06-12-17-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – MAY 15, 2017 4 C. SIMPLE RECYCLING Senior Planner Bachler stated that as part of the 2017 work plan for the SCORE Recycling Grant that the City received from Ramsey County, the City is required to explore textile recycling options. The City’s current recycling provider does not pick up textiles. Staff met with Simple Recycling, a for-profit company that specializes in curbside collection of textiles and other housewares, and are expanding in Minnesota. Director of Regional Municipal Partnerships, Waste Zero, Paul Gardner provided background information on Simple Recycling. The service is free and year round, and textiles and home goods would be picked up the same day as regular recycling. A postcard would be sent to the residents, and an envelope with special plastic bags for placing the items. Simply Recycling picks up the materials using a transit van, weighs them and sends a report to the City and County. The City would receive a penny a pound for the material, or $20 a ton. Most haulers are neutral or supportive and don’t want clothing in their recycling by mistake. The national average shows eighty five percent of our clothing still goes in the garbage, despite people donating to charity. The average collection is 10 pounds per household. The program does requires a 4-5 year contract. Mayor Grant asked if pick up was necessary every week. Mr. Gardner replied that the company has made a strategic choice to run the entire route on every recycling day. If pick up was only once a month, people tend to forget and numbers go down. The business model of the resident calling an organization for pick up is expensive compared to driving the entire route each recycling day. Councilmember Holmes commented that she feels Arden Hills residents would donate nicer usable items to charity and use this service for less desirable clothing items. Mr. Gardner noted that Simple Recycling’s philosophy is to put the material to the highest and best use. They have a grading facility where they determine what could be sold in a thrift store and what could be sold to international markets. Some material has no resale value and is repurposed into insulation, mattress padding etc. Councilmember Dave McClung wondered how much a program like this is capturing of the percent that is going into the landfill. Mr. Gardner stated that if this increased the percentage in the Metro area by one or two percent that would be substantial. Over the last four years, three million pounds have been collected in the states they are operating in. He noted that for every bag that is picked up, Simple Recycling will leave two. Templates are available for newsletters, handouts, and websites for educational purposes. Mayor Grant, at the approval of the Council, instructed Staff to move forward with the necessary meetings and contract details.