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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.2 Ala Co Home Compost Bin Program CITY OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 9, 1992 SUBJECT: Agreement to Participate in Alameda County Home Compost Bin Cost Sharing Program (Prepared by: Paul S. Rankin, Assistant City Manager) EXHIBITS AT ACHED: 1. Resolution Approving Agreement for Participation in Compost Bin Cost Sharing Program 2 . Program Description RECOMMENDATION: !� Adopt Resolution FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The cost to the City will be $5, 000, which will be paid for from Measure D Recycling Funds. Participating residents will pay $25. 00 plus $5.00 shipping. Participation will be limited to 275 on a first come first served basis. DESCRIPTION: The Alameda County Waste Management Authority, in conjunction with the Home Composting Education -Program, is working with cities to offer compost bins at a reduced cost. The program attempts to reduce waste placed in the landfill by encouraging composting of yard debris. One typical deterrent for the resident is the initial expense of a compost bin. The bin being offered by this program can retail for as much as $99. 00. In the cost sharing program, residents will have an opportunity to purchase bins for $25. 00. The reduced cost is achieved through subsidies paid by participating cities and the Waste Management Authority, as well as reduced cost from a bulk purchase. The program is designed to pool money from a variety of sources . to underwrite a substantial portion of the bin cost. At the previous City Council meeting, the City Council approved a Measure D expenditure plan which included this project. Measure D funds can only be used for recycling or source reduction activities. The minimum participation level for cities is $5,000. This will provide for the distribution of 275 bins to Dublin residents at the reduced rate. The bins will be distributed on a first come first served basis. The County Home Composting Program will also be providing the City with data and information which can be used to confirm the impact of this effort on reducing the amount of garbage placed in the landfill. � The adopted City Plan to meet these State mandates suggests that the City will consider supporting the Home Composting Program. County Staff has advised that it is anticipated that our participation will be part of Phase II. It is projected that bins may be available in January or February. The City will be involved in assisting with publicity to encourage distribution of all of the bins allocated to our residents. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution which authorizes the Mayor to execute the agreement. PSR/lss a:116CBins.agenda#10 CITY CLERK FILE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- COPIES TO: Teresa Eade, County Home Composting Education Program ITEM NO. RESOLUTION NO. - 92 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN APPROVING AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN ALAMEDA COUNTY HOME COMPOST BIN SHARING PROGRAM WHEREAS, the Alameda County Home Composting Education Program (ACHCEP) has developed a program to distribute bins at a reduced cost; and WHEREAS, the Program is dependent upon contributions from the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and participating cities; and WHEREAS, a contribution of $5, 000 from the City of Dublin will result in the distribution of 275 low cost compost bins on a first come first served basis; and WHEREAS, ACHCEP will also provide the City with reports and other data to be utilized in meeting State mandated waste reduction requirements; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin has available restricted funds from litigation associated with Alameda County Measure D; and WHEREAS, these funds can only be utilized for recycling and/or source -reduction activities, including the program proposed by ACHCEP. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute the Fiscal Agreement attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof. The approval of this agreement will allow the City of Dublin to participate in this program. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of 1992 . AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk PSR/lss a:Resocomp.agenda#10 FISCAL AGENT AGREEMENT FOR ALAMEDA COUNTY HOME COMPOST BIN COST-SHARING PROGRAM AND THE CITY OF DUBLIN This Agreement, made and entered into this of , 1992 , by and between the County of Alameda, (hereinafter referred to as "COUNTY") and the City of Dublin, hereinafter referred to as "CITY") for the period of November 1, 1992 through September 30, 1993 . WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, state law requires local agencies to apply every effort to reduce the amount of waste being disposed in landfills; and WHEREAS, the composting of appropriate household waste by residents of Alameda County will recycle significant amounts of waste that would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills; and WHEREAS, recent home composting demonstration projects within Alameda County have attracted .. significant interest within the community, and a recent survey reveals that the lack of a compost bin is the primary barrier to home composting; and WHEREAS, a cost-sharing program would provide a strong incentive for residents to begin home composting by making compost bins more affordable and accessible; and WHEREAS, the COUNTY, , through its home composting education program as administered by the Alameda County Environmental Health Department, has developed a Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program through which Alameda County Waste Management Authority would match funds contributed by local jurisdictions and public entities within Alameda County; and WHEREAS, these funds would be used to purchase home composting bins at a volume discount and would allow County-wide promotion and education in a cost effective manner; and WHEREAS, COUNTY has agreed to act as the fiscal and administrative agent for the above described proposed; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY MUTUALLY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. COUNTY shall: a. . operate and administer the Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program as set forth in the Proposal for Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program (attached hereto as exhibit A) ; 1 b. accept CITY funds, of a minimum Of $5, 000 and not to exceed $25, 000, to qualify for County Waste Management Authority matching funds and to purchase and distribute - low-cost-compost bins in the CITY; C. solicit and collect funds from other Alameda County Waste Management Authority member agencies in the collective amount of not less than $40, 000 for Phase I of the Program, to be followed, if possible; by two additional phases of $40, 000 each; d. expend CITY funds in one of three phases on a first-come first-served basis, with phases II and III being contingent upon approval of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority; e. expend CITY funds and matching funds to implement the program as set forth in Exhibit A, or return CITY funds within 90 days without interest if matching funds are not made available; f. submit to the CITY three quarterly reports and one final annual report containing data on program numbers, demographics, economics, and land use details of surveyed participants and a list of the names and addresses of bin recipients in their city in addition to the estimated total amount of material being diverted from County landfills through.. composting _ systems. established as a result of the program; 2. CITY shall cooperate with COUNTY in the coordination, promotion and implementation of the Compost Bin Cost- Sharing Pilot Program. 3 . At all times during the term of this Agreement COUNTY shall be an independent contractor and shall not be an employee of CITY and, except as CITY may specify in writing, COUNTY shall have no authority, expressed or implied, to act on behalf of CITY in any capacity whatsoever. 4. COUNTY represents and warrants to CITY that it has all licenses, permits, qualifications and approvals of whatsoever nature which are legally required for COUNTY to operate the Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program. COUNTY represents and warrants to CITY that COUNTY shall, at its sole cost and expense, keep in effect at all times during the term of this agreement and licenses, permits, and approvals which are legally required for COUNTY to operate the Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program. 5. CITY shall indemnify and hold harmless COUNTY, its 2 officers, employees and agents from and against any and all loss, liability, expense, claim costs (including the costs of defense) , suits and damages of every kind, nature, and description directly or indirectly arising from the negligent or intentional acts, errors or omissions of CITY in the performance of the Agreement and CITY shall pay all claims, damages, judgements, legal costs, adjuster fees and. attorney fees related hereto. 6. COUNTY shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, employees and agent from and against any an all loss, liability, expense, claim, costs (including costs of defense) , suits and damages of every kind, nature and description directly or indirectly arising from the negligent or intentional acts, errors omissions of COUNTY in the performance of this Agreement and COUNTY shall pay all claims, damages, judgements, legal costs, adjuster fees and attorney fees related hereto. 7. No officer, member or employee of CITY and no member or staff of governing body shall have any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in this Agreement or expenditure or the proceeds thereof. 8. COUNTY shall not assign or transfer any interest or any obligations under this Agreement without prior written consent of the CITY. 9 . The primary contact person for the CITY shall be City Manager or his/her designee, and the primary contact person for the COUNTY shall be Rafat Shahid or his designee. 