Minutes - Recycling - 2011-03-21•
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COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETING
March 21, 2011
The Costa Mesa Sanita7 District Recycling Committee met on March 21, 2011 at
10:30 a.m. at 628 W. 19 Street, Costa Mesa.
Directors Present: Jim Fitzpatrick, Bob Ooten, Art Perry
Staff Present: Scott Carroll, Joan Revak, AJ Cully, Isidro Gallardo, Teresa
Gonzalez
Others Present: Dean Ruffridge, Senior Vice President, CR &R; Trisha Throop,
Community Relations Recycling Coordinator, 'CR &R; Patrick
Schiavo, Consultant, CR &R; Mike Carey, Director, Orange
Coast College Recycling Center; Stephanie Barger., Earth
Resource Foundation
Director Fitzpatrick called the meeting to order at 10:300.m.
I: Mr. Patrick Schiavo, CR &R Consultant
Mr. Schiavo discussed the waste characterization study, diversion rate, and
recycling report generated by CR &R. In order for CMSD to increase their
diversion rate, efforts should be focused on removing the following materials from
the waste stream: Paper - 20 %, Organic Food Waste - 25 %, Lumber - 7 %, Leaves
and Grass - 6 %. CR &R estimated approximately 60% more could be diverted by
extracting these four things.
Cal Recycle is implementing a new reporting system for AB 932. Commercial
sector businesses that dispose of 4 cubic yards or greater of garbage each week
must participate in this mandatory recycling program. It will be an annual report
by jurisdiction with an emphasis on education and outreach. All cities are
responsible for monitoring the activities of each business. Program is in its final
planning stages and will be implemented on July 1, 2012 with first reports due
August 2013.
Director Fitzpatrick requested Mr. Schiavo capture all of this data in writing and
submit it to CMSD for distribution to the Board of Directors.
(Protecting our community's health and the environment 6y providing sofid waste and sewer collection
services.
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Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
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II. CY 2011 Recycling Committee Goals
Director Fitzpatrick will work with Mr. Carroll to outline new 2011 Recycling
Committee goals.
III. Quarterly Strategic Goals Review
Director Fitzpatrick and President Ooten both stated they would like to combine
the Recycling Committee goals with the Strategic Plan Element 2.0 Solid Waste
goals and morph these two documents into one that includes updates and
tracking components.
IV. Waste Diversion Report
President Ooten sees this as a valuable report and would like to expand it to
include a comparison over the last three years.
V. Recycling Report — February 2011
• Ms. Throop discussed the Waste Stream Comparison Report from CR &R. The
populations are different for each area, but comparatively, CMSD is doing very
well.
Mr. Ruffridge interjected that the community of Rossmoor recently decided to
focus efforts on recycling residential green waste. CR &R negotiated a reduced
rate for residents to receive a 3 cubic yard bin to dispose of green waste only.
This is counted toward Rossmoor's diversion numbers and has been a very
successful program
VI. Ordinance Enforcement Officer's Report
Mr. Gallardo reported he has witnessed scavenging occurrences in about ten
different areas during the early morning hours. He participated in a ride along with
Costa Mesa Code Enforcement Officer, Tim Sun and plans to schedule another
ride along soon. He will document incidents with pictures and include them in his
next report.
Director Perry asked Mr. Gallardo what procedure he follows when confronting a
suspected scavenger.
Mr. Gallardo stated he records the offender's name, address, and vehicle
• information and issues a stern warning. The CMSD citation is currently being
reviewed by District Council. Upon completion, a proper citation will be issued to
all suspects caught in the act of scavenging.
(Protecting our community's health and the environment 6y providing solid waste and sewer cof(ection
services.
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VII. Scavenging Report
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
March 21, 2011
Page 3
Ms. Cully discussed the scavenging report based on the data provided by Costa
Mesa Police Department for January and February 2011.
Mr. Carroll noted that CR &R is researching the lockable trash containers and they
will be made available to residents as soon as possible. The CMSD will have the
lockable container on display at the Costa Mesa Community Run at Estancia High
School on April 22 -23, 2011.
Director Fitzpatrick requested an action plan be discussed at the next Recycling
Committee meeting as to how CMSD will get the information out to the residents
regarding the locking containers.
Mr. Ruffridge announced a new business venture for CR &R in document
destruction services. He asked if CMSD would be interested in placing a lockable
bin at the District Yard or scheduling a community event for residents to dispose of
confidential documents at no charge.
