01-03-1985 Council Packet Special Meeting

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The service -providing role defined for the cities and townships is flc: .. Contracting with private collection companies is encouraged. Col Iectioi, respon- sibilities could also be assumed by the counties. However, it is essential that counties adopt collection ordinances by 1988 for mandatory source separa- tion requiring participation of their residents. Municipalities must adopt their county's mandatory source separation collection ordinance by reference or more stringent ordinances. The cities and townships should also help the counties with development of intermediate processing facilities by at least assisting with analysis of site alterratives. The larger, more central cities could even take over the role of project developer if coordinated with the respective county. If the private sector or constituent municipalities do net provide these source separation scrvices, the metropolitan counties must assure adequate development. One of the most important roles of the counties is to assure orderly and coor- dinated development of multi -material, intermediate processing or transfer facilities for identified recyclables. Centralized sites with adequate er,uip- ment may be necessary for the regional source separation objectives to be attained. These facilities could be planned in conjunction with the mixed waste processing facilities, perhaps even at the same sites. Furthermore. intercounty coordination may enhance the economic feasibility of these recycl- abies processing plants and promote cooperative marketing of the materials. The role of the Metropolitan Council shall be overall coordination, including 1) clarification and monitoring regional goals and objectives, 2) technical assistance to help establish programs, 3) financial assistance, and 4) research and development, especially in terms of markets and long-term financing mecha- nisms. The role defined for private companies is to provide adequate collec- tion, processing and publicity services in cooperation with the counties and municipalities that develop the various contracts. Factors Influencing Participation Mandatory Source -Separation Ordinances Mandatory separation ordinances should not specify where the material must no. They should simply state that the identified material shall not be placed with the mixed municipal solid waste. Haste reduction (that is, mulching and back- yard composting) should be emphasized within the ordinances to reduce the volume of yard wastes requiring separate collection. The generators' right to decide what they wish to do with the material once separated should be pre- served. For example, if some residents have decided to collect grass clippings rather than mulch, they could bring that material to a neighborhood composting bin rather than set it out for separate collection. Similarly, residents would be allowed and encouraged to sell their aluminum cans at a redemption center or donate their newspapers to a charity group rather than set them out for sepa- rate, on -route collection. The choice remains with the waste generator. Legal enforcement actions, such as fines, may be an option made available within the local ordinance. The municipality may still decide not to enforce in this manner. However, mandatory programs should provide adequate publicity about the ordinance and the potential legal consequences for non-compliance. Also, notices could be left on garbage cans or at the door of residents deter- mined to be violating the ordinance. 47