03/21/1997 - Minutes City of Tigard, Oregon
Solid Waste Efficiencies Task Force
Minutes of meeting March 21, 1997
Members present: Larry Schmidt, Buck Westfall, Mike Leichner, John Cook, Bob Rohlf
Staff present: Loreen Mills, Wayne Lowry
Meeting began at 7:30. The minutes from the March 7, 1997 were approved.
Loreen addressed the topic of service duplications. No list has been prepared. After some
discussion, it was determined that a list of areas where Metro seems to micromanage the haulers
and the City could be assembled. Bob wanted to be able to make the Council aware of things
that are required that add cost to the garbage process.
The Haulers will bring to the next meeting lists of those areas they believe Metro is an
impediment to efficient service delivery. Loreen will assemble a similar list of those areas where
Metro interferes with the City.
Wayne briefed the group on the meeting with HLA staff David Allaway and Richard Hertzberg.
Their concerns were that commingling as proposed by the committee was a very big issue and
would take a substantial effort to review all related issues. There are legal issues, recovery level
issues, cost issues and customer issues that all should be looked at. Such a program would be the
first of it's kind in the state. Some selective commingling at the curb is being done but not to the
extent suggested. Once the commingled material is delivered to the separator, the City and the
Haulers loose control over the separation process and the efficiency of that separation.
HLA suggested completing our review of all the haulers efficiency suggestions and then having
HLA come to a future meeting to discuss a possible scope for all review items.
After some discussion, the haulers agreed to come back to the next meeting with a revised
commingling proposal that will limit the items to be commingled and to consider other changes
to containers and frequency of pick up.
Loreen discussed Metro and County reaction to the commingling idea. She called the
committee's attention to the RSWAMP report page 7-8 and 7-9 which includes goals to expand
and increase participation in curbside recycling programs. The report gives local flexibility for
programs as long as they produce the same results in volume or weight.
Page 7-35 actually mentions selective commingling of compatible materials.
Loreen was not sure of DEQ's position or cooperativeness to this idea. She felt Metro and the
County may be able to offer some funding with grants.
Mike explained that he currently commingles fibers and takes his loads to farwest fibers for
separation. They charge $60 per ton and the hauler gets the market price at the mill for the
materials.
It was suggested that curbside materials may be separated into two groups, glass and tin and
plastic and fiber.
The discussion of service standards was put off until the next meeting.
The haulers discussed their estimated costs for monthly billing and return envelopes. The
committee determined that the costs of the program would far outweigh the benefits to the
customers. The issue was dropped from further discussion.
The committee did discuss electronic payments.
The committee then discussed the next item on the haulers suggestions which was access to
commercial and multifamily containers. Gates, vehicles, locks and other containers often cause
delays at the site to dump the container. The current $65 per hour charge was discussed as was
the idea of lowering the fee for properly maintained container areas and charging extra for those
costing more time and energy. This would be revenue neutral but would charge the offenders.
The haulers will discuss this further and bring back a suggested way of charging to encourage
correct placement.
Wayne mentioned the aggregate rate of 8.04% for 1996.
The next meeting will be held Friday, April 4, 1997. The agenda will include service standards,
haulers suggestions for access improvements, and continued review of the hauler suggestions for
efficiencies. Lynn Storz will be set off until April 18 to get back to the regional issues.
The meeting adjourned at 9:35