Laserfiche WebLink
<br />In comparison with other cities in Oregon (Attachment E), Eugene commercial rates are very close or <br />are lower than average. The residential rates on the smaller containers (20-gallon and 32-gallon) are also <br />within average range. While the 60-gallon and 90-gallon containers in Eugene are higher than many <br />other communities, the strategy used to encourage recycling has worked. Less than 5 percent of <br />customers use the 90-gallon container and the recycling recovery rate is very strong. <br /> <br />In the area of recycling and waste reduction, several efforts led by City staff and licensed haulers have <br />produced impressive results. The most recent recovery rate for the Lane Wasteshed, which is highly <br />impacted by City and City-mandated recycling efforts, is 53.7 percent. Programs contributing to this <br />recovery are: <br /> <br />Curbside yard debris collection, recovering more than 12,000 tons per year. <br />? <br /> <br />Commingled recycling, implemented by the haulers, has been responsible for additional recycling <br />? <br /> <br />and added efficiencies. <br />Oregon Green Schools Program is training students to become the future stewards of our limited <br />? <br /> <br />resources. <br /> <br />In a telephone survey of Eugene collection customers performed in March 2007 (Attachment F), 98.8 <br />percent of respondents were satisfied with garbage service, 97.4 percent were satisfied with recycling <br />service, and 83.8 percent were satisfied with yard debris service. It should be noted that 9.4 percent of <br />respondents had no yard debris service. In a list of seven service characteristics, curbside recycling <br />ranked highest, reliability second, and cost of service third. <br /> <br />Future items planned in the area of the solid waste and recycling program, beyond the education, <br />recycling, and waste prevention areas, are a weight study in FY08 and a system review in FY09. Weight <br />studies are performed periodically to verify the weights used to set rates. The weight study provides <br />additional information regarding yard debris and recycling collection, and helps identify areas of <br />contamination to target future education efforts. The overall system has not been reviewed since 2001. <br /> <br /> <br />RELATED CITY POLICIES <br />Growth Management Policy 16 - Focus efforts to diversify the local economy and provide family- <br />? <br /> <br />wage jobs principally by supporting local and environmentally-sensitive businesses. Direct available <br />financial and regulatory incentives to support these efforts. <br />Growth Management Policy 17 - Protect and improve air and water quality and protect natural areas <br />? <br /> <br />of good habitat value through a variety of means such as better enforcement of existing regulations, <br />new or revised regulations, or other practices. <br />Council Vision and Values, Sustainable Development - A community that meets its present <br />? <br /> <br />environmental, economic, and social needs without compromising the ability of future generations to <br />meet their own needs. <br /> <br /> <br />COUNCIL OPTIONS <br /> <br />1. Give specific direction to the City Manager on any changes or additional information the council <br />would like to review. <br />2. Take no action. This will result in the City Manager processing an Administrative Order to update <br />collection fees. <br /> L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070813\S070813B.doc <br /> <br />