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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-03-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - SOLID WASTE STUDY RESULTS (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: DATE: March 26, 2002 SUBJECT: SOLID WASTE BASE YEAR STUDY RESULTS DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION Jill Fosselman Council approve the 2000 Base Year Study and direct staff to use the study for the preparation of a Base Year Modification Request form and submission of this form to the California Integrated Waste Management Board by April 10, 2002. BACKGROUND Upon receiving a report from City staff on September 18, 2001 regarding the Final Report on the City of Santa Clarita 1999 and 2000 Solid Waste Diversion Analysis, City Council directed staff to prepare a 2000 reporting year Base Year Study. The purpose of a base year study is to assess total citywide diversion in a given year (amounts reduced, reused and recycled) in comparison to the total amount of waste disposed. In future years, the base year will be used as the basis of comparison to determine future progress towards improving (and calculating) diversion. The franchised haulers agreed to fund the contractor's services to conduct the study using funds they have allocated to the City for in- kind services, while allowing City staff to administer the contract for the study. Through a competitive bidding process, staff selected SCS Engineers (SCS) to conduct the 2000 Base Year Study, for a cost of $42,036. The findings of the study, including the final proposed disposal amounts, diversion amounts (amounts reduced, reused and recycled), and the proposed 2000 diversion rate will be presented to the City Council at the upcoming diversion study session on Tuesday, March 26, 2002. SCS has been very involved with the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) in the formulation of how base year studies are conducted, including preparation of several base year studies in the past, involvement at several CIWMB Board meetings discussing proposed base year studies, and participation in the development of the CIWMB base year study guide. Thus, the methodology employed by SCS to develop the City's base year study is completely consistent with CIWMB approved processes, guidelines, and procedures. For example, although in some cases it is unavoidable, SCS sought to prevent data extrapolation as much as possible. Extrapolated data tends to trigger further scrutiny from the CIWMB, which increases the potential for the CIWMB to reject the proposed new base year. Agenda Item: nil, u ���� Base Year Study Process and Methodology To capture the City's true diversion for reporting year 2000, SCS gathered data from several different sources. The following is a brief summary of the information SCS used to make their calculations: • Commercial diversion analysis — SCS conducted solid waste audits at over 100 commercial businesses for their diversion information. • Analysis of diversion data from the City's franchised haulers — SCS gathered collection information from the waste haulers for the year 2000. The information was obtained through the haulers' recycling data and disposal data from both the residential and commercial sectors. • Construction and demolition analysis — SCS sent out surveys to several construction companies that operate within the City in order to capture their activities. • Residential diversion analysis — SCS sent out surveys to all City residents who have taken the Pollution Prevention Pledge in order to capture data on the residents' diversion activities. • Governmental diversion activities — SCS gathered diversion activity information from the City and from other governmental agencies located within the City's borders. • School waste diversion analysis — SCS obtained school diversion information from the City for use in the Study. • Analysis of recycling centers activities — SCS gathered information from the City's local recycling centers and from the Department of Conservation's Recycling Division. • Thrift store and charity activities analysis — SCS obtained thrift store and charity activity information from the City for reuse activity information. In addition to gathering information for the 2000 Base Year Study, SCS also provided the following additional services to the City: • Development of a database to calculate the City's diversion data and provide desired outputs, including identifying the nature of any waste generation and disposal patterns and any common waste reduction/recycling needs. This will be helpful for the City to determine what specific key areas require attention and will also assist the City in adjusting data if required to do so by the CIWMB. • Preparation of conclusions and recommendations regarding the City's additional diversion potential. SCS will evaluate the City's diversion programs and will provide the City with recommendations on how to increase the diversion rate. • Provision of technical counsel for City staff when the City presents the Base Year Modification Request form to the CIWMB at a Board meeting for approval. Study Findings and Recommendations The findings of the SCS study, including amounts disposed and diverted by sector (residential, and non-residential), and the total Citywide disposal and diversion amounts will be presented at the March 26, 2002 study session. In addition, based on the results of their study, SCS will present recommended next steps and new programs to improve the City's diversion efforts. Next Steps After the City's Base Year Study has been reviewed and approved by the Council, staff will prepare and submit a Base Year Modification Request form to the CIWMB Office of Local Assistance (OLA) for their review. This form is required for the CIWMB to consider the City's proposed new base year, and provides the CIWMB with a summary of findings in the City's Base Year Study. The OLA will review the form and provide City staff with feedback on what information would be acceptable to the Board and what information they feel should not be used in preparation for presentation of the base year request to the CIWMB for their approval. Additionally, OLA will audit the ten largest generators in the City to report to the Board that the information included in the Base Year Modification Request form is accurate. Upon completion of the review process, OLA will place the City's request for a new Base Year on the Board's agenda. It is advisable that City representatives attend this Board meeting to address any specific concerns of the Board and to provide technical information to the Board. SCS will attend the meeting to provide technical counsel to City staff. Based on their review of the request and upon receiving responses to their questions, the Board will then determine whether or not to accept the new base year and proposed diversion rate. Tentative Schedule Based on the schedule to submit the Base Year Modification Request form to the OLA by April 10, 2002, the OLA will review the information and will provide comments no later than the end of June 2002. It is anticipated that the item will be placed on the CIWMB Board meeting agenda within one month of the OLA's review. Thus, it is likely that the Board will consider the item and make a determination as early as the July 2002 Board meeting. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the Council. FISCAL IMPACT None by this action. ATTACHMENTS None JJL:JAF:BAL S:\PBS\Fosselman\Environ Services\Solid Waste\Council Items\3-26 Base Year Study AR.doc