Item 008 - ARR Operations and Administrative Projects Update — original pdf

Backup

To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Richard McHale, Director, Austin Resource Recovery October 9, 2024 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission MoveOutATX 2024 Recap MoveOutATX 2024 took place from July 27-31, 2024. This event, a partnership between Austin Resource Recovery, the UT Office of Sustainability, and the UT Office of the Dean of Students, sets up temporary donation stations to help students living off- campus keep gently used items out of the landfill during the end-of-July move-out period. This year, the event had seven donation stations scattered around West Campus. The City collaborated with six reuse organizations to collect, process, and redistribute all the donated materials: Austin Area Urban League, Austin Creative Reuse, Arms of Hope, Goodwill Central Texas, Salvation Army Family Stores, and UT Outpost. The Free Furniture Market, where furniture donated at MoveOutATX donation stations is made available for anyone to take for free, celebrated its third year. Event Highlights: full.  Material Collected: 60,227.79 lbs (30.11 tons) – equivalent to 634.72 cubic yards, or approximately 4.5 semi-truck trailers  Donation Station Drop-offs: 1,044  Free Furniture Market: Re-homed 641 pieces of furniture and welcomed 1,039 visitors over six days. Since its founding in 2018, MoveOutATX has diverted 253 tons of material from the landfill, representing an estimated economic value of almost $600,000. Multi-family Composting In September 2023, City Council approved amendments to the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) that will require composting access at multi-family properties in Austin. This policy change will be in effect on October 1, 2024. Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) conducted educational event with the Austin Apartment Association, sent all multi-family property owners and managers letters and e-mails to notify them of the ordinance change. Additional mailed letters will be sent to all multi-family property managers in October. More information at: austintexas.gov/multifamilycompost. Universal Recycling Ordinance New Online Survey and Database Each year over 15,000 business, food permit holders, and multi-family properties are required to report to the City how they are meeting the zero waste ordinance requirements of the Universal Recycling Ordinance in their recycling plans. This information is primarily collected from affected properties thru a public-facing webpage (called a survey) that then feeds the entered data into a database. This data is used by City staff for internal performance measures, to identify trends for educational needs, and identify non-compliant properties for follow up. Since 2012, the City has used a third-party vendor to support the public-facing survey. Information collected by this survey is download to spreadsheets stored on City servers. In response to the growing data needs of this ordinance, Austin Resource Recovery (in collaboration with the Communications and Technology Management Department (CTM) and a contracted third- party developer) has developed a ESRI-based public survey and Oracle database capable of handling data sets of this size in a secure and manageable manner. This new survey and database will go live to the public on October 1, 2024 in alignment with the annual ordinance “reporting season” of October 1 thru February 1 each year. More information on the Universal Recycling Ordinance can be found at: www.austintexas.gov/uro. Zero Waste Business Rebate (FY24) The FY24 Zero Waste Business Rebate will close for the fiscal year at the end of September. This fiscal year, the rebate received 78 eligible applicants. As of July, 7 applicants have been reimbursed for a total of $14.8k of the $25k budget, and 5 applicants are in the final steps of re-imbursement. The most common rebate this year has been the early adoption of compost service at a multifamily property ahead of the October 2024 ordinance requirement. More information on the rebate at: austintexas.gov/zwbizrebate. Circular Accelerator and Showcase Recap The Circular Accelerator program wrapped up on August 15. This program aims to help local entrepreneurs turn their ideas of achieving a waste-free world into social impact enterprises or businesses. This summer, 10 entrepreneurs received no-cost technical business training and coaching to help refine their business concepts, in partnership with Economic Development. They attended six workshops, a pitch coaching session, and a practice pitch event. The top 3 pitches received entry to compete at Circular Showcase for $2,000. Five of the six qualified applicants completed the program and received a stipend to help alleviate the