3 BY: COUNTY OF ALAMEDA DATE David J. Kears, Agency Director _ Health Care Services Agency APPROVED AS TO FORM: Kelvin H. Booty, Jr. , County Counsel BY: r BY: CITY OF DUBLIN DATE Mayor Peter Snyder APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney By: 4 a Proposal for Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program submitted to The Alameda County Waste Management Authority April, 1992 Revised 4/9/92 hA submitted by The Alameda County Home Composting Education Program EXHIBIT A Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 BENEFITS 1 The Role of Backyard.Composting in Integrated Waste Management 1 Integrating Education and Bin Programs To Meet Backyard Composting Goals 2 Countywide Benefits of the Compost Bin Pilot Program 2 Cost Per Ton Benefit Analysis 3 Compost Bins-Distributed to Member Agencies 4 OPERATIONS 4 Phases 4 Matching Funds 4 Operating Budget 5 Bin Distribution 6 Timeline 6 CONCLUSION 7 — BUDGET 8 Phase I 8 Phase H 9 Phase III 10 PROGRAM TIMELINE 11 REFERENCES 12 INTRODUCTION ACHC is requesting $40,000 from the Alameda County Waste Management Authority to implement the first phase of the Compost Bin Cost Sharing Pilot Program. As requested by the Programs Committee of the Waste Management Authority, this proposal has been amended into three phases for a total of$120,000 of matching funds. Each phase will match up to $40,000 of funds from Member Agencies, and will be submitted for Authority approval. The compost bin cost-sharing pilot program will pool the resources of the WMA and its Member Agencies. The combined funds would be used to purchase compost bins in bulk, and distribute them to the residents of participating agencies through a centralized distribution system. The cost of the bin to the resident would be reduced from an average of$100 retail to only $25-$30. This program would provide a strong incentive for residents to begin composting by making compost bins affordable and accessible. If fully funded, the proposed program,-will distribute 6,600 bins, which will divert 1,980 tons in the first year, and 16,500 tons by the vear 2000 at a cost of $14.54 per ton. BENEFITS The Role of Backyard Composting in Integrated Waste Management A compost bin program in Alameda County would dramatically increase the number of. people home composting, helping to achieve several important integrated waste management goals. Home composting is source reduction under the guidelines of AB939, and should therefore legally be the first priority of any integrated waste management plan. Home composting can achieve significant waste diversion, as demonstrated by ACHC's year-end survey, which documented an average diversion of 750 lbs per year per bin. This figure has been corroborated with figures derived from studies elsewhere. Toronto, Canada, for example, conducted a study which resulted in a waste diversion estimate of 703 pounds per household annually ("Home composting: it's popular and effective," Resource Recycling, Dec. 1991, p.48). A compost bin program would also be extremely cost-effective. At only $14.54 per ton of materials diverted from the landfill. A compost bin program would also promote environmental education. Encouraging 1 large numbers of Alameda -County residents to compost at home will reduce wasteful consumption behavior and reinforce the County's message of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. ' Increasing th e number of home composters in the County is also market development. Home composters have a higher demand for municipal compost. Integrating Education and Bin Programs To Meet Backyard Composting Goals ACHC has developed a countywide goal of 20% participation in home composting by the year 2000. This is a realistic goal, based on careful assessment of home composting programs elsewhere, and one and a half years of experience _teaching composting to the residents of Alameda County. The only way to meet this goal is through a compost bin program in conjunction with the existing Compost Education Program. The programs are complementary, strongly reinforcing composting as a desirable waste reduction behavior. Both a compost bin program and an Education program are necessary for significant waste reduction through composting. ACHC year-end survey respondents that were not yet composting cited the lack of a compost bin as the number one barrier to composting. As noted in the Resource Recycling article cited earlier: The convenience of a manufactured bin for composting seems to provide the same positive response of increased participation and material recovery that has been achieved by the distribution of special bins for curbside recycling collection (ibid., p.44). Large scale participation in home composting requires local jurisdictions to make a commitment to convenient composting by providing low-cost composting bins. Countywide Benefits of the Compost Bin Pilot Program There are a number of compelling reasons for a countywide approach. First and foremost is cost-effectiveness. By pooling resources and buying more bins, significant quantity discounts can be gained from the manufacturer. Secondly, promotions and compost education can be done more efficiently on a countywide basis. Printing and advertising is less expensive per unit on a large or regional scale. A countywide program would also permit consistency