2017-04-25_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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At this time, Mr. Springman advised that the county's recycling contractor provided BPI certified compostable bags in two different sizes for residents' use. Mr. Springman reviewed other acceptable compost bags, with all collected and managed separately from leaves and grass at compost sites by placing them in designated containers at each site and then hauled to a commercial SSO composting collection site. At the request of Member Seigler, Mr. Springman estimated the annual budget for this Ramsey County service to residents was approximately $42,000, less than the original budget estimate of $50,000. With yard waste efficiencies, and hauling bid costs currently also down, Mr. Springman advised that those cost savings could carry over into organics allowing room for expansion. Mr. Springman reported that he largest cost of the program were obviously in providing bags and hauling. Upon recent switching of vendors, Mr. Springman reported that the county had seen an approximate $30,000 reduction for yard waste costs, now handled by their vendor, Waste Management, at all fifty-four Ramsey County sites; with the firm interested in remaining the county's contractor, thus offering a very low rate. Mr. Springman reported that Waste Management had added organics collection in April of 2017 with the material hauled to the Specialized Environmental Technologies (SET) composting facility in Rosemount. Mr. Springman advised that the Waste Management contract expired at the end of 2018, with an option to renew to year- end 2020. At the request of Chair Cihacek, Mr. Springman confirmed that the county buys organic compost bags off the State of Minnesota contract and had done so since 2014. After the initial roll-out in 2014, Mr. Springman reported on additional options for the program, including seeking the County Commissioners' approval to add an additional six locations. Mr. Springman reported that elements of consideration for each location included collaboration with partner organizations (e.g. municipalities in Ramsey County); Ramsey County's seeking and obtaining necessary permits at their expense; the county's provision of up to $5,000 toward construction costs; with the county also providing signage, collection containers and hauling services. Mr. Springman advised that Ramsey County would provide compostable bags and promote the service with any and all collection sites available to any resident in Ramsey County. Mr. Springman advised that the county had toolkits available for city use in their communication sources as well to promote the service. As far as collection site criteria, Mr. Springman noted that the preference was for siting them on publicly -owned land; their location in under -served areas of the county; easy/visable access to the site; secure sites with the ability to accommodate traffic and parking, preferably on a hard surface; and screening of the site. Page 5 of 11