10 - Alkaline Battery Recycling Pilot Program - Final ReportProtecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste and sewer collection services.
www.cmsdca.gov
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
….an Independent Special District
Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
Via: Scott Carroll, General Manager
From: Javier Ochiqui, Management Analyst
Date: June 26, 2014
Subject: Alkaline Battery Recycling Pilot Program - Final Report
Summary
On July 16, 2013, the Board of Directors directed staff to have the Telephone Book
Recycling Program one last time and implement a Battery Recycling Pilot Program that
focused on collecting used alkaline batteries from schools. The Battery Recycling Pilot
Program began in September 2013 and ended in May 2014. Staff is providing the
Board of Directors with a final program report.
Staff Recommendation
That the Board of Directors implement the Program District wide.
Analysis
A total of five schools participated in the pilot program. The pilot program collected
4,153.9 pounds of alkaline batteries. Teachers and school volunteers enjoyed
participating in the program. Below is a chart illustrating the total weight (in pounds)
per school:
School Battery Totals (lbs.)
1st place Christ Lutheran 1,941.2
2nd place Davis Magnet 1,904.6
3rd place Kline School 129.1
4th place Estancia High 119
5th place Waldorf 60
Grand total (lbs.) 4,153.9
ITEM NO. 10
Board of Directors
June 26, 2014
Page 2 of 3
Battery Recycling Program
Since most schools end their school year in early to mid -June, staff recommends that
the new Battery Recycling Program begin in September and end in April of every year
(a 7-month program). Ending the program in April allows staff enough time to calculate
the totals and schedule the check presentations before schools go on summer break.
A year-round program is not recommended since it may be difficult to determ ine a
clear winner at the end of each year. The program will work as follows:
1. Mercury Disposal Systems, Inc. (MDS) will deliver a few 5-gallon battery
recycling buckets to the schools. Additional buckets will be available upon
request.
2. MDS staff will pick up the batteries the first Friday of every month. Schools can
also skip a month if not enough batteries are collected. If implemented, the first
collection will be on Friday, October 3, 2014.
3. MDS will tag the buckets per school, weigh them, and send CMSD the totals
per school.
4. MDS will bill CR&R and CR&R will bill us for this service. This allows us to take
advantage of CR&R’s low battery disposal costs which is $0.76 per pound.
5. At the conclusion of the program, a CMSD Director will present the checks to
the schools. A minimum of 125 lbs. will be required to receive the minimum
award of $300.00. On average, a 5-gallon bucket of alkaline batteries weighs
about 50-60 pounds.
This program allows children of all ages to continue to learn about recycling and
conservation efforts in school. CMSD hopes that they will apply these principals at
home, teach their families, and become good stewards of the environment.
Strategic Plan Element & Goal
This item complies with the objective and strategy of Strategic Element 2.0, Solid
Waste, which states:
“Objective: Our objective is to manage the collection and recycling of residential trash
in the most economical and environmentally friendly way.”
“Strategy: We will do this by looking for ways to improve efficiencies, achieve high
customer satisfaction, and considering prudent new recycling methods.”
Legal Review
Not applicable at this time.
Environmental Review
Having the District establish a convenient method for school children and families to
dispose of batteries is an approximate equivalent alternative to having the battery
users find another disposal location. If anything, the collection by the District prevents
batteries from being illegally placed in the trash and making their way to landfills. As
presented, the District’s battery recycling program is not a disturbance of the
environment directly or indirectly similar to grading or construction and is not a project
under CEQA or the District’s CEQA Guidelines.
Board of Directors
June 26, 2014
Page 3 of 3
Financial Review
For Fiscal Year 2014-2015, the Battery Recycling program budget is $10,000. There
are 28 schools in Costa Mesa. However, since the Telephone Book Recycling
Program started in 1996, the average number of sc hools that participated in the
Telephone Book Recycling Program is 22. If we only take the average from the past
five years, the number drops to 17. At best, staff estimates that only 17 schools will
participate in the new Battery Recycling Program.
If all 17 schools participate, and they each collect 50 pounds per month for seven
months, the total would be 5,950 pounds. It costs $0.76 per pound for battery disposal
services (this price includes pick-up services). Therefore, the total disposal costs
would be $4,522.
The budget will be used as follows:
Fundraiser Rewards $6,200
Materials and Supplies (flyers, decals, scale, etc.). $1,000
Disposal Costs* $4,500
Total Program Costs $9,000
Categories Rewards
1st Place $1,000
2nd Place $600
3rd Place $400
4th Place (minimum award $300 award) x 14 schools $4,200
Total $6,200
CMSD staff will monitor the Battery Recycling Program on a monthly basis to ensure
that the program is within budget. CMSD staff will inform the Board of Directors as
soon as possible if budget adjustments are needed.
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the complete agenda packet
for the June 26, 2014 Board of Directors meeting at District Headquarters and posted
on the District’s website.
Reviewed by:
Wendy H. Davis
Interim Finance Manager