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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.1 WeekdayClean-Up Sched (2) ~ , CITY CLERK File # D[8[L][12]-~[Q] . AGEN-:>A STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: (November 17,1998) SUBJECT: ~ Evaluation of Pilot Weekday Special Clean-up Schedule; Authorization to establish 1999 Schedule (Report Prepared by: Sue Barnes) EXHIBITS ATTACHED: 1. Letter, dated October 16, from Livermore Dublin Disposal Operations Manager RECOMMENDATION: (2~eceive staff report; authorize weekday special clean-up schedule \ FINANCIAL STATEMENT: No direct financial impact to City of Dublin DESCRIPTION: Background: .The City of Dublin has a franchise agreement with Waste Management of Alameda County for the collection, transportation, recycling, processing, and disposal of solid waste. Included in the basic service are three special clean-ups. The agreement states that the City is to approve the clean-up schedule. Prior to 1998, Livermore-Dublin Disposal held 3 special clean-ups annually, scheduled on Saturdays in March, June, and September. On January 6, 1998, after receiving a request from Livermore-Dublin Disposal, the Dublin City Council approved a pilot program to schedule the clean-ups on weekdays. The approval of the pilot program included a provision that staff would return at the end of the one-year period with an evaluation of the new schedule. Reason change was requested: LDD, in order to complete the special clean-ups on Saturdays, had to use drivers from the parent company, Waste Management. These drivers typically were from other communities, and often were not familiar with Dublin routes. LDD management stated that they experienced many difficulties trying to provide a high level of service with this temporary work force, including: · Missed pick-ups due to driver errors. · The difficulty of overseeing the 40 to 50 out-of-area drivers required to cover the City in a single day. · The difficulty of obtaining the rear-loader trucks required for the single-day pick-up. The trucks are being phased out, and constitute a smaller portion of the Company's fleet. . F: as \ba rnes\ga rbage\c1ean u pA GDA.d oc COPIES TO: Annette Holck, LDD Division Manager ITEMNO.~ , " None of the waste collected on the Saturday clean-ups could be recycled, and the weekday schedule offered the opportunity to recycle wood was"fc:: The City is looking for new programs that will raise the ' diversion rate, in order to meet the state-mandated goal of a 50% diversion by the year 2000. The City of Dublin's diversion rate in 1997 was 42%. . Current Schedule: During the 1998 pilot period, LDD held the special clean-ups on weekdays in March/April, June/July, and September/October. Clean-up days are on the same day as residents' regular garbage service. LDD can now conduct the clean-ups using a special crew and two trucks dedicated to clean-up activities. The trucks pass through each route twice; first to collect wood waste for recycling, then to collect items to take to the landfill. Drivers cover each of the three routes in one week, so each clean-up spans a three-week period. However, since trucks remain in the general area, missed pick-ups are easily addressed. Also, the drivers are permanently assigned to this Division, which makes them more accountable. Staff anticipated that residents would experience some confusion with the schedule change. To address this concern, the City required LDD to send route-specific postcards to residents approximately three weeks before each of the three clean-ups, outlining the scheduled dates and the requirements for participation. The company also sent press releases outlining the new schedule to the local newspapers. Evaluation of weekday schedule: The attached letter outlines LDD's evaluation of the weekday schedule. According to the company, they . received a total of 18 complaints of missed pick-ups for the three clean-ups. This compares with 27 complaints of missed pick-ups that were received in 1997. The number of complaints is quite small compared to the fact that the company was servicing approximately 5900 accounts three times during the one-year period. LDD also stated that they received compliments about the new schedule. From a management standpoint, the weekday schedule is much easier for them to accommodate. The company requests that the weekday schedule be continued. From City Staff perspective, the first clean-up resulted in some confusion. Even though LDD sent out the postcards, some residents were unsure of their assigned date. A news article also contained inaccurate information, which added to the