2021-002 Recycling Center DiscussionsDate: January 8, 2021 Report No. 2021-002
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
City of Denton Recycling Drop-off Sites update
BACKGROUND:
At the January 5, 2021 meeting of the City Denton Council, a presentation from a member of the
public mentioned the need to resurrect an additional recycling drop-off site, outside of the two (2)
existing locations at the City of Denton Landfill and at North Lakes Park, to manage excess
programmatic recyclable material from Denton residents and those of surrounding areas. At the
request of Denton ISD, the City of Denton, Solid Waste and Recycling Department, removed a
previously located facility, the Cupboard, from its inventory due to the district’s need to develop
the property. The Cupboard site was located on private property and operated at the benevolence
of its former owner.
In response to the presenter, the mayor provided information that the City was considering
resurrecting a temporary facility at the, new and soon to be open, Development Services Building
(DSB) (F.K.A. the Daybreak Building.) This option, however is not feasible. As designed, the
DSB parking lot will support staff located onsite as well as the development community who must
access and use the facility to permit and discuss construction in the City of Denton. No ancillary
services or access was anticipated as part of the parking lot site design. Additionally, the parking
lot is not situated appropriately to support the location and service of dumpsters or roll-off
containers or access by service vehicles at the site.
While capacity and services at the two remaining facilities have been increased, the replacement
of the Cupboard facility, or other potentially identified third site, and the retooling of remaining
sites had been paused in anticipation of support and direction flowing from the recently launched
Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Strategy (CSWMS.) The CSWMS will provide the city
the data and direction needed to help reinforce, redefine, enhance or eliminate this program based
on the community feedback, council discussion, and the City’s ability to finance and fund any new
program
DISCUSSION:
The City of Denton Recycling Drop-off Sites, located at the City of Denton Landfill and at North
Lakes park, are operated to 1) provide City residents without access to curbside or
commercial/multifamily recycling service an opportunity to divert programmatic recyclable
material and 2) provide residents with curbside collection who have excess programmatic
recyclable material access to additional recycling capacity. . Both sites are open and provide
service to a significant number of non-City residents who may or may not have access to recycling
services as part of their solid waste services. The existing sites are regularly serviced at least three
(3) times weekly to manage the collected recyclables and on an as needed basis, should a container
become filled between scheduled empties. The Solid Waste and Recycling Landfill staff and Valet
Crew inspect and clean the landfill and North Lakes sites (respectively) multiple times daily
Date: January 8, 2021 Report No. 2021-002
(Monday -Saturday) for litter and illegally dumped materials placed at the site. The North Lakes
Park facility is currently unsecured and is accessible by resident and non-resident customers 24
hours a day, seven (7) days per week.
In the FY18-19 Solid Waste and Recycling budget, funds were made available to relocate the
existing North Lakes Park Recycling Drop-off Site due to planned park improvements (the
construction of an expanded North Lakes Park Tennis Center.) While plans were made to design,
permit, and construct a new recycling drop-off site at an alternate location within North Lakes
park. Given COVID delays and the timing of the completion of the CSWMS, this relocation was
place on hold pending a determination of what a future program may entail
On August 4, 2020, Council received a work session presentation regarding the status of the
relocation as well as a report on the performance of both recycling drop-off sites. While Council
was supportive of this proposal, questions were asked as to whether alternate location(s), at either
surplus city property or greenfield sites, could be identified to support recycling at multi-
family/apartment dwellers. The City has spent several months evaluating opportunities related to
relocating the existing facility focusing on creating the best value for our ratepayers while
equitably addressing the needs of and the potential impacts on the community. The sites that have
been identified, to date, are all, currently, privately owned deficient in access, site screening, and
layout to support a safe and efficient operation for the community and SWR. We continue to
evaluate the City’s surplus property in anticipation of program enhancements coupled with the
release of CSWMS findings and recommendations.
On October 13, 2020, the Denton City Council awarded a contract to develop the City of Denton’s
Solid Waste Management Strategy (CSWMS). The CSWMS will be built upon the needs and
desires of the community coupled with the consideration of regulatory, fiscal, and local impacts
by local boards, committees, and the City Council. Part of the strategy will include consideration
as to how the best manage this sector of the solid waste stream; including the necessity of recycling
drop-off centers, potential enhancements, optimized locations to service existing and future
development. Results of the project should be completed in mid-2021 at which time the City will
work on developing and implementing a plan to affect its findings.
In anticipation of the completion of the CSWMS, Solid Waste and Recycling leadership has
committed to maximizing the operation of the existing Landfill and North Lakes Drop-off
locations to ensure sufficient capacity exists onsite to optimize diversion, minimize onsite illegal
dumping, and promote programmatic education. While actions continue to evolve, steps taken to
meet these goals include:
• The anticipated installation (late-January 2021) of an automatic gate at the Windsor Street
access allowing users into the site during park hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.). In addition to
limiting access to the recycle drop-off site, this would also help limit access to the City’s
remote control (RC) airplane facility and the south side of North Lakes Park Dog Park.
• The purchase and placement (mid-January 2021) of a robust, high definition video
monitoring system to better monitor the site and collect information/evidence to help curb
and enforce illegal dumping violations.
Date: January 8, 2021 Report No. 2021-002
• Additional dumpsters are added to each site during holiday weekends to manage
anticipated increased volumes material presented to manage.
• Continuing outreach to Denton multi-family units on opportunities to properly recycle.
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