Agenda - Council - 08/13/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The City of Ramsey seeks to develop non -site specific plans for a recycling drop-off center that would serve not only the residents of Ramsey but also be open to all Anoka County residents. While Ramsey has a successful curbside recycling program and two (2) recycling events a year, it does not have a recycling drop-off center. This type of facility provides residents an immediate option for proper disposal of a number of items that often may not be feasible to store until the next recycling event. The City would select a qualified and experienced firm (the "Firm") to assist with developing plans for a `regional' recycling drop-off center that would be open year-round. Jointly, the City and the Firm would define the overall scope and vision for the facility. This includes defining what materials would be accepted, estimating quantities of materials, identifying equipment needs and looking at co -mingled or separated collection of standard recyclables. Development of this information is necessary to determine space/area needs, maneuverability and traffic flow. The final component would be identifying all costs associated with the actual development of a recycling drop-off center. It is the City's intent to plan for the ability to collect a wide range of materials, including some items with, at least at present, limited options for recycling (such as carpeting, vinyl siding, mattresses/boxsprings, and possibly construction/demolition debris). The City is currently exploring the potential of a year- round used motor oil collection tank that would ultimately be incorporated into this site as well. As mentioned, the City does offer a spring and fall recycling day event each year. Typically, items such as appliances, e-waste, scrap metal, tires, fluorescent bulbs and batteries are collected (some at no cost and others for a fee). This project would create a more permanent option for many more materials than we are able to accept during a recycling event (mostly due to space constraints and traffic issues). A recycling drop-off center would presumably 'free up' some of the space at the City's recycling events that would allow the City to expand accepted materials during those events as well. The City has had discussions with ACE Solid Waste about the possibility of a temporary recycling drop- off center. This pilot program, should the details get worked out, would not only be an indicator of the demand for this type of facility within the community but may also help identify certain materials that residents are struggling to properly recycle. Plan development would be complete by the end of 2012. There would be an initial scoping meeting to determine/refine the vision for the recycling drop-off center and to determine acceptable materials. Beyond that, the Firm likely will be able to pull data from other projects, which will limit the required number of meetings and expedite the development of plans for Ramsey. The plans developed as a result of this grant would be non -site specific. Thus, the final product could be a template for other communities that may be considering a recycling drop-off center. Providing a year- round facility for recycling of a wide range of materials will only benefit both Ramsey and the County as we strive for ways to meet the new state standards for recycling.