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Minutes_2020_09_09_Solid WasteProtecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste and wastewater collection services. www.cmsdca.gov Costa Mesa Sanitary District ….an Independent Special District Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee 290 Paularino Avenue Costa Mesa, California 92626 (Teleconference Meeting via Zoom) Note: This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing pursuant to Government code Section 54952.2 and the Governor’s Executive Orders in effect waiving some of the requirements of that Section. MINUTES September 9, 2020 9:00 a.m. Committee members present: Vice President Bob Ooten, Director Mike Scheafer, General Manager Scott Carroll, District Clerk and Public Information Officer Noelani Middenway, Management Analyst I Nabila Guzman, Office Specialist Angela Colunga Committee members absent: Citizens Advisory Committee Vice Chair Elodie Katz Citizens Advisory Committee Member Monte Fields Others present: Arlene Schafer, Board Secretary Dean Ruffridge, CR&R Vice President Mike Carey, Citizens Advisory Committee Chair & CR&R Senior Sustainability Specialist Mike Silva, CR&R Vice President of Environmental Services' Bioenergy Division Jim Mosher, District resident Seth Greiner, Citizens Advisory Committee Member A. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Meeting 1. Call to Order General Manager, Scott Carroll, called the meeting to order at 9:09 A.M. 2. CMSD – CR&R Truck Fleet Update Recommendation: That the Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee receives and files this report. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes September 9, 2020 Page 2 of 5 Management Analyst I, Nabila Guzman, provided an update on CR&R’s truck fleet for the District. She stated that, during Fiscal Year 2018-2019, CR&R experienced an increase in truck breakdowns that caused multiple route delays. She added that, during the annual CR&R Performance Review in December 2019, District staff discussed the fleet age and cause of the breakdowns, after which CR&R committed to adding more Mixed Waste daily routes to accommodate the increase in population as well as to replace some older trucks in the fleet. She noted that, since the December 2019 meeting with CR&R's Vice President Dean Ruffridge, CR&R has updated the fleet of vehicles servicing the residential routes within Costa Mesa. She added that all the vehicles, including the spares, are CNG powered and have recently been painted. She stated that, in FY 2018-2019, the CMSD/CR&R fleet had 10 regular service trucks, four of which were nine years old. She shared that the fleet also included three spare vehicles, which were diesel fueled and over 13 years old. She noted that CR&R has removed the three spare vehicles and a 2010 Mixed Waste truck from the fleet and added three newer trucks to the District’s fleet. She stated that the CMSD/CR&R fleet currently has two spare trucks and 10 regular service trucks with the oldest truck being 10 years old. She added that the newer trucks should reduce the number of breakdowns and delays in service. Secretary Schafer inquired about new banners for the District’s truck fleet. Ms. Guzman stated that the banners were added to the fleet two weeks ago. Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Member Seth Greiner inquired if contaminated waste or old age contributes to the breakdown of a trash truck. Ms. Guzman confirmed that both factor into the wear and tear of a trash truck. She noted that the trucks typically experience hydraulic issues and require repairs to their packers. CAC Member Greiner inquired about how often maintenance is performed on the trucks. Ms. Guzman stated that CR&R performs regular maintenance and that she is in constant contact with CR&R’s Route Manager. Mr. Carroll shared that the trucks are complicated vehicles and that it is hard to determine when they will breakdown or experience an unforeseen issue. Citizens Advisory Committee Chair & CR&R Senior Sustainability Specialist, Mike Carey, shared that the District’s fleet has two spare trucks. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes September 9, 2020 Page 3 of 5 CR&R Vice President of Environmental Services' Bioenergy Division, Mike Silva, stated that all CR&R truck drivers must complete a maintenance form before and after their daily route shift. Director Scheafer expressed appreciation for Ms. Guzman’s report and analysis and for CR&R’s truck drivers. He noted that CR&R’s staff is very considerate and friendly. Secretary Schafer expressed agreement with Director Scheafer’s comments. There was no further discussion, and the report was received. 