Agenda Packets - 2015/08/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 • Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC March 2014 In January 2014, the MRC group distributed a draft position paper in response to the City’s call for comments on the draft goals and strategies for the Plan. The position paper recommends the City establish goals to: ♦ Increase recycling and decrease trash disposal by setting new numeric recycling goals for the city that exceed existing rates by a minimum of 25% within 5 years ♦ Implement organized collection for trash, recycling and food waste/organics ♦ Improve recycling at parks and public events ♦ Improve duration and promotion of recycling through increased City staff and collaboration with Hennepin County ♦ Improve recycling by businesses ♦ Continue the Citywide Curbside Cleanup program, but with improved opportunities to promote reuse and recycling 4.3 Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission The Consultant attended the City’s monthly meeting of the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission (PARC) on November 13, 2013. A PARC Commissioner recommended the City establish overall numeric goals such as: ♦ Within 5 years, parks and public events should have sufficient recycling to realize at least a 75% reduction of materials going into the waste stream. ♦ Within 20 years there should be zero waste within parks. It was noted that the City’s Maintenance Division staff have begun to evaluate opportunities for additional recycling opportunities in parks. City staff has identified the need for uniform public- space recycling containers throughout Bloomington. Education of the public will be needed to achieve the goals. Trash containers in the parks and on trails are currently serviced under a City contract with a single hauler. PARC Commissioners and staff expressed that: ♦ Recycling and food waste/organics composting collection services should be added into the City’s parks waste collection contract. Where appropriate, additional recycling containers should be added. These new recycling containers should be readily accessible by parks users and have instructions that are easy for the public to understand. ♦ Recycling containers should be added at all different types of parks including, but not limited to, ball diamonds, neighborhood parks, school playgrounds, and park shelters. ♦ Frequent waste audits should be required by the City’s solid waste contractor. These audits should be a primary means to continue to measure the effectiveness and growth of recycling at City parks. Individuals and community organizations are able to rent City park and recreation facilities. The PARC Commission noted there are opportunities to amend the applications for facility rental to require applicants to implement recycling and food waste/organics collections. These