confusion. LDD responded quickly to complaints, and placed first priority on assuring that collection service was provided. Since the first clean-up, staffhave received very few complaints by telephone from residents regarding the clean-ups . ~) -- -~ 'II . , Tonnage Comparisons: As shown below, total tOlmage collected is lower for 1998. Whether this is due to residents not being aware of the date of the pick-up is difficult to determine. It could also be due to increased efforts aimed at reuse and recycling. For example, more non~.rofit groups are picking up reusable items door-to-door. In addition, LDD site manager Annette Holck reports that it appears that unregulated scavengers may pick . up reusable items that are placed out for the clean up, before the LDD drivers arrive. Tonnages collected for 1997 and 1998 are outlined in the table below. 1997 1998 1997 Recyclable 1997 1998 Recyclable 1998 Waste Wood TOTAL Waste Wood TOTAL Collected Collected TONS Collected Collected TONS March / April 350 Not Offered 350 226 58 284 June / July 294 Not Offered 294 221 81 302 September / October 303 Not Offered 303 172 39 211 TOTAL 947 0 947 619 178 797 Prior to the pilot program, LDD staff had estimated that Dublin would recycle 95 tons of wood waste for the year with the new schedule. Actual results were approximately 178 tons for the year. As more people become aware of this new feature, staff anticipates that this amount will increase. Even though publicizing the dates presents a challenge, customer complaints regarding the pick-up service have been .reduced, and 178 tons of wood waste have been diverted from the waste stream. This program will help as Dublin strives to reach a 50% diversion rate by the year 2000. Proposed Schedule: Staff recommends continuing with the 1998 method, provided: 1. LDD continues to send route-specific reminder post cards to residents approximately three weeks prior to each scheduled clean-up. 2. LDD will implement additional publicity methods, such as a can hanger one week prior to the clean- up, as a reminder of the clean-up date. LDD has scheduled tentative weekday dates for 1999: March 15-Apri12 June 14-July 2 September 13-0ctober 1 Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve a weekday schedule for the special clean-ups, and that staff continue to monitor the effectiveness of efforts by LDD to announce the program dates. . /J __ ~_ -J . . . . ~-;-:, ~ A waR Ec9E"i'fEon, ocr 2 ;': 1998 '. err'( l.Jr- UUIjUI\J October 16, 1998 Sue Barnes City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza Dublin, California 94568 Dear Sue: I am pleased to write you this letter regarding this years clean-up program that Livermore Dublin Disposal performed in 1998 for the City of Dublin. As we proposed, the 1998 clean-ups were held three times this year, in March, June and September. The clean-up days were held the same day as residents' regular garbage service. Postcards were sent prior to each pick-up informing the residents of the change and their specific pick-up dates. This program included the recycling of wood to increase the di version for the community of Dublin. By recycl,ing wood in this program, I; estimated the tonnage to be at 95 tons for the year. I am happy to say the City of Dublin recycled 177.57 tons of wood through this new improved clean-up program. With regard to customer complaints for all three cleanups, we received 18 missed pickups, 6 complaints for wood and garbage mixed together, customer unable to bundle wood and driver did not pick up all the garbage. We also received compliments regarding the cleanup stating they like the same day pickup as the garbage and they appreciated the great job by the crew. I also received feedback from residents in Dublin who appreciated the postcards with the information regarding their specific pickup day and stated that the City of Dublin looked more organized with clean-ups on a route day basis. Livermore Dublin Disposal is pleased to report very good results regarding the tonnage recycled and the very low customer complaints for this new improved cleanup program. Exhibit 1 . Page 2 October 16. 1998 ..r.-:' . ~. We would like to offer this program again to the city of Dublin and continue to divert recyclables from the mainstream in 1999. Please consider this cleanup for 1999 to achieve the 50% diversion rate by the year 2000. Please advise if you have any questions or concerns regarding the cleanup program. Thank you for allowing Livermore Dublin Disposal the opportunity to provide an efficient, positive clean-up and recycling program for the community of Dublin. s~ Annette Holck District Manager .. . . .