Recycling Ad Hoc Committee

June 22, 2021 1 PM Recycling Committee Meeting in- person City Hall room 100 and Zoom) Declaration of A Quorum and Call Meeting to Order at 1: 01 PM Roll Call; William Schuster, Dorthy Trevino, Susan Syler, Cody Wright, Joanie Steinhaus, David Fortenberry and Scott Van Slyke Consider for Approval Minutes of the June 8, 2021 Meeting Attached Documents: Minutes June 8, 2021 Draft outline; comments due back to Joanie by July 7th noon. History- Dr. Cole Issues: Committee- formed to consider market trends in Recycling ( Loss of Chinese market for plastics) best practices and streamlining e ciency in anticipation of new recycling center. 500, 00 a year in fees from water customers plus budget from Waste. At time committee was formed recycling center had vendors with no final disposition reports, 20% contamination rates ( material going to landfill at higher transport rates than transfer station) Question of e ectiveness and e ciency of Taxpayers funding Measurement tool- Cody Measurement tool ( develop) to track how the center is functioning, efficiency, budget, less waste to landfill, final disposition, citizen input. This tool would be used to draft report and explain the worth of the recycling center. Recommendation to Council: Ensure city recycling staff reports to the city council 2- 3 times per year on the status of the center; efficiency, market trends and best practices The City Councils directs the city manager on any changes or recommendations to the recycle program Vendors provide final disposition reports so users have confidence in a ort. Center is reducing waste going to landfill and providing a service Extensive education outreach needed - reaching more citizens and also Commercial- businesses. Coordinate education with waste reduction. Sta develop a measurement tool to track how the center is functioning within shifting markets as well as recycling in Galveston- how much is being recycled, diverted from landfill, etc. Future curb- side recycling for community ( third party vendors, pop- up)  Look at rates for different size trash cans ( add sizes and costs) Create an email opt- in for residents to receive distribution of email blasts on recycling events and recycling updates ( water bills, Next Door, Facebook and other social media sites) Overall community commitment working toward a zero-waste community add papers, references) Develop and encourage commercial recycling The City Council desires to establish an ad hoc committee in order to consider the City' s role in an Island- Wide Recycling Program, to include market trends, best practices, and streamlining and efficiency 1. How to effectively create an environment where residents and visitors have citywide access to recycling a. Pop- up events stationed on east and west side of the island b. Ease at the recycle center; signs, organization, beautification of center c. City staff pick up of recycling materials at schools and residents over 65 or disable d. Financial reality of cost of city- wide curb- side pick up e. Additional recycling stations on the beach f. Partner with other organizations on the island that offer additional ways to recycle materials ( paint, ???) g. A list of locations where information is available on city website h. Reduction of waste to the transfer center 2. How does the City effectively market and advertise its recycling facility? a. Creation of tri- fold to be distributed in water bill, at short term rentals, hotels and other locations on the island b. Videos posted on city website and other city social media sites explaining components of the recycle center c. Email blast to residents, d. Presentations to HOAs, Clubs, Next Door and other venues on the island e. Engage other non- profits with similar missions to promote recycling f. Recycle committee members add their voice to promote recycling 3. What can the City do to make the facility more user friendly? a. Ease of recycling at the recycle center; signs, organization b. Beautification of center c. Upgraded efficiency at the center; staff guidance d. Scott and recycle staff working at the center; highlight staff member on a monthly basis e. Community members tour the recycle center f. Outreach to schools and tours of the center for local students 4. Understanding the facility will operate 5- 6 days a week during daylight hours, are some days and times better Included in report;  A. Information from city staff member on: Susan 1. Update on city- wide plan for access to recycling- covered by Scott 2. Benchmarks- Cody a. What needs to go in Scott' s report b. Tonnage, waste- diversion, c. budget B. Additional items to cover in report; 1. Why are people not recycling? Access to reach the center Awareness of center Time constraints No financial incentive or penalty C. Longterm goals: a. Track put or pay- transfer station. Contracts with waste ( BFI) cost per ton and minimum to meet with city contract. City still pays even if the amount of waste is reduced. b. Biggest amount comes from yard waste- compost 1. Galveston Island Tree Conservancy- speak with Priscilla Files- use leaves for mulch on city- wide projects and parks and mulching 2. How to dispose of palm fronds- use to build dunes ( check with GLO) 3. Educate