NO: R That the City explore alternative arrangements for support to the Surrey Food Bank.

Transcription

1 R1957 : Closure of Recycling Depots Corporate NO: R1957 Report COUNCIL DATE: July 19, 1999 REGULAR COUNCIL TO: Mayor & Council DATE: July 15, 1999 FROM: General Manager, Engineering FILE: xc: SUBJECT: Closure of Recycling Depots RECOMMENDATION 1. That the City explore alternative arrangements for support to the Surrey Food Bank. 2. That the Surrey Food Bank operation of recycling depots be discontinued. INTENT To advise Council of the recent closure of the City's recycling depot services as the original intent for their use has been fulfilled and discuss possible alternative revenue generating opportunities for the Food Bank. BACKGROUND In 1993 the City specified the opening of four recycling depots situated at various locations throughout the City as part of its residential curbside Garbage & Recycling Contract. These depots were established for the purpose of providing an interim service to the City's multi-family dwellings until such time that a weekly multi-family recycling pickup service could be established and implemented in the City. On January 1, 1998, weekly curbside multifamily recycling pick-up services were successfully implemented as a component of the City's new curbside garbage and recycling contract. DISCUSSION Our recommendation is that the recycling depots services be discontinued at this time. The depot services are no longer required as the original intent for their use has been fulfilled. This is substantiated through staff

2 monitoring of the depots since January 1, 1998; staff originally had recommended to continue with the recycling depot services over the 1st and 2nd years of the Contract to allow time to analyze the effectiveness of the multifamily recycling program and determine the feasibility of continuing with the operation of the recycling depots. Our conclusions were that new weekly multifamily recycling services were operating successfully as was evident in the dramatic drop in residential recyclable materials at the depots sites since January 1, Further conclusions indicate that a combination of adverse conditions have since plagued each depot site; very low recycle volumes with a sharp increase to illegal dumping of garbage. The nature of the garbage includes, but is not limited to; hazardous waste, couches, large commercial materials, and an endless number of mattresses. In essence, the depots are being used as garbage disposal areas rather than recycling depots. This has resulted in a negative reaction from the public towards the depots. Appendix 1 to this report provides a comparison of annual recyclable and garbage tonnages removed from the depots between 1997 and 1998/99. In January 1999, Canadian Waste Services attempted to reopen a former recycling depot site in Cloverdale. Various area residents contacted both the City and Canadian Waste Services expressing their great displeasure with the reopening of that particular site. They expressed concerns regarding the continual procession of trucks accessing the site for the purpose of off loading garbage as well as leaving an unsightly mess in the neighborhood and generally creating disruptions well into the evening hours. Similar problems existed at Guildford Library, Public Market, and Purity Market. The Peninsula Mall property landlord requested that we vacate their site after recycling bins were set on fire. A shed containing recycling bins was also set on fire at the Cloverdale site. As a result of the ongoing problems associated with the recently closed recycling depots, the few organizations that Canadian Waste Services have approached to host new recycling depots have been reluctant to oblige citing concerns that the depots may attract illegal dumping on and within the area of their premises. We have also held discussions with the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department to discuss possible sites, but they are also reluctant because of the attraction of garbage and litter as well as the costs associated with the maintenance of the area surrounding possible sites. SURREY FOOD BANK INVOLVEMENT The provision of recycling depot services was identified as an optional item as per the curbside garbage and recycling Agreement with Canadian Waste Services. As an act of good will, Canadian Waste Services created a partnership with the Surrey Food Bank, as per the City's direction, to allow the Food Bank's participation in the recycling depot initiative. The arrangement was as follows: The City provides Canadian Waste Services $6,000/month ($72,000/year) to provide a recycling depot service at four locations throughout Surrey. It is our understanding that the Surrey Food Bank Foundation, acting as a sub-contractor to

