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POLICY H3 1/28/04 ITEM: Consideration of Solid Waste Goals SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Jones, Planning and Zoning Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Heather Worthington, City Administrator EXPLANATION: Summary: The Solid Waste Commission has been engaged for over a year in the discussion of various aspects of solid waste collection in Falcon Heights, including the possibility of instituting organized refuse collection, as permitted by Minnesota Statute 115A.94. ^ In 2002, the reactivated Solid Waste Commission adopted the following mission: The Solid Waste Commission of the City of Falcon Heights is formed to o develop a more efficient, more economical and more environmentally sound solid waste disposal system, and o build a waste management education plan for all age groups, starting with our youngest citizens. ^ Commissioners discussed concerns about the costs, both direct and indirect, of our present waste disposal systems. Having recently paid assessments for street and alley work, they were concerned about the impact of all the garbage trucks driving weekly through the city. They were also concerned about long-term impacts of landfills and shipping refuse out of state. ^ In the City-wide Survey of December 2002, 74% of the respondents indicated they would be willing to have the City negotiate a contract with a single hauler if it would guarantee lower prices and high quality service. Cost and environmental impact were cited as the top two issues related to solid waste. ^ The Commission studied how organized collection has been implemented in other cities (along with their research on recycling and other related issues). They compared average trash hauling fees in Ramsey County cities and found that those with city-contracted haulers generally had lower rates for consumers. ^ In March, 2003, after much discussion and thought and with informal support from the Council, the Commission concluded that it should work on the possibility of organized collection in Falcon Heights. ^ Between March and June, the Commission studied the state statute and the experience of other cities and planned the process. ^ As a preliminary step to initiating the organized collection process, the Commission decided to draft a set of goals to be used as criteria in the statutory 180-day planning and discussion process. A final draft was approved in December, 2003. 31