SAB minutes: August 2008
City of Lawrence
Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)
August 13, 2008 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Chris Cobb, Paul Dietz, Dickie Heckler, Sarah Hill-Nelson, Matt Lehrman, Daniel Poull, Laura Routh, Simran Sethi, Brian Sifton
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Cindy Strecker |
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STAFF PRESENT: |
Tammy Bennett, Kathy Richardson
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GUESTS PRESENT: |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
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Call Meeting to Order (Daniel Poull, Chairperson)
Take Roll Call to Determine Quorum of Members
Approval of meeting Minutes
Motion and second to approve the July 9, 2008 minutes (Heckler/Routh).
Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
Discuss Presentation of Recycling Survey to City
Board members received the latest version of the Recycling/Pay as You Throw memo which Laura Routh emailed out yesterday. There was discussion about including a stronger recommendation of waste reduction through focused outreach and education. There were also discussions on the timing of this memo/presentation to the City Commission, the economics of the recommendations, and the possibility of focusing only on Pay as You Throw. In addition, Board members summarized the roundtable meeting discussions for SAB members who were absent at that meeting.
Tammy Bennett commented that it would benefit the Board to define what the goal is. SAB discussed and agreed to define their goal as 50 by 15 (50% recycling rate by 2015).
Action: Laura Routh will re-write the Recycling/Pay as You Throw memo to include: waste reduction as a priority, a clear definition of the goal, a highlight of the recycling survey results and SAB's recommendations to the City Commission. This memo will serve as a supporting document for SAB's presentation to the City Commission.
Action: Brian Sifton will draft and deliver the presentation for the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 16th. Brian will e-mail a draft of the presentation to all Board members by September 1st.
Motion and second to approve the edited Recycling/Pay as You Throw memo and City Commission presentation via e-mail (Sethi/Lehrman).
Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
Lawrence Electronic Recycling Event
Kathy Richardson reported that the Lawrence Electronic Recycling Event will be on Saturday, September 13th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The new location for this event is the Free State High School parking lot. Electronic recycling will be provided by Asset LifeCycle.
Paul Dietz and Brian Sifton signed up to volunteer at this event. Brian will also ask KU Environs members if they would like to volunteer.
Discuss Upcoming Goals Setting Session
All SAB members agreed to fill out the following questions prior to the Goals Setting Session:
Survey Questions:
Why did you want to join the SAB Board?
What do you hope Lawrence will be like in 10 years?
What is your worst fear for the future?
What should the main strategic goals be for this board?
What values do we share?
What can we accomplish in the next 12 to 24 months?
What is your personal definition of sustainability and how do you feel sustainability should be addressed by the SAB?
Action: SAB members will answer survey questions and submit electronically to Kathy Richardson by September 1st. Kathy will e-mail survey answers to SAB prior to the Goals Setting Session.
SAB members also agreed to invite Stakeholders to submit comments on sustainability to the Board prior to the Goals Setting Session on September 10th via sab@ci.lawrence.ks.us.
Action: Simran Sethi will draft the e-mail inviting Stakeholders to comment on sustainability. Kathy Richardson will send out the email and will keep track of all comments as they come in. Kathy will email Stakeholder comments to SAB prior to the Goals Setting Session.
Action: Kathy Richardson will draft the Press Release to invite Stakeholder comments on sustainability. The City's Communication Office will send out the Press Release.
Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair
Minutes from the Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair team meetings have been e-mailed to SAB per SAB's request. Kathy Richardson reported that staff updated the event information on the City's website, created a new online registration form for exhibitors and sponsors, finalized the event logo which Pilgrim Page designed, and updated the contacts on the Energy Fair database. Staff is working on finalizing the Save the Date postcards.
It was suggested that there be a keynote speaker the week prior to the Energy Fair. Keynote speakers suggestions were Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson, Nancy Jackson from the Climate and Energy Project, and/or Bob Berkebile. SAB asked if there was a budget for speakers. Kathy informed SAB that advertising and any event expenses are paid by exhibitor fees and sponsorship dollars. Kathy tried contacting the local Wal-Mart store manager regarding sponsorship levels. The store manager said he would need to check with the home office. Kathy also reported that she contacted Cathy Lewis from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce regarding sponsorship levels. Sarah Hill-Nelson said she would follow up with the Chamber of Commerce.
Peak Oil Presentation
Daniel Poull reported that the Peak Oil Presentation to the City Commission went well. One of the presenters commented that Peak Oil is not an environmental issue it's an economic issue. Daniel announced that the Mayor requested to schedule a meeting (TBA) to continue the discussion of Peak Oil with SAB members, the Lawrence Sustainability Action Network and the City Manager. Daniel is committed to attend the meeting but requested that others from SAB attend. Paul Dietz, Chris Cobb, Brian Sifton, Matt Lehrman and Simran Sethi all volunteered to attend this meeting.
Action on the "T"
What happened to The T memo which Paul Dietz drafted on behalf of the Board? SAB discussed the missed opportunity to have a voice on The T issue. The final memo was not sent to the City Commission. SAB debated whether they should submit a new memo to the City Commission. SAB recognized that they need to be better at following through with action items from meetings and at responding quickly to timely issues. This is something that the board will discuss at the Goals Setting Session. A suggestion discussed for future meetings is to spend the first ten minutes talking about the hot topics or "emergency" topics.
2007 Annual Recycling Report and Waste Reduction & Recycling Report
SAB received a copy of the 2007 Annual Recycling Report (attached). Kathy Richardson emailed the WRR Report to SAB last night (attached).
Climate Protection Task Force Update
Simran Sethi reported that the Climate Protection Task Force (CPTF) has established timelines/deadlines. CPTF will present the proposed plan to the City Commissioners in March 2009. The document will be approximately 10 pages long. Each workgroup will submit two pages for their topic area and there will be introduction and conclusion page.
Guest comments and miscellaneous
Daniel Poull reported that he received a call from a Lawrence Journal World reporter who informed him that there is now a new Green Section on LJWorld.com.
Laura Routh announced that the TIF-TDD is on the City Commission Agenda.
Meeting adjourned 7:50 p.m.
Next meeting: October 8, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Attachments:
- 2007 Annual Recycling Report
- Waste Reduction and Recycling Division report
Waste Reduction and Recycling Division Report for the Sustainability Advisory Board (8/13/08)
Fibers Report
Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)
Cardboard Tons Revenue
Current YTD 720.40 $91,272.24
Prior YTD 591.92 $66,928.87
Avg. Price/ton thru July 2008: $126.70 Avg. Price/ton thru July 2007: $113.07
Old Newspapers (ONP)
Newspaper Tons Revenue
Current YTD 399.35 $52,089.36
Prior YTD 540.25 $54,141.28
Avg. Price/ton thru July 2008: $130.44 Avg. Price/ton thru July 2007: $94.66
Office Waste Paper (SOP)
Sorted Office Paper Tons Revenue
Current YTD 16.80 $3,631.30
Prior YTD 17.31 $2,875.51
Avg. Price/ton thru July 2008: $216.15 Avg. Price/ton thru July 2007: 166.12
Mixed Waste Paper (MIX)
Tons Revenue
Current YTD 109.66 $9,998.35
Prior YTD 5.17 $378.04
Avg. Price/ton thru July 2008: $91.18 Avg. Price/ton thru July 2007: $73.12
TOTAL ytd tons Revenue
1246.20 $156,991.25
Prior YTD 1155.27 $121,364.32
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program Report
Compost Program
The Fall Compost Giveaway has been set for September 25th, 26th, and 27th (Thursday - Saturday). Staff submitted an article regarding the Compost Giveaway for the September City newsletter, The Flame, which is mailed out with the City's Utility Bill.
Yard Trimmings collection: Year to date
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2007 TOTAL |
Jan 2008 |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July
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2008 TOTAL |
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Total Tons collected curbside |
9,902.61 |
NA |
NA |
1,035.71 |
1,575.54 |
1,375.76 |
1,491.3 |
695.7 |
6,174.01 |
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Commercial YW received |
449.2 |
0.8 |
0.7
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122.1
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121.1
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150.2 |
130.0
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54.3
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579.2 |
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Other YW received (Christmas Trees) |
29.38
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20.46
(1716 trees) |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
20.46 |
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Total tons this month |
10,381.19 |
21.26 |
0.7 |
1,157.81 |
1,696.64 |
1,525.96 |
1,621.3 |
750.0 |
6,773.67 |
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Average Preferred Container Compliance |
99% |
NA |
NA |
97.6% |
99% |
99.4% |
99.4% |
99.6% |
99% |
City of Lawrence
2007 Recycling Annual Report
In mid-2007, the City's Solid Waste Division placed two mixed paper recycling bins out in the community. This new service diverted 50 tons of material from the landfill.
Solid Waste Division
Waste Reduction and Recycling
ANNUAL RECYCLING REPORT FOR 2007
This report summarizes the materials, quantities, associated revenue, and avoided landfill costs derived from diverting recycled materials from the landfill for 2007. Numeric quantities of materials diverted for recycling by the City of Lawrence Solid Waste Division and other recycling entities are in the attached tables.
TOTAL WASTE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILL BY THE CITY AND PRIVATE SECTORS
In 2007, more than 30,314 tons of materials were recycled through City and private sector efforts in Lawrence representing a 35 percent recycling rate, which is believed to be the highest in Kansas and is higher than the national average (last listed by EPA as 32 percent).
A total of 15,567 tons of grass clippings, leaves and brushy wood waste, Christmas trees, white goods and metals, newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper and office waste paper was recycled through City programs in 2007 for a savings in landfill costs of $298,108.05. Revenue from the sale of recycled materials was $228,022.18. The private sector recycling efforts which diverted 14,747 tons of materials from disposal saved the City an additional $282,405.05 in landfill costs.
The total waste landfilled by the city in 2007 decreased four percent (2,658 tons) from 2006.
In 2007, the City's Solid Waste Division collected an estimated 72,538 tons of municipal solid waste. Of this total, 15,567 tons of material was recycled by the City and 56,971 tons were landfilled. An additional estimated 14,747 tons of material were recycled by the private sector, primarily through the Wal-Mart Community Recycling Center (2,846 tons), University of Kansas (552 tons), 12th & Haskell Bargain Center (499 tons), Lonnie's Recycling (119 tons), other private recycling collectors (831 tons), and in-house recycling by large retail, industrial and warehouse facilities (9,000 tons). Also included in the recycling rate is an estimated 900 tons due to backyard composting and grasscycling.
(Note: The Solid Waste Division also landfilled an estimated 15,732 tons of construction/demolition and industrial process waste in 2007. Those wastestreams are not included in municipal solid waste data.)
TABLE 1 presents Lawrence's historical recycling rate and the tons of waste disposed and recycled per person from 1991 through 2007.
TABLE 2 shows the types and amounts of materials collected by all recycling providers within the city.
TABLE 3 summarizes the 2007 results for the city-operated recycling programs.
TABLE 4 gives a historical comparison of the city-operated recycling programs from 1997 to the present.
MATERIALS RECOVERED THROUGH CITY PROGRAMS
grass clippings, leaves and brush
The City of Lawrence's Solid Waste Division provides separate citywide collection services for grass clippings, leaves and brush from Lawrence residences on Mondays from approximately March until mid-December. Brush is also collected through the Forestry Division's Saturday drop-off collection and from city right-of-way tree trimmings. These materials are processed at the City's composting facility. In 2007, 13,437 tons of grass clippings, leaves and brush were collected and composted resulting in a savings of $257,318.55 in avoided disposal costs.
Beginning in 2005, by Ordinance, only cans, carts and compostable kraft paper bags could be used for yard trimmings for curbside collection. Plastic bags were no longer allowed for the containerization of yard waste. This policy for yard waste containers: (a) increased collection efficiency by reducing collection time; (b) improved worker safety by eliminating the need to cut open plastic bags with box cutters; and (c) yielded higher quality compost by reducing plastic contamination.
Compliance with the yard waste container policy has been fantastic in 2007 and is currently above 99 percent of homes which set out yard waste.
NEWSPAPERS
Eleven city-sponsored drop boxes for newspaper recycling are located throughout Lawrence. In 2007, 865 tons were collected and recycled. Diverting these materials from the landfill resulted in savings of $16,564.75 in avoided disposal costs. The sales of old newspapers provided revenue of $86,887.42.
Corrugated CARDBOARD
The City's Solid Waste Division serves over 550 Lawrence businesses with cardboard recycling services in addition to providing seven public drop boxes for corrugated cardboard. In 2007, 1,061 tons of materials were collected for recycling resulting in revenue of $126,872.90 and an avoided disposal cost of $20,318.15.
Office Paper
Office waste paper is collected from approximately 140 businesses and schools. This program diverted 33 tons of paper from the landfill in 2007. Revenue derived from the sale of the paper was $5,532.94 and avoided landfill costs were $631.95.
MIXED PAPER
A mixed paper collection program was started in mid-2007 with two drop-off sites co-located with newspaper and cardboard drop-off boxes (four additional sites will be added in 2008). This new program recovered 50 tons of mixed paper resulting in an avoided disposal savings of $957.50. Revenues from the sale of the material was $4,329.82.
Christmas Trees
Following Christmas, three collection days were scheduled whereby the Solid Waste Division crews collected Christmas trees curbside for recycling from Lawrence residents. Thirty (30) tons were collected, processed and used as erosion control and wildlife habitat enhancement at the closed landfill north of Riverfront Park. Diverting Christmas trees from the landfill provided $574.50 in avoided disposal costs.
White Goods & Metals
Bulky item pickup for appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers is provided by appointment by the City's Solid Waste Division to Lawrence residents. Metal appliances and other collected metals are sold to local metal salvage yards. In 2007, ninety-one (91) tons were recovered and sold for revenue of $4,399.10 and provided an avoided disposal cost of $1,742.65.
Used Motor Oil
A total of 5,611 gallons of used oil was collected at the City's Maintenance Garage in 2007 of which 4,250 gallons were recycled through oil recyclers. One thousand, three hundred and sixty-one (1,361) gallons were burned for heat at the garage. Recycling the 4,250 gallons of used oil generated revenue of $1,253.00 in 2007.
Tires
A total of 2,616 tires were collected for proper disposal by the City's Solid Waste Division in 2007. The Solid Waste Division provides Lawrence residents free pickup for up to five passenger tires per year, per household. Tires were collected by TireTown for shredding and monofill in Leavenworth County at the cost of $ 3,681.00.
Freon
Three hundred and ninety-five (395) refrigerators and other freon-containing units were collected for recycling by the City's Solid Waste Division in 2007. Eighty-two (82) pounds of Freon were captured by trained Solid Waste Division maintenance personnel with EPA-approved equipment. The
Freon was sent for reclamation to approved facilities. Federal regulations require Freon to be removed from appliances prior to salvaging. By moving this responsibility in-house, the city has greater regulatory control of the extraction process and saves money.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
Over 185,997 pounds (93 tons) of hazardous waste generated by Douglas County households and small businesses were diverted from the Hamm regional landfill in 2007. Three thousand, one hundred and eighteen (3,118) households used the program which included scheduled drop off appointments, homebound pickups, and abandoned and orphan waste collection services.
In 2007, the Small Quantity Generator program provided technical assistance and environmentally-preferred disposal options for hazardous waste to 92 small businesses and schools.
