Glass Curbside Collection PolicyMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Glass Recycling
DATE: April 14, 2011
Dubuque
ketil
1111- America City
t 1 1 1 '
2007
On April 4, 2011, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency sent a letter to
the City of Dubuque regarding a policy change which will withdraw previous financial
support for materials recovery facility processing of glass collected at curbside. This
policy change was supported by a report commissioned by the Dubuque Metropolitan
Area Solid Waste Agency that showed the current significant unsustainability of glass
collection at curbside in the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency planning
area. The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency also chose not to financially
subsidize the new costs anticipated for handling curbside glass recycling in the new
materials recovery facility contract with Dittmer Recycling, which is still under
negotiation.
Public Works Director Don Vogt and Resource Management Coordinator Paul Schultz
support the new Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency policy and have
discussed the issue of glass management through curbside collection with various
community stakeholders, including the Environmental Stewardship Advisory
Commission, Green Dubuque, and the Dubuque 2.0 Steering Committee. There was a
strong consensus, based on in -depth economic, environmental and social factors, that
offering glass collection in curbside recycling was no longer a sustainable practice.
There are positive fiscal and neighborhood implications for the city in this
recommendation in addition to reduced environmental impacts. The benefits are based
on requiring one less recycling truck and Sanitation Driver position due to reduced curb
sorting and collection time, reduced maintenance on glass handling truck components,
reduced workmen's compensation claims due to less repetitive motion injuries, reduced
materials recovery facility contractual processing costs, less broken glass spillage onto
streets, and less neighborhood noise from glass dumping into the overhead hoppers.
Anticipated annual savings would include $63,000 in wages and benefits through the
elimination of one Sanitation Driver position through attrition, savings of $26,000 in
amortization and maintenance costs associated with owning /operating one less
recycling truck, savings of $8,000 through not amortizing five truck retrofits for glass
hoppers and hydraulic dump buckets, and, $12,000 in reduced materials recovery
facility glass handling costs.
There could be additional savings in the future as the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid
Waste Agency negotiates a new contract for processing of materials at the privately -
operated materials recovery facility without the current glass contamination.
During the Fiscal Year 2012 City of Dubuque budgeting process, it was recommended
that there be no increase in the monthly refuse collection fee for residential customers
partially based on the knowledge this was a possibility. In fact, if it is approved, staff
believes there will be a recommendation to reduce the fee.
Public Works Director Don Vogt is recommending that effective July 2, 2011, the City of
Dubuque stop collecting glass as part of the curbside collection program.
concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Don Vogt, Public Works Director
Micthael C. Van Mill e`n..
9 ..
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Don Vogt, Public Works Director D/t/
SUBJECT: Glass Recycling
DATE: April 14, 2011
Dubuque
htkiel
All- Ammicacity
11111 F
2007
INTRODUCTION
The purposes of this memorandum are to provide information and recommend a course
of action regarding the City of Dubuque's current practice of curbside glass recycling.
BACKGROUND
Last week, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency notified its customers
that effective July 1 it would no longer subsidize the curbside collection of glass for
recycling. The notice (attached) listed the reasons for the Agency's policy change and
the future cost to its customers who wished to continue the practice.
DISCUSSION
The attached memorandum from Resource Management Coordinator Paul Schultz
recommends that the City discontinue the curbside collection of glass for recycling
effective July 2nd. His memorandum also highlights the support of some key
community stakeholders for this operational change. Lastly, Paul notes the
intermediate budgetary implications of the recommended course of action, if
subsequently approved by the City Council. However, the final cost savings to the City
are yet to be determined, since the Agency has not reached a final agreement with the
Dittmer Recycling Center for FY12 and beyond. It is anticipated that the Agency will be
able to negotiate an agreement that will yield a greater share of the recyclables'
revenue stream for the Agency's customers who take their recyclables to the Dittmer
facility after July 1 Obviously, the operational savings and yet- to -be- determined
revenues will both affect the solid waste collection fees charged to our customers in
FY12. Until they can be fully identified, which we expect to be able to do next month, I
cannot recommend a new FY12 solid waste collection fee rate structure to you at this
time.
ACTION STEP
recommend that the City of Dubuque discontinue the curbside collection of glass for
recycling effective July 2, 2011. I further recommend that an education and promotion
campaign be initiated as soon as possible to explain to our customers the reasons for
the recommended policy change.
Attachments
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Donald J. Vogt, Public Works Director
FROM: Paul F. Schultz, Resource Management Coordinator PFS
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Change Glass Curbside Collection Policy
DATE: April 14, 2011
Dubuque
Ai- America City
r
1 r
2007
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to respond to the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid
Waste Agency's (DMASWA) policy change of no longer financially supporting the
recycling of food and beverage container glass through curbside collection. This
memorandum will also recommend that our curbside collection program stop collecting
glass at curbside after giving timely notice and promoting management options to our
customers.
BACKGROUND
On April 4, 2011, the DMASWA sent a letter to the City of Dubuque regarding a policy
change which will withdraw previous financial support for materials recovery facility
(MRF) processing of glass collected at curbside. This policy change was supported by
a report commissioned by the DMASWA that showed the current significant
unsustainability of glass collection at curbside in the DMASWA planning area. The
DMASWA also chose not to financially subsidize the new costs anticipated for handling
curbside glass recycling in the new MRF contract with Dittmer Recycling, which is still
under negotiation.
DISCUSSION
I support the new DMASWA policy and have discussed the issue of glass management
through curbside collection with various community stakeholders, including the
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission, Green Dubuque, and the Dubuque
2.0 Steering Committee. There was a strong consensus, based on in -depth economic,
environmental and social factors, that offering glass collection in curbside recycling was
no longer a sustainable practice. I recommend that our curbside collection program
stop collecting glass at curbside after giving timely notice and promoting better
management options to our customers.
There are positive fiscal and neighborhood implications for the city in this
recommendation in addition to reduced environmental impacts. The benefits are based
on requiring one less recycling truck and Sanitation Driver position due to reduced curb
sorting and collection time, reduced maintenance on glass handling truck components,
reduced workmen's compensation claims due to less repetitive motion injuries, reduced
MRF contractual processing costs, less broken glass spillage onto streets, and Tess
neighborhood noise from glass dumping into the overhead hoppers.
Anticipated annual savings would include $63,000 in wages and benefits through the
elimination of one Sanitation Driver position through attrition, savings of $26,000 in
amortization and maintenance costs associated with owning /operating one Tess
recycling truck, savings of $8,000 through not amortizing five truck retrofits for glass
hoppers and hydraulic dump buckets, and, $12,000 in reduced MRF glass handling
costs.
RECOMMENDATION
If a decision to stop collecting glass at curbside is made soon, our public information
campaign could promote the change and new management options to be in place for a
July 2, 2011 implementation.
Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency
IVIASWA
providing environmentally sound \solid waste solutions
Dear Mayor or City Clerk:
Sincerely,
CRareas F. Qoddard
Charles F. Goddard
DMASWA Administrator
925 Kerper Court
Dubuque, IA 52001 -2405
Phone: 563 - 589 -4250
Fax: 563 - 589 -4252
April 4, 2011
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that as of July 1, 2011, the Dubuque
Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency will no longer subsidize the curbside collection of
glass for recycling.
Based on the information previously provided us, it is possible that your community is
not affected by this notice. Already recognizing the many negative aspects associated
with glass recycling, many communities in Dubuque and Delaware counties no longer
collect glass curbside for recycling. However, in the case that you do, please know that
beginning July 1 the Dittmer Recycling Center will charge your recycling trucks $40.00
per ton for any glass brought to the Dittmer facility.
The Agency's Board of Directors very recently adopted this new position regarding
glass recycling for three reasons:
1) Curbside glass recycling is not environmentally sustainable — the carbon
footprint associated with it is greater than for any other material.
2) Curbside glass recycling is not financially sustainable — glass recycling mills
pay far less for glass than the cost of shipping it to them, even without
considering the additional costs of collection and processing before shipping.
3) There are better options! For instance, most glass containers in the Agency's
service area are "nickel bottles ". They should be returned for their deposit.
If you desire more information, please contact me at your earliest convenience at 563-
589 -4250 or cgoddard(a cityofdubuque.orq.
Meitan Area ' Solid Waste Agency
D
Dear Mayor or City Clerk:
Charles F. Goddard
DMASWA Administrator
providing environmentally sound solid waste solutions
Sincerely,
925 Kerper Court
Dubuque, IA 52001 -2405
Phone: 563- 589 -4250
Fax: 563- 589 -4252
April 4, 2011
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that as of July 1, 2011, the Dubuque
Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency will no longer subsidize the curbside collection of
glass for recycling.
Based on the information previously provided us, it is possible that your community is
not affected by this notice. Already recognizing the many negative aspects associated
with glass recycling, many communities in Dubuque and Delaware counties no longer
collect glass curbside for recycling. However, in the case that you do, please know that
beginning July 1 the Dittmer Recycling Center will charge your recycling trucks $40.00
per ton for any glass brought to the Dittmer facility.
The Agency's Board of Directors very recently adopted this new position regarding
glass recycling for three reasons:
1) Curbside glass recycling is not environmentally sustainable — the carbon
footprint associated with it is greater than for any other material.
2) Curbside glass recycling is not financially sustainable — glass recycling mills
pay far less for glass than the cost of shipping it to them, even without
considering the additional costs of collection and processing before shipping.
3) There are better options! For instance, most glass containers in the Agency's
service area are "nickel bottles ". They should be returned for their deposit.
If you desire more information, please contact me at your earliest convenience at 563-
589 -4250 or cgoddard ac cityofdubuque.org.
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