ITEM 9-C
Santa Monica, California
Council Meeting: July 7, 1992
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Collection Location for Recyclables
INTRODUCTION
This report presents information regarding the collection
location of recycling containers in the City of Santa Monica's
recycling program. The conclusion reached by staff is that
greater benefits are realized by both residents and city crews
when keeping refuse and recycling collections together in the
same location.
BACKGROUND
In July 1991, the Solid Waste Management Division made several
fundamental changes in its refuse and recycling operations.
These changes included switching from twice weekly, manual refuse
collection to once weekly, semi-automated collection; changing
from a flat fee billing rate to a variable fee billing rate in
order to encourage waste reduction; increasing recycling
collections from once every two weeks to once weekly; and
expanding the number of households receiving recycling
collection.
At the time of implementation, City Council directed staff to
consolidate recycling collections in the same location where
refuse is collected. This change meant that in some
neighborhoods recycling collections would remain at the front
curb, while in other neighborhoods with alleys, recyclables would
be collected from the alley. Under the previous collection
system all recyclables were placed at the front curb regardless
of where refuse was collected. Approximately 60% of all
households had their recycling location moved from the curb to
the alley under the new system.
DISCUSSION
The new collection system has been in effect for twelve months.
Analysis indicates that there are several benefits to the current
collection location for recycled goods. First, there is a
considerable convenience factor for residents to place their
refuse and recycling containers in the same area for collection.
Instead of taking some materials to the front and others to the
back, all materials can be set-out at the same location.
Second, collection efficiency on the part of the City is also
realized because crews do not have to carry multiple containers
around parked cars or across busy streets. Fewer incidents of
missed set-outs have been reported since moving many of the
collections to alleys.
Third, collector safety is enhanced by collecting the
recyclables in alleys. This is of particular concern along
certain streets in the city including Ocean Park Boulevard, Pico
Boulevard and Montana Avenue. Curbside pick-up along these
heavily traveled streets is dangerous for collectors as well as
motorists who must stop behind the trucks. Collections in these
areas are considerably safer from the alley than from the street.
A survey of 8 cities was conducted to assess their policies
regarding collection point of recyclables (Alhambra, Burbank,
Carson, Claremont, Hermosa Beach, Pasadena, Torrance, Rancho
Palos Verdes). All cities contacted said that recyclables are
collected from the same location as refuse, regardless of whether
that is at the curb or in the alley.
The primary argument against the alley collection point is that
theft is more likely to occur in alleys because scavengers cannot
be seen as easily as they can from the street. While staff
acknowledges that scavenging is a problem in the recycling
program, we do not concur that the problem is the result of
locating collections in the alley. During the week of June
15-19, 1992, an analysis was conducted to determine if there is a
difference in the volume of recyclables collected from the
curbside and alley collection points. During this period,
virtually no difference was seen in what had been collected from
curbside set-outs and alley set-outs.
It should be noted that since the beginning of Santa Monica's
recycling program 12 years ago, scavenging has been a problem to
varying degrees. The rule of thumb is that as the value of
recyclables increases, so too does scavenging. When scrap values
decline, scavenging also declines. In turn, the current
depressed economic situation has likely contributed to increased
scavenging. During the survey of local cities, most staff
members asserted that the problem of illegal scavenging in their
city is difficult to stop and that the location of materials
plays little role in deterring scavenging.
Despite the fact that scavenging is a problem, collection figures
from July 1991 through April 1992, indicate that 4600 tons of
recycled materials were collected compared to 4200 tons during
the same period in the prior year. This indicates that a greater
amount of material is being recycled this year than in the past
due to increased participation and program expansion.
During the past twelve months, staff has not received any
complaints regarding inconvenience of the new system and has
received only six complaints from residents concerned about an
increase in illegal scavenging due to the relocation of some
recycling collections to the alleys.
To help deter scavenging, Recycling staff will continue to
respond to complaints from the public during the day by sending
the crew supervisor to the particular area where a scavenger has
been reported. If the scavenger is found, a warning will be
issued to that individual. Staff will also continue to send out
warning letters to scavengers when complaints received from the
public provide enough information to identify the scavenger.
Staff is also in the process of installing anti-theft scoops on
the inside of the large recycling bins to prevent scavenging.
The State of California has recognized the need to prevent
illegal scavenging from municipal recycling programs in order to
achieve diversion compliance under AB 939. On January 1, 1992, a
new law took effect (AB 1707) which allows cities to recover
damages of up to $1000 per violation from illegal scavenging.
This new state law may present the City with an opportunity to
significantly diminish illegal scavenging.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS
There are no financial impacts as a result of this staff report,
unless changes in collection are directed which make costs
greater or increase worker safety costs.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that no modifications to the recycling
collection points be made at this time.
Prepared by: Stan Scholl, Director of General Services
Tom Dever, Solid Waste Superintendent
Jon Root, Waste Reduction Coordinator