Director Fitzpatrick suggested we take a look at the calendar to schedule a
shredding event in conjunction with other CMSD recycling events.
President Ooten stated he views this as an opportunity to serve the community.
Ms. Cully shared her observations that there seems to be a spike in scavenging
taking place during the summer months due to the Large Item Collection Program.
Mr. Ruffridge suggested that CMSD change the seasonal program to a call in
service that residents can utilize whenever necessary. Mr. Carroll noted he will
place it on the agenda for the Board to reconsider this contractual item.
Mr. Carey stated he is seeing an influx in trucks collecting scrap metal driving
through his neighborhood. These are unlicensed haulers that advertise on the
side of their trucks and are taking advantage of homeowners.
Director Fitzpatrick directed staff to refer the scrap metal business to the City of
Costa Mesa.
VIII. Recycling Resin Identification Codes 3 through 7
Ms. Throop discussed the information and articles of interest regarding plastics.
(Protecting our community's health and the environment 6y providing sofid waste and sewer collection
services.
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IX. Developing Zero Waste Strategies
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
March 21, 2011
Page 4
Mr. Schiavo stated zero waste is at least a ten year plan. Director Fitzpatrick
questioned how CR &R would handle organic food waste in Costa Mesa. Mr.
Ruffridge stated CR &R is in the final permitting stages to construct a recycling
facility in Perris, CA which will house anaerobic digesters to process food waste.
Upon completion, the Board of Directors will have the option of processing the
Costa Mesa residential waste at this plant instead of Stanton. The single act of
recycling food waste will likely push diversion up to 80 -90 %.
The total tonnage for the entire City of Costa Mesa is 114,000 tons per year. Out
of that, the CMSD residential tonnage equates to approximately 20,000 tons of
disposal.
Director Fitzpatrick requested a more in depth report of how the City reports its
pounds per capita disposal numbers.
Director Fitzpatrick shared the District's intent to pursue partnership opportunities
with the City of Costa Mesa to add value to various programs, such as recycling
• street sweeping waste and education outreach.
Director Fitzpatrick requested the Recycling Committee establish a definition,
philosophy and strategy to achieve zero waste. He would like to present an action
plan to the Board of Directors for inclusion in the budget or strategic plan.
Ms. Barger discussed the success of the Costa Mesa Green Task Force whose
premise was centered on zero waste. She expressed her fervent desire to keep
up the momentum of this group.
President Ooten questioned why incineration is not counted in the goal of zero
waste.
Ms. Barger explained incineration is not utilizing the highest and best use. When
incinerators are built, you do not eliminate waste, you have to continually feed the
monster of a machine. Mr. Schiavo added that in the hierarchy of source
reduction and recycling, transformation is treated like disposal in the state of
California's definition. It does not eliminate waste, it changes the form of waste
into hazardous air or toxic ash.
Director Fitzpatrick stated his belief that the solution to zero waste in Costa Mesa
lies on how we handle organics, food scraps and green waste. He proposed the
next step will be a scheduled meeting with all partners to focus specifically on this
• issue.
Protecting our community's health and the environment 6y providing solidwaste andsewer colrection
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Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Minutes of Recycling Committee Meeting
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X. EPS Densifiers
The Recycling Committee watched a video of equipment used to reduce the
volume of Styrofoam.
XI. Proposed Policy — Prohibiting the Use of Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
Mr. Carroll discussed the staff report that would ban the use of Styrofoam from
both District facilities and all District sponsored events. Staff is recommending
that the Board of Directors approve this policy at the March 24, 2011 Board
meeting. District Council sent an email confirming the CMSD does have the
authority to regulate Styrofoam from the residential waste stream however; more
discussion is required regarding how CMSD could enforce such a policy. This
proposed policy is a good first step demonstrating leadership to the community
that the District is taking this issue seriously and prohibiting Styrofoam as part of
District operations. .
President Ooten, DirectorPerry and Ms. Revak left the meeting at 12:00 p.m.
XII. Public Comments
• Mr. Carey commended staff on going paperless for this meeting.
XIII. Next Meeting Date — April 25, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
Director Fitzpatrick adjourned the meeting at 12:17 p.m.
(Protecting our community's health and the environment 6y providing sofid waste and sewer collection
services.
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