Agenda - Council - 02/27/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Ramsey residents continue to do a great job recycling. However, the annual recycling goals will continue to increase in response to legislation enacted by the State in 2014. The State Legislature amended Minn. Stat. § 115A.551 to specify that metropolitan counties shall establish a goal of recycling seventy-five percent (75%) by weight of total solid waste generated (this was increased from fifty percent [50%]). Each county either must develop and implement, or require political subdivisions within the county to develop and implement programs, practices, or methods designed to meet the recycling goal. Presently, the most current data available shows that within Anoka County, the percentage of waste recycled has increased by one percent (1%) each year from 2014-2016. However, the total percentage of waste recycled is still only fifty-two percent (52%). Achieving the established goal of seventy-five percent (75%) by 2030 is going to be very challenging. If the same incremental increases in recycling continued, that would still fall short of the stated goal by ten percent (10%). Over the past several years, Staff has expanded recycling opportunities in an effort to improve quality of life for residents but also with an intention of continuing to meet the annual recycling goals. Staff has worked closely with the Public Works Department to ensure there are recycling containers in all of our parks (in most cases, wherever there is a garbage receptacle, there is now a recycling receptacle too) and that those containers are serviced as part of their weekly 'trash runs'. The list of acceptable materials collected at the spring and fall recycling events has been expanded to now also include textiles, carpet, carpet padding, used oil, antifreeze and oil filters. Furthermore, in 2017, a third (summer) recycling event was programed in an attempt to offer yet another opportunity for residents to properly dispose of a number of different types of materials. Finally, an organics drop-off recycling program was rolled out in the summer of 2017 to help capture even more material for recycling. As is evidenced above, the City has expanded the opportunities for residents to recycle a wide array of materials. However, based on the goals outlined in State Statute, it will likely require more focused efforts to develop additional opportunities for residential recycling. This could include hiring an intern devoted to researching, developing and implementing new recycling opportunities (would be a SCORE eligible expense). Focus areas may include expansion of the organics recycling program, working directly with apartment complexes to improve recycling, expanding drop-off opportunities such as leaf and pumpkin collection in the fall (however, this also requires cooperation and coordination with Public Works for both space and equipment needs) and additional paper shredding events. The alternative may be to simply acknowledge that the goals may not be attainable. It is unclear what, if any, consequences there could be for failing to attain the recycling goal. However, one potential outcome could be reduced access to SCORE funding in future years. Funding Source: Ramsey's recycling program and related staff time are funded with SCORE funds received from Anoka County annually and recorded under the Recycling Enterprise Fund. Recommendation: There is no specific recommendation. This is intended simply as an update for City Council. Action: No specific action is required. Attachments Sample Recycling Agreement with Anoka County for 2018 Funding Table (for all municipalities in Anoka County) Anoka County's 2018 Funding Presentation (intended as backgroudn info only)