TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Douglas J. Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Daniel Edwards, Assistant Director of Public Services
Sheila Thomas-Ambat, PE, Director of Public Services
DATE: January 2, 2023
RE:
Title
Solid Waste - Yard Waste - Acceptable Containers
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Executive Summary:
The City Council adopted the amended Solid Waste (SW) Ordinance on January 27, 2023, which went into effect on July 1, 2023. In response to a recent Council request due to concerns some residents raised regarding acceptable containers for yard waste, staff are prepared to discuss the feasibility of accepting non-standardized containers for yard waste. Staff recommend continuing with the present process, for the City of Fayetteville to better maintain consistency, predictability, and enforceability of the SW services.
Background:
During a presentation to the Council in January, staff presented proposed revisions to the operations ordinance. The main objective of the proposed new ordinance was to address service limits, correct ordinance ambiguity, update definitions, and update the operation language (specifically Sec 22-10). There were no recommendations or discussions regarding changing the acceptable yard waste containers or any of the other containers for SW services other than the general statement regarding tighter enforcement of the whole ordinance moving forward.
Please refer below for the list of approved containers for yard waste in the previous Solid Waste Ordinance:
Sec. 22-5, a
2. Nonautomated collection system. All households and businesses not part of the automated rollout collection system shall provide approved containers for all solid waste for removal by the city. Wet and dry garbage containers shall have a capacity of no more than 32 gallons. The following provisions shall be complied with:
a. Containers shall be cans made substantially of metal or plastic. Cans shall have tight-fitting covers and strong handles, and the covers shall be kept on at all times except when cans are being filled or emptied. Plastic bags may be used as approved containers for household solid waste collection by city forces and shall be properly secured at the bag opening with a twist tie or other secure means to eliminate any spillage of contents.
b. Plastic bags to be used to containerize household materials shall be constructed from film made from high quality polyethylene or similar product. Bags shall withstand normal service handling when filled to a maximum weight of 50 pounds when securely closed.
Sec. 22-10, (8)
(8) Yard waste containerization requirements and collection services Yard waste collection shall be provided only to single-family residential units as approved by the solid waste director or designee.
1. Yard wastes shall be separated from all other refuse prior to collection. Collection forces shall collect yard waste that is customarily and reasonably associated with the residential unit served so long as it is properly prepared or containerized and in compliance with these regulations.
2. Grass clippings, small shrubbery clippings, leaves, and other small lawn debris shall be collected at the curbside provided that they are placed in plastic bags or other approved containers for collection. If plastic bags are used, such bags shall be in good condition, and of such size and weight that, when full, do not weigh more than 50 pounds each and are such that one individual can pick up each bag, one at a time, for disposal. Plastic bags shall be secured at the top when placed at curbside for collection.
3. City-approved/issued rollout refuse containers may be used for yard trash containerization when doing so does not inhibit proper disposal of household trash. Other approved containers used for yard waste shall have tight-fitting lids, equipped with strong handles, and shall not exceed 32 gallons in size or 50 pounds in weight when filled. All other yard waste containers shall be furnished by the owner or occupant and be made of metal or plastic for the purpose of solid waste disposal.
Please refer below for the list of approved containers for yard waste in the current Solid Waste Ordinance:
Section 22-5
3. Yard Waste Non-Automated Collection System, All Residential Units and Single Business Units that have not purchased a City-issued Yard Waste Rollout Cart shall provide an alternative City-approved can for all Yard Waste for removal by the City. The can shall have a capacity of no more than 32 gallons. The following provisions apply:
a. Cans shall be made substantially of metal or plastic. Cans shall have tight-fitting covers and strong handles, and the covers shall be kept on at all times except when cans are being filled or emptied.
b. Plastic bags used to containerize Yard Waste shall be constructed from film made from high quality polyethylene or a similar product. Bags shall withstand normal service handling when filled to a maximum weight of 50 pounds when securely closed.
c. Cans provided by the user for Yard Waste shall not weigh more than 50 pounds.
Section 22-10
J. Yard Waste containerization requirements and Collection. 1. Yard Waste Collection shall be provided only to Units as approved by the City Manager or designee. 2. Yard Waste shall be separated from all other Waste prior to Collection. The City shall collect Yard Waste that is customarily and reasonably associated with the Unit served so long as it is properly prepared or containerized and in compliance with these regulations. Yard Waste shall be placed within four (4) feet of the Curbside for Collection by the City.
a. Grass clippings, small shrubbery clippings, leaves, and other small lawn and Yard Waste debris shall be collected at the Curbside provided that they are placed in plastic bags, an approved can for Collection, or a Rollout Cart that is purchased from or provided by the City. If plastic bags are used, such bags shall be in good condition, and of such size and weight that, when full, do not weigh more than 50 pounds each, and are such that one individual can pick up each bag one at a time for disposal. The plastic bags shall be secured at the top when placed at Curbside for Collection. For each Collection day, a maximum combination of ten (10) Rollout Carts, plastic bags, and approved cans in total can be set out at the Curbside for weekly Collection.
b. Loose Yard Waste comprised of branches and twigs are to be tied into bundles weighing no more than 50 pounds, be no longer than three (3) feet in length, three (3) feet in width, and the branches must not be larger than three (3) inches in diameter.
Other approved cans used for Yard Waste that are provided by the user shall be made of metal or plastic, have tight-fitting lids, be made for Waste disposal, equipped with strong handles, and shall not exceed 32 gallons in size or 50 pounds in weight when lifted by one person.
Issues/Analysis:
Solid Waste services around 64,000 residents and have tagged approximately 2852 tags since July 1, 2023. Staff tagged around 302 unapproved containers for yard waste. On the other hand, there were more tags for residents attempting to use their recycling cart, approximately 745, than tags for unapproved containers. Overall, 99% put there yard waste out right the first time and nearly 100% get it right after we have tagged them.
Residents who prefer using alternative methods for yard waste collection are encouraged to purchase brown carts. These carts can be used for both yard waste and household waste. They come with a ten-year warranty, unlike reusable bags, which may need to be replaced within three years. In case of any defects or damages, the City will replace or repair the brown carts for ten years. However, if reusable bags are ripped or destroyed while being emptied into the truck by the staff, the City will not bear the cost of replacing them. There are various types of reusable bags, boxes, and containers that residents can use to dispose of their yard waste during collection. Furthermore, providing such inconsistent collection compromises the safety and health of staff because of the unpredictability of collections. Although the plastic bags must be lifted in the hopper of the truck, they are cut within the hoper, and the plastic bag is disposed of by the crew without issues. Some residents desire to use biodegradable bags. Bio-bags are not accepted at the Wilkes Road Facility. It would be a challenge to regulate the variety of options available for yard waste collection use. Brown carts are the best option for the collection of yard waste. It's important to note that introducing alternative methods of containerizing yard waste might lead to requests for additional alternative methods, which could result in inconsistent, unpredictable, and unenforceable services from SW.
Below the Peer City Comparison for Containers shows that Fayetteville meets or exceeds collections methods.
Peer City Comparison Containers
Budget Impact:
No Budget Impact
Options:
1. Continue using the accepted containerized methods for yard waste collections in the SW Ordinance.
2. Amend the SW Ordinance to include other containerized methods for yard waste collections or give direction
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council:
1. Continue using the accepted containerized methods for yard waste collection in the SW Ordinance.
Attachments:
SW Yard Acceptable Containers PPT