in education. A regional approach, with the higher volume, allows for more creative opportunities such as recycling locally generated HDPE plastics into County compost bins. This pilot program will provide important information to all Member Agencies, whether they participate directly or not. Valuable information regarding waste diversion from backyard 2 composting, types of materials composted, demographics, and participation rates will help all jurisdictions in their integrated waste management planning. In addition, all Member Agencies will benefit from the increased demand for compost. Market development benefits everyone by increasing the economic viability of municipal composting facilities. Cost Per Ton Benefit Analysis Compost bin programs achieve cost-effective waste diversion. The costs are all up front, but the waste diversion from the home composter often lasts a lifetime, and can reduce each household's waste generation by 20-40%. Assumptions 1. Compost bins made of durable recycled content HDPE have a lifespan of 10 years. However, to make a conservative estimate on the cost-effectiveness of the program and to account for attrition, etc., the cost per ton is based on a 8 year lifespan of each bin distributed. 2. ACHC's recent year-end survey indicated that the average composting household in Alameda County diverts 750 lbs annually. Again,_to make a­conservative waste diversion estimate ACHC assumes that each bin diverts 600 lbs per year, or 2.5 tons over 8 ,y_ - In each phase the Authority and Member Agencies will be contributing a total of $80,000 to purchase and distribute 2,200 bins countywide. wide. $80,000 divided by 2,200 bins = $36.36 per bin distributed $36 per bin divided by 2.5 ton/bin = $14.54 per ton diverted Due to the matching funds structure of this proposal, the cost to any single participating Member Agencv and to the WMA is cut in half to only$7.27 per ton diverted. Tipping fees to landfill these materials are often higher. This cost per ton is even more cost-effective when compared to separate collection and composting of yard waste, which can go over$100 per ton. 3 Compost Bins Distributed to Member Agencies ' Return on investment is calculated in $10,000 units, since most Member Agencies' matching funds are in $10,000 increments. In each phase four investments of$10,000 each will be matched to distribute 2,200 compost bins. . 2,200 bins divided by 4 = 550 bins per $10,000 investment. If the Member Agency contributes $5,000 then only half of that number will be distributed. Bins will be distributed in participating cities and district proportional to the amount of money invested. _ OPERATIONS Phases In response to a request from the Programs Committee of the Waste Management Authority the entire program has been divided into three phases. In each phase, $40,000 from Member Agencies will be matched by $40,000 from the Authority. Each successive phase will be submitted for approval by the Authority when the following conditions are met: 1) an additional $40,00 has been allocated by Member Agencies, and 2) the previous phase is deemed to be proceeding successfully. -Each Member Agency will be included in any given phase on a first come, first serve basis. Conversely, additionaly phases will be implemented only when enough Member Agencies have demonstrated an interest to participate. The attached budgets reflect the costs for each phase. The timeline has been amended as well to reflect an estimated implementation for the three phases. It is expected that if enough Member Agencies sign up the second phase can be implemented before the first phase is completed. The second phase will thus benefit from the set-up of the first phase and not be unduly delayed. Matching Funds This cost-sharing pilot program ensures that everyone who benefits from the program helps pay. The Waste Management Authority and the Member Agencies contribute equal portions, and the resident will pay $25-$30,,enough to ensure commitment while still realizing significant cost savings. ACHC is requesting that the Waste Management Authority match $40,000 for the first phase. The matching funds are contributed by the Authority once participating cities and sanitary districts have contributed the first $40,000. Each subsquent phase will be implemented in $40,000 increments raised by Member Agencies and approved by the Authority. Listed below 4 are cities whose staff have expressed an interest in participating at the following financial levels: City of Alameda $10,000 City of Albany $5,000 City of Berkeley $20,000 City of Fremont $10,000 City of Hayward $5,000 City of Livermore $10,000 . City of Oakland $20,000 City of Union City $10,000 $90,000 These figures are tentative and other jurisdictions are still considering the proposal. Operating Budget There are a number of cost benefits in administering a compost bin program on a county- wide scale. First, there only has to be one coordinator as opposed to a coordinator in each Member Agency. Second, by pooling resources, significant quantity discounts can be obtained from the bin manufacturer, often more than 50% off the retail price. Finally, ACHC can provide all the compost education from its core funding and maximize education coordination. For example, bins can be sold at a special compost workshop in a participating district or city. Attached are budgets for each of the three phases. Only the first phase of the budget is being approved in this request. Negotiations with Environmental Health Finance have led to an agreement to recommend waiver of the 14.9% County Administrative Overhead on the cost of the compost bins, as well as on the cost of delivering the bins to those residents who should choose to pay for this option rather than pick the bins up themselves.-, The Overhead will only be chargers on the hourly manager, printing, publicity and other ncexessary perating expenses. Significant cosst savings eill be realized through this waiver. Additionally the budgets have been.amended to reflect the contribution of residents of participating member agencies. This revision allows for a more accurate reflection of the cost-sharing benefits of the program. The budget covers the expenses of promoting the program, printing costs for bin order forms and promotional materials, postage for mailing bin order forms, telephone, transportation costs, bin storage, bin sale and delivery tracking system (which includes a complete listing to participating agencies of the names and addresses of residents who buy compost bins), and a survey evaluating program success. Savings may be realized by finding free bin storage through the County, participating Member Agencies, or even the bin manufacturer. Any funds saved in the operating costs will go toward either extra promotions or additional bins, depending on the greater need. 5 If all three phases are implemented 6,600 bins will be distributed in the County which would divert 16,500 tons of organic materials by the year 2,000 at a cost of$14.54 per ton' Bin Distribution Residents of the participating cities and sanitary districts would be made aware of the low cost compost bins through a media blitz, articles in city and local newsletters, at special events, through the ACHC mobile compost display, at composting workshops, and through ads in local papers as needed. ACHC is anticipating a large and immediate demand for bins based in part on the popularity of the education program and the frequent requests ACHC has received for bins, and in part on the experience of other compost bin programs. Toronto distributed 16,000 bins in six months, Santa Monica received 200 orders for compost bins in one week and Berkeley distributed 1,000 bins in one year with almost no promotions. Every compost bin distribution program that ACHC has heard about across the country has easily achieved high rates of participation. All have proven to be very popular. Interested residents will request information on ACHC's Rotline. By leaving a name and address they will receive a compost-bin order form, how-to-compost information and a compost workshop schedule. To keep distribution costs low no trucks or drivers will be hired. The resident will have the option of saving money and picking up the compost bin from the bin storage site(s) or paying to have UPS deliver the bin to their door. The resident will pay approximately an additional $5 to have the bin delivered via UPS. The resident is expected to pay about $25-$30 per bin, plus the optional shipping charge. Timeline A Program Timeline is attached pending Authority approval of this Pilot Program. If approved by May then the program could begin as early as June. Matching funds for Phase I are due July, 1992 from participating Member Agencies which will be included on a first come first serve basis. The first few months will be spent coordinating with Member Agencies, researching bins and potential storage sites, and developing a tracking system. A bin will be selected across a variety of criteria such as:.design, ease of use, cost,-attractiveness, etc. The experience of Berkeley's bin program which offered three bins and the bin selected by over 90% of the participants was the BioStack even though it was the most expensive to the resident -- will be weighed in the decision making process. A Compost Bin Program Manager will be hired and promotional materials and bin order forms will be developed. Bin distribution could begin in fall The second and third phases of funding would have to be implemented in fall and winter in order that all bins will be distributed by Spring of 1993. A survey of participants will be 6 conducted in May with results to the WMA and all Member Agencies by the end of the program Year. _ z CONCLUSION Communities with integrated composting education and compost bin distribution programs have achieved participation rates of 20% to 40% of the households. Participation rates this high, however, are not possible with only one or the other type of program. Bin distribution is critical to large-scale participation, because lack of a bin is the number one barrier to composting. Making bins available at a low cost is the best way to help residents get started. In Toronto, for example, a survey revealed that of those who participated in the home composting bin distribution program by