2019-173 Recycling Contamination UpdateDate: September 6, 2019 Report No. 2019-173
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: An update on Recycling Contamination BACKGROUND: Solid Waste and Recycling provided City Council an update on the recycling program in a work session on May 21st. Since that time, the recycling commodities market has not shown improvement. Staff continues to implement strategies to improve the quality of the recycling
stream, educate our customers, and track our results. As a part of this ongoing strategy, we would
like to provide an update on our efforts. DISCUSSION:
Residential Staff initiated a residential contamination cart tagging program in April. To date, 659 tags have been issued, with the most common reason being trash bags, large non-recyclable items, yard waste, and Styrofoam. Residents have been calling Customer Service for same day collection after
they remove the inappropriate articles. Beginning the week of September 9th staff will not make a second trip to collect carts that have been tagged for contamination, collection the following week will be enforced to reduce excess truck trips. Using social media outlets, Public Outreach staff has worked diligently to communicate best
practices, program materials, and reassure the public regarding the recycling program. Engagement metrics are included in the attachments. Online outlets have been successful in disseminating this message. Similar material will begin running in the Denton Record Chronicle print and online versions this fall. Public Outreach
believes this will reach a segment of the community that may not be engaged in social media outlets. Since beginning these initiatives, we have seen a reduction of 14% in Residential contamination, from an average of 37% to 23%.
Date: September 6, 2019 Report No. 2019-173
Commercial Staff has begun tracking contamination on commercial collection routes and targeting them for
field audits. Based on the results of the audits, staff then develops custom solutions involving outreach and service levels to curb contamination. During the work session, Councilmember Meltzer had requested information on specialized container lids to prevent contamination. The installation of chute lids has been a particularly successful strategy. We are now in the process of installing lids and locks on all multifamily recycling containers, beginning with UNT during
student move in this month. A picture of the chute lid is attached. Since beginning these initiatives, we have seen a reduction of 8% in Commercial contamination, from an average of 39% to 31%.
Date: September 6, 2019 Report No. 2019-173
Material Recovery Facility Our recycling partner, Pratt, continues to send glass to its processor in Houston consistently and
without issue. Plastic #3-7’s is a small percentage of single stream and they are still trying to get a full truck for shipment to the processor. Regarding other commodities, they have processing markets for all of them, but pricing is very low. Cardboard is at a 20+ year low, currently paying $22.50 per ton. CONCLUSION: As an ongoing effort, Solid Waste and Recycling staff continues to implement strategies to improve the quality of the recycling stream, such as residential cart tagging and commercial field audits and lid replacements. Public Outreach staff has used social media to educate our customers.
We have measured reductions in contamination for residential and commercial customers during the same timeframe We will continue to provide check-ins on our progress and plan development on a quarterly basis.
STAFF CONTACT:
Brian Boerner Director of Solid Waste 940-349-8001
Date: September 6, 2019 Report No. 2019-173
REQUESTOR: Council Member Armintor
Council Member Meltzer
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS: Solid Waste and Recycling Public Outreach Sustainability
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 5 hours