Title
a. Receive a status report on the Monterey County Recycling Study Project; and,
b. Recommend Environmental Health Staff to return to the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee with draft policy recommendations to comply with State requirements.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Alternative Energy & Environment Committee:
a. Receive a status report on the Monterey County Recycling Study Project; and,
b. Recommend Environmental Health Staff to return to the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee with draft policy recommendations to comply with State requirements.
SUMMARY:
In January 2017, staff from Health Department - Environmental Health division, CAO - Contracts/Purchasing division, RMA - Facilities Management, and the Go Green! Monterey County program met to conduct a study of the County of Monterey's recycling processes, infrastructure, and resources, as well as to understand state-mandated legislation that may impact County recycling processes.
Key findings of the recycling study are as follows:
* Individual departments are responsible for both enforcing recycling requirements and providing workstation waste and recycling bins for their staff
* Custodial service agreements for all contracted vendors require custodians to keep waste and recycling separate when disposing of waste at facility dumpster sites if recyclables are properly sorted at workstation bins and common area bins
* If recyclable items and materials are placed in solid waste bins they will ultimately reach a landfill without intervention from waste hauler
* Survey results show there is a necessity for recycling education and training for County Environmental Health staff
* California legislature currently requires mandatory recycling for specified facilities (AB 341) and future implementation of organic waste service for specified facilities (AB 1826)
* California's AB 341 and the Monterey County General Plan (2010) establish a community-wide waste d...
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