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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.28.22 Staff Report JEFFERSON COUNTY, WA SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 4/28/22 STAFF REPORT Recycling Contract The new recycling service agreement with Skookum Contract Services is fully executed and the new five- year Term begins April 1, 2022. The only change to the recycling program is a return to the pre-2015 program of collecting only bottles and jugs in the plastic mix. Food Waste Diversion House Bill 1799 has passed. This legislation requires cities and counties state-wide to provide food waste collection services. The costs and feasibility of a centralized processing facility will be a focus of the solid waste facility replacement planning process. I/DD Employment Program The contract for supported employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been executed and the transition from Skookum to Cascade Community Connections will officially happen on April 1, 2022. Public Works appreciates the care that Skookum is taking to help its clients make this transition. Port of Port Townsend Request An Interlocal Agreement between the Port and County has been fully executed and provides for the Moderate Risk Waste Facility to revert to Port ownership on January 1, 2024. This will allow both the County and Port to plan for remote collection events as a means of continued service for both household and business moderate risk waste and for additional collection services for target products at the Boathaven administered by the Port. MRW Collection Events Remote collection events are scheduled for Port Ludlow on 10/8 and for Quilcene on 10/15. Tire Collection Public Health was able to secure funding from Ecology to host a very successful tire collection event on March 6th. The County’s Fleet Management department in Port Hadlock provided the space and a trailer was filled with an estimated 550-600 tires by 11:30 am. Public Works is working with the company that collected and recycled the tires at the event to stage a trailer at the transfer station for better material management and will consider whether a discounted disposal rate is possible to incentivize participation. Scale Replacement Project Bid documents are nearing completion for the pit scale replacement project. Public Works will solicit bids for the project through the Municipal Research and Services Center Small Works Roster and Daily Journal of Commerce shortly with work expected to take place in Q3, 2022. Cost estimates are higher than initially anticipated. Environmental Center Improvements Staff has procured sharps collection bins and has installed them at both the Quilcene and Transfer Station facilities so that customers have an easy means of disposal without transiting the scales and staff are at less risk of injury. Public Works is contracting with Stericycle to provide for collection and proper disposal. This additional service will be advertised broadly. Staff is planning on replacement of the steel drums used for antifreeze collection with a large poly tank. This will make it easier for customers to deposit the antifreeze and will protect from the corrosion and leakage that occur with steel drums when customers deposit corrosive engine coolant cleaning products in the drums. Rechargeable battery collection is now offered at the Quilcene and Transfer Station Environmental Centers and improved signage is being installed. Transfer Station Near Miss Staff at the Transfer Station noticed smoke in a pile of household garbage and were able to remove some lithium ion batteries just as they burst into flames. A press release about the incident was submitted to local newspapers but they did not run it. Staff is buying a ¼ page ad in the Leader and PDN to alert customers to this hazard and direct them to the free disposal options. Paint Care Program Public Works has been working with Paint Care to amend the service agreement such that it will satisfy the County’s insurer. We expect a revised agreement to be forwarded for legal review shortly.