HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7682 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7682
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February 2, 1993
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
*C * Subject: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
reps COLLECTION DAY
BACKGROUND:
By the pure definition of a hazardous material, there are many products within every home in Fort
Worth which may be detrimental to human health and the environment if handled or disposed of
improperly. Common hazardous products found within the home include:
- pesticides - herbicides - insecticides - auto batteries - paint
- paint thinner - used motor oil - antifreeze -household cleaners - oven cleaners
- pool chemicals - furniture polish - brake fluid - drain cleaners - solvents
If these products are used in a responsible manner according to the manufacturer's directions, the
environmental impact is limited. However. when these products serve their useful purpose and are
no longer needed, they become household hazardous waste (H3W).
Disposal of these products is a major problem once they become H3W. Environmental regulations
prohibit H3W products from going into the City's landfill. However, because there is no other
acceptable method of disposal available to residents. much H3W does find its Way into the landfill
during the normal solid waste collection process. If people do not put the products in their garbage,
they either pour the materials down the drain into the sanitary sewer, dump them into the street
or storm drain inlets. burn the products. or collect them in the garage. Obviously, each of these
options pose a potential environmental and/or health risk.
PROPOSED COLLECTION DAY:
Many cities facing increasingly stricter solid waste and water quality regulations have started taking
•proactive approach to H3W disposal. The Department of Environmental Management has issued
•Request For Proposals (RFP) for a contractor to conduct a one-time, H3W collection event. The
event would take place over the course of one weekend, and would be staged at a central location
with adequate vehicular access. To the extent possible.participation in the event will be limited to
Fort Worth residents only. and only household type quantities of products will be accepted.
As proposed in the RFP, the selected contractor would be responsible for the collection,
categorization, packaging. transportation, recycling and disposal of H3W in accordance with all
federal. state, and local environmental regulation.
The actual cost of this H3W collection event will be determined by the amount of materials
collected,but the staff estimates that the cost will range somewhere between$100.000--$200.000.
Revenue generated from the $.50 environmental fee may be utilized to cover most if not all of this
cost.
Once RFP responses have been received and reviewed,staff will present the City Council with a more
detailed program proposal, including identified funding sources, for Council consideration.
4es Jeft=Submitted
pTT �1 ► RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
Bob Terrell T�v
City Manager ��T. WORTH, iLA.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS