06 - A - School Recycling Bottle Program Protecting our community's health and the environment by prov iding solid waste and sewer collection services. www.cmsdca.gov Costa Mesa Sanitary District ….an Independent Special District Memorandum T o: Operations Committee Via: Scott Carroll, General Manager From: Elizabeth Pham , Management Intern Date: March 19, 2013 Subject: Bo ttle and Can Recycling Program Summary The Telephone Book Recycling Program has collected 195,858 telephone books and recycled 379.04 tons of paper. However, there has been a recent decline in the amount of telephone books being collected. In 2012, only 3,955 telephone books were collected. Despite the decrease in the amount collected, the District continues to encourage schools to find other ways to recycle and generate money for programs such as the Bottle and Can Recycling Program. The Bottle and Can R ecycling Program can benefit schools through fundraising , improve the environment, and reduce hauling costs simultaneously. T he program will be ongoing and the revenues generated will help supplement new books, equipment and other supplies to enhance educa tion al programs . In addition, it will continue to promote awareness and appreciation of the environment among students. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends that the Operations Committee recommend the Board of Directors to direct the General Manager t o replace the Telephone Book Recycling Program with an ongoing Bottle and Can Recycling Program. Analysis The Bottle and Can Recycling Program will have multiple schools competing against each other in collecting the most bottles and cans. Instead of giv ing $300.00 to each school that participates, CMSD will “revenue match” the school, up to $850 per category that fills up the most storage containers and generates the most recycling
Operations Committee March 19 , 201 3 Page 2 of 4 revenue each quarter. Only one school is going to be selected per categor y. The schools will be categorized as follows: elementary, junior high, and high schools. CR&R has submitted a flyer for the Bottle and Can Recycling Program (Attachment A). The new program will consist of: 1. All schools in Costa Mesa to be invited and e ncouraged to participate. 2. CMSD will collaborate with CR&R to provide this program at no charge to the schools. 3. Schools schedule a meeting with CR&R to establish a location for the storage container and provide name and tax ID number for check processing. 4. CR&R delivers the secure, lockable storage containers to all the schools, each container will display a large “Bottles and Cans Recycling Program ” sign. 5. CR&R will provide a lock with two sets of keys. 6. CMSD provides posters and informative flyers to schoo ls in order to promote the program. 7. Students are asked to bring plastic bottles and aluminum cans that have the CA CRV logo. 8. Once the container is full, the schools call CR&R at (800) 573 -8806 to schedule an exchange/pick -up 9. CR&R will collect and issue the school a check within three days for the full CRV value based on weight. 10. CR&R sends a summary report of the collection data to the CMSD every month. 11. Every quarter, a CMSD Director will present a “matching” check to the school that generated the most r evenue within that period. In comparison to the Telephone Book Recycling Program, the Bottle and Can Recycling Progra m will be ongoing and has the capability to generate more mone y for schools. Some schools outside of Costa Mesa have managed to fill a s torage container every month and generate about $850.00 per container, while others fill a container once a quarter. Mike Higgins, the Bottle and Can Recycling Program Coordinator for Chapman Hills Elementary School, located in the City of Orange, have s uccessfully coordinated the recycling program for the past three years . Mr. Higgins stated that the school has filled the container seven times and each time they ha ve been awarded $1,100 -$1,300. Overall, the recycling program has gener ated nearly $8,000 i n funding. The success of the program has been a collaborative effort between parent volunteers, teachers, and students. Mr. Higgins collect s every Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and has student council members out near the parking lot so parents can drop off their separated bags. A parent volunteer assists the students with coordination. In addition, the school provides incentives for students such as: “no homework ” pass, raffle tickets for ice cream, restaurants, etc. Mr. Higgins stated that the s tudents have become more conscious about throwing away their bottles and recycling.
Operations Committee March 19 , 201 3 Page 3 of 4 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 rec ycling methods.” Legal Review Not applicable at this time. Financial Review The Telephone Book Recycling program has a budget of $10,000. By switching to the Bottle and Can Recycling Program, the funds can be used to “revenue match” the school up to $8 50, per quarter and cat e gory, that generate the most funds . Only one school is going to be selected per category. For example, all elementary schools will compete for one revenue match per quarter. The elementary school that generates the most revenue in t hat quarter will receive the revenue match. See graph below: Current budget: $10,000 1 full container (revenue) $ 850 Categories Elementary Junior High High Schools Q1 $ 850 $ 850 $ 85 0 Q2 $ 850 $ 850 $ 850 Q3 $ 850 $ 850 $ 850 Q4 $ 850 $ 850 $ 850 Potential "revenue match" $ 3,400 $ 3,40 0 $ 3,400 $ 1 0,200 Public Notice Process Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the complete agenda packet for the March 19, 2013 Operations Committee meeting at District Headquarters and posted on the District’s webs ite Reviewed by:
Operations Committee March 19 , 201 3 Page 4 of 4 Javier Ochiqui Management Analyst Attachments A: CR&R’s Bottle and Can Recycling Program