Title
Household Hazardous Waste Pilot Review and Outcome
Description
Request approval to issue a Request for Proposals to provide Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) home collection services and to recommend City Council approval to update Phoenix City Code Chapter 27 to establish the at-home HHW Collection Service Program.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The City offers a program for recycling and proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste with the goals of protecting human health and the environment, preventing operational hazards, and increasing diversion of hazardous materials from the City's landfill.
Since 1988, the City has offered hazardous waste services through monthly public events, where residents were required to drive to a pre-determined City park location where they could have their items collected and properly disposed of. Due to the pandemic, staff made adjustments to the program to allow for continued service, and also researched how other cities in Arizona provide hazardous waste collection services. On Dec. 2, 2020, the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee approved staff's recommendation to implement a six-month program pilot from January through June 2021 to determine if home collection would be a more convenient and customer friendly service delivery model for residents.
Between January and June, staff scheduled 4,064 collections, and collected 3,845, a 95 percent collection success rate. Public Works also sent out a survey to all customers who participated in the pilot. Below is an overview of the feedback received:
- 2,219 surveys completed (58 percent response rate);
- Overall satisfaction with pilot: 4.8 out of 5, with 5 being very satisfied;
- 45 percent of participants were new hazardous waste customers;
- 91 percent of participants prefer home pick-up over event and drop-off collection;
- Approximately 50 percent of participants would anticipate using this service one time per year; and
- The two most common ways participants heard about the program pilot were through the newsletter insert in the City Services Bill and the City's website.
Based on customer satisfaction and survey feedback, the amount of items collected, and the cost per household served, staff determined that permanently offering hazardous waste service in a home collection format is in the best interest of the City and its customers. Public Works is seeking to issue a Request for Proposal for this service. Once implemented, this service will be offered to customers one time per calendar year, per household. Alternatively, drop-off services will remain an option at the City's transfer stations for batteries, paints, tires, and other household hazardous waste accepted in the City's program. In addition to these program changes, staff will seek City Council approval to update Chapter 27 of the Phoenix City Code to reflect the new program design and further delineate obligations of the City and its customers as it relates to hazardous waste collection service.
Contract Term
The City Council approved a six-month term from July 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021 with an option to extend the agreement an additional six months through June 30, 2022.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee recommended City Council approval of the Home Pick-Up Household Hazardous Waste Collection Service - Pilot Program, Requirements Contract on Dec. 2, 2020, by a vote of 4-0.
The City Council approved the Home Pick-Up Household Hazardous Waste Collection Service - Pilot Program, Requirements Contract on Dec. 16, 2020.
The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee received an informational update on the pilot program on April 7, 2021.
The City Council approved the continuation of the Home Pick-Up Household Hazardous Waste Collection Service - Pilot Program, Requirements Contract on June 2, 2021.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Public Works Department.