3. Current Diversion Rates That the Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee receives and files this report. Ms. Guzman provided report details. She stated that, on March 19, 2020, CR&R notified the District that due to the COVID-19 pandemic CR&R was suspending all recycling processing operations at their Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF). She added that the closure impacted CR&R's ability to divert waste from the landfills and that all material collected in the Mixed Waste truck is temporarily transported directly to the landfills for disposal. She noted that CR&R’s Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility has remained fully operational during this time. She stated that, since the March notice, CR&R has reduced the number of customer service representatives due to the six feet social distancing guideline, which has resulted in increased phone call wait times and an increased number of calls made to the District. She discussed the District’s diversion rate, which has been affected negatively by mixed waste being disposed at the landfills. She noted that the District tracks its monthly diversion rate based on CR&R’s recycling reports and that the diversion rate is not reported to a state agency since special districts are not required to submit this information. She stated that diversion rate reporting is only submitted by cities on a calendar year basis. She shared that the solid waste consultants for the Cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa annually contact the District for the previous calendar year’s tonnage collected, recycled, and landfilled and for any available program information. She noted that, due to this reporting schedule, the 2020 COVID-19 data will not be reported to CalRecycle until August 2021. She discussed CalRecycle’s statement on COVID-19 and diversion requirements for jurisdictions, which was released in April 2020. She noted that CalRecycle has the authority to consider the impacts of COVID-19 when determining whether a jurisdiction is compliant with diversion and recycling laws. She shared that CalRecycle will examine a City's "good faith effort" to determine overall jurisdiction compliance. She stated that, next year, the District will continue to work with the solid waste consultants for the Cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa to report the District’s data as it is applicable to each jurisdiction. She added that the District is not concerned with meeting CalRecycle’s recycling mandates. She noted that, for the current calendar year, the District has collected 27,679.41 tons of trash through Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes September 9, 2020 Page 4 of 5 the curbside program and recycled 9,798.96 tons for a diversion rate of 35%. She added that, since April 2020, all that has been recycled is the organic material collected in the Organics Recycling Carts. Mr. Ruffridge discussed CR&R’s savings and expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the total tonnage collected from the District. He noted that CR&R’s expenses exceed their savings by an estimated amount of $150,000. He added that organics recycling has increased in the District’s service area. CAC Member Greiner inquired about the District’s increase in solid waste tonnage. Mr. Ruffridge stated that all organizations serviced by CR&R have experienced an increase in solid waste tonnage due to more people working and eating at home. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the production of residential waste. Vice President Ooten inquired if CR&R has experienced any staff savings since closing its MRF. Mr. Ruffridge stated that the staff savings have been included in CR&R’s sorting savings. He noted that CR&R has large expenses such as mortgage costs and capital investments. Mr. Carroll stated that Orange County has reduced a few of its COVID-19 restrictions, which might result in the re-opening of CR&R’s MRF. Mr. Ruffridge shared that CR&R has upgraded their facilities during the COVID-19 closure. He stated that CR&R plans to re-open their MRF next week. District resident, Jim Mosher, discussed the District’s diversion rate of 35%. He inquired about the process for separating organic waste. Mr. Silva stated that all CR&R facilities process organic waste. He stated that there are a few main items that cannot be processed at CR&R’s AD Facility, which include metal and large pieces of concrete and trees. He noted that CR&R is experiencing a contamination rate of 2-5% companywide. CAC Member Greiner inquired if organic waste found in the Mixed Waste Carts is being disposed at the landfills. Mr. Silva confirmed his statement and noted that only organic waste placed in the Organics Recycling Cart will be sorted and processed correctly. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes September 9, 2020 Page 5 of 5 Director Scheafer discussed the likelihood of state mandates and legislative impacts affecting CalRecycle. Mr. Carroll stated that all cities and districts within the state are experiencing issues with disposing waste. Ms. Guzman shared that CalRecycle is taking into consideration the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic for all industries. Director Scheafer stated that the District is doing as much as it can to increase diversion and encourage residents to sort their waste properly. He recommended discussing the matter with the City of Costa Mesa. Mr. Carroll suggested waiting to contact the City until CR&R’s MRF is re-opened and accepting recyclables. Vice President Ooten inquired about the District’s contact at the City. Ms. Guzman stated that her contact is the City’s Energy and Sustainability Services Manager. Vice President Ooten inquired if the District is mandated to attend OC Waste & Recycling’s Waste Management Commission meetings. Mr. Carroll stated that he is unsure and will research the matter. Vice President Ooten asked Mr. Carey when the Orange Coast College Recycling Center will re-open. Mr. Carey stated that it is scheduled to re-open in mid-October. There was no further discussion, and the report was received. 4. Adjournment – 9:42 A.M.