HAMILTON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES -
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MANAGER'S MEMORANDUM

DATE:           January 8, 2009

TO:                 District Policy Committee Members

FROM:           Holly Christmann, Solid Waste Manager
Cory R. Chadwick, Director

 I.      Introduction/Opening Comments

NOTICE: This memo is for the meeting to be held on January 15, 2009. The meeting will begin at 9:30 am at Hamilton County Environmental Services located at 250 William Howard Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.

Policy Committee Information (Agendas, Manager=s Memos, Minutes, etc.) are available on the District=s Website at www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org.

II.     Clerk's Report/Additions to the Agenda

         A.     Approval of Minutes – Minutes from the November 20, 2008 Policy Committee meeting are included as Attachment A.

B.     Additions to the Agenda

Please contact Susan Schumacher at 513-946-7734 or susan.schumacher@hamilton-co.org if you have items to add to the agenda.

III.     District Revenue Updates/Analysis

Updates will be provided on current revenue receipts and comparisons with prior years, as included in Attachment B.  

IV.     Policy Items

A.          2009 District Revenue

As discussed at previous Policy Committee meetings, Montgomery and Miami Counties’ waste has been disposed at Rumpke Sanitary Landfill until Rumpke’s Brown County Landfill received its expansion.  The Brown County Landfill received its permit in late December. The Montgomery and Miami County waste is expected to be disposed in that landfill beginning in mid-January. 

With this shift in waste, it is estimated that revenue could fall by 20 percent in 2009.  A 20 percent reduction is approximately $600,000.  Therefore, the District will use a portion of its carryover balance to fund its 2009 programs if the reduction in revenue becomes a reality.

The chart below illustrates the impact the potential revenue reductions will have on the carryover balance.  In January, 2010, the carryover balance could be $2.3 million, which is $300,000 over eight months operating costs.  

While Staff will monitor the revenue over the next three months, given the economy and the shift of waste to the Brown County Landfill, Staff is beginning to examine potential program changes to be implemented in 2010.  Any significant changes will be discussed at upcoming Policy Committee meetings.

 B.           Television Recycling Event

The Policy Committee requested Staff develop a list of options to assist Hamilton County residents in managing televisions as a result of the February 17^th switch from analog to digital broadcasting.  Attachment C outlines two options including a 1-2 day collection event and a public information campaign to educate residents on the private sector outlets for television recycling.

Staff Recommendation: Given the anticipated reduction in revenue, Staff is not recommending a District-sponsored television collection event.  Instead, Staff recommends implementing a public information campaign or conducting an event where residents pay the cost of the service.

 C.          District Priority Grants

At the November Policy Committee meeting, the Committee approved grant funding for non-profits and communities under the District’s Priority Grant.  The Committee recommended funding in the amount of $39,409 for non-profits and $48,679 for communities.  All approved grantees met the three priority areas:  food waste diversion, recycling in public places, and recycling promotion. 

      District staff did not recommend funding or full funding for the following communities:

Crosby Township - requested $6,311 in funds to continue their promotion of their recycling drop-offs as well as funds to pay for the cost of the two drop-offs. This project has been funded for the past seven years so it is a lower priority.

Whitewater Township - requested $7,324 in funding to hold the annual Township Cleanup Days in the Township. This project has been funded six of the past seven years and does not align with a District priority so the project is lower priority.

City of Forest Park – requested $6,972; approved by the Policy Committee to fund $762 to purchase public recycling containers for special events.  The District did not recommend funding $2,330 for the mixed paper drop-off promotional campaign because the project was funded in previous years so it was a lower priority. The District did not recommend funding $3,180 for the Large Appliance/ Metal Recycling Drive because the project is not a District priority and has been funded in previous years. The District also did not recommend funding $700 for a used tire recycling drop-off day because the project is not a District priority and has been funded in previous years.

The Policy Committee requested additional information on the aforementioned grants including participation level, tons diverted, if the community was providing matching funds, and if these events would end if they were not funded by the District.  Attachment D provides responses to the Committee’s request.  The Committee requested this information to determine if the grant applications would be approved for funding.

 D.          Storm Debris Update

The storm debris clean up continues and is almost complete.  Attachment E details the District’s response and financial implications.

 V.     Information/Discussion Items

A.             Quarterly Performance Measures

As a result of the Strategic Planning Session, on a quarterly basis, Staff will report the results of the District’s performance measures.  Attachment F provides an outline for the fourth quarter.

B.              Media

Included as Attachment G is a spreadsheet outlining media coverage received in 2008 about District programs and recycling.  Through television alone, the District received over $134,000 of non-paid advertising.

 C.             2009 District Workplan

The District’s 2009 Workplan is included as Attachment H.  Any comments or additions are welcomed and can be discussed at this point in the meeting.

D.             Waste Reduction

The District will initiate a waste reduction theme in 2009.  Historically, the District has focused primarily on recycling as a means to reduce the waste stream.  However, waste reduction is the top rung of the 3 Rs hierarchy.  To increase awareness about waste reduction, the District will develop a new webpage, submit press releases and newsletter articles, and incorporate reduction into existing programs.

VI.         Tentative Future Agenda Items

VII.        Policy Committee Members' Comments 

VIII.       Public Comments

  IX.       Upcoming District Meetings

The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for March 19, 2009. This meeting will be held at Hamilton County Environmental Services, 250 William Howard Taft Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 at 9:30 am.

X.          Adjournment (Target Time: 11:00 am)