Title
Solid Waste Contained Collections Citywide Reroute Update
Description
This report provides an update to the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee on efforts to reroute Citywide residential solid waste contained collections.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION
Report
Summary
On June 1, 2022, Public Works staff provided information to the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee on the City's efforts to reroute residential solid waste contained collections. The last assessment and adjustment to the City's refuse and recycle collection services was in 2009 and resulted in updated service boundaries and additional trucks and staff to account for customer growth. Due to an influx of approximately 27,000 single-family residences over the past 10 years, a reroute was necessary to ensure equitable workloads for operators, optimization of current resources, and consistent collection services for more than 418,000 fee-paying customers. The Citywide reroute allows the Public Works Department to avoid purchase of supplemental trucks for the next two years as the current fleet of trucks is adequate in size to support the more efficient routes. Additional staffing resources were added to support these routes. It also creates service boundaries closer to established service regions. New boundaries will result in a broader range of service coverage to better serve customers.
Solid waste contained collections service changes were effective Oct. 3, 2022. The service changes impacted approximately 80 percent of fee-paying customers. The Citywide reroute of contained collections does not impact the City's current quarterly bulk trash collection program.
Public Outreach
A Citywide communication plan for these service changes was offered in English and Spanish to all fee-paying customers. All fee-paying customers received a mailed post card notification of their scheduled day of collection. Public Works staff individually contacted residents with non-standard collection service. Other communication efforts included notifications in the September City services bill, an interactive tool on the Public Works website, advertising through downtown electronic billboards, a media event with staff television interviews, various newsletters, and social media posts.
The Public Works Department anticipates customers will need time to adjust to service changes and is prepared to collect any missed collections resulting from day-of-collection changes. Additionally, customers will be educated on designated placement times to ensure missed collections are not repeated.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Public Works Department.