Building a Recycling Program Through Innovation and Creativity instead of Big Budgets Financial Sustainability – Recycling in the City

Program Goal  To provide an environmentally responsible and cost-effective system for managing municipal solid waste generated within Fort Worth Objectives  Environmentally Friendly  Unbeatable Customer Service  Financially Responsible  Enhanced Public Education

Strategic Considerations Public attitudePublic attitude State law encourages 40% diversion goalState law encourages 40% diversion goal Contract expiration datesContract expiration dates Political willPolitical will Equipment needsEquipment needs Landfill remaining life; long-term outlet for the City’s residential wasteLandfill remaining life; long-term outlet for the City’s residential waste

Financial Stability  PAYT is an effective tool for communities struggling to cope with soaring municipal solid waste management expenses. Well- designed programs generate the revenues communities need to cover their solid waste costs, including the costs of such complementary programs as recycling and composting. Residents benefit, too, because they have the opportunity to take control of their trash bills.

Current Residential Rates Sanitation rates are based upon the size of cart used for garbage collection.

City Provided vs. Contracted Services City Provided Services  More Control  High Equipment Cost  More Exposure for Municipal Employees  Benefits and associated long term liability Contracted Services  Less Control  No Equipment Expense  No Exposure for City Employees  Competitive Proposals or Bids

City of Fort Worth Solid Waste Contracts 1.C urbside Collection 2.R ecycle Processing 3.M SW Disposal and Landfill Operations 4.C & D Disposal and Yard Waste Processing 5.C art Purchase, Delivery & Maintenance 6.D rop Off Station Container Transport 7.B ulk Collections (not regular program waste) 8.I n-House Recycling for City facilities

Partnering

Recycle Processing  Average over 4,000 Tons per month  Recycle rebate has averaged over $1,000,000 annually back to the Solid Waste Fund –After processing costs and additional disposal expense for contamination –Used to keep sanitation fees down

Net Curbside Recycling Revenue Historical Performance

Non-Program Materials  Approximately 30% of material collected in the blue recycle carts is non-program materials.  Opportunities for contractors to partner with City to limit the contamination

Education  Education payments to the City from contractors are key especially with the current budget constraints –The collection contract requires an annual payment of $3.56 for every household collected –The recycle processing contractor pays the City of Fort Worth $1.18 per ton of acceptable material

Contaminated Carts

Contaminated Loads

Cart Audits

Creative Residents

BRUSH AND YARD WASTE

Diversion  Last year over 30,000 tons of brush and yard waste that was collected was diverted from the landfill –Over 3,000 tons from the Drop Off Stations –Over 27,000 tons collected curbside

Innovation and Creativity instead of Big Budgets  Ability to defer start up expense due to length of contracts  Utilizing requests for proposals instead of bids  Sharing the burden of education with the contractors  PAYT program  Promoting contracts with several companies encouraged competitive pricing

Questions?