Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/12/2020

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Should the City move to an open hauling system, this would provide more flexibility for property owners to select their own recycling service provider. This would, however, require various ordinance amendments related specifically to the licensing requirements. Most notably, City Code would need to be amended to specify licensed haulers offering garbage service must also offer recycling service and that each licensed hauler shall provide monthly tonnage reports to the City. This would also likely lead to increased traffic volumes on collection days and possibly more wear and tear on roads as well. As a reminder, the City's recycling program is funded through the Select Committee On Recycling and the Environment (SCORE). Each community in Anoka County receives a base of $10,000.00 plus another $5.00 per household and has the ability to apply for additional enhancement funds to make improvements to their recycling program. Ramsey's allocation for 2020 is $77,566.00. Additionally, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners also sets a tonnage goal for each community (based on 215 pounds per person per year per single family home and 160 pounds per person per year for multifamily buildings of five [5] units or more) and Ramsey's current goal is set at 2,840 tons. Ramsey has now achieved its recycling goal for sixteen(16) consecutive years. The City has had a contract with ACE Solid Waste since approximately 1996. ACE Solid Waste calls Ramsey home and has provided good service for over twenty (20) years. The City and ACE continue to have a good working relationship. While ACE Solid Waste is headquartered in Ramsey, its parent company, Waste Connections Inc. (purchased in 2013), is headquartered in Texas. ACE Solid Waste continues to provide dependable service and is investing in the community. In 2019, ACE Solid Waste initiated a $2,000,000 building expansion on their property to improve their overall waste management operations. This expansion has created potential new opportunities as well, including a 'convenience center' for customer drop-off opportunities and the possibility of hosting recycling day events at ACE's site in the future. EPB Recommendation The Environmental Policy Board (EPB) reviewed this topic at their March meeting. There was consensus to attempt to negotiate either an extension or new contract with ACE Solid Waste. As part of this discussion, the EPB noted the program seems to be working well and that ACE is headquartered right here in Ramsey. The EPB was not supportive of converting to an open hauling system. Timeframe: 15 minutes Funding Source: Staff is handling this case as part of its normal recycling duties, which is covered through SCORE funds. Responsible Party(ies): City Planner Outcome: Provide Staff direction on preferred method to manage curbside recycling program prior to expiration of current contract. Current Recycling Contract Draft EPB Meeting Minutes Dated March 16, 2020 Attachments Form Review Inbox Reviewed By Date Tim Gladhill Tim Gladhill 05/06/2020 07:18 PM