Number
140611
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. ZIELINSKI, BAUMAN AND WITKOWSKI
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Public Works to evaluate the feasibility, costs and benefits of implementing a citywide household compost collection program.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Public Works to evaluate the feasibility, costs and benefits of implementing a citywide household compost collection program, and to report the findings of this evaluation to the Common Council within 90 days.
...Body
Whereas, The 2014 Budget provides $9 million for landfill tipping fees for the City's solid waste collection program; and
Whereas, In 2012, the Department of Public Works ("DPW") collected approximately 245,000 tons of residential solid waste from about 213,000 households; and
Whereas, Of the 245,000 tons of residential solid waste collected, about 13% was compostable materials that were diverted from landfills; and
Whereas, By implementing a citywide household compost collection system for food scraps and yard waste, the City could substantially increase the amount of compostable materials diverted from landfills, thereby reducing the City's landfill tipping fees; and
Whereas, Mayor Barrett's "40 by 2020: A Clear Vision to the Future" solid waste diversion initiative calls for increasing the percentage of the Milwaukee's solid waste diverted from landfills from the current 24% to 40% by 2020; and
Whereas, Phase II of the "40 by 2020" initiative, anticipated to be phased in between 2014 and 2020, calls for implementing a residential food waste collection program; and
Whereas, Implementation of a citywide compost collection program for food scraps and yard waste would greatly increase the likelihood of attaining the 40% diversion goal; and
Whereas, The cities of Portland, San Francisco and Seattle have all implemented citywide residential compost collection programs; and
Whereas, In Wisconsin, the cities of Madison and Fitchburg have implemented pilot programs for curbside collection of organic materials; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Public Works is directed to evaluate the feasibility, costs and benefits of implementing a citywide household compost collection program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department's analysis shall assume that compost collection (food scraps and yard waste) will be made available to all households from which the City presently collects trash and recyclables; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department's evaluation shall include an analysis of the extent to which the costs of implementing the citywide household compost collection program -- including administrative, operational and capital costs - would be offset by the reduction in tipping fees resulting from the diversion of compost materials from landfills; and, be it
Further Resolved, That, in addition, the Department's evaluation shall include an analysis of the feasibility, costs and benefits of implementing a municipal backyard composting program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department shall submit the findings of its evaluation to the Common Council within 90 days of adoption of this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB153586-2
Jeff Osterman
09/23/2014