Item 005 - ARR Operations and Administrative Projects Update — original pdf

Backup

To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Richard McHale, Director, Austin Resource Recovery May 14, 2025 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission 2025 Annual TXSWANA Conference Austin hosted a well-attended 2025 Annual TxSWANA Conference last month, April 20-23rd. The conference included solid waste education and trade in Texas with opportunities to explore the latest in equipment, waste management trends, and regulatory updates. As the host City, the department coordinated opportunities to visit local facilities, including the Recycle and Reuse Drop Off Center and had several staff that presented, including the following sessions: • Disaster Debris Response & Cost Accounting (David McCluggage, Donald Hardee, Samuel Gilbert, Keri Greenwalt) • Talk Trust, Not Trash: The Importance of Community Engagement (Megan Oberdoerster, Lauren Hust) • Austin Resource Recovery ISO 9001:2015 Implementation Project (William Purcell, Marsha Cochran, Erika Phillips, Janet Goode-Gilbert) • Empowered Leaders, Resilient Teams: Driving Efficiency in a Growing City (Monica Allen) Austin Energy’s Electric Lawn Equipment Exchange On April 26, 2025, ARR participated in Austin Energy’s Electric Lawn Equipment Exchange at the Austin Public Health Facility at 2800 Webberville Road. Customers enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) were invited to participate in the event. Customers were allowed to drop off their gas-powered string trimmers and blowers and receive a battery powered electric trimmer and/or electric blower in return. ARR’s role was to receive the gas-powered equipment with on-site staff and bring the equipment to the Recycle and Reuse Drop-Off Center (RRDOC) at 2514 Business Center Drive. From there it was packaged for recycling through current contracted vendors. In total, 66 units were exchanged. There have been preliminary conversations of another event later this year. ARR PARD Cleanup Initiatives Resolution No. 20240814-027 directed Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) to provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on how we can further prevent and abate litter in City parks. ARR began cleaning several PARD locations through March and April. The cleanups focused both on illegal dumping and homeless encampment removal. Cleanups were conducted in the Onion Creek Greenbelt (Brandt Rd), Walnut Creek-East (Old Manor Rd), Levander Loop, Govalle Park and Yaupon/Spicewood Springs. Crews removed a total of 360 tons of trash/debris. They also diverted 12 tons of material such as metals, tires and shopping carts from the locations. The importance of these cleanups keeps PARD land clean and trash from entering waterways. Below is a snapshot of the individual cleanup effort at each site. ZWAC Bylaws Amendments to Remove Organics Committee On May 8 City Council approved an amendment to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission bylaws to remove the Organics Management Committee. ZWAC unanimously supported this proposed amendment in December 2024. Administrative Rule Amendments City Council will consider proposed department rule amendments on June 5. Changes to the rules include cart set-out time; placement of carts; guidelines for extra materials that do not fit in carts; and return trip fees. The Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) considered rule changes on April 9. ZWAC unanimously voted to support the recommend changes 7- 0-0. On April 23 staff briefed the Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks (CWEP) Committee. The Recycling Partnership Capture Rate and Set Out Study The City of Austin will partner with the Recycling Partnership on a Capture Rate and Participation Study. The Recycling Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving recycling systems in the United States. The Recycling Partnership is interested in supporting the City of Austin achieve its goals of understanding existing capture and participation as well as testing engagement strategies designed to increase recycling cart set out rates. The project will include 8 weeks to study of capture rate of materials and cart set out, 12 weeks of