Agenda - 12-15-2015-13 (2) - Information Item - Rural Recycling Service Area Expansion Details

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INFORMATION ITEM Memorandum To: Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager From: Gayle Wilson, Orange County Solid Waste Director Subject: Information Report - Rural Recycling Service Area Expansion Details Date: December 15, 2015 The purpose of this informational report is to detail the timeline and some of the planned educational and outreach efforts proposed for the bi-weekly rural curbside recycling expansion to approximately 7,000 previously unserved residences in the unincorporated portion of the county. This recycling service allowing residents to utilize 95-gallon roll carts or 18-gallon bins curbside is planned to commence in July/August 2016. It is to be noted, it was originally planned to conduct a three-year phased expansion of curbside recycling services for rural customers, however, a route optimization study conducted this summer concluded the route expansion could be completed in a single-phase, which included significant long-term savings in staff and equipment if the expansion was completed in one year. Approximately 4,000 rural carts and 2,000 bins are expected to be financed at a cost of approximately$248,000 -the total carts purchased may change due to survey participation results and plastic resin costs at the time of order. Please note, as a result of the route optimization study, it is expected that up to 60% of residences currently participating may change their rural curbside collection day starting next fiscal year. A notification and new route schedule card will be mailed to each resident in mid-June notifying them of any change. Revised Implementation Timeline: - Middle of January 2016- Letter to be mailed explaining new service with postage-paid, mail-back cart/bin/neither order form enclosed sent to all addresses within the expansion area. Residents will be able to email or call the administration office, or complete a request form available on the solid waste website. - End of February 2016—Second notification with postage paid mail-back cart/bin order form mailed to households in the expansion area that did not respond to original mailing and outreach efforts. - April/May 2016— BOCC approves purchase of rural roll carts and authorizes debt financing. - June 2016—Send new route schedules, aka "Calendar Cards" to all unincorporated residences. - July 2016—Start distribution and collection of carts/bins to all unincorporated residences who have requested a container (may take up to 30 days to deliver all containers). Residents can utilize carts/bins as soon as they receive them. - August 2016— Full implementation of expansion should be complete for those residents who have responded back with their request. - Fall 2016—Respond to new service and routing issues; deal with residents who were non-responsive to survey