3 Canadian Waste Services, are paid $4,500 month (of the $6,000) to operate the depots. The remaining $1,500 remaining to Canadian Waste Services is to be used by Canadian Waste Service for the ongoing maintenance and clean-up the depot sites. Since the closure of the Port Mann Landfill, the costs to maintain and clean the recycling depots have increased to approximately $2,500 to $3,000 monthly at the cost of Canadian Waste. The City also installed garbage bins at each site and paid for service and disposal. Monthly costs were in the order of $1,000 per month. The Food Bank claim that the revenue generated from the relationship with Canadian Waste, as part of the City's contract, is critical as it is used to provide administration of their programs. The City met with Canadian Waste and the Food Bank during 1998 to discuss the reduction and possible elimination of the depots based on the reduction in use as well as the illegal dumping problems. At that time, the Food Bank was adamant that the depots remain open to ensure that they received a source of revenue for their programs. It should be noted that the City reserves the right to eliminate the recycling depot services as per the curbside garbage and recycling agreement. Due to the on-going operational problems associated with the recycling depots, it would not be appropriate to continue these services at this time as outlined in this report. In addition, by removing this service, the City will realize a cost savings of up to $72,000 a year plus monthly garbage and disposal service costs. ALTERNATIVE REVENUE OPTIONS SURREY FOOD BANK City staff are reviewing alternative revenue options that may be offered to the Surrey Food Bank in an effort to replace some or all of the revenue they currently received. We feel confident that an alternative arrangement can determined similar to existing arrangements that the Engineering Department have with other non profit organizations such as The Surrey Association for the Mentally Challanged, SWAN Community Association or the BC Youth Team - all of which provide effective litter pick up services for the City. These initiatives generate both revenue and employment opportunities for these groups. To name a few examples of services that may be provided, the Parks & Recreation & Culture Department are presently reviewing the feasibility of combining the services of Food Bank personnel with future contracts to ensure an overall lower contract costs; i.e. allowing the Food Bank to remove litter from park areas prior to grass cutting (rather than having the contractor perform this task at a

4 higher cost). Canadian Waste Services have also indicated the possibility of allowing the Food Bank to provide certain operations maintenance services such as cleaning out recycling toters, or other opportunities. Once we have determined a viable alternative(s), we will present our options to the Surrey Food Bank. This should occur over the next several weeks. ALTERNATIVE TO RECYCLING DEPOTS Since the closure of the recycling depots, the Engineering Department have been receiving a relatively low number of inquiries from residents and small businesses concerning alternative sites to discard their recyclables. It should be noted that a majority of the calls have been from Surrey residents with homes in the ALR areas or small business both of which do not pay a garbage and recycling levy to the City and are therefore responsible for their own service arrangements. At this time, we have been referring the residents to ETL, a recycling processing facility located at Avenue. Small business are being deferred to the GVRD's Recycling Works program which focuses on small business recycling solutions throughout the lower mainland. Small businesses are provide with a listing of appropriate recycling depots, references to weekly pickup services, innovative recycling ideas, etc.. CONCLUSION The City's recycling depots, established by Canadian Waste Services and operated by the Surrey Food Bank Foundation, were initially established in 1993 to provide recycling services to residents of multi-family complexes. Weekly multi-family recycling services were successfully implemented in January 1998 which reduced the need for the recycling depot service. The original intent for the implementation of these depots has been fulfilled as is apparent in the low volumes of residential recyclables presently dropped off at the depots. Due to the combination of adverse conditions that have recently plagued each depot site; very low recycle volumes with a sharp increase to illegal dumping of garbage, staff recommend the closure of

5 these depots at this time. Alternative methods to help sustain the Surrey Food Bank Foundation, similar to existing arrangements that the City have with other non profit organization as noted above, are being explored within the City and as well as the curbside garbage and recycling contractor. Staff will meet with the Food Bank to explore these opportunities in an effort to replace some or all of the revenue generated in the past, once a number of viable options are confirmed. Gerry McKinnon, Manager, Operations c.c. - City Manager - General Manager, Engineering - Contracts & Solid Waste Manager RAC/hmf l:\eng\wp-docs\1999\ doc HMF 07/15/99 09:32 AM