outreach and engagement, a post engagement measurement study, and a final report expected in December 2025. Learn more about The Recycling Partnership at: recyclingpartnership.org. ARR Solicitation Updates As of May 8, 2025 ZWAC Meeting May 14, 2025  Preparing for Council: • N/A  Published: • N/A  Expected to be Published Within 90 days: • Compost Processing Services: The Contractor shall provide complete processing, sorting, and composting of organics, yard waste, food scraps, and food-/oil-soiled compostable paper, as well as marketing services to include detailed data reporting to support the City’s residential curbside compost materials collection services. Link to the current contract. • Central Business District Collection Services: The Contractor shall provide complete collection, transporting, processing, and disposal services of trash, bulk materials, recycling, compost, and daily litter cleanups, within the CBD. Link to the current contract. • Residential Dumpster Collection Services: The Contractor shall provide complete collection, transportation, maintenance, and clean-up of refuse materials generated by residential multi-unit customers located within specific metropolitan areas of the city. Link to the current contract. Definitions: CCO CO-OP (Capital Contracting Office): Administers the procurement of professional and construction services. (Cooperative Contract): A contract that has been competitively bid and issued by another government or purchasing alliance with the intention of sharing it with other governmental entities. (Interlocal Agreement): A collaborative contract between local government entities (for example, ARR and a county, state, or school district) to provide more efficient and less costly services, where any payments are made from current revenues. (Invitation for Bid): Formal bidding documents inviting suppliers to submit pricing for goods or services. (Request for Information): Used to obtain industry input, feedback, or reactions from potential suppliers prior to issuing a solicitation. (Request for Quotation): Informal request to suppliers to provide quotes on specific goods or services. (Request for Qualifications): Formal solicitation used when qualifications are the main criteria for professional services. (Request for Proposals): Formal request for a supplier to provide a solution and cost estimate to a complex need. ILA IFB RFI RFQ RFQS RFP Page 1 of 1 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations LAST FISCAL YEAR-FY24 CURRENT FISCAL YEAR-FY25 Description of Services FY2023 FY2024 Feb 2024 Mar 2024 FY24 YTD (Oct 23-Mar 24) Feb 2025 Mar 2025 d e s o p s D s n o T i Tons of Curbside Trash Tons of Curbside Bulk Disposed HHW Operations Tons Disposed Estimated Tons of Curbside Recycling Residuals (1) Total Disposed Tons Collected Curbside and from Drop Off Center Operations 132,867 8,383 540 136,713 9,366 484 10,553 10,610 11,071 821 45 837 10,833 96 42 837 68,109 3,598 221 5,410 10,413 380 28 784 11,147 250 40 847 152,343 157,173 12,774 11,808 77,338 11,604 12,284 75,764 151,966 FY25 YTD (Oct 24-Mar 25) 67,475 2,840 210 FY 2025 Goal 135,000 5,680 421 5,239 10,865 3,465 3,385 21,775 3,012 3,261 20,260 51,135 (1) Estimated tons of curbside recycling processed by vendors as residual - based on bi-annual sample route audit Total Tons of Recyclables Collected RRC Tons Recycled/Reused RRC Tons of Brush Collected HHW Operations Tons Recycled/Reused 53,839 1,528 0 384 42,315 1,811 0 344 Tons of Drop Off Center Collections Recycled/Reused 1,691 1,948 145 0 34 163 134 0 19 150 Tons of Curbside Compost Collected Tons of Curbside Bulk Recycled Tons of Curbside Brush Collected Tons of Curbside Textiles Collected Tons of Carts Recycled 44,445 221 175,089 58 124 42,716 206 6,713 46 177 3,896 6,129 16 485 5 16 3 166 5 16 i d e t r e v D s n o T 836 0 165 917 23,259 84 3,082 18 71 103 0 26 99 149 0 38 178 1,853 5,604 30 198 3 24 9 148 3 35 803 0 171 867 19,987 108 1,917 19 106 1,607 0 343 1,733 39,973 216 3,834 38 212 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 275,466 94,122 8,046 9,852 49,206 5,217 9,237 43,263 97,141 427,809 251,294 20,820 21,660 126,544 16,822 21,521 119,027 249,107 63.42% 37.04% 38.25% 45.19% 38.51% 30.66% 42.52% 35.94% 35.71% Pounds of