HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7861 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7861
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 1994
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On November 17, 1992 (M&C C-13619), the City Council authorized the City Manager
to execute a contract with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(TNRCC) to accept a $503,889 grant under the State's CLEAN CITIES 2000 Program.
The purpose of this grant was to allow Fort Worth to initiate several waste minimization
pilot projects to be used as models and/or sources of information for other cities around
the State.
City staff developed a detailed proposal and submitted it to the State for its approval.
Upon receiving TNRCC approval, the Solid Waste Management Division began
implementation of the projects. All of the projects outlined in the grant proposal were
successfully implemented. The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with
information on the results of those projects.
PILOT PROJECT FOR SEPARATE YARD WASTE COLLECTION/CENTRALIZED
COMPOSTING:
The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Division implemented a separate
grass/leaves collection pilot, Four neighborhoods, 4,756 homes, were selected to
participate in the pilot. The pilot ran from July 12, 1993 until July 2, 1994. The
purpose of the pilot was to gain experience and information on alternative methods
of implementing such a-program, and to gauge public acceptance.- One thousand
four hundred thirty-six tons of grass and leaves were collected and kept out of the
landfill during the project. This material was taken to the Rolling Hills Service
Center where the Parks Department combined it with brush for composting. The
Parks Department developed approximately 8,000 cubic yards of compost. On four
Saturdays SWM staff went into the four neighborhoods And returned finished
compost to residents who wanted it. The Parks Department used much of the
compost in parks and avoided considerable soil amendment costs. The tub grinder
purchased with the grant funds is still being used to shred/compost brush taken
from City parklands. The information and experience gained from this pilot will be
valuable as the City develops its solid waste master plan and yard waste strategies.
BACKYARD COMPOST DEMONSTRATION PROJECT:
The SWM_ Division conducted a backyard compost demonstration project as a new
component of its total waste minimization program. A half-day seminar was
conducted to teach people the benefits of backyard composting. The featured
speaker was Howard Garrett, a local organic gardening expert and author of several
books on organic gardening. The seminar was conducted at the Fort Worth Botanic
Garden Auditorium with a standing room only crowd of 352 Fort Worth residents.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Now 7861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 1994
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Page 2 of 5
TFXPy Subject: CLEAN CITIES 2000 PROJECTS
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Two hundred and ten compost bins and manuals were purchased for the program.
A random drawing was conducted among the 352 participants, and 210 received
free bins and copies of "The Organic Manual" for use during the project.' Vendors
had booths at the seminar demonstrating compost related products. The City, with
the help of Mr. Garrett, produced a video that very simply illustrates how to
compost at home. The video is shown on public access channels and at
neighborhood meetings. The purpose of the seminar was to promote backyard
composting as an alternate method of handling yard waste,
MASTER COMPOSTER TRAINING PROGRAM:
The Solid Waste Management Division sponsored a Master Composter Training
Program and 20 registered participants met one evening per week for seven weeks.
The program required a minimum of 18 hours of classroom and 50 hours of
community service work. The course included hands-on experience, lectures by
guest speakers, a review of selected books, articles, and films, and an overview of
the latest composting tools and techniques. To experience a large scale composting
operation, the class toured Silver Creek Materials, a 20-acre composting facility
located just west of Fort Worth.
The purpose of this seminar was to further emphasize composting. as--a,method
of waste reduction. Students who completed 18 hours of classroom, training, were
offered several projects to fulfill the community service requirement. Projects
included: promoting composting in middle schools and high schools, organizing
compost demonstrations at"adopt-a-spots"; conducting tours atXeriscape Gardens
where composting is in operation; assisting the City with its compost operations and
distribution of finished compost to citizens; and serving as a resource speaker to
disseminate information to community groups.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS PAPER/CARDBOARD RECYCLING PROJECT:
On January 1, 1994, the SWM Division initiated paper recycling at 14 municipal
facilities. Using grant funding, 1,600 deskside recycling containers were purchased
for employees to gather the paper. The City has a contract with a private company
that collects the paper on a weekly basis. The contractor does not charge the City
for collection or transporting the paper, but instead actually pays the City for the
material. The City has recycled 341,000 pounds of paper during the first nine
months of the program. The City received $4,700 in revenue, avoided $1,200 in
disposal costs, and conserved valuable landfill space.
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 1994
Page 3 of 5
�reXP`'` Subject: CLEAN CITIES 2000 PROJECTS
PROMOTION OF CURBSIDE RECYCLING IN LOW PARTICIPATION AREAS:
Education and promotion are important components of Fort Worth's curbside
recycling program. The City and WMI have collaborated on an extensive
education and promotion campaign spending in excess of $250,000 promoting
curbside recycling in Fort Worth. This effort includes the use of electronic and print
media and outdoor advertising. Videos were developed and used as educational
tools in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as at neighborhood meetings.
