HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-01-02 - AGENDA REPORTS - DIAPER RECYCLING FEASIBILITY (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Weste and Members of the City Coun '1
FROM: George A. Caravalho, City Manager
DATE: January 2, 2001
SUBJECT: DIAPER RECYCLING AND COLLECTION FEASIBILITY STUDY
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council to receive the presentation and discuss.
On May 16, 2000 Council directed staff to hire a consultant to analyze the City's
potential purchase of a diaper recycling machine and implementation of a diaper
recycling program. The purpose of the study was to provide a comprehensive review
of all of the aspects associated with collecting diapers containing human waste,
including: equipment installation, permitting, operations and maintenance of the
proposed Knowaste Diaper Processor (IDP II); collection and processing
methodology; demographics of potential residential participants and future
expansion; fees and charges associated with a diaper recycling program, and;
marketability of the end product. The City retained SCS Engineers and the study
was completed on December 1.
Generation statistics analyzed in the SCS report were based on a study produced by
Ohio State University and are considered the most accurate currently available.
The figures presented by SCS are also consistent with both the California Integrated
Waste Management Board and hospital generation findings. SCS estimates that the
total estimated amount of diaper waste generated by residents under 2.5 years old is
approximately 6,741 tonslyear or 2.5% of the City's total waste generation in 2001.
All the materials collected would be diverted from the landfill either through
recycling or discharged into the sewer system. Three alternative methods for
collecting disposable diapers from Santa Clarita residents were evaluated, including
commingled collection in bags, curbside collection with on -board bins, and curbside
collection with separate trucks (either along all routes or only to subscribing
residents).
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Total startup and installation costs are estimated to be up to $1,569,323 which
includes capital purchases, supplemental equipment costs, permits and fees, and a
$600,000 contingency for construction of a facility to house the KDP H processor.
The report estimates that annual operating costs will range from $103,000 to $2.8
million in fiscal year 2001 depending on the collection option selected (not including
tipping fees).
Due to the small amount of recyclable material collected from diapers (pulp and
plastic), the report finds that the potential to generate revenue to offset operations
and maintenance costs is limited. Based upon a residential diaper generation
amount of 6,741 tons and a reasonably achievable collection rate of 50% in 2001, the
expected yearly gross revenue from the sale of recycled pulp and plastic is estimated
at $84,000 which is not sufficient to meet any of the three options' annual operation
and maintenance costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
A total of $500,000 is currently available and budgeted for acquisition and start-up
costs and fees in the fiscal year 2000-2001 adopted budget. The Council
appropriated $250,000 of General Fund funding during the budget process, and the
remaining $250,000 was provided by Assemblyman George Runner (providing that
program costs are not passed along to the residents). Based on the results of the
SCS study, should Council determine to purchase the KDP processor and implement
a diaper recycling program in the City, supplemental start-up funding as well as
significant supplemental annual operating funding will need to be identified.
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