2021-027 Solid Waste & Recycling Assistance ProgramDate: May 7, 2021 Report No. 2021-027
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Solid Waste & Recycling Services Assistance Program, formerly known as Porch Collections
Program.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Denton Solid Waste & Recycling Department provides assistance, at no additional
charge, to customers who may need help getting their garbage, recycling, and yard waste curbside
for collection due to physical impairment or special needs. To access the existing Porch Collections
Program, a customer is required to complete a simple application with no verification or proof of
need for assistance. Information received is entered onto a spreadsheet by the Solid Waste &
Recycling Resource Management Group. Bins identified visually by yellow lids, are delivered for
drivers to collect. This has proven to be difficult to manage internally, especially when a resident
moves or hands over service ownership to a different resident. The process is manual and requires
periodic internal audits.
On April 19, 2021, the Solid Waste & Recycling Department met with the Committee on Persons
with Disabilities. Concerns were raised with the visual identifiers (yellow lids) that inform drivers,
and potentially the public, of individuals who receive assistance with their solid waste services.
The committee suggested that these identifiers may encourage unwanted activity that could
negatively affect the citizens the program is meant to assist.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Denton Solid Waste & Recycling Department will be rebranding the existing “Porch
Collections Program” to the “Service Assistance Program.” The “new” program will require a
Doctor’s certification prior to acceptance into the program. The new RUBICONSmartCity
application, which is installed in each collections vehicle, informs drivers on the iPad screen in
their cabs when they are nearing a residence that requires special collections. Benefits to
implementing this change include:
Removing the yellow lids from the bins, this renders obsolete the requirement of a visual
identifier on the bin itself, creating a safer community, eliminating the potential targeting
of persons with a physical impairment or special needs
Creates an audit trail to track active participants
Updating the application process to make it easier to determine program eligibility
Efficiency of drivers identifying customers via alert to their IPad through the new
RUBICONSmartCity application.
Date: May 7, 2021 Report No. 2021-027
Current Proposed
In anticipation of this programmatic change, Solid Waste & Recycling staff will identify customers
who are currently on porch collections and provide them with an application to update their
eligibility within the service. Furthermore, their current yellow trash cart lids will be replaced with
green lids. Each customer will be asked to return their new program application back to the City
within 60-days of receipt. Additionally, the Customer Service Division will provide new persons
who are requesting this service an application.
Transition and implementation will begin immediately.
STAFF CONTACT:
Eugene McKinnie
Deputy Director of Solid Waste
940-349-8043
Eugene.McKinnie@cityofdenton.com
REQUESTOR:
Staff Initiated
PARTICPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Solid Waste & Recycling and Customer Service
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: (Estimated amount of cumulative staff time to
complete the report and associated analysis)
20 hours