2017-087 Citizen Recycling LettersDate: December 8, 2017 Report No. 2017-087
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Report addressing citizen letters requesting multifamily recycling, composting, and construction
material diversion.
BACKGROUND:
Over the last several weeks, the City Council has received numerous citizen letters regarding
requests to implement and/or improve multifamily recycling, composting, and construction
material diversion.
Last week, a resident contacted Solid Waste staff and stated that representatives from Texas
Campaign for the Environment were canvassing their neighborhood and distributing the attached
flyers. Many of the letters being sent to Council are likely the result of this group’s efforts.
The resident also stated that the canvasser requested donations and claimed to be working
directly with members of the City Council. On November 22, 2017, Council received the
attached email from the DFW Program Director for Texas Campaign for the Environment. More
information about this organization can be found by visiting https://www.texasenvironment.org/.
The subject matter highlighted by the flyers and citizen letters are key focus areas for the Solid
Waste department. While City of Denton recycling services are available to all commercial and
multifamily entities, staff acknowledges the need to improve upon the 41.5% recycling adoption
rate for multifamily properties. Staff is actively working on strategies to increase recycling
accessibility for multifamily tenants, and an update on these efforts was provided to the Council
Committee on the Environment on November 6, 2017. A copy of the presentation is attached.
Staff continues to work with the Committee on the Environment on strategies to improve
multifamily recycling, and will bring a final draft of these efforts to the Public Utilities Board
and City Council when completed.
In regards to composting, a staff report detailing the City of Denton’s Dyno Dirt operation was
provided to Council as part of the November 10, 2017 reading file. As for the diversion of
construction materials, Solid Waste’s Building Materials Recovery operation diverts, processes,
and sells construction and demolition materials such as wood, concrete, and metal.
The Solid Waste department is dedicated to waste minimization and sustainable business
practices, and staff appreciates our citizens’ input and commitment to improving our city’s
performance in these areas.
Date: December 8, 2017 Report No. 2017-087
ATTACHMENT(S):
Texas Campaign for the Environment Flyer 1
Texas Campaign for the Environment Flyer 2
Email to the City Council
Multifamily Recycling Presentation
STAFF CONTACT:
Ethan Cox, Director of Solid Waste
(940) 349-7421
Ethan.Cox@cityofdenton.com
Texas Campaign for the Environment Flyer - Example 1
Texas Campaign for the Environment Flyer ‐ Example 2
1
Cox, Ethan
From:Corey Troiani <corey@texasenvironment.org>
Sent:Wednesday, November 22, 2017 10:56 AM
To:Watts, Chris; Hudspeth, Gerard; Briggs, Keely G; Duff, Don; Ryan, John; Gregory, Dalton
R; Bagheri, Sara
Cc:Cox, Ethan; Hurd, Tyler L
Subject:Multi-family recycling resources & grassroots campaign
Attachments:Public Perceptions on Recycling in Multi-Family Housing in Dallas - May 2016.pdf;
Resource Recycling MF Article 1_December 2015.pdf; Resource Recycling MF Article 2
_January 2016.pdf; Resource Recycling MF Article 3_March 2016.pdf; Cascadia
Consulting Group_Multifamily Programs.pdf
Dear Denton City Council & Staff,
This is Corey Troiani, local program director for Texas Campaign for the Environment. Our organization is excited and
eager to hear recent developments on the city’s pursuit of an ordinance to expand access to multi‐family and
commercial recycling throughout Denton. Universal recycling ordinances have been effective in a number of cities
throughout Texas and the U.S. in helping reduce waste and increase resource recovery. Like most cities, the majority of
Denton’s waste is generated by commercial and multi‐family establishments, and without good standards or
requirements for providing basic recycling services, many tenants and residents are left in the lurch with no option but
to trash everything they discard.
I’ve attached some professional research from other cities on multi‐family recycling. You’ll see one of the reports was
generated with funding from our Zero Waste project and it includes focus groups with apartment tenants and managers
in Dallas. The other resources were generated by a consulting group outside of Texas and contain some good universal
info for local governments on this topic. I hope you find these resources helpful and informative as you seek the best
policy measures to address recycling in the city.
