2020-020 Closure of Cupboard Recycle CenterDate: February 28, 2020 Report No. 2020-020
The Cupboard Northlakes Park
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Closure of the Cupboard Recycling Drop-off Site
BACKGROUND:
On October 17, 2019, Denton Independent School District (DISD) purchased property located at
200 W. Congress—formerly known as “the Cupboard.” This location is used by the Solid Waste
and Recycling Department as a recycling drop-off site. DISD intends to repurpose the property to
house the district’s technology employees, as well as technology hardware and fiber infrastructure.
The City of Denton recently received notice from DISD that we could not continue to house a
recycling center onsite and the City would be required to remove its recycling drop-off
infrastructure from the site. The last day of operation for the recycling drop-off site at the
Cupboard will be March 30, 2020.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Denton operates Recycling Drop-off Sites at three (3) locations: The City of Denton
Landfill, Northlakes Park, and at 200 W. Congress (the Cupboard). These sites were designed to
encourage area residents and businesses to responsibly discard recyclable materials when they
either don’t have access to “recycling” or they do not have convenient recycling services near their
home. While it is the intent of this program to collect empty, clean, and dry recycling materials,
site users also illegally dump bulk and other solid waste items, which contaminates the drop-off
site and causes City staff to manage extra waste outside the recycling containers. Illegal dumping
outside the recycling containers does not occur at the landfill, however, because the area is
monitored by landfill staff.
Date: February 28, 2020 Report No. 2020-020
Year over year, the combined contamination rate of material within the containers at the recycling
drop-off sites (at the Cupboard and North Lakes Park) averages 33%. The landfill recycling drop-
off site location enjoys a significantly lower contamination rate of 18%. Dumpsters are currently
serviced and the areas thoroughly cleaned of illegally dumped materials three times per week.
Based on information collected through the landfill weigh station over the last four months, 58%
of customers using the recycling drop-off site are City of Denton residents. The remaining 42%
of program participants reside in Denton (outside the City of Denton), Tarrant, Wise, Grayson,
and Cooke Counties.
Year over year, recycling drop-off site volumes account for approximately 5% (by weight) of all
recycling collected by the City of Denton. While we anticipate that much of the displaced
Cupboard volume will be relocated to the remaining sites, it is anticipated that approximately 1%
of what is currently collected, citywide, will be lost to ultimate disposal.
Looking to the future, the redevelopment of the Denton Tennis Center Building at 1117 Riney
Road will necessitate the relocation of the Northlakes recycling drop-off site to an area in the far
northwest sector of the park, adjacent to the soccer fields. Staff is currently working to procure
design services for the relocation and, once final plans are drawn and permitting is completed,
construction efforts. Anticipated relocation cost (design and construction) is approximately
$222,000. A timeline has yet to be set.
Unless the City Council directs staff otherwise, there are no immediate plans to relocate the
Cupboard facility. As part of the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Strategy (CSWMS),
consultants will evaluate the need and impact of these types of facilities and make
recommendations on future use. Completion of the CSWMS is anticipated in March 2021.
The City will be working between now and the closure of the Cupboard site on March 30, 2020 to
ensure that citizens are educated and aware of the remaining options that exist to manage their
recyclable materials by:
• Creating and placing signage to direct users to the City’s remaining recycling drop-off
facilities
• Creating and placing signage that will remain at the Cupboard prohibiting dumping of
any items after the recycling dumpsters are removed
• Enhancing existing signage at the remaining locations to help guide relocated patrons into
the area
• Increasing storage and service at the remaining recycling drop-off facilities
• Updating the recycling center information on the city’s website
• Coordinating an informational social media update campaign
• Including an article in the April Citizen Connection, which is delivered to each utility
customer.
• Notifying the Denton Record Chronicle to support City outreach
• Continuing outreach to Denton multi-family units on how to properly recycle
Date: February 28, 2020 Report No. 2020-020
STAFF CONTACT:
Brian Boerner
Director of Solid Waste
940-349-8001
brian.boerner@cityofdenton.com
REQUESTOR: Staff generated
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS: Solid Waste and Recycling
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: One hour