[from a January 28, 2008 staff memo to the Board of Directors]
- WMAC - CVSD Update -
December Report Highlights: Franchise Fees of $108,966.05 were received January 20th for the month of December ($20,511.08 received December 20th for the month of November). Final 2007 tonnage numbers were received on January 25th – please see portions of the report as an attachment. Tons of garbage from residential, commercial, roll-off, self-haul, and bulky waste pick-ups decreased 7% in 2007 (28,148.29 tons) vs. tonnage from 2006 (30,306.18 tons).WMAC mailed 25 New Resident packets for December (30:November), including the Residential Curbside Services Guide, Bulky Waste Pick Up Guide, Stop Junk Mail Kits, food scrap recycling jar grippers, and Used Oil DVDs and guides. 40 garbage bag-its and 0 paper gardening bags were sold in the month of January.
Monthly Coordination Meeting: Staff met with WMAC on January 10th. Please see minutes as an attachment.
Bag-A-Bag Recycling: The District was notified on November 28, 2007 of WMAC’s implementation of a new plastic bag/wrap recycling program at Davis Street Material Recycling and Transfer Station. To date, the District has issued a press release regarding the new program, is publicizing the program in its multi-family recycling informational flyer and follow-up postcards, is featuring an article in an upcoming Pipeline newsletter, and will be running an advertisement in the Castro Valley Forum. Two (2) articles in the newspaper and Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce have been authored. WMAC reports that the participation in the new program has been minimal.
New Contract: Following the January 8th Board meeting, the Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee has met with WMAC for four (4) negotiation meetings. The Committee will meet on January 29th to determine a recommendation for the Board.
Basketball Hoops & Overhead Obstructions: The District and WMAC sent out 11 letters last week to residents notifying them of the safety danger of placing carts too close to portable basketball hoops. Residents were requested to place carts a minimum of three (3) feet away, or relocating the hoop.
Canyonlands Recycling: No change since last month.
- Multi-Family Single-Stream Recycling
- The District and WMAC provided outreach to the following complexes,
with realized waste reduction through education and increased recycling
capacity. Kits were distributed to the individual tenants.
Multi-Family AddressNumber of UnitsPre-Outreach DiversionPost-Outreach DiversionValue of Donation20444 Stanton Ave.12 units32%46%$ 52.50The team also visited the four (4) complexes which started programs last month. The status of the programs is excellent, with minimal contamination. Follow-up postcards will be received by the end of the month for distribution and education.
- Recycled Product Purchase Preference (RPPP)
Funds - No change since last month.
- Commercial Recycling/Green Business
- With assistance and recommendations from the District, AT&T Construction
Yard on Norbridge Avenue, and AAAAA Rent-A-Space/RAS Management on Crow
Canyon Place made significant changes in order to start a recycling
program. AT&T was sending approximately 60 cubic yards to the landfill/month,
and will now be diverting 75%. AAAAA reduced their garbage by 33%, and
additionally increased diversion by 20%.
- Bay Friendly Landscape - No change since
last month.
- Department of Conservation (DOC) Update
- No change since last month.
- Street Cans/Recycling Pyramids and Maintenance
Partnership - The Graffiti Team cleaned and removed graffiti
from twelve (12) street cans this month. A street can on Castro Valley
Blvd. was removed, and a recycling pyramid on another can was replaced
due to damages.
- Used Oil Recycling Grant
- Two-thousand copies of the District’s new Used Motor
Oil and Filter Recycling Guide were received this month. The educational
brochure, which highlights the District’s curbside recycling program,
Used Oil Collection Centers and re-refined motor oil, is now available
for distribution. The cost of the Guide is $2,175.98, not including
staff time, and is fully funded by the Used Oil Block Grant.
- School Programs Update
Environmental Education (EE): The District has scheduled a total of 22 EE programs to date for the 2007/08 school year. The first Wastewater Wise presentation of the school year was conducted on January 17th. The first 4Rs Field Trip is scheduled to be held in the Board Room on February 5th.Food Scrap Recycling: Planning and preparations continue for a February 19th program commencement at Independent Elementary School. Comments regarding the District’s Food Scrap Recycling Guide for Castro Valley Schools have been received by staff. The final Guide is anticipated to be available in February.
Green Ribbon Program: No change since last month.