financial burdens of participating in the program. Stipend funding was provided by City of Austin Economic Development and Office of Innovation. The top scoring teams who advanced to Circular Showcase included: Aura Rainwater, Material Union, and Sleep, Never. Circular Showcase was hosted on August 29 at “The Cathedral” on E. 16th St. The event connects circular economy businesses and entrepreneurs with potential investors in the region. Five small circular businesses pitched to a panel of judges with investment backgrounds for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize. The Mosaic Workshop won the grand prize. Material Union won the $2,000 prize for the Accelerator Cohort. A list of all participating businesses listed below: 2024 Competitors sustainable drinking water.  Aura Rainwater by Alexander Williams:* A premium water brand. They harvest rainwater and transform it into  Black Lives Veggies by Larry Franklin: A not-for-profit with a mission to diversify the local food system. They teach BIPOC communities how to plant, grow, harvest, and distribute fresh veggies.  Heron by AnnMarie Wakely: Heron rents and delivers anything you don't use enough to buy. They offer everything from  Material Union by Christa Clark:* Plans to collect and sort textiles to give them a second life as new products, like pillows wheelchairs to air mattresses to patio heaters. and insulation.  Mosaic Workshop by J Muzacz: Teaches people of all ages and abilities the art of mosaic making. They host classes and design community-led mosaic murals using broken tile, glass and ceramics.  Shop Slow by Mikaela Friedman: A “slow fashion” boutique that features clothing by a collective of makers who sew  custom and unique clothing. Their makers focus on using recycled materials. Sleep, Never by Aaron Torres:* A slow fashion brand that uses reclaimed materials to create made-to-order clothing. Each piece is ethically developed and manufactured in-house in Austin, Texas with a focus on quality, fit and size inclusivity.  Wanderlust Wine Co. by Sammy Lam: The world's largest wine-on-tap winery. They are on a mission to change the world through wine by utilizing sustainable, recyclable and reusable packaging and practices. *Indicates qualified via the Circular Accelerator program.  Department Administrative Rule Updates – Single Family Homes (All districts) Austin Resource Recovery is making updates to its Administrative Rules and has posted the first round of updates on Speak Up Austin for public comment. The first update reviews changes to general information and single-family residential collection services. Online the Speak Up Austin page at: http://www.speakupaustin.org/j4317. comments will be open until September 18. View Fix-It Austin – Fix Broken Household Items A Fix-It Clinic will be at the Cepeda Library Branch from 12-2 p.m. on September 14. Residents can bring broken household items and learn to repair them with guidance from skilled coaches. Have jewelry, clothing, electronics, or small appliances repaired. There will be a drop-off period the week leading up to the clinic, for those who need something repaired but are unable to attend the event. Learn more and register at https://austintexas.gov/FixIt SWANA Safety Award City of Austin-Austin Resource Recovery has won the 2024 SWANA Safety Award in the category of Biggest Safety Improvement. The SWANA Biggest Safety Improvement award showcases an exemplary safety improvement undertaken by the solid waste industry during the previous year. In 2023, Austin Resource Recovery began using electronic forms on supervisor and safety personnel phones and tablets for them to perform scheduled gate checks at the yard, inspecting for policy compliance and equipment inspection compliance. This new electronic process allowed for the results of the inspection to be delivered immediately via email to the driver’s immediate supervisor to address the compliance issue with the employee. These leading indicators then became the focus for the Safety Team to begin inspecting these high-priority items in the field. Austin Resource Recovery consistently seeks to enhance our processes, staying at the forefront of technology without risking safety. Multi-family (4-plex and duplex units) Recycling & Composting In conjunction with the city-wide ordinance to provide residents at multifamily properties with access to composting, ARR will provide a hybrid service to several 4-plex and duplex units around Austin that are not currently receiving all services. ARR will be adding cart-based recycling and compost services to supplement the dumpsters for trash, providing equitable services to residents. Four hundred and sixty-two unites are impacted across nine areas in Austin. Residents will be delivered carts the week of September 2nd and the week of