Thank
you, Mayor Chestnut, for your consideration of my concerns.
I respectfully request that my email to the Commission be included as an
attachment to tommorow night's City Commission Meeting agenda, as a matter of
public record.
Thanks so much.
Laura Routh
***********************************
> Subject: Re: Auditor's workplan and solid waste management in Lawrence
> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:48:03 -0500
> To: lauridi@hotmail.com
> From: robchestnut@sunflower.com
>
> > lauri di routh <lauridi@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear Mayor Chestnut and City Commissioners,
> >
> > I understand that discussion of a possible audit of the City's solid
waste division is on Tuesday night's commission agenda. I am writing to express
my support for such an audit, and would like to share with you some of my
observations regarding waste management in our community.
> >
> >
> >
> > An audit of the solid waste division may allow the Commission to gain
a new perspective on the division's strengths and weaknesses. The Division has
been--in my opinion--intransigent regarding consideration of City-sponsored
curbside recycling. I feel that the Division's priorities, expenditures, and
contracts warrant examination.
> >
> > Let me begin by saying that I am speaking only for myself, as a
citizen, in this email. The following comments are not intended to represent
the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB), although I am a member.
> >
> >
> >
> > I would also like to express, at the outset, my full support for the
City's recycling and waste reduction (WRR) staff. My comments here are not
intended to be critical, in any way, of WRR. They do a terrific job and I am
extremely grateful for their efforts.
> >
> >
> >
> > My concern relates specifically to the part of the solid waste
Division which handles collection and disposal of trash and sets overarching
policy for the City in regard to waste management. I believe that there is a
lack of accountability within the City's solid waste division. Let me share one
example:
> >
> >
> > Recently, solid waste division staff (Bob Yoos) attended the
City/County (Jefferson and Douglas County) 5 year solid waste planning update
meeting. Bob made several statements at that meeting which were later
referenced in a
> > LJ World article and also reflected on a worksheet that was created,
presumably as the substance of the plan, at that meeting.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/may/11/city-wont-mess-recycling-success/
> >
> > Therein, Bob's comments on behalf of the City of Lawrence repeated
what he has what he has said for years: Curbside recycling is not necessary,
and residential Pay as You Throw (variable rate pricing for trash disposal)
won't work in Lawrence. I disagree. Yet again, no legitimate data is provided
to support these assertions.
> >
> >
> >
> > In a report released by the division in 2004, and oft repeated since
that time, solid waste division staff provide cost estimates for curbside
recycling that are based 1990s-era data. The Solid Waste Division continually
references this (old) data in arguing against City sponsored curbside
recycling. The figures provided therein presume the most expensive recycling
option: building a city-owned and operated materials recovery facility (MRF).
Assessment of other options - contracting with local or regional providers for
curbside, regional MRF, comingled or alternating collection, or creating a
program which transfers processing to another community's MRF - have never been
fully examined by the City.
> >
> > I am frustrated with what I feel is the City's disingenuous
engagement in this 5-year planning process. I do not believe that the solid
waste Division has fairly or accurately represented the City of Lawrence or the
citizenry in this matter.
> >
> > Our regional 5 year solid waste plan update is (and should be) a
significant opportunity to seriously consider disposal capacity issues and the
environmental and economic impacts of our waste management systems. It's an
opportunity for us to develop new ways of thinking in regard to waste
management and waste reduction.
> >
> >
> >
> > Unfortunately, near as I can tell, the group (City and County
officials and the management of the privately owned landfill which the City
uses for disposal) developed a 5 year plan that solicited virtually no real
public comment, save for publically announcing the meeting as required by KORA.
> >
> > Over the course several years, the SAB has shared, with both the
commission and staff, a number of waste and recycling policy suggestions.
Virtually none of this input is reflected in the 5-year plan. Rather, it seems
that the plan simply repeats past opinions of the City's solid waste division.
> >
> >
> >
> > Indeed, although the City of Lawrence conducted a survey of citizens
regarding curbside recycling, the results of this survey were not even
referenced in the 5-year plan update.
> >
> >
> >
> >
http://www.lawrenceks.org/web_based_agendas/2008/09-16-08/09-16-08h/sab_recommendations_re_recycling_survey.pdf
> >
> > Subsequent to the survey, SAB submitted specific recommendations on
PAYT and recycling to the Commission. These recommendations were not referenced
in the plan update, either.
> >
> >
> > http://www.lawrenceks.org/web_based_agendas/2008/06-17-08/06-17-08h/cm_report_recycling_survey.pdf
> >
> >
> > The 5-year plan is intended to be a road map, and has the full force
of State law behind it. As such, I believe it should be reflective of the will
of the community.
> >
> > SAB is awaiting the solid waste division's "official
response" to the aforementioned 2008 memo, which encouraged the City to
consider establishing a goal of 50% recycling by the year 2015. How curious
that the City proceeded to set a 5-year plan in place when a draft report of their
most recent research has not even been reviewed by SAB yet...
> >
> > By dismissing City-sponsored curbside recycling and PAYT as options
in the 5-year solid waste management plan update, it seems that City has
allowed one staff person to set City solid waste policy by fiat. I do not
understand why the Division has failed to reflect or share SAB's (and many
citizens) opinions and perspectives in their planning efforts. In my mind, what
has occurred is not really planning.
> >
> > For over a decade, the city's Solid Waste Division has opposed and
obstructed real consideration of city-sponsored curbside recycling, in spite of
continued citizen calls for change. Lawrence needs comprehensive, integrated
solid waste management planning done with data, not bias.
> >
> > We need to stop investing in a disposal-oriented systems and seek
efficiencies in collection, staffing and disposal that are consistant with our
community's commitment to greenhouse gas reduction and sustainability.
> >
> > We must encourage greater recycling. A pay-as-you-throw, variable
rate system for residential waste collection combined with City sponsored
curbside recycling can provide significant incentive to recycle more and waste
less.
> >
> > As a longtime waste management professional, and a citizen who has
advocated for city sponsored curbside since we moved to Lawrence almost 6 years
ago, I think serious consideration of this issue by the Commission is long
overdue.
> >
> > I was excited to the see the recent LJW article about curbside
recycling being on the Commission's list of goals for the coming year. I
applaud the Commission's efforts to that end.
> >
> > I wholeheartedly support an audit of the City solid waste division
and encourage the Commission to include such an effort in the City auditor's
pending annual work plan.
> >
> > Thank you for your consideration.
> >
> > Laura Routh
> > 2235 East Drive
> > Lawrence, KS
> > 785-979-3918
> >
> >
> Dear Laura:
>
> Thanks for your comments. I think Michael has done some great work to
enlight us on a number of topics. I agree this is an area for review. I also
appreciate your position on a curbside program, and this is certainly an issue
the sustainability coordinator (or whatever we call him/her) may want to offer
suggestions regarding in future years.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Rob Chestnut
> Mayor
> City of Lawrence
>