04.c - Battery Recycling Program (2)
Protecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste a nd sewer collection services.
www.cmsdca.gov
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
….an Independent Special District
Memorandum
T o: Board of Directors
Via : Scott Carroll , General Manager
From: Javier Ochiqui, Management Analyst
Date: July 16, 2013
Subject: Bat tery Recycling Pilot Program
Summary
The Costa Mesa S anitary District (CMSD) has contributed financially to local schools
that have participated in the Telephone Book Recycling Program. On January 12,
2013, CMSD staff presented the Board of Directors wit h a final report regarding the
2012 Telephone Book Recycling Program. The final report illustrated a decrease in the
total number of books that have been collected over the past four years , and the
Board suggested that we look at other fundraising options for schools. Staff is
recommending that the District implement s a pilot program that will focus on collecting
used alkaline batteries from schools. If successful, t he Battery Recycling Program will
e ventually replace the Telephone Book Recycling Program.
Staff Recommendation
That the Board of Directors gives feedback to staff regarding the pilot program and
direct staff to bring this item back to the July 25 th Board of Directors meeting for formal
action.
Analysis
There has been a 76 percent decrease in the total number of telephone books that
have been collected by schools throughout the past four years , a decrease f rom over
seventeen thousands telephone books collected in 2009 to just under four thousand
telephone books collected in 2012. During the 2012 Telephone Book Recycling
Program c heck p resentations, s taff informed the schools about the telephone book
decrease and many suggested that they would be interested in a battery recycling
program.
Board of Directors
July 16 , 201 3
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On June 17, 2013, staff invited those schools to part icipate in the Battery Recycling
Pilot Program and t he following schools will participate :
1. Kline School
2. Christ Lutheran School; and
3. Estancia High School
The Battery Recycling Pilot Program is anticipated to begin i n September 2013
through May 2014 (an 8 -month program) and will work as follows:
1. The equipment (2) 60 or 35 gallon carts will be delivered at each school and will
be provided by CR&R .
2. CMSD staff will deliver Battery Recycling buckets to the schools. OC Waste &
Recycling will be donating small battery buckets to be placed in the main office
and/or certain classrooms.
3. CMSD staff will provide flyers and decals for the carts . Only alkaline batteries
will be accepted.
4. CR&R will pick up the batteries on a monthly basis (the 1 st pick up will be i n
Oc tober 2013 ). Schools will be responsible for dumping the batteries into the
cart and keeping the bucket for reuse.
5. CR&R staff will document how full the cart s are at the time the cart s are
serviced (i.e . ¼, ½, ¾, and full). CMSD staff could also verify th e amounts and
may purchase a mobile scale for accuracy.
6. CR&R will send CMSD the combined monthly weight totals .
7. CMSD will pay for shipping and disposal costs .
8. At the conclusion of the pilot program, a CMSD Director presents a 1 st , 2 nd , and
3 rd place check to all schools that collected at least ¼ of a container during the
entire 8 -month program.
CMSD s taff will closely monitor the Battery Recycling Pilot Program on a monthly basis
to ensure that the program is cost -effective and feasible. If changes are needed to the
program, CMSD staff will inform the Board of Directors as soon as possible. This
program allows children of all ages to continue to learn about recycling and
conservation efforts in school and CMSD hopes that they will apply these principals at
home, teach their families, and become good stewards of the environment.
The District will continue the Telephone Book Recycling Program for another year until
the result of the Battery Recycling Pilot Program can be analyzed. If the p ilot program
is determined a success, it will replace the Telephone Book Recycling Program in
2014.
Strategic Plan Element & Goal
This item complies the with objective and strategy of Strategic Element 2.0, Solid
Waste, which states:
“Objective: Our obje ctive is to manage the collection and recycling of residential trash
in the most economical and environmentally friendly way.”
Board of Directors
July 16 , 201 3
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“Strategy : We will do this by looking for ways to improve efficiencies, achieve high
customer satisfaction, and considering prud ent new recycling methods.”
Legal Review
Not applicable at this time .
Financial Review
For Fiscal Year 2012 -2013, the Telephone Book Recycling Program budget was
$10,000 , but only $7,000 was spent. For FY 2013 -2014, the Telephone Book
Recycling Progra m budget is $10,000 ; however, s taff recommends allocating $3,000
from the FY 2013 -2014 Telephone Book Recycling Program budget, and an additional
$6 ,000 from the undesignated solid waste fund in order to fund this program.
The budget will be used as foll ows:
Fundraiser Rewards $ 2,000
Materials and Supplies (flyers, decals,
scale, etc.). $ 1,000
Shipping Costs * $ 4,000
Disposal Costs** $ 2,000
Total Program Budget $ 9,000
Categories Rewa rds
1st Place $ 1,000
2nd Place $ 600
3rd Place $ 400
Total $ 2,000
* Estimate based on a $500 per month shipping cost
** Estimate based on 115 lbs. pe r school per month at $0.72 per lbs.
P ublic Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the complete agenda packet
for the July 16 , 2013 Board of Directors Study Session meeting at District
Headquarters and posted on the District’s website .
Alternative Actions
1. D o nothing and refer the matter back to staff for additional information and/or
analysis.
Board of Directors
July 16 , 201 3
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