September 9th , with service beginning the week after they receive their carts. Composting and recycling carts were delivered to ARR customers residing in duplexes and fourplexes at multiple addresses:  7402-7419 Vintage Hills Drive  3300 - 3306 Vintage Hills Cove  3500-3511 Alpine Circle  1001-1127 W Rundberg  1900-1914 Hearthside Drive  1901-1920 Hearthstone Drive  8209-8219 Sam Rayburn (composting only)  800-5010 West Wind Trail  4800-5012 West Gate  2500-2507 Manor Circle Lost Creek, Blue Goose and Riverplace Disannexation In accordance with Texas Legislation HB3053, enacted during the 88th Legislative session in 2023, Lost Creek, Blue Goose Rd, and one premise in Riverplace (out parcel) will no longer receive municipal waste services from Austin Resource Recovery (ARR). Final service and carts were collected on:  Tuesday, September 3rd, Lost Creek  Thursday, September 5th, Blue Goose Rd/Riverplace Campaigns "Slow Down to Get Around" safety advertising campaign reminding drivers to slow down and be mindful of our crews for safety's sake just concluded. Messaging was shared on billboards around Austin from August 1 – September 30. Media A press release announcing the new composting collection requirement that starts October 1 at multifamily communities was distributed on September 24. This is part of the Universal Recycling Ordinance Austin is the first Texas city to offer composting access for both single- and multifamily households. Several media outlets ran stories about the new requirement. *Estimated tons of curbside recycling processed by vendors as residual - based on bi-annual sample route audit 154,409 152,343 12,124 12,909 13,925 12,821 144,706 160,293 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations FY 2022 FY 2023 Jul 2023 Aug 2023 FY23 YTD (Oct 22-Aug 23) Jul 2024 Aug 2024 LAST FISCAL YEAR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 134,125 8,197 613 11,474 45,974 1,607 8 341 1,788 43,548 168 5,636 47 172 132,867 8,383 540 10,553 53,839 1,528 0 384 1,691 44,445 221 175,089 58 124 97,333 275,466 10,393 832 36 863 11,039 874 59 936 3,155 142 0 35 154 2,226 22 444 8 0 6,008 3,413 126 0 37 150 2,014 13 582 5 0 6,177 FY24 YTD (Oct 23-Aug 24) 12,024 978 43 880 10,967 955 50 850 126,081 8,357 447 9,821 3,489 153 0 34 173 2,721 14 393 5 8 6,803 3,320 223 0 36 243 2,362 15 720 4 17 6,682 39,105 1,670 0 317 1,799 40,269 187 6,346 43 153 87,901 FY 2024 Goal 137,000 11,444 580 11,269 50,731 1,500 0 470 1,715 51,000 255 7,009 40 200 110,950 251,742 427,809 18,132 19,086 399,452 20,728 19,503 232,608 271,243 38.32% 63.42% 32.63% 31.93% 64.76% 32.25% 33.25% 37.38% 40.62% Number of Trash and Recycling Customers 212,139 215,063 216,594 216,580 214,903 217,751 217,382 215,553 214,346 24.32 23.76 22.16 23.54 23.99 25.51 23.30 24.55 24.58 16.77 19.37 13.54 14.65 14.89 14.20 15.33 18.31 Number of Curbside Compost Customers 210,876 213,758 215,252 215,243 213,601 216,434 215,982 214,200 213,130 Total Tons of Dead Animals Collected from COA 51 71 5 5 67 4 4 52 30 7.94 8.00 4.78 4.32 5.81 5.05 7.89 9.20 Description of Services d e s o p s D s n o T i i d e t r e v D s n o T Tons of Curbside Trash Tons of Curbside Bulk Disposed HHW Operations Tons Disposed Estimated Tons of Curbside Recycling Residuals* Total Disposed Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Tons of Curbside Recycling RRC Tons Recycled/Reused RRC Tons of Brush Collected HHW Operations Tons Recycled/Reused Tons of Drop Off Center Collections Recycled/Reused Tons of Curbside Compost Collected Tons of Curbside Bulk Recycled Tons of Curbside Brush Collected Tons of Curbside Textiles Collected Tons of Carts Recycled Total Diverted Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Total Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Estimated Percent of Curbside Collected Materials Diverted from Landfills by ARR Pounds of Trash Collected per Customer per Pickup Pounds of Recycled Materials Collected per Customer per Pickup (every other week) Pounds of Curbside Compost Collected per Customer per Week 122,891 7,473 510 9,692 140,566 40,153 1,361 0 368 1,530 42,144 200 174,684 52 124 258,886 15.77 8.28 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations 18,132 19,086 20,728 19,503 6,008 6,177 6,803 0 6,682 Jul 2023 Aug 2023 Jul 2024 Aug 2024 Total Diverted Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Total Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations Estimated Percent of Curbside Collected Materials Diverted from Landfills by ARR 0 0 32% 33% 37% 41% Jul 2024 Aug 2024 FY24 YTD (Oct 23-Aug 24) FY 2024 Goal Reporting Status and Diversion Results for All Categories of Waste Generation Category of Waste Generation Residential Waste Diversion (city serviced accounts) Community Diversion Rate FY2019-20 Actual FY2020-21 Actual FY2021-22 Actual