residents to Leave grass cuttings on lawns- 4. " Keeping n' Green" recycling is planning on offering customers a compost pickup c. Recycled materials? Potential City ordinance or resolution to eliminate Styrofoam in businesses d. Construction waste? e. Continue city- wide clean ups once per year bring materials to the recycle center April) f. Continue Shred Days; 3- 4 per year ( June and November) g. Include volunteers; community service workers h. Island is not perceived as an eco- destination by visitors i. Work for zero waste city- wide goal Next steps/ goals for committee discussion Request Agenda Items for Future Meetings Meeting ended at 2: 29 PM QlJa' elle Williams, City Secretary o Approved: July 13, 2021 Recycling AdHocCommittee FinalReporttotheCityCouncil CityofGalveston 24August 2021 To: TheHonorable Mayor Craig Brown andMembers oftheGalveston CityCouncil DearSirsandMadams, Galveston Island isacoastal community withnatural features thatinclude thebeaches, dunes, bays, theGulfandwildlife. The islanddraws millions ofvisitors every year, supporting our economy andcreating awide varietyof trash andrecyclable materials. Ourcommittee wascharged withaddressing howtoeffectively create anenvironment where residents andvisitors have citywide access torecycling, including aneducation campaign to drastically improve ourrecycling habitsinto thefuture. There arenumerous reasons whyrecycling isgood forourcommunity andtheyinclude; conserving ournatural resources, reducing theneedtoharvest newraw materials, reducingthe amount ofwaste inourlandfills, saving energy andwater, lowingpollution andallowing products tobeusedtotheirfullest extent. Working withcitystaff, welearnedtheamount ofmaterial thatisdiverted from thetransfer station when recycling isdone properly andthefinaldisposition ofthematerial brought tothe recycle center. ThisAdHoc Committee invites youtoreview ourgeneral recommendations tothecity regarding thecreation ofanisland- wide Recycling Program, market trends, bestpractices, and streamlining andefficiency. Thank youfortheprivilege toserve, Recycling AdHocCommittee members, Dr.Jackie Cole David Fortenberry Joanie Steinhaus, Chair Susan Syler Dorothy Trevino Cody Wright CityCouncil Representative; William Schuster  Table ofContents Page Committee Report Recycling committee history 1 General Recommendations toCouncil Adhoccommittee charge andrecommendations 2 Createanenvironment where residents andvisitors havecitywide access torecycling Generate aneffective marketing andadvertising oftherecycle center Ensure thefacility isuserfriendly Hours oftherecycling center 3 Additional considerations andlong-term goals 3 Addendums PowerPoint presentation byScottVan Slyketothecitycouncil andadhocrecycle committee onimprovements totherecycling center. (Jan. 28,2021) PowerPoint presentation byScott VanSlyke totheadhocrecycle committee onthe cityrecycling education campaign andbenchmarks for2021-2022. (originally presented onJune8,2021 andupdated August 2021) Monthly trend dataonrecycling tobeincluded incitymanager’sreport References onzero-waste communities Committee Report Recycling Committee History Committee wasformed byCouncil toreport ontheeffectiveness oftheRecycling Center in anticipation ofanew recycling center. Recycling bestpractices were changing duetomarket forces including thelossoftheChinese market forplastics. There wasalso adesire ofresidents toknow thefinaldisposition oftheproducts forcost andeffortefficiencies. Additional concerns ofthecommunity about therecycling center were contamination rates causing diversion tolandfill ofrecycled materials andcertainty offinaldisposition ofrecycled materials leading toquestions about effectiveness andefficiency oftaxpayer funding. General Recommendationto Council: CityCouncil requests andresponds (ifnecessary) tostatus reports created fourtimes peryearontherecycling center; efficiency, market trends andbestpractices. thecenter isfunctioning withinshifting markets aswellasrecycling in Galveston. Continue todevelop anextensive education program toreachmorecitizens andcommercial-businesses onexisting opportunities torecycle anda coordinated education program including recycling andtotaltrash reduction. Periodically explore curb-siderecycling (CityofGalveston orthird-party vendors) andcontinue opportunities foroff-sitelocations for “pop-up” recycling twice permonth ontheeastandwestendoftheisland. Consider re-establishing thesanitation department’sprograms tocharge rates based onsizeoftrash receptacles. Create anemail opt-inforresidents toreceive distribution ofemail blasts on recycling events andrecycling updates; information could beavailable on water bills, Next Door, Facebook andother social media sites. Develop anoverall community commitment working towards zero-waste references atendofpaper) Explore developing aprogram toencourage local business/commercial recycling (non-residential) Page1  Charge toadhoccommittee: TheCityCouncil desires toestablish anadhoccommittee in order toconsider theCity' sroleinanIsland- Wide Recycling Program, toinclude market trends, bestpractices, andstreamlining andefficiency asperthecitycouncil resolution; Sincetheadhoccommittee wasformed, citystaffhasbegun todevelop andimplement many