2013-02-26_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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advised that staff had worked with the current vendor and Somali and Karen populations for joint outreach projects with schools and their programs as well as city programs. Chair Vanderwall opined that education was a vital growth market, since outreach was vitally important in attempts to continue increasing participation and collections. Chair Vanderwall noted some current items that could be collected, but were not due to lack of information/knowledge (e.g. rag stock); with Mr. Pratt advising that staff fielded calls at specific times or seasons for those rag stock (e.g. back-to-school shopping in the fall, downsizing, and from estates). Environment Discussion included the four (4) current, city-sponsored events encouraging zero waste efforts and Mr. Pratt's coordination of volunteers for those events; zero waste experience of other haulers whether local or from a broader area, with Mr. Pratt providing several examples of those efforts of which he was aware; coordination efforts of haulers relative to Earth Day activities in the community; and experience of staff over the last six (6) years in knowing what to expect of vendors. Further discussion included how to encourage faith communities and community organizations interested in zero waste events, and if a vendor would be open to assisting those private organizations, whether non-religious or otherwise; and how to define how and if the City should or could be involved in those efforts for encouraging involvement while retaining separation, perhaps by helping to spread the word about such options. Mr. Pratt noted the public interest for a food waste reduction workshop held at the most recent Home and Garden Fair. Additional discussion included further opportunities at city-sponsored events (e.g. Rose Parade, Walk/Run); encouraging other organizations to participate in recycling efforts, not just for the benefit of the community, but for the more global community and sustainability efforts, possibly through provision of a packet of educational/instructional materials. Discussion ensued regarding "fossil fuels," with the consensus of members being that more concentration and concern for a vendor's carbon footprint versus the type of fuel type should be weighted; concern that vendors may interpret that as providing fewer pick-ups to reduce their carbon footprint; and suggestion by Member DeBenedet that this only be one specification in setting value ratings for vendor selection, as a benefit, but not necessarily essential. Other potential environmental weights included local vendors versus those servicing a larger geographical area; how far materials were being shipped; Page 6 of 10