FY2022-23 Actual FY2023-24 Goal FY2024-25 Current 40.38% 41.96% 38.32% 63.42% 40.62% 37.38% * * * * * * *As prescribed in the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan, the Department will conduct a detailed waste assessment study every five years to determine progress toward our Zero Waste goal. The first such study was published in 2015 and is titled Austin’s 2015 Community Diversion Study. The study focused on estimating diversion from both ARR-serviced properties and commercial properties. Commercial properties include retail businesses, food service establishments, professional offices, industrial properties, institutional facilities, government facilities, and multifamily properties five units and larger. According to Austin's 2015 Community Diversion Study, Residential Waste Diversion Rate (city serviced accounts) represents approximately 15% and the Community Diversion Rate (accounts serviced by private waste haulers) represents approximately 85% of the total citywide wastage. Residential Waste Diversion (city serviced accounts) 63.42% 40.38% 41.96% 38.32% 40.62% 37.38% FY2019-20 Actual FY2020-21 Actual FY2021-22 Actual FY2022-23 Actual FY2023-24 Goal FY2024-25 Current CY 2022 Category of Waste Generation Commercial Tons Landfilled** Commercial Tons Recycled** Commercial Organics Tons** CY 2020 CY 2021 1,359,207 435,875 81,436 1,558,819 471,492 95,840 1,358,344 454,031 87,896 ** Numbers reported here are compiled from self-reported data submitted by licensed private waste haulers via semi-annual tonnage reports required under Section 15-6-3 of the City Code on a calendar year basis and as such, ARR does not attest to the accuracy of these amounts. These numbers reflect data from 100-200 licensed haulers (number of haulers varies over time), and include haulers servicing dumpsters, roll-offs, construction and demolition debris, landscaping debris, and metal scrap. These numbers do not reflect all data sources included in Austin's 2015 Community Diversion Study. Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting - October 2024 Single Stream Recycling Statistical Report FY24: October thru August Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) and Balcones Resources, Inc. (BRI) Month and Year Contractor Tons Delivered Contractor Payments Net Value to the City Landfill Cost Avoidance Revenue Processing Cost Net Value Net Amount * Due/(Owed) $ per ton value Cost Per Ton Total October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 1,594.08 2,841.29 4,435.37 1,439.59 3,288.63 4,728.22 1,033.19 3,821.65 4,854.84 2,480.15 2,604.89 5,085.04 1,985.79 2,342.12 4,327.91 1,697.17 2,524.55 4,221.72 2,243.59 2,349.83 4,593.42 1,456.07 3,160.17 4,616.24 1,620.60 2,371.62 3,992.22 2,147.24 2,221.82 4,369.06 1,885.93 2,284.36 4,170.29 Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI TDS BRI $16,460 $160,521 $176,981 $14,760 $179,414 $194,174 $10,266 $220,505 $230,770 $37,993 $247,561 $285,555 $33,184 $235,492 $268,676 $30,339 $271,346 $301,685 $41,285 $275,170 $316,455 $25,646 $361,225 $386,871 $29,194 $271,343 $300,537 $37,247 $252,004 $289,251 $33,683 $258,242 $291,925 $79,704 $278,446 $358,150 $71,980 $322,285 $394,265 $51,660 $374,521 $426,181 $124,008 $255,279 $379,287 $99,290 $229,527 $328,817 $84,859 $247,406 $332,264 $112,180 $230,283 $342,462 $72,804 $309,697 $382,501 $81,030 $232,418 $313,448 $107,362 $217,738 $325,100 $94,297 $223,867 $318,164 ($63,244) ($117,925) ($181,169) ($57,219) ($142,872) ($200,091) ($41,394) ($154,016) ($195,410) ($86,014) ($7,718) ($93,732) ($66,106) $5,965 ($60,141) ($54,519) $23,940 ($30,579) ($70,895) $44,888 ($26,007) ($47,157) $51,528 $4,370 ($51,836) $38,925 ($12,912) ($70,115) $34,266 ($35,849) ($60,613) $34,375 ($26,239) $0 $0 $0 ($63,244) ($117,925) ($181,169) ($57,219) ($142,872) ($200,091) ($41,394) ($154,016) ($195,410) ($86,014) ($7,718) ($93,732) ($66,106) $4,473 ($61,632) ($54,519) $17,955 ($36,564) ($70,895) $33,666 ($37,229) ($47,157) $38,646 ($8,512) ($51,836) $29,194 ($22,643) ($70,115) $25,699 ($44,416) ($60,613) $25,781 ($34,832) ($39.67) ($41.50) $27.43 $27.43 ($39.75) ($43.44) $27.43 $27.43 ($40.06) ($40.30) $27.43 $27.43 ($34.68) ($2.96) $27.43 $27.43 ($33.29) $1.91 $27.43 $27.43 ($32.12) $7.11 $27.43 $27.43 ($31.60) $14.33 $27.43 $27.43 ($32.39) $12.23 $27.43 $27.43 ($31.99) $12.31 $28.34 $28.34 ($32.65) $11.57 $28.34 $28.34 ($32.14) $11.29 $28.34 $28.34 $43,726 $77,937 $121,662 $39,488 $90,207 $129,695 $28,340 $104,828 $133,168 $68,031 $71,452 $139,483 $54,470 $64,244 $118,715 $46,553 $69,248 $115,802 $61,542 $64,456 $125,998 $39,940 $86,683 $126,623 $45,928 $67,212 $113,140 $60,853 $62,966 $123,819 $53,447 $64,739 $118,186 $0 $0 $0 Total 0.00 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 FY24 Totals 49,394.33 $3,042,879 $3,900,639 ($857,760) ($916,231) $1,366,290