HomeMy WebLinkAboutF-4. Foam Recycling Program Information item
Presented 1 Iii I i 4- F-4
�zus
" 116MT R WATT R
INFORMATION ITEM
TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE SA UTILITY
BOARD
FROM: GEORGE MORROW,DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES
DATE: JANUARY 27,2014
SUBJECT: FOAM RECYCLING PROGRAM
All trash collected from the City of Azusa is taken to Athens Services' Material Recovery
Facility (MRF) where recyclables are separated; however, Styrofoam is not included among the
materials recycled. As requested, staff researched options available for a separate residential
foam recycling program.
Styrofoam, as commonly referred to, is also known as polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene
(EPS), or foam. Its light weight helps in manufacturing packaging materials and the ideal choice
for fast-food take-out containers, foam plates, and foam cups because it insulates well and is
generally inexpensive. Foam#6, identified by the chasing arrows triangle with the number"6"in
the center,is the most commonly accepted foam for recycling.
Due to its light weight and the amount of space required for storage, although technically
recyclable, Styrofoam is not widely accepted by many recyclers unlike aluminum cans, plastic
bottles, and mixed paper, because it takes more effort to collect a ton of foam than it does to
collect a ton of other materials.
RECYCLING PROGRAM OPTIONS
In staffs opinion,below are the two most viable foam recycling program options:
I. Municipal Drop-off Program:
One of the options reviewed by staff was a municipal drop-off program in partnership
with Dart Container Corporation,the leading manufacturer of Foam#6 products. Dart has
two manufacturing and recycling facilities in California located in Lodi and Corona. In
this program, Dart agrees to pick-up minimally contaminated, separated and bagged
polystyrene food service and packaging products collected from the City to be taken to its
Corona facility for recycling. The City of Azusa will be required to construct a drop-off
facility with a covered storage container that is open to the public,post signage at the site
UB-53
Foam Recycling Program
January 27,2014 r
Page 2
with the collection requirements, and is accessible to Dart's collection vehicle. The City
and Dart will enter into a six(6)month trial agreement. After that time,if Dart feels there
is enough foam collected to continue the free pick-up,the agreement will continue for an
indefmite period until terminated by either party with a 30-day written notice.
Staff estimates the cost of this project to be about$50,000 which includes construction of
enclosure, signage, and public information campaign. A potential drawback to this
program is paying for the construction of the drop-off facility without some assurance of
the program's success.
II. One-day Collection Event:
Another option is a one-day collection event offered by Dart as part of its community
involvement. In this program, Dart will provide a truck to collect foam materials dropped
off by residents at a designated day and time at a City location. The cost of hosting this
event is relatively low.
Both options are solely for recycling/environmental purposes as neither program offers a
monetary incentive to the City or residents. Since foam materials require more preparation in
order to recycle, both programs will require an extensive public education campaign through a
two-cycle bill insert,recycling calendar, online posting,message board and newsletter.
After careful consideration, staff has elected to host a one-day collection event sometime in
the summer in order to assess the interest and need of foam recycling in the City before
considering/committing to a permanent facility.
Prepared by: Talika M. Graham,Utilities Administrative and Financial Services Manager
Liza Cawte, Senior Administrative Technician
UB-54