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Home My Public Portal About06-11-2013 PW report_201306070927392244Town Council Town of Watertown Committee on Public Works, Meeting May 21, 2013 Report: June 11, 2013 The Committee met Tuesday May 21st at 4:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Present were: Cecilia Lenk, Chair; Stephen Corbett, Vice -chair; and Vincent Piccirilli, Secretary. Also in attendance were DPW Superintendent Gerald Mee; DPW Clerk Mary Haley; Director of Community Development & Planning Steven Magoon; and Chris Peters from Republic Services. Councilor Susan Falkoff was also present. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the recycling survey and review the proposal for providing additional recycling toters. Mr. Peters presented the results of the survey that was conducted in February 2013 as requested by the Town Council. (Note: The Republic Services February 2013 Watertown Recycle Survey will be sent to the Town Council under separate cover.) This survey revealed that 7.92% on the recycling toters were at maximum fill, and 2.17% were at maximum fill with overflow, which means that about 10% of household could be candidates for an additional recycling toter. Mr. Mee presented a memo dated March 21, 2013 (attached) with the DPW's proposal for providing a second recycling toter for a one-time $180 fee. This fee was calculated to recover the DPW's cost of purchasing the toter as well as the additional collection charge from Republic. Mr. Mee also provided the results of a survey of recycling fees from surrounding communities (attached) which showed that Watertown's proposed fee is reasonable. Councilor Corbett asked if residents could bring their overflow recycling to the new recycling center as an alternative to buying a second toter. Mr. Mee said that all materials that could be placed in the recycling toter would also be accepted at the recycling center. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full Town Council instruct the Administration to proceed with the DPW's proposal to offer an additional recycling toter per household. The Committee also asked the Administration to follow up on two related items: 1. In the Public Works Committee report dated September 27, 2011, the Committee recommended that existing trash regulations and ordinances be reviewed and updated in consideration of the new trash and recycling collection program. The Committee would like an update on the progress of this. 2. It was observed that some residents are permanently storing their toters on public sidewalks. The Committee asked that the DPW look into resolving this problem, perhaps in coordination with the Health Department, since the state health code 105 CMR 410.600(A) states in part "Garbage and rubbish shall be put out for collection no earlier than the day of collection." The meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm. Report prepared by: Vincent Piccirilli Page 1 of 1 Gerald S. Mee Jr. Superintendent TOWN OF WATERTOWN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 124 ORCHARD STREET WATERTOWN MA 02472 TO: Michael Driscoll Town Manager FROM: Gerald S. Mee, Jr. Superintendent DATE: March 21, 2013 (P) 617-972-6420 (F) 617-972-6402 RE: Republic Recycle Survey/Second Recycle Tote Assessment Sir, As requested attached is a survey conducted by Republic Services, Inc on Tuesday, February 26th, Wednesday, February 27th, Thursday, February 28th and Monday March 4th. 2,275 houses were surveyed and placed into various categories as shown on the attached sheets. This survey revealed that 2.17% of residents in the survey properly crushed their recycling materials and still could utilize additional space. Also attached is a separate phone survey conducted by my staff of other communities of how and whether they allow an additional recycle tote. I recommend we proceed with my recommendation as described during the December 10th Public Works sub -committee meeting and offer an additional recycling tote at a cost of $180 each to any resident so desiring an additional recycling tote. Any resident requesting a tote should be able to contact the Department of Public Works, pay the additional $180 fee and the department will assign a numbered tote to the specific address. Republic Services will deliver the tote to the assigned address. The Department of Public Works prior to delivery will affix to the tote a decal showing that this tote is a paid additional tote to differentiate from the originally assigned recycling tote. Department of Public Works Misc Community Survey of Trash / Recycling A B C 1 TOWN RECYCLING COMMENTS 2 NEWTON - 617-796-1495 Automated - Single Stream weekly 3 Population 82,000 additional toter free, no limit, town 4 64 Gal/trash/recycling encourages drop at recycle center 5 Additional Toter (trash)Annual fee $150/ 35 gal 6 Additional Toter (trash) Annual fee $200/ 64 gal 7 No Limit 8 Free exchange for damaged toters by contractor 9 10 BURLINGTON - 781-270-1670 11 Population 25,000 Dual Stream Weekly, bins no toters 12 164 Gal for trash only No Limit on bins, Not Automated 13 Additional Toter (trash) Annual fee $150/ 64 gal 14 No Limit 15 Free exchange for damaged toters by contractor 16 17 BILLERICA - 978-436-9178 Dual Stream weekly, bins no toters 18 Population 41,000 No Limit on bins, Not Automated 19 1 64 Gal for trash only 20 Additional Toter (trash) $65/ 64 gal 21 Annual fee / $100 thereafter 22 No Limit 23 Free exchange for damaged toters by contractor 24 25 LAWRENCE - 978-620-3090 Automated - Single Stream weekly 26 Population 70,000 Additional toters - no fee unlimited 27 165 Gal for trash 28 Additional Toter (trash) $65 / 65 gal 29 Annual fee / $130 thereafter 30 No Limit 31 Free exhange for damaged toters by contractor 32 33 34 ARLINGTON 781-316-3000 Single Stream, Bi Weekly 35 Population 42,844 Not Automated, unlimited recycling 36 37 BELMONT 617-993-2600 38 Population 24,729 Not Automated 39 32 gallon supplied by the town or clearly marked 40 if bought outright 41 42 WALTHAM 781-314-3800 Not Automated 43 Population 60,632 Will anounce single stream very soon 44 32 gal maximum barrell(s) 45 46 LEXINGTON 781-274-8300 Not Automated 47 Population 31,394 48 49 CAMBRIDGE 617-349-4800 Automated - single stream weekly 50 Population 105,162 Free additional toters, Unlimited Community Survey Trash/Recycling Department of Public Works Misc Community Survey of Trash / Recycling A B C 51 Residents pick up 52 53 Lawrence 978-620-3090 Automated - Single Stream weekly 54 Population 76,377 Free additional toters, Unlimited 55 Residents pick up 56 57 Somerville 617-625-6600 Automated - Single Stream weekly 58 Population 75,754 $50 one time payment for an addl toter 59 Residents pick up 60 61 Medford 781-393-2417 Automated - Single Stream, bi-weekly 62 Population 56,173 96 gal for recycling / 64 gal for trash 63 $50 annual fee for additional recycling toter 64 Delivered by hauler 65 66 67 Framingham 508-532-5601 Automated - Single Stream, wkly, unlimited 68 Residents may purchase additional recycling 69 containers through a local cart distributor 70 71 Weymouth 781-337-5100 Not Automated 72 Residents convert their existing trash 73 containers into recycling containers 74 75 Community Survey Trash/Recycling