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FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -'1- June 23, 2004 Interim resort from the Solid Waste Commission on organized collection (continued) • The RRF is most efficient when it has a guaranteed stream of waste, which can only be achieved on our end by organized collection. • In terms of reducing the need to consume primary energy resources, such as oil and natural gas, RRFs are much more effective. • Modern landfills are equipped to deal with waste from a resource recovery facility in a safe way. Incineration produces energy and greatly reduces the volume of waste that eventually goes to landfills. • There are concerns about the production of dioxins and other pollution from burning. Haulers presented educational material about modern landfills in an effort to show that incineration (via the Newport Resource Recovery Facility) is not necessarily a better option, environmentally. (Reference: May 12 hauler meeting and packet of printed materials submitted by Mr. Doug Carnival) Commissioners have arranged to visit the Elk River Landfill in late June. • All landfills in Minnesota and surrounding states comply with strict federal standards that are supposed to keep pollution from seeping into soil and groundwater for at least 20 years. The technology is not old enough to evaluate its effectiveness over a longer term. . • Commissioners concede that waste management technology has improved since our "father's dump" days. This has largely come about through legislated and legal precedents. However, Commissioners are interested in meeting more than minimum standards especially when it comes to our children and grandchildren's future. "We do not want to leave a `mess' for them to clean up." • Modern landfills also produce energy from the burning of methane gas. Options for Achieving the Goals The major goals that cannot be met through the present open system are • Reducing the number and size of trucks on our streets and alleys. • Controlling such factors as fuel efficiency and load type for trucks. • Controlling the destination of our residential trash. (see below) It has been suggested that the City can accomplish these goals through licensing. According to the City Attorney, the City's ability to achieve any of the goals through licensing is limited (Reference: City Attorney Roger Knutson). Licensing could control the following: • Number of hauler licenses available in the City Licensing could not be used to control the following • Where the trash goes • Weight and configuration of trucks (e.g. center-loading vs. rear-loading) • Fuel efficiency of trucks • Limiting truck traffic to streets and alleys ONLY where the haulers have customers • Controlling the truck miles traveled to collect our trash • Controlling the emissions of the trucks used l~