HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-016 Multifamily Recycling ServicesDate: March 3, 2017 Report No. 2017-016
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INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Response to Council request for information regarding the Solid Waste & Recycling (SW&R)
Department's process for increasing recycling among commercial multi-family customers.
BACKGROUND:
The apartment rental market in Denton is growing at a rapid rate. Current numbers show a total
of 471 multi-family complexes in Denton, and new complexes are continually being built.
Despite this growth, Denton's apartment and multi-family complexes are consistently among the
lowest in the city for recycling participation rates. For fiscal year 2016, commercial multi-family
recycling amounted to just 7.2 % of the City's recycling accounts.
SW&R Department staff are exploring a two-fold approach to encourage recycling participation
among apartment and multi-family residences: 1) increase marketing of recycling services to
multi-family properties; and 2) adopt new policies specifically targeted to encourage elective
participation in multi-family recycling.
The Department scheduled to begin policy discussions with the Committee on the Environment
during its March 6�' meeting.
DISCUSSION:
The Denton Development Code (DDC) and the Site Plan Criteria Manual for Municipal Solid
Waste and Recyclables require that new and major remodel projects have enclosures for both
trash and recycling dumpsters (DDC Chapter 35.13.13.7). Current customers are exempted
from the enclosure requirement if construction was approved prior to 2006. Aside from these
specifications regarding enclosures, there is currently no language in the DDC, Site Plan Criteria
Manual, or the Denton Code of Ordinances that requires recycling participation for Denton's
commercial solid waste customers.
Communities throughout Texas have implemented mandatory recycling for multi-family
residential complexes, including Austin, San Antonio, and San Marcos. However, even with
mandatory recycling, these cities have not achieved 100% participation in recycling services
from multi-family properties. Instead, they have seen increasing challenges in enforcement, as
well as increased contamination (trash material in recycling containers).
Given the issues observed in other communities with mandatory recycling, the SW&R staff
seeks to add recycling services on a voluntary basis for commercial multi-family customers, with
a goal of 58 new participants between December 2016 and December 2017. Further, SW&R
seeks to reach 40% participation in recycling among commercial multi-family customers.
Date: March 3, 2017
Number of
Participating
Date Properties
Dec.,
2015 117
Dec.,
2016 130
Mar.,
2017 153
Dec.,
2017 188
% of Multi-
Family
'articipatin�
25
28
32
Report No. 2017-016
Participation
Goal (%)
.�
SW&R staff have identified the following barriers to increasing Denton's commercial
multi-family recycling rates through voluntary participation:
• Lack of physical space for additional containers or carts, especially at small complexes.
In some cases, the addition of recycling dumpsters on properties may take up parking
spaces which will place the property out of compliance with Planning's minimum
parking spaces;
• Potential for additional containers in streets or rights-of-way; if a trash container is in the
street or right-of-way, a new recycling container would be placed there, as well;
• New dumpsters cannot be visible from the street, or must have enclosures, per the post-
2006 enclosure requirement outlined in the DDC and Site Criteria Manual;
• Perception among some commercial property owners that recycling drop-off centers are
sufficient for their residents' recycling needs;
• Competition from private sector recycling providers, complicating the City's efforts to
effectively market recycling services to commercial customers.
The following are potential strategies to address barriers to multi-family recycling:
• Promote voluntary addition of recycling services to new and existing multi-family
customers through increased outreach and education;
• Close recycling drop-off sites outside of the main Landfill at ECO-W.E.R.C.S. drop-off
center to reduce litter and illegal dumping, and increase residential recycling;
• Exempt enclosures for recycling dumpsters for properties built after 2006;
• Incentivize recycling service by offering the first month at no cost (with a requirement to
sign up for at least one year of service).
STAFF CONTACT:
Vance Kemler
General Manager, Solid Waste & Recycling Services
(940) 349-8044
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