Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears plan to reduce recycling costs; citations and education emphasized
Summary
City operations staff told the committee they are preparing an RFP and increasing compliance enforcement to reduce recycling contamination and curbside costs; a pilot program continues and staff will present further detail soon.
City operations staff told the City Council Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs on Oct. 22 that the city plans to pursue an RFP, expand education and increase enforcement to reduce the rising cost of recycling and contaminated loads.
Nut graf: Al Olivera, director of city operations, said staff are preparing proposals and an RFP, have increased enforcement activity and plan school- and neighborhood-based education to lower contamination and disposal costs. Councilors asked for specifics on citations revenue, pilot programs and schedule for the next presentation.
Al Olivera said the department is "working with our committee to try to reduce all the costs" and that an RFP would be issued shortly. He said the city has added four compliance employees tasked with issuing citations and has "increased our citations 35% from last year." He described problem areas as those with lower-quality recycling (including some non-owner-occupied properties) and said the city is focusing on curbside education and enforcement to reduce contamination that increases freight and disposal costs.
Olivera said a pilot program for cardboard collection in parts of the city remains active and will be expanded; he estimated the department would have more information within "the next couple weeks" and that an updated presentation would be ready once staff meet again. Councilors pressed for revenue numbers from fines and clarification on where cardboard and recyclables are shipped; Olivera said some material is shipped to New Bedford and other local processors and that he would supply exact addresses and cost figures on request.
Ending: The committee lifted the item from the table, asked staff to prepare a detailed presentation and tabled further action pending that report. Councilors signaled support for education in schools and neighborhood enforcement but said staffing and funding questions must be part of any long-term plan.
