BOASingleStream_Aug2010 — File 189938

Mayor Joe Curtatone, City of Somerville David Lutes, Office of Sustainability & Environment Proposed Single Stream Recycling Pilot August 25, 2010

Outline of Presentation 1. Current Recycling Program – Design and Data 2. Single Stream Recycling – Definition and Results from Other Communities 3. Proposed Single Stream Pilot 4. Questions

3. Current Recycling Program • “Dual Stream” requires bottles and cans to be separated from paper and cardboard • Bottles and cans are collected from blue recycling bins • Paper must be put out on the curb in a paper bag • Cardboard must be flattened, cut and tied into 2’x2’ bundles and also placed on the curb

4. Current Recycling Program • Bins, bags and bundles lead to messy streets and sidewalks • Many households do not have blue bins and put recyclables in trash

5. Current Trash & Recycling Tonnages • Solid Waste tonnages have been declining since 2006 • Recycling tonnages have remained level SW & Recycling Tonnages, Since Jul06 - 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 Ju l- 06 Oct -0 6 Ja n- 07 Apr -0 7 Jul -0 7 Oc t- 07 Jan-08 Apr -08 Ju l- 08 Oc t- 08 Ja n- 09 Apr -0 9 Jul -0 9 Oct -0 9 Jan-10 Apr -1 0 SW Recyc

6. Current Recycling Rate • The city’s overall recycling rate has leveled off over the past two years at 14.5% Citywide Recycling Rate, Jul06 - Jun10 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0% 18.0% Jul -0 6 Oc t- 06 Jan- 07 Apr -0 7 Jul -0 7 Oc t- 07 Jan- 08 Ap r-0 8 Jul -0 8 Oc t- 08 Jan- 09 Ap r-0 9 Jul -0 9 Oc t- 09 Jan- 10 Apr -1 0

7. Single Stream Recycling “Single Stream” recycling allows residents to place all recyclable materials into one container, rather than having to sort plastics and metal separately from paper and cardboard (dual-stream)

8. Single Stream Benefits • Simplifies recycling for residents • Increased recycling aligns with citywide environmental goal • Cleaner streets and sidewalks • Covered bins reduces stray materials • Reduced trash collection costs

9. Single Stream Recycling in Other MA Communities Currently Single Stream: Arlington Ashland Barnstable Billerica Bourne Boston Boxborough Burlington Dedham Dighton Duxbury Fitchburg Framingham Gardner Holden Leominster Lunenburg Mansfield Mendon Nahant Natick Newton Norwood Quincy, Weymouth and Braintree Sharon Southbridge Springfield Tewksbury Tyngsboro Wrentham Planning Single Stream: Brookline Cambridge (rolling out citywide in Sep2010) Haverhill (pilot underway) Worcester (pilot underway)

10. Single Stream Results in Other Communities Single Stream Recycling Results from Other Cities City Type of Recycling Increase in Recycling Tonnage Boston 65-gal toter provided, semi-automated 35-88% Springfield 65-gal toter provided, fully automated 50-100% Hartford 65-gal toter provided, semi-automated 99% Revere 65-gal toter provided, semi-automated 167% (pilot) Newton 65-gal toter provided, fully automated 13% Baltimore 42-gal. barrels provided by City 53% Braintree-Quincy-Weymouth Stickers on barrels, barrels not provided 12% • Somerville can expect a significant increase in its recycling rate with Single Stream

11. Why Start with a Single Stream Pilot in Somerville? n Proposed Single Stream pilot in one neighborhood will allow the City to: q Use pilot data to: n project impact on citywide recycling rate n project long-term costs/savings due to increased recycling q Assess utilization of carts by different household types q Determine optimal route size with new carts and semi- automated lifts q Assess communication and outreach needs for potential citywide rollout

12. Proposed Single Stream Pilot Area n Proposed pilot area is one of Wednesday’s truck routes - includes 1,317 households n Represents average route for recycling citywide n Will track recycling tonnage before and during pilot Parcel Use Desc # of Resident ial Units / Parcel Total Parcels Total Res Units Single Family 1 247 247 Two Family 2 281 562 Three Family 3 116 348 Four Family 4 19 76 Five Family 5 6 30 Six Family 6 9 54 Total 678 1,317 Single Stream Pilot Area Parcels

13. Proposed Single Stream Pilot Timeline • Proposed pilot launch date of Wednesday, Oct. 6th Single Stream Pilot Schedule Task/Item 5 19 26 3 10 17 7 28 5 19 2 30 6 13 20 27 4 11 18 1 8 15 6 13 27 Toter bid advertised Print materials finalized Toter bid opening Toter contract awarded First mailing (incl. flyer) Single Stream Pilot webpage Distribute door hangers Community Meeting #1 Info video for cable wheel Community Meeting #2 Press release Toters delivered to pilot area HHs Connect CTY Call to pilot area PILOT LAUNCH (Wed., Oct. 6th) Pilot data analysis Pilot area survey (postcard/mailing) Decision on citywide Single Stream Projected: Completed: Apr May Jun Aug Dec Sep Jul Oct Nov

14. Single Stream Recycling Carts • Cascade was low bidder at $38.40 per cart • Price includes delivery to each pilot area household • Plan to distribute one cart per household unit • Cost of 1,500 carts for pilot: $57,600 Cascade 64-gal. cart

15. Distribution of Recycling Carts • Distribution to take place 1 week before pilot launch • Cascade delivers carts to DPW yard • Carts are assembled and delivered by Cascade to each property, 1 cart per household unit • City staff to accompany Cascade during deliveries to answer residents’ questions • Door-to-door follow-up on deliveries after work hours to answer questions and ensure proper number of carts delivered • Carts are left with informational flyer with City staff contact info • Residents can continue to use blue bins

16. Single Stream Outreach • Multiple points of communication: • Letters to residents from Mayor and Alderman • Press releases • Flyers • Door hangers and door knockers • Targeted CTY calls

17. Single Stream Outreach, Continued • Multiple points of communication: • Minimum of two community meetings • Single Stream project manager • Recycling webpage with FAQs • Videos on cable channel • Thursday night door-to-door surveys • Targeted senior house visits/COA

18. Pilot Evaluation • Track comments & concerns each week to 311 and Mayor’s Office • Track weekly recycling data • Survey pilot area residents during pilot to measure satisfaction with program • Analyze pilot data and develop citywide recycling program recommendations • Present results and recommendations to BOA and residents

19. Discussion QUESTIONS?