HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-139-12/07/1999-ESTABLISHING A WASTE DIVERSION POLICY RESOLUTION 99-139
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ESTABLISHING A WASTE DIVERSION POLICY
WHEREAS,in 1985,the City first began to investigate programs to educate the public about
recycling and solid waste reduction; and
WHEREAS,in November 1994,staff presented to the Council an integrated,comprehensive
approach to solid waste management entitled the Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Program,which
included targets for waste reduction and recycling; and
WHEREAS, in May 1995,the Council adopted Resolution 95-63,which identified specific
objectives to be accomplished in relation to waste stream reduction,including the goals of reducing
Fort Collins' total waste stream by 20% between 1993 and 2000, and reducing landfilled waste by
20%to 30% during that period; and
WHEREAS,in June 1995,the Council enacted Ordinance No.58, 1995,requiring residential
trash haulers in Fort Collins to apply variable rates ("pay-as-you-throw") and provide curbside
recycling services at no extra charge,in order to encourage the reduction and diversion of solid waste
in residential households; and
WHEREAS,in August 1999, staff presented to Council an Interim Solid Waste Plan,a copy
of which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and available for public inspection, which Plan
included an analysis of the overall waste diversion rate for the community's municipal solid waste
that was based on the Environmental Protection Agency's Characterization of Municipal Solid
Waste in the United States (1996), and used data submitted to the City by local trash hauling
companies pursuant to the requirements oftheir trash hauling licenses in calculating the total volume
of municipal solid waste generated in Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS,based on its analysis,staff has concluded that 24%of solid waste in Fort Collins
is currently being diverted from landfill disposal, as of February, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes the importance of prolonging the life span of the
Larimer County Landfill through waste diversion measures to further delay its closure; and
WHEREAS, the Interim Solid Waste Plan contains recommendations for strategies to
achieve increased diversion of solid waste from landfill disposal; and
WHEREAS,the Council further recognizes that increased and sustained waste reduction and
recycling have direct economic and environmental benefits to the local and global community.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That it shall be the policy of the city to work toward the goal of diverting 35%
of the Fort Collins community solid waste stream by 2004, and 50%by the year 2010.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby directed to:
(a) continue to investigate opportunities for strategies and actions that will result in
reductions to the community's solid waste stream, and to implement those actions
most likely to be effective;
(b) continue to investigate methods to improve the City's variable rate system for trash
hauling services; and
(c) continue to monitor the rate of waste generation and waste diversion in the
community,and to calculate the rate of waste diversion in order to determine whether
policy goals are being met.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 7th day of December,
A.D. 1999.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk