TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council Members
FROM: Kevin Burke, Town Manager
Duncan Miller, Town Clerk
DATE: March 24, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Town Manager
Staff Contact
Kevin Burke, 480-348-3690
End
AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Update on Trash Collection Alternatives
Body
Council Goals
Quality of Life - Maintain and improve the Paradise Valley quality of life.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Purpose and Goal
The Town Council identified solid waste and recyclable collection as a quality of life initiative and tasked staff with identifying alternatives to mitigate the perceived negative impacts resulting from the current regulated open market approach. Council Member Mary Hamway and Town staff members recently met with representatives from the five licensed providers to discuss quality of life concerns and possible solutions.
Staff will present a list of trash collection issues affecting quality of life as well as possible service level improvements. It is recommended that the Town Council provide feedback on the goals to be achieved and the range of options to be presented at the Community Conversation on trash collection alternatives scheduled for April 14, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Background
In 2000, the Town Council adopted the attached sanitation code which established a regulatory framework for solid waste and recycling services in the Town. Prior to this code, there was an unregulated open market for service. In summary the code:
• Established environmental standards for waste storage and collection which are enforceable through the Code Compliance Program;
• Establishes a licensing procedure for waste haulers and recyclers designed to assure capability, the use of proper and safe equipment, and to require recycling services be available to all customers;
• Provides requirements on collection times and frequency while reserving the right to further regulate days of collection to achieve more efficient service routing within the Town;
• Provides for flexibility in limiting the number of licenses granted, defining service areas, and centrally contracting for services.
State statute requires that all municipalities offer residents twice weekly solid waste collection. However, the State established a waiver process whereby cities could substitute one day of recycling service weekly for one of the two mandatory days of solid waste collection. The Town has the option to apply for the waiver from the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department or each of the licensed haulers can apply on their own.
There are currently five licensed solid waste and recyclable collection service providers. They are: Area Disposal, Greenline Waste/Right Away Disposal, Republic Services, Scott Waste Services, and Waste Management.
Problems and Solutions Matrix
The Town periodically receives resident input on trash collection and recycling services. Since 2000, the Town Council has revisited the Sanitation Code twice with emphasis on service delivery alternatives and enhanced standards of service. Those meetings generated much interest. However, there was no consensus to change the status quo at that time.
The most common complaints continue to be noise, frequency of trucks on streets, and the aesthetics of trash cans visible on a daily basis. Attached is a matrix presenting the range of identified problems and potential solutions.
To mitigate these problems, the Council may wish to consider further regulating the market by: limiting the number of licenses issued through a lottery or bid process; creating services areas or districts; bidding a master contract to one provider; or limiting collection days. Furthermore, the Council may amend the minimum service level to permit once a week solid waste collection and weekly recyclable collection. Other optional services worth discussion include: collection of bulk rubbish, green waste, and “special” waste (household hazardous waste). Another concept to improve efficiency and reduce waste is the “pay as your throw” concept where the resident only pays for the volume of waste that is collected.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Town Council discuss the matrix and alternatives presented and provide direction to Town staff to prepare for the Community Conversation on trash collection.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Trash Hauling Problems and Solutions Matrix
Town Code Article 8-3 Sanitation