INTRODUCTION

This report provides information on the success of the pilot commingled recycling program and recommends expansion of the pilot commingled recycling program citywide.

BACKGROUND

In June of 1999, the Solid Waste Management Division implemented a pilot commingled recycling program using 95-gallon containers in predominately single-family home areas, including a limited number of multi-family buildings. In June of 2000, the commingled recycling pilot program was expanded to test 300-gallon shared recycling containers in a multi-family area. Rather than separate recyclable materials, customers in the pilot program areas combine their recyclable materials for collection. The collected materials are then sorted at the recycling facility, Allan Company, located next to the city yards. The goal of the program is to increase program participation and the amount of material recycled by making it more convenient for customers to recycle. This in turn assists the City in maintaining the State Mandated Diversion goal.

DISCUSSION

The pilot commingled recycling program was well received by customers in both areas. Callers have found the program much more convenient than the drop-off recycling zone program and the source separated curbside recycling program. The pilot programs have generated very few complaints and most complaints dealt with space constraints and container placement. The pilot program areas are described below in further detail.

South Program Area

In the area between Pico Boulevard and Ocean Park Boulevard from 22^nd Street to Euclid Avenue, 95-gallon containers were distributed to both single-family and multi-family customers with flyers explaining the program. Each 95 gallon recycling container has a large instructional sticker on the lid which advises customers of the materials that can be placed in the recycling containers as well as what materials should not be placed in the containers. All customers received containers. The most common reasons cited by single-family customers who did not want to participate were a lack of space for container storage and insufficient recyclable materials to warrant participation. The most common reasons cited by multi-family customers for not wanting to participate was the lack of space for container storage and/or no resident willing to take responsibility for making sure the container(s) were placed at the curb or in the alley on collection day. Contamination increased, but not to a problematic level for Allan Company which processes and markets recyclable materials for the City.

North Program Area

In June of 2000, 300-gallon containers were placed in the alleys between Montana Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard from 22^nd Street to Ocean Avenue to expand the commingled recycling pilot program to a multi-family area. Five to Ten shared 300-gallon commingled containers were placed in each of the alleys. The greatest challenge in implementing this program was finding space to accommodate the containers. A sign is mounted on each container, which instructs customers which materials can be deposited in the commingled recycling container. In addition, instructional fliers were distributed to multi-family dwellings in the pilot program area.

The most common complaint received at first was the overflow of recyclable material because the containers were originally collected once a week. Due to the overwhelming customer participation, collection frequency increased from once a week to three times a week and additional recycling containers were sited in any available spaces that could be identified. Another complaint was that the placement of the recycling containers made it more difficult to maneuver vehicles in the alleys.

Overall the amount of recyclable material collected by the City has increased by 11% on an annual basis since the implementation of the 300-gallon commingled recycling pilot program. Contamination also increased, but not to a problematic level.

In addition to placing shared 300 gallon containers in the mid-city’s area, staff planned on placing some 95-gallon containers in the area. Staff surveyed owners of multi-family dwellings by phone in the area between Colorado Blvd. and Wilshire Blvd. from 26^th Street to Centinela Avenue to identify program participants. The survey also inquired if customers would prefer 95-gallon containers that they would store on their property and move to the alley on collection day or if they preferred 300 gallon recycling containers located in the alley that they would share with their neighbors for the collection of recyclable material. Staff attempted to contact 220 customers. If no one answered the phone, staff left a message and asked that someone return their call. After repeated attempts, only 32 owners responded in total. All respondents were in favor of sharing 300-gallon Commingled recycling containers placed in the alley. The property owners were not interested in storing containers on their property, which would need to be moved to the alley on their collection day. Due to a lack of interest by customers in the area, the 95-gallon container program was not initiated in that area.

Lighter Lids

When refuse bins were replaced with 300-gallon containers a few years ago, some customers complained that the weight of the lid made it difficult for them to hold the lid open with one hand and place refuse bags in with the other. In an effort to better serve customers, the Solid Waste Management communicated this concern to the container manufacturer. In response to our request for a lighter lid, the manufacturer designed and made several lighter lids for the City to test. The original lid weighed 20 lbs and the new lighter design weighs only 11 lbs. All of the blue 300-gallon recycling containers used in the pilot program were made using this lighter lid. To date, staff has not received any complaints about the weight of the recycling container lid.

Citywide Expansion

Because Santa Monica has both alley and street collection with a mix of multi-family and single-family residential units, staff recommends using both 95-gallon and 300-gallon containers for expanding the commingled recycling program city wide. The 95-gallon recycling containers are recommended for all multi-family customers that currently have their refuse collected from the street and all single-family customers that have their refuse collected in the alley or the street. The 300-gallon recycling containers are recommended in the areas that predominantly consist of multi-family residents with alley collection. Some customers in these areas may have difficulty with the location or use of the 300-gallon containers. For those customers, staff will provide 95-gallon containers if the residents are able to store the containers on their property and move them to the alley on collection day.

The following map outlines which container sizes staff recommends using in different areas of the city.

IMPLEMENTATION

Implementation of the commingled recycling program using 95-gallon and 300-gallon containers will begin predominately in the multifamily areas. In the late summer of 2002, the program will be expanded in the multifamily, from Lincoln Blvd to Centinela Avenue between Colorado Avenue and Wilshire Blvd. The next phase will begin in the fall of 2002 in the area from 20^th Street to Lincoln Blvd between Pico Blvd and the Santa Monica Freeway. The final phase of the expansion will be in the northern part of the city from Ocean Avenue to 26^th Street between Montana Avenue to San Vicente Blvd.

BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT

No additional budget authorization is needed at this time. Two vehicles to implement the program have been received by the City and funds for purchase of recycling containers are included in the FY 2002-2003 Capital Improvement Program budget.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the experience of the pilot program, staff recommends expanding the commingled recycling pilot program citywide as outlined above.

Prepared By: Craig Perkins, Environmental and Public Works Management Director

Joe Delaney, Solid Waste Operations Manager

Javier Valle, Solid Waste Collections Superintendent