Texas Campaign for the Environment is continuing to organize in Denton communities to build support for universal
recycling. Our supporters have already written hundreds of letters to your offices—not only on this issue, but on other
waste diversion programs as well. The City of Denton has undergone many recent changes in staff and leadership,
including the Director of Solid Waste, which has resulted in changes to Denton’s 2016 Strategic Plan for solid waste and
recycling. (By the way, we congratulate your recent decision to disband the landfill mining project, an all‐too‐expensive
and dangerous endeavor.) We believe the city’s strategic recycling plan should reflect the values of the city’s new
leadership and the will of its citizens. In addition to our recommendation for a Universal Recycling Ordinance, we also
urge you to reconsider the strategies and goals of this plan by involving residents, businesses, and community leaders
in public discussion on how the city can continue to innovate and strive for a more circular economy for its resources.
If Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin can set long‐term ambitious recycling goals, why can’t Denton?
I would be happy to provide more information about Zero Waste and local recycling policies at your request. I look
forward to working with you and your staff this Winter. In the meantime, I wish you all a cozy and warm Thanksgiving
Holiday with your families!
Kind Regards,
Corey Troiani
DFW Program Director, Texas Campaign for the Environment
214-599-7840 | www.texasenvironment.org |
3303 Lee Parkway Suite #402 Dallas, TX 75219 |
Improving Recycling & Waste DiversionCOUNCIL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENTNOVEMBER 6, 2017
COE Direction & Objectives◦Committee on the Environment◦Improve multi‐family tenant access to recycling◦Increase multi‐family & commercial recycling participation◦Increase material diversion◦Previous Discussions◦March 6, 2017 – Discussion on commercial & multi‐family recycling◦May 19, 2017 –Proposed strategies to increase multi‐family recycling◦September 11, 2017 –Provided policy overview & received COE direction
Recycling –Key Terms & Key Players
Outcomes – Environment/SustainabilityEnvironmental Impacts•Soil/Groundwater•Air•Methane/Carbon Monoxide•Dust•Unpleasant Odors•Reduced Vegetation•Vehicle EmissionsSustainability Factors•Land Use/Airspace•Resources•Reduce •Recycle•Reuse•Changing Waste Stream
Multi‐Family Recycling ‐Benchmark
Multi‐Family Accessibility & Current Efforts◦Multi‐Family outreach program began in late 2016◦468 total Multi‐Family complexes◦194 voluntarily participating◦64 of these are new in FY17, compared to average of 3 new per year in prior years◦41.5% participation rate◦Focus on Strategic Effort beginning FY18 and beyond emphasizing◦Collecting data◦Targeted approach◦Partner with Sustainability
Commercial Accessibility BenchmarkCommercial Residential Commercial ResidentialSan MarcosNot trackedNot tracked Not tracked 19%Little ElmNot trackedNot tracked Not tracked 26%Fort WorthNot tracked70% Not tracked 23%LewisvilleNot tracked61% 8% 16%GrapevineNot tracked75% 6% 19%Austin, TXNot tracked73% 42% 38%DentonNot tracked100%5%37%ArlingtonNot tracked 90% Not tracked 23%FriscoNot tracked 87% Not tracked 32%IrvingNot tracked 25% Not tracked 27%CityDiversion RateVoluntary ParticipationMandatedAccessibility RateMulti-Family Recycling
Improving Accessibility◦Policy/Mandate◦Chapter 24 Ordinance – Recycling is not required for multi‐family◦DDC Subchapter 13 – Recycling is not required for new development◦Site Criteria Manual – Technical requirements (revetment size)◦Outreach/Education◦Marketing (direct/indirect)◦Education◦Incentivize behavior◦Programs/Operations◦Drop off locations◦Alternative service delivery (carts vs containers)◦Landfill diversion/reuse (Home Chemical Collection)◦Enforcement (if direction is to pursue mandate)
Staff Recommendation – Accessibility◦Focus Group to Seek Multifamily Input ◦Challenges◦Property limitations & code requirements◦Tenant behavior◦Financial/Operational implications◦Needs & Required Support◦Tenant & property staff education◦Service alternatives◦Mandate implications
Focused and Strategic Effort
Targeted Education◦Multi Family Tenants/ Student Population◦Targeted messaging◦Multifamily Events◦UNT /TWU orientation tabling (off campus living)◦RA training◦Recycling Champion/Ambassador program◦Recycling Bags (drop off ready, recyclable, with messaging)◦Print materials