Utilizing grant funding -the City purchased billboard space in specific neighborhoods
with low participation rates. Also, the City developed a brochure in Spanish and
English to complement billboard advertising. To increase recognition of the
curbside recycling program, 30,000 brochures were printed with graphics similar to
the billboard graphics. Brochures were distributed in Fort Worth schools to reach
non-English speaking parents of school-age children. City staff members have
worked with teachers as part of an educational effort to increase participation in the
curbside recycling program as well in other waste reduction efforts. Teachers,
parents, and students have responded very favorably to the English/Spanish
program. The amount of solid waste collected at the curb has decreased by 10%.
The staff considers education/promotion the key ingredient to the success of its
recycling program and.intends to-continue its efforts in this area.
DEVELOPMENT OF WASTE AUDIT MANUAL:
The City, in cooperation with the Tarrant County Corporate Recycling Council
(TCCRC), developed a Waste Audit Manual to further inform the private sector of
the ease of workplace recycling. The manual was designed to increase the
awareness of corporate management, provide a planning tool, and simplify the
application of new solid waste management programs. Thirteen hundred manuals
were distributed to Tarrant County businesses.
SOLID WASTE VARIABLE RATE STUDY:
To further encourage waste reduction in Fort Worth, City staff worked with
consultants to explore the feasibility of a variable rate pricing structure for solid waste
management services. The consultants recommended against implementing a
variable rate structure at this time because of numerous restrictions included in
existing collection/recycling contracts. However, they indicated that a variable rate
structure could offer some advantages and that further study be done before letting
new recycling, collection and disposal contracts in October of 1997. This issue will
be considered as part of the City's overall solid waste master plan.
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.— 7861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 1994
Page 4 of 5
Subject: CLEAN CITIES 2000 PROJECTS
PROMOTION OF THE "DON'T BAG IT" CONCEPT:
Fort Worth implemented the nation's first "Don't Bag It" program in 1989 in
conjunction with the Tarrant County Agriculture Extension Service. Fort Worth's
"Don't Bag It" program was used as a model throughout Texas. Last year
approximately 2,000 homeowners participated in the program resulting in the
diversion of approximately 3,600 tons of grass from the landfill.
With financial assistance from the grant, the SWM Division promoted the "Don't Bag
Itil concept to the private sector. New motivational and technical information
provided by the Texas Agriculture Extension Service was printed on 5,000, four-fold
"Don't Bag It" brochures. These brochures were distributed at community meetings
and to lawn care providers. Fifty-six of the largest lawn care service providers in Fort
Worth were encouraged to utilize the "Don't Bag It" concept. Many lawn care service
providers have used this idea to save labor, money, and time.
DEVELOPMENT OF A BROCHURE OUTLINING LOCATIONS FOR THE PROPER
DISPOSAL OF OIL, FILTERS, BATTERIES, etc.
The cities of Fort Worth and Arlington collaborated on the development of -a
brochure for Tarrant County citizens providing information on the proper disposal of
used oil and used oil filters. The brochure entitled "Where to Recycle Used Oil,
Filters, and Batteries" lists retail outlets accepting these items free or for a minimum
charge. Brochures are distributed to interested citizens and neighborhood groups.
The SWM Division has also coordinated with managers of auto parts stores to
distribute the brochures to their customers at check-out counters.
RECYCLING COORDINATOR POSITION:
The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission provided funding that allowed
Fort Worth to hire its first Recycling Coordinator. The Recycling, Coordinator
works within the Solid Waste Management Division and has provided considerable
assistance in implementing the projects outlined above. The Recycling Coordinator
has become an integral part of the overall solid waste management team, promoting
recycling and other waste minimization efforts. State funding for this position
expires in February of 1995, however, because of the importance of this position to
our overall waste reduction efforts, the SWM Division has included funding in its
base budget to continue the position.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7861
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 1994
#-eB�
Page 5 of 5
Subject: CLEAN CITIES 2000 PROJECTS
OTHER RECYCLING EFFORTS (Not Grant Fund0l:
The Department and its staff are involved in numerous other recycling initiatives such
- Brush Shredding
- Christmas Tree Mulching
- Corporate Can Crush
- illegally Dumped Tires
- Fleet Maintenance Products
* used motor oil
* used oil filters
* antifreeze
* kerosene/naphtha
* scrap metal
* used City fleet tires
* batteries
- Buying, and Promoting the Buying of Recycled Products
This report summarizes the status of the CLEAN CITIES 2000 projects. Additional
information can be provided upon request.
-19�B TERMELL
CITY MANAGER
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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