ofthecommittee’srecommendations. ( seeitems with *) 1.How toeffectively create anenvironment where residents andvisitors have citywide access torecycling a.HostPop-upevents stationed oneastandwestsideoftheisland* b.Improve easeattherecycle center; signs, organization, beautification ofcenter* c.Citystafftopickupofrecycling materials atschools andresidents over65or disable* d.Examine financial reality ofthecostofcity-widecurb-sidepick-upforrecyclables e.WorkwiththeGalveston ParkBoard toaddadditional recycling stations onthe beach f. Partner withother organizations/businesses ontheislandthatoffer additional ways torecycle materials (paint, construction materials, tires, inkcartridges) g.Determine additional methods todistribute information toresidents, businesses and visitors andmaintain acurrent website, social media, email blasts etc. where information onrecycling andtrash reduction isavailable* 2.HowdoestheCityeffectively market and advertise itsrecycling facility? a.Creation oftri-foldtobedistributed inwater bill,atshort termrentals, hotels and other locations ontheisland* b.Videos posted oncitywebsite andother citysocialmedia sitesexplaining components oftheRecycle Center bycitycommunication departments* c.Regular email blasttoresidents coordinated withcitycommunication department* d.Presentations toHOAs, clubs, andother venues ontheisland e.Engaging other non-profits withsimilar missions topromote recycling f. Targeted messaging toGalveston social media groups bycommunication and community outreach departments g.Commitment ofrecycle committee members toaddtheirvoice topromote recycling 3.What cantheCitydotomake thefacility more userfriendly? a.Easeofrecycling attherecycle center; signs, organization, citystaffassistance and safetyofstaffandpatrons* b.Beautification ofcenter* c.Upgraded efficiency atthecenter; staffguidance* d.Recycling Coordinator andrecycle staffworking atthecenter; highlight staff members onamonthly basis, suchasemployee ofthemonth* e.Potential tours forcommunity members oftherecycle center f. Outreach toschools andtours ofthecenter forlocalstudents* g.Street signage directing residents andvisitors totherecycle center* Page2  4.Understanding thefacility willoperate 5-6 daysaweek during daylight hours, are some daysandtimes better a.Committee feelsdays/times ofoperation forthecenter arebestdecided bythe historic usage ofthecenters. Staff istracking trends ontimes anddayscenter is utilized andincluding thisinthemonthly report. b.Committee recommends thecenter remains open atleastonedayontheweekend Additional considerations; A.Why arepeople notrecycling? Access toreach thecenter Awareness ofcenter Time constraints Lack offinancial incentive orpenalty Apathy torecycling B.Longterm goals: Continue track putorpay- transfer station. Asthecitymoves toazero-waste community determine ifcontract withwaste management company should bere-evaluated inregards tominimum tonnage required. Review andexplore potential programs toaddress large amounts ofyard waste going tothetransfer station. (Composting, dunes restoration) Address non-recycled material. Potential City ordinance orresolution to eliminate Styrofoam inisland businesses. Explore city-wideoptions toreduce construction sitewaste. Continue city-wide event encouraging residents tobring materials tothe recycle center (currently inApril) Continue Shred Days; 3-4 peryear (currently JuneandNovember) Develop avolunteer andorcommunity service programs toassist citystaff withrecycling events. Improve Galveston Island’sperception asaneco-destination Include aclause inthecontracts forrecycling ofaluminum, plastic andglass whenapplicable forallcitysanctioned events. Work toward being azero-waste city. Zero Waste istheconservation ofall resources bymeans ofresponsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery ofproducts, packaging, andmaterials without burningand withno discharges toland, water, orairthatthreaten theenvironment orhuman health. Page3  C.Addendums 1.PowerPoint presentation byScottVan Slyketothecitycouncil andadhocrecycle committee onimprovements totherecycling center. (Jan. 28,2021) Attached asaPDF 2.PowerPoint presentation byScott VanSlyke totheadhocrecycle committee onthe cityrecycling education campaign andbenchmarks for2021-2022. (originally presented onJune8,2021 andupdated August 2021) Attached asaPDF 3.Monthly trend datafromcityrecycling center. Committee members believe the report should beincluded inthecitymanager’smonthly report. 4.References onzero-waste communities References; Zero Waste Communities Admin. (2019, March 26). 10cities thatare making zerowaste areality for asustainable future. Retrieved September 1,2021, fromhttps://sensanetworks.com/blog/10-cities-that-are- making-zero-waste-a-reality-for-a-sustainable-future/. EcoCycle Solutions Hub. (n.d.).Austin, Texas, USA. Retrieved September 1,2021, from https://www.ecocyclesolutionshub. org/location/austin-texas/. EcoCycle Solutions Hub. (n.d.).Dallas, Texas, USA. Retrieved September 1,2021, from https://www.ecocyclesolutionshub. org/location/dallas-texas/. EcoCycle Solutions Hub.(n.d.).Universal recycling: SanAntonio, Texas, USA.Retrieved September 1,2021, from https://www.ecocyclesolutionshub. org/location/universal- recycling-san-antonio-texas-usa/. Page4