DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: David Newman
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Recycling Update
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the current state of recycling and how it will affect future recycling contracts, as well as current recycling goals and potential program changes.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2010, the City Council adopted the Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan (the Plan) proposed by the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD). The Plan consisted of three goals to increase recycling and make recycling more accessible to all residents.
The goals of the Plan are:
1. Ensure all single-family and multi-family residents have access to convenient recycling;
2. Improve recycling opportunities for businesses; and
3. Recycle 60% of the single-family residential waste stream by 2025.
Goal 1 was achieved in 2010 by City Council adopting the Multi-Family Recycling Ordinance, requiring all multi-family residences to offer equal and accessible recycling for residents. Goal 2 was achieved with the launch of the ReWorksSA program in February 2018. ReWorksSA certifies businesses for their recycling and sustainability activities and provides tools to assist businesses in starting recycling programs.
Goal 3 is ongoing, with a current residential recycling rate of 36%. The Plan included four primary strategies to improve residential recycling rates: expanding education and outreach opportunities, revamping curbside brush & bulky collections, implementing an organics recycling program, and adopting a variable rate pricing (pay as you throw) structure. For the last two years, the recycling rate has stalled at about 36%. Several factors affect the recycling market, including changes to the recycling industry and changes to commodities and commodity sales.
The SWMD currently has a contract for recycling processing with Republic Services (formerly ReCommunity). This contract is favorable to SWMD and is scheduled to ...
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