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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/10/2020 - Memorandum From Molly Saylor And Richard Thorp Re: October 27, 2020 Work Session Summary: Plastics Pollution UpdateEnvironmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6600 fcgov.com/environmental services MEMORANDUM Date: October 30, 2020 To: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director Liesel Hans, Utilities Deputy Director Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director From: Molly Saylor, Environmental Sustainability Senior Specialist Richard Thorp, Lead Specialist, Science CC: Jill Oropeza, Director of Sciences, Water Quality Services Re: October 27, 2020 Work Session Summary: Plastics Pollution Update Attendees: Jacqueline Kozak Thiel and Molly Saylor presented an update on microplastic and macroplastic pollution work in light of COVID-19 challenges. Mayor Troxell, Mayor Pro Tem Stephens, and Councilmembers Cunniff, Gorgol, Gutowsky, and Pignataro were present. Key discussion points:  Recognition of the challenges of engaging the community and most-impacted stakeholders on plastic pollution policy during COVID-19.  Some interest in following the impact that State legislation would have on potential local action.  There was interest in exploring a potential plastic pollution ballot measure o Perhaps a measure to ban plastic bags and perhaps considering accessory items as well. o Incorporating information from related actions in other communities.  Perspective that COVID-19-related challenges, such as availability of alternative items and temporary suspensions in times of health crises, would need to be addressed  Other perspectives include: o Interest in seeing waste-to-energy considered as part of a systems approach to plastic pollution mitigation, specific interest in follow up on the energy content of plastic items (see table below). o That a ballot measure is premature until more engagement can be done, more data collected on options (such as waste-to-energy) and COVID-19 has a lesser impact. o Concerns were raised about impacts of a regulation on businesses and consumers, especially while COVID-19 is reducing available options. o Interest in more data and health-related implications Next steps:  Macroplastics: o December 8th work session to continue discussion of a plastic pollution ballot measure. o Continue existing online engagement.  Microplastics: o Staff will re-evaluate by the end of Q2 2021 if it will be feasible to complete the microplastics study in 2021. o By this time, more will be known about the wildfire response and recovery effort resource needs. o A reappropriation of 2020 funds will be required to complete this project. DocuSign Envelope ID: C26C0CE0-D72E-4A54-B57F-30E81C4BB89B 2 Table 1 summarizes a range of energy values contained in plastics often used to make single-use items. Figure 1. Energy values of plastic types typically used to make single-use plastics. Source: Tsiamis & Castaldi (2016): Determining Accurate Heating Values of Non-Recycled Plastics. https://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Energy-Values-Non-Recycled-Plastics.pdf DocuSign Envelope ID: C26C0CE0-D72E-4A54-B57F-30E81C4BB89B