(A) Natural resource limitations and protection of the environment require development of a comprehensive city-wide Solid Waste Management, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Plan which incorporates the following five-year goals:
(1) To establish recycling, precycling, composting, waste-to- energy, waste reduction strategies, and safe disposal of hazardous waste as the core of the city's plan; and
(2) To limit infrastructure and transportation costs, and maintain energy efficiency and environmental integrity by reducing the waste taken to the landfill by 50% by 1995 and 70% by 2000, but not less than 25% by 1995 and 50% by 2000; and
(3) To involve every household and every business in the city in some component of recycling, and to encourage the unincorporated areas in Bernalillo County to cooperate in an integrated recycling and waste reduction plan; and
(4) To consider legislative changes and economic incentives to make precycling a fundamental component of solid waste management by the city and the surrounding areas; and
(5) To establish recycling, precycling, waste-to-energy programs, waste reduction strategies, and the associated jobs and economic development as a major clean industry in the city; and
(6) To achieve national status for the city as a model developmental center for recycling, precycling, composting, waste-to-energy, waste reduction strategies, safe disposal of hazardous waste, and innovative and effective and community involvement.
(B) The Council finds it necessary for the city to construct a materials recovery facility (MRF) in order to implement a city-wide recycling program. That if a determination is made to privatize this facility, the following policy guidelines shall be established:
(1) An expert consultant shall be hired for the purpose of preparing a detailed request for proposal (RFP) for a MRF that is compatible with the city's approved Solid Waste Management, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Plan and all state and federal regulations.
(2) The RFP shall be issued within 60 days from passage of this bill with a 90-day bid response period. The Mayor's recommendation of a contractor shall be presented to the Council within 120 days from receipt of the proposals.
(3) The Mayor shall establish a contract negotiation team composed of appropriate city staff and expert consultants.
(4) One non-City employee member of the Recycling Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Mayor to assist in the planning process for negotiating the MRF contract.
(5) The Council shall approve any and all agreements reached with a private company for construction and/or operation of a MRF.
(C) Prior to any negotiation for construction of materials recovery facility (MRF), a fiscal impact analysis shall be conducted on the various levels of private or public ownership including, but not limited to, tipping fees, projected income and rate increases, in an effort to determine the most cost effective program over the long term.
(D) A Public Forum Committee will be organized to react to the goals and objectives contained herein and shall hold two public meetings during the months of July and August 1991. The Committee shall be composed of two City Councillors, two members of the Recycling Advisory Committee, the Environmental Health Department Director, the City Attorney, and one member of the Economic Forum. The Mayor shall appoint all members with exception of the two Councillors. The Solid Waste Management Department shall provide staff support and information to the Committee.
(E) The city shall develop descriptive data from an audit of the components of our waste stream, an initial recycling related data collection system, and a data bank to provide cost evaluation and program information which integrates with data on solid waste management programs and activities beginning in fiscal year 1992-93.
(F) The city shall design a residential curbside collection program such as the two different colored bag system for pick-up each week. One bag would contain mixed waste and the other would contain separated recyclables. Each bag will be collected by the city on designated days; however, residents should be encouraged to only place their recyclable bag out for collection when full.
(G) Residents be asked to separate their glass from the other recyclables and deposit it periodically in an appropriate city provided receptacle, such as “igloos” located conveniently throughout the city. The city or its MRF operator, if other than the city, also have the ability to hand sort glass at the facility.
(H) The Solid Waste Management Department will consider and present to the Council a financial plan for recycling which offers economic incentives for waste reduction.
(I) The city's participation in the current voluntary recycling programs shall be operated in conjunction with the neighborhood associations be increased to the maximum extent possible during the interim period prior to construction of a MRF.
(J) The city design a commercial recycling system based on collection of commingled waste. High volume glass users, such as certain bars and restaurants, will be asked to separate their glass for direct haul to the MRF rather than placing them in temporary receptacles, such as “igloos.” Because of contamination the Solid Waste Management Department should consider hauling certain restaurants' waste directly to the landfill.
(K) The city shall design a centralized household hazardous waste collection program.
(L) The city shall develop a comprehensive marketing plan for all recovered materials. The plan shall include all costs and revenues plus possible price fluctuations, and shall analyze the feasibility of extending a competitive preference to local and New Mexico recycling companies and/or shall participate fully in Southwest Regional Recycling cooperative efforts. This plan be undertaken coincident with the other planning activities described hereinabove, and shall be presented to the Council for approval.
(M) The city shall develop a pilot residential composting program to initially include 1500 homes. A federal or state grant shall be pursued to fund the purchase of an equal number of residential composters for resale to the residents at an amount not over $30 each. This pilot program shall be carefully analyzed prior to expansion.
(N) Any city or privately owned MRF located within the city limits of the city will not accept solid waste from any out-of-state entity, nor accept solid waste from other cities or counties within the state without Council approval.
(O) The city shall continue to offer low income discounts on refuse bills for those families that qualify. The discounts shall be calculated on the entire refuse rate which will additionally include the cost of the new recycling program.
(P) The city shall consider making appropriate arrangements for residents and organized groups or businesses to utilize drop-off centers and/or buy-back provisions within the MRF operations for separated recyclables in addition to the curb-side collection system.
(Q) The city's energy efficiency and/or environmental integrity not be adversely impacted due to implementation of the recycling program.
(R) The city shall design a comprehensive education and public awareness program on all recycling activities, involving but not limited to, members of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Sierra Club.
(S) The city shall make every effort to reach the goal of reducing the waste taken to the landfill by 50% by 1995 and 70% by 2000, but not less than 25% by 1995 and 50% by 2000.
(T) The Solid Waste Management Department shall provide the City Council with up-to-date quarterly progress reports based on the calendar year, and an evaluation of the recycling program which includes the status of first-year objectives, identification of problem areas and recommended solutions. The first report shall be due October 15, 1991.
(U) The Solid Waste Management Department shall submit an annual report to the City Council beginning with the fiscal year 1993 budget cycle that details second-year, third-year, fourth-year, and fifth-year objectives necessary to achieve the five-year goals herein stated. All proposed rate adjustments shall be included in the report. The appropriate quarterly report can be included in the annual report.
(V) $100,000 shall be appropriated from the Refuse Disposal Operating Fund (651) to the Office of Recycling Program for the purpose of selecting and hiring a recycling consultant to assist the Solid Waste Management Department in implementing the directives contained herein.
(W) The Citizen's Solid Waste Recycling Advisory Committee shall continue to provide public input, and shall present a quarterly status report to the City Council on the City's Solid Waste Management, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Plan.
(X) The city encourages the Bernalillo County Commission, other New Mexico cities and counties, and the state legislature to give serious consideration to a recycling program.
(Res. 76-1991, approved 5-30-91)
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