Trash Collected per Customer per Pickup 23.76 24.39 23.69 23.09 24.50 22.13 24.94 24.31 24.30 Number of Trash and Recycling Customers 215,063 215,723 215,864 216,742 214,024 217,283 206,470 213,644 213,644 Pounds of Recycled Materials Collected per Customer per Pickup (every other week) Pounds of Curbside Compost Collected per Customer per Week 19.37 15.19 14.92 14.52 15.77 12.89 14.68 14.69 18.52 8.00 7.67 8.39 13.14 8.42 3.96 12.61 7.25 7.24 Number of Curbside Compost Customers 213,758 214,366 214,505 215,388 212,659 215,908 205,217 212,340 212,340 Total Tons of Dead Animals Collected from COA Rights-of-Way and the Animal Shelter 71 55 5 5 33 5 5 34 68 Austin Resource Recovery Curbside Collection and Drop Off Center Operations 20,820 21,660 21,521 8,046 9,852 16,822 0 5,217 9,237 Feb 2024 Mar 2024 Feb 2025 Mar 2025 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 43% 31% 36% 36% 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Feb 2025 Mar 2025 FY25 YTD (Oct 24-Mar 25) FY 2025 Goal Category of Waste Generation Residential Waste Diversion (city serviced accounts) Community Diversion Rate Reporting Status and Diversion Results for All Categories of Waste Generation 2020-21 Actual 41.96% 2021-22 Actual 38.32% 2022-23 Actual 63.42% 2023-24 Actual 37.04% 2024-25 Goal 35.71% 2024-25 Current 35.94% * * * * * * *As prescribed in the (1) 2023 Austin Resource Recovery Comprehensive Plan, the Department shall conduct a detailed waste assessment study every five years to determine progress toward our Zero Waste goal. This plan is an update to the (2) 2011 Master Plan (see link below).The first such study was published in (3) 2015, titled Austin’s 2015 Community Diversion Study (see link below). 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. (1) 2023 Austin Recovery Comprehensive Plan (2) 2011 Master Plan (3) Austin's 2015 Community Diversion Study Residential Waste Diversion (City-serviced accounts) 63.42% 41.96% 38.32% 37.04% 35.71% 35.94% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% 2020-21 Actual 2021-22 Actual 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Actual Category of Waste Generation Commercial Tons Landfilled** Commercial Tons Recycled** Commercial Organics Tons** FY 2019-20 1,359,207 435,875 81,436 2024-25 Goal FY 2020-21 1,558,819 471,492 95,840 2024-25 Current FY 2021-22 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 - May 2025 Single Stream Recycling Statistical Report FY25: October thru March 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 2024 November 2024 December 2024 January 2025 February 2025 March 2025 April 2025 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025 August 2025 2,144.93 2,065.32 $4,210 1,877.78 2,230.55 4,108.33 2,287.96 2,261.93 4,549.89 1,951.48 2,779.03 4,730.51 1,748.80 2,046.62 3,795.42 2,040.11 2,068.38 4,108.49 TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total Total TDS BRI TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total TDS BRI Total 0.00 TDS BRI Total 0.00 TDS BRI Total 0.00 TDS BRI TDS BRI Total 0.00 Total 0.00 September 2025 TDS BRI Total 0.00 36,850.76 232,267.97 $269,119 107,246.50 202,401.46 $309,648 ($70,395.74) $29,866.51 ($40,529) ($70,395.74) $22,399.88 ($47,996) ($32.82) $10.85 $28.34 $28.34 $30,199 $240,920 $271,118 $35,936 $233,022 $268,957 $30,218 $294,123 $324,341 $27,198 $210,298 $237,497 $33,916 $224,773 $258,688 $93,889 $218,594 $312,483 $114,398 $221,669 $336,067 $97,574 $272,345 $369,919 $87,440 $200,569 $288,009 $102,006 $202,701 $304,706 ($63,690) $22,326 ($41,365) ($78,462) $11,353 ($67,110) ($67,356) $21,778 ($45,578) ($60,242) $9,730 ($50,512) ($68,090) $22,072 ($46,018) ($63,690) $16,744 ($46,946) ($78,462) $8,515 ($69,948) ($67,356) $16,333 ($51,022) ($60,242) $7,297 ($52,945) ($68,090) $16,554 ($51,536) ($33.92) $7.51 $28.34 $28.34 ($34.29) $3.76 $28.34 $28.34 ($34.52) $5.88 $28.34 $28.34 ($34.45) $3.57 $28.34 $28.34 ($33.38) $8.00 $28.34 $28.34 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $60,787 $58,531 $119,318 $53,216 $63,214 $116,430 $64,841 $64,103 $128,944 $55,305 $78,758 $134,063 $49,561 $58,001 $107,562 $57,817 $58,618 $116,435 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 FY25 Totals 25,502.89 $1,629,720 $1,920,832 ($291,111) ($320,392) $722,752