buying a $15 bin, "91 percent ... would not have purchased a composting bin at the retail price of $99." (ibid., p. 46) ACHC has set a realistic goal of 20%, or 80,000 Alameda County households composting. The benefits are numerous: waste diversion at $14.54 per ton, .source reduction, environmental education, and developing a strong market for compost. Alameda County can achieve all these benefits economically and ecologically by investing in both compost education and compost bins. 7 Compost Bin Cost'Sharing Budget , Three Phases -- PHASE I Revenue Member Agencies $ 40,000. Waste Management Authority $ 40,000. Residents of Participating Member Agencies $ 55,000. (estimated 2,200 bins sold at $25 each) Optional Delivery Charge .. $ 5,000• (estimated 1,000 bins delivered via UPS at $5 each) TOTAL REVENUE $140,000. Operating Expenses Expenses subject to 14.9% County Administrative Overhead: Bin.Program Manager $12.50/hour - $ 8,320. FICA tax (7.65%) _ $ 637. Publicity $ 1,020. Printing $ 1,800. Postage $ 1,000. Telephone $ 200' Mileage $ 600. Tracldng Sales & Delivery $ 5,000• Storage($ 300 @month) $ 1.200. $ 19,777. Subtotal Contingency (10%) $ 1,978. County Admin. (14.9 x $21,755) $ 3.245. $ 25,000' SUBTOTAL Expenses exempt from Admin. Overhead Bin Purchase $110,000. (2,200 x $50/bin) Delivery of 1,000 bins via UPS TOTAL COSTS $140,000. 8 PHASE II ~ Revenue Member Agencies $ 40,000. Waste Management Authority $ 40,000. Residents of Participating Member Agencies $ 55,000• (estimated 2,200 bins sold at $25 each) Optional Delivery Charge $ 5 (estimated 1,000 bins delivered via UPS at $5 each) TOTAL REVENUE $140,000. Operating Expenses Expenses subject to 14.9% County Administrative Overhead Bin Program Manager ($12.50/hour) $ 8,320. FICA tax (7.65%) $ 637. Publicity $ ..2,520. Printing $ 3,300. Postage $ 1,000. Telephone $ 200$$ 600. Tracldng Sales & Delivery $ 2,000. Storage($300 @ month) $ 1.200- $ 19,777. Subtotal Contingency (10%) $ 1,978. County Admin. (14.9 x $21,755) $ 3.245. SUBTOTAL $ 25,000. Expenses exempt from Admin. Overhead Bin Purchase $110,000. (2,200 x $50/bin) Delivery of 1,000 bins via UPS $ 5.000. TOTAL COSTS $140,000. 9 PHASE III Revenue Member Agencies $ 40,000. Waste Management Authority $ 40,000. Residents of Participating Member Agencies . $ 55,000. (estimated 2,200 bins sold at $25 each) Optional Delivery Charge $ 5'000' (estimated 1,000 bins delivered via UPS at $5 each) TOTAL REVENUE $140,000. Operating Expenses Expenses subject to 14.9% County Administrative Overhead Bin Program Manager ($12.50/hour) $ 8,320. FICA tax (7.65%) $ 637. .... �_--. . . .. _ $ 2,520. Publicity $ 3,300. Printing - $ 1,000. Postage $ 200 Telephone $ 600 Mileage $ 2,000 Tracldng Sales & Delivery $ 1.200. Storage($300 @ month) $ 19,777. Subtotal Contingency (10%) $ 1,978. County Admin. (14.9 x $21,755) $$ 255,,000000 . SUBTOTAL Expenses exempt from Admin. Overhead Bin Purchase $110,000. (2,200 x $501bin) $ 5,000 Delivery of 1,000 bins via UPS TOTAL COSTS $140,000. 10 Program Timeline 1992 * Funds available from WMA. June/ * Compost Bins researched. July * Funds from participating Cities & San. Dist. due for Phase I. * Tracking Software for Bin distribution developed. * Billing system for bins developed. * Bin delivery system developed. * Storage sites researched. ` * Compost Bin Program Manager hired. August * Bin Selected. * Storage for bins secured. * Earliest date to implement Phase II & III funding. * Kick-Off for Bin Distribution. - - - Sept/Oct * Bins start to be distributed. * Latest date to implement Phase II & III funding. Nov/Dec 1993 * Survey developed and mailed. April/May * All bins distributed. * Survey results compiled. June * Reports to Participating Cities, San. Dist. and WMA. 11 Reference Materials The following are resources used by ACHC staff in compiling this proposal. Copies are available on request. 1. "Home composting: it's popular and effective," Resource Recycling, Dec. 1991 2. "Implementing a backyard composting program," Biocycle, December, 1990 3. "Home composting program options," Biocycle, April, 1991 4. 1990 Backvard Composting,Program Program Evaluation, Final Report, Kings County Solid Waste Division, Seattle, WA, December, 1991 - 5. First Annual Resort The Alameda Countv Home Composting Education Proms m, ACHC, Alameda County, CA, December, 1991 r 12 r' " EIVED OCT 2 G 1992 ALAMEDA COUNTY HOME COMPOSTING QTY Tel. "7 _ 7977 Capwell Drive EDUCATION PROGRAM Oakland,CA 94621 VECTOR CONTROL.SERVICES DISTRICT Implementing the Alameda County Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program ACHC is ready to implement the Alameda County Compost Bin Cost-Sharing Pilot Program. As you may know, the Waste Management Authority approved matching funds for Member Agencies to distribute compost bins to county residents. Alameda County will be acting as the fiscal agent and administer the Compost bin program through the Home Composting Education Program (ACHC). ACHC is now accepting matching funds and signed fiscal agent agreements from interested Member Agencies. How Does Your City Participate? To participate, interested Member Agencies of the Waste Management Authority (WMA) must