[Archived] Question #13: Can you provide detail as to the line-item cost and benefit of the proposed WasteSmart initiatives included in the proposed budget?

Question:

Can you provide detail as to the line-item cost and benefit of the proposed WasteSmart initiatives included in the proposed budget, and the initiatives that would be funded with the additional $10.67 increase in the Residential Refuse Fee contemplated in the “City Manager’s Alternative Option List?” (Mayor Wilson)

Response:

The FY 2020 proposed budget includes cost increases for recycling programs but does not fund the identified initiatives in the WasteSmart plan. Those initiatives, which total approximately $200,000, are included in the additional $10.67 increase which can be found on the City Manager’s Alternative Option List. If this initiative were selected by City Council, it would increase the Solid Waste fee from the proposed $406 to $417.  Here is a breakdown of the specific initiatives, their estimated cost, and their anticipated benefits:

• Operating costs for glass drop off facilities ($40,000 annually)
  • This service would cover the operations and disposal costs for the implementation of four glass recycling drop-off facilities across the City. Source separation of glass will ensure its beneficial reuse through a partnership with Fairfax and Arlington Counties. Glass collected will be transferred to a Fairfax facility where it will be cleaned, crushed, and reused as select backfill, pipe bedding material, and sand. There are strong environmental benefits since much of our glass currently ends up in the landfill after the recycling sorting process. This program is a pilot for a larger scaled implementation which could include drop-off partnerships with local businesses (grocery stores, breweries, etc.)
• Education/ Outreach Improvements ($120,000 scalable) includes:
  • Regional recycle right campaign
    • Participation in partnership with regional partners allows the City’s investment to go farther. The goal is a decrease in contamination of the recycling stream which will result in cost reduction for recycling processing.
  • Improved print materials and website (with multi-language translation)
    • The goal is to reach more residents with details on what material is recyclable and what is not.
  • Online/app-based sorting tool
    • The goal is to simplify the sorting process and reduce contamination.
• Reduce and Reuse Programming ($10,000)
  • A scalable pilot program called ‘Share-A-Bag’ designed to reduce single-use disposable plastic bags and encourage use of reusable tote bags. Plastic bags are one of the top contaminants in the recycling bin and this program would also serve as an education and outreach opportunity.
  • Online reuse directory of local vendors that provide repair, donate, and consign (second-hand reuse shop) services. The goal is to reduce overall waste in both trash and recycling streams.
• Mandatory yard waste separation/plastic bag ban for yard waste - analysis, recommendation, and implementation ($30,000)
  • This work would analyze, recommend and implement a yard waste ban from refuse and require that all yard waste be separated and collected as such. This would also prohibit yard waste from being disposed of in plastic bags. This would have significant environmental impacts as an increase in yard waste collection would improve beneficial reuse as mulch and compost.

Question:

The City last adjusted Solid Waste Hauler permit fees in FY 2011. What revenue is included in the proposed budget associated with these fees? What authority does the City have to increase these fees to: 1) offset costs of WasteSmart initiatives 2) offset costs currently funded by the Residential Refuse Fund? What would be the financial impact of such increase scenarios?

Response:

The City Hauler fee is associated with the Commercial Refuse program which remains in the General Fund in FY 2020 - only the residential portion of the refuse program was moved to the other special revenue fund.  Therefore, increasing the Hauler fees cannot offset the costs of WasteSmart initiatives because they exist in separate funds.

In FY 2011 the City raised the commercial hauler fee from $150 to $300 for large trucks. While this increase initially resulted in increased revenue for the City, staff has found that over the last two years revenue has decreased. The fee is significantly higher than our closest comparator jurisdiction, Arlington County who charges $150.

The assumption regarding the decrease in revenue is that some of the haulers have reduced the number of trucks operating in the City, and that some are circumventing the fee by paying it to Arlington instead of Alexandria. The current enforcement point is at the Covanta facility where the trucks cross the scale. If a Hauler is collecting trash in the City of Alexandria, they are required to obtain an Alexandria Hauler sticker for their vehicle. Having an Arlington sticker is essentially the same at Covanta as an Alexandria one, as the facility is managed under joint agreement with both jurisdictions.

Staff is meeting internally to develop an increase in enforcement and collection plan to increase the revenue. Staff does not recommend an increase to this fee at this time based on the difficulty in enforcement throughout the City, and the lower fee in neighboring jurisdictions. A higher fee could result in lower utilization of Alexandria permits and lower revenues.

The following table outlines the current drop in Hauler fee revenues.

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