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STAFF REPORT To: Mayor and City Council Report No.: City Manager From: Kiera Moore -Sykes, Assistant City Manager Date: October 9, 2007 Subject: Single -Sort Recycling Ordinance Background: In September 2006, the City Council adopted an ordinance allowing single -sort recycling in St. Anthony for twelve (12) month as a pilot program. The City Council wanted to see how well the community accepted this change in collecting recyclables, if this method was efficient in its collection of recyclables and effective in ;maintaining or increasing recycling efforts within the community. Because a number of metro -area communities had implemented this method of collecting recycling, the City Council asked as part of this pilot program for staff to investigate many of the claims before approving a permanent single -sort recycling program. Council wanted staff to review tonnage amounts collected and compare those amounts collected by the dual -sort collection method, a method traditionally used by the City; provide the residents information about single -sort recycling, get feedback from the residents using single -sort recycling; and flush out issues that need to be addressed in a single -sort recycling ordinance. Review and Compare Tonnage Amounts.. 2007 (thru August): Single -Sort Recycling Collection method: 470.8 tons of recyclables 2005 (thru August) Dual -Sort Recycling Collection method: 479.8 tons of recyclables The tonnages from 2005 were used because one of the haulers had begun using single -sort recycling method in 2006, prior to Council's temporary approval of single -sort collection. According to the above comparison, the amounts collected by they two methods are roughly comparable at the same point in the year. Educate and inform the Residents about Single Sort Regycling. Staff and representatives from Allied Waste, Walter's and Waste Management advised the City Council that they would provide residents and customers with information regarding single -sort recycling. Council also requested that residents be provided information about the new recycling bins and the various sizes available to meet their needs. Staff provided information to the residents through the City's newsletter and personal requests for information. Solicit Feedback from Residents Using Single Sort Recycling. In the 2007 Summer City Newsletter, staff asked residents to report their experiences with single -sort recycling. A special email address specifically for this question was established. Staff received an overwhelming amount of emails from residents stating their support for continuing the single- sort recycling method of collecting recyclables. Many stated its convenience as the primary reason for continuing it. The residents defined convenience in two ways: One container for all recyclables reduced time spent sorting and only one container had to be 10092007 Single Sort Recycling 1st reeading.doc