complete the following two actions: * first, submit a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of$25,000, in•$5,000 increments, to the Alameda County Home Composting Education Program and * second, sign the enclosed Fiscal Agent Agreement. Enclosed are two copies of the Fiscal Agent Agreement, one is for your files and the other, which has six signature pages, is to be returned to ACHC. Be sure all six pages have original signatures. If necessary, ACHC can change the signature page to reflect more appropriate signers for your city. Your city will receive one copy of the Fiscal Agent agreement with a completed signature page. This pilot program is being implemented in $40,000 phases with a possible total of three phases. Member agencies will be included in Phase I on a first come, first served,basis. In other words, the first $40,000 collectively submitted by Member Agencies accompanied with the signed fiscal agreements will be in Phase I. Phase II will be implemented once an additional $40,000 is collected from the Member Agencies and the WMA approves the matching funds. At this time, eight cities have expressed an interest in participating. What Bin Will Be Distributed? ACHC has selected the Smith & Hawken Biostack compost bin for distribution. This bin has tested very favorably at all four of ACHC's demonstration garden and is by far the most popular bin in Berkeley's program, which offers a choice of three bins. ACHC finds that the Biostack offers easy access to the compost, allowing for proper maintenance of the pile and easy harvest of the finished compost. The Biostack is also durable, attractive and made out of 60% post-consumer recycled plastic and comes with a 10 year warranty. ACHC is working with Smith & Hawken to use scrap HDPE collected in Alameda County to manufacture the bins distributed through this program. The Biostack retails for $99.00 but, through this program your resident will pay only $25.00 for a bin., IL V 0 "HIFUT c*6)fta;b Printed on Recycled Paper with Soy-based Ink LA 011 A Program of the Department of Environmental Health•Funded by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority ' G How Many Bins Will Your City Receive? _ Bins will be distributed proportional to the amount�invested. Cities that participate at a $10,000 level will have 550 Biostack bins distributed in their city. Cities that contribute ,$5,000 will have 275 bins distributed in their district, etc. Bins will be limited to just one per household and each City will receive a complete listing, of names and addresses.of residents'who purchase a bin. How Do Residents Purchase A Bin? Residents who want to purchase a bin will have to fill out an order form. Order forms will be widely distributed throughout the.par6c'ipating City: at the City,Hall, at local nurseries and libraries, etc. Additionally, people can call ACHC's Rotline and.have an order form mailed directly to them.. All orders will have to come back to ACHC to be processed and to allow the residents' check to clear the bank. It is ACHC's goal to maintain a supply of bins for prompt delivery. The resident has the option of receiving a coupon to pick up their bin at one central location in the County or of paying an additional $5.00 to have the bin shipped via UPS directly to their door. Pick-up hours at the central location would be limited to r specific times (such as every Thursday and Saturday afternoon). What Happens If All Of The Bins Are Not Distributed? ACHC expects that all available bins will'be ordered and distributed. All other compost bin distribution programs have proven to be very popular. The-City of Santa Monica received 250 bin orders in one week and King County in Washington is just now experiencing a diminished interest from the community after'distributing 40,000 bins. ACHC will distribute the full number of bins in your community, if necessary up to October 1993 (ACHQ's education program is guaranteed funding until that date.) In the unlikely event that all the bins are not distributed by that point and ACHC does not.receive continued funding, then your city would receive the remaining bins. ACHC expects that once the program is announced, it Will, only take a few months to distribute the full number of bins to residents of your community. Ilow Can You Help Make The Program A Success? ACHC will rely -first on free media to announce the bin program to your residents. The compost bin distribution program should_ be announced in,your City newsletter or Parks and Recreation I rocliure. Any other means of spreading information to residents that your.,City employs may also be useful. What's The Next Step? Just send in a check made payable to the Alameda County Home Composting &l. Program for $5,000 up to $25,000, in $5,000 increments, along with the six..original signatures on the. enclosed Fiscal Agent Agreement. Once ACHC has collected the first $40,0.00 in funds (hopefully by early September), the first,bins can be distributed in 8 to 12 weeks. .'Again, your city will be included in Phase I on a first come, frk served basis. If you have'any. questions, please call Teresa Eade, Program Coordinator, at 667-7590: