GREEN WASTE VOLUNTEER TASK FORCE

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GREEN WASTE VOLUNTEER TASK FORCE

• October 2007

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Background

• Measure A, 1977
• Result of opposition to containerizing and
  sending to landfill
• Codified right to dump
• Required vote to change
• Measure F, 1988
• Proposal to mix green waste with garbage
• Very few other cities dump green waste

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What others do collection frequency, container
size and color
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Current green waste practices

• Pick up methods
• Loose in the street pick up
• Containerized
• Voluntary (includes supplemental loose pick
  ups)
• Mandatory
• Disposal by contractors
• Uses compost and landfill layering
• City receives landfill diversion credit
• Volume90,000 tons/year

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Impacts of on-street dumping

• Higher costs
• Costs of Claw/extra crew
• Clearing storm drains
• Screen cleaning and pump damage
• Cleaning up illegal dumping
• More street cleaning needed
• Water quality
• Possible increased pesticide/fertilizer run-off
• Organic materialstate stormwater requirements

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Impacts of on-street dumping

• Localized flooding
• Illegal dumping
• Air quality
• Emissions from the Diesel-powered Claw
• More mow and blow
• Aesthetics
• Piles, scattering, incomplete pick-up

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Impacts of on-street dumping

• More garbage and larger waste stream
• Some green waste mixed with garbage
• Less incentive to follow ecologically sensitive
  practices
• Pavement/pavement marking damage
• Hazard to bicyclists and pedestrians
• Parking and traffic nuisance

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Impacts of on-street dumping

• Mosquito population/disease
• Storm drains designed to hold water
• Reduces effectiveness of larvacide
• Increases mosquito reproduction and threat of
  West Nile virus
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Enforcement difficult volume and placement

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Can the Trash! Coalition

• Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails
• Davis Bike Club
• Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
• League of Women Voters Sacramento County
• North Natomas Transportation Management
  Association
• Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
• Sacramento Bike Hikers
• Sacramento City/County Bicycle Advisory Committee
• Sacramento Earth Day Network
• Sacramento Transportation Management Association
• Sacramento Urban Creeks Council
• Sacramento Wheelmen
• Save the American River Association
• Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter Sacramento Group
• United Anglers of California
• WALKSacramento

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Green Waste Volunteer Task Force

• Sue Brown, District Director, Councilmember Cohn
• Pat Clark, District Director, Councilmember
  Waters
• Jon Coupal, city of Sacramento resident
• Tony DeRiggi, city representative to SWAAC
• Terry Kastanis, former city councilmember
• Freya Marriott, Executive Assistant,
  Councilmember Fong
• Anne Rudin, former city mayor
• Walt Seifert, Executive Director, Sacramento Area
  Bicycle Advocates

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Objections to containers

• Cant hold volume of leaves/trimmings
• Lack of storage space for third container
• Concerns about convenience
• Easy to dump in street
• Perceived difficulty moving/loading

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Convenience of containerization

• Easy to wheel to street (city will move
  containers for disabled)
• Large capacity
• Neat
• Less interference with parking

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Guiding principles

• Reduce the waste stream
• Be cost-effective
• Create value for residents
• Emphasize benefits and sustainability

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Task Force Recommendations

• Recommendation categories
• Containers
• Program
• Ballot measure
• Related

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RecommendationsContainers

• Size
• Add smaller 64 gallon option
• Number
• Offer one additional free container
• Color
• Green waste green
• Recycling blue
• Garbage black, brown, gray or other color

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RecommendationsContainers

• Visibility
• Paint, tape, reflector, imprint
• Distinctiveness and clarity
• Text
• Symbol
• Design
• Less space
• Functions like lawn cart

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RecommendationsProgram

• Frequency
• Continue once a week pick up
• No opting out
• Flexibility
• Include all costs in loose-in-the-street rate

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RecommendationsBallot measure

• June 2008
• Education effortthe facts

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Related recommendations

• Continuing education
• Set out containers only when full
• Do not contaminate
• Reduce watering
• Consider plant selection and location
• Promote grasscycling, mulching and composting
• Offer free compost
• Accelerate voluntary containerization