it? Plastic foam take-out coffee cups and containers. Mitigation options: • Fees • Bans • Restrictions • Dine-in only Peer cities: Santa Barbara CA, Palo Alto CA, Eugene OR, Portland ME, Santa Rosa CA 23 Food Serviceware and Accessory Items What is it? Plastic plates, cups, lids, utensils, straws, stirrers, etc. Mitigation options: • Fees • Bans • Restrictions • Self-service stations; upon request Peer cities: Palo Alto CA, Santa Barbara CA 24 Peer Communities 25 Palo Alto, CA Santa Barbara, CA Santa Rosa, CA Portland, ME Eugene, OR Boulder, CO Tacoma, WA Denver, CO 2020 State Legislation Support • Senate Bill 20-010 – Concerning a repeal of the prohibition of local government regulation of plastics Monitor • House Bill 20-1163 – Concerning the management of single-use products • House Bill 20-1162 – Concerning a prohibition against a retail food establishment’s distribution of an expanded polystyrene product for use as a container for ready-to-eat food Update: None of the above was successful in 2020. 26 Fort Collins Landfilled Material 27 Food and yard trimmings 35% Other organics 26% Other 23% Plastic 10% Metal 4% Glass 2% Other = rubber, textiles, e-waste, fines, inerts, misc. other