- Community Advisory Committee (CAC) -
On January 16, 2008 the CAC met and discussed the CAC Guidelines, Commercial
Users Sewer Service Charges and the new Solid Waste Services contract.
The next CAC meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2008.
- Residential Food Scrap Recycling -
Fast Cash for Food Scraps: The District’s 10th and final Fast Cash for Food Scraps audit was conducted on January 28, 2008. An audit report will be included in the March Board agenda packet. A total of $6,500.00 was awarded to 65 Castro Valley households during the 10 month Fast Cash for Food Scraps program. Additionally, 5 winners were selected in bi-monthly drawings and received a year of free curbside collection services for an additional cost to the District of approximately $1,000.00. A final report with complete program details will be prepared by staff.
Marketing Campaign: Underground Advertising has completed their project scope with the District which included the incorporation of District branding elements into StopWaste.Org’s “Make It Second Nature” marketing campaign for BART and shopping cart ads. BART ads were posted this week and will run through March 23, 2008. Shopping cart ads will be featured on Castro Valley Lucky’s and Safeway shopping carts for six (6) months beginning February 4th. StopWaste.Org has agreed to fund the design work completed by Underground Advertising, valued at $1,250.00.
- Construction and Demolition (C&D)
- No change since last month.
- Compost Give Away - Workbench True Value
Hardware and Pete’s ACE Hardware stores have confirmed their participation
in the District’s 2008 event. Castro Valley Gold compost will
be delivered to the retail stores for resident pick-up through the month
of March. Or, residents may choose to pick-up their free bag of compost
at the Castro Valley Adult School from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday,
March 22nd. Compost Vouchers will be included in the February 2008 WMAC
bill.
- Earth Day Community Clean Up 2008 - Coordination
has begun for the April 26th event. Staff is working on securing sites
for beautification, publicity, and met with Supervisor Nate Miley to
discuss Unincorporated Alameda County’s assistance with the event.
- Document Shredding & U-Waste Collection
Event 2008 - The 2nd U-Waste partnership meeting was facilitated
by the District on January 17th. At that time, Sunrise Rotary Club,
Castro Valley Rotary Club and Boy Scout Troop #726 confirmed their partnerships
with the District for the 2008 event and the District presented each
partner with a Letter of Intent. The next meeting is scheduled for February
14th at 3:00 p.m.
- Electronic Annual Report (EAR) 2006 -
No change since last month.
- 3-Year Budget - Adjustments have been
made to planned expenditures for the budget per request from the Budget
and Long Range Planning Committee.
- Community Development Project Grant
A letter was received from Beautiful Castro Valley regarding the Castro Valley Blvd. Newsrack Consolidation. $2,000 in grant funding, awarded by the District November 2005, made possible the installation of pedestals along Castro Valley Blvd. and Redwood Road by Alameda County Community Development Agency, with an anticipated completion of January 2008. Pedestals will be installed at eight (8) locations, will accommodate fifty-two (52) news racks, and all existing racks on public right-of-way will be removed. In the future, no additional racks may be placed on public right-of way within the project area.
- Stop Junk Mail and Bring Your Own Bag
Staff participated in a conference call with Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition (BayROC), who coordinates the Stop Junk Mail campaign on behalf of its partners, including the District. In addition to furthering Stop Junk Mail, a new media campaign, Bring Your Own Bag, is being mobilized to highlight the importance of plastic (and paper) bag reduction, and the impact from the production of bags. BayROC is planning approximately $90,000 in Stop Junk Mail radio spots February 2008, and $90,000 in Bring Your Own Bag spots April 2008 on popular radio stations, such as KGO, KKSF, and KOIT.
- Legislation News -
Assembly Bill 48. which would have phased out the use of specified hazardous materials in consumer electronics, was recently vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The Bill was supported by Californians Against Waste and had passed out of the Senate with a 22-16 vote. Governor Schwarzenegger found the bill to be “overly broad” and felt the exemptions would “make many electronic products prematurely obsolete and force their retirement years earlier than necessary.”
* Information for Legislation News obtained from www.cawrecycles.org.
Castro Valley Sanitary District
21040 Marshall Street
Castro Valley, CA 94546-6020
Phone: (510) 537-0757 | Fax: (510) 537-1312 | Email: info@cvsan.org