REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution in Support of the City's Application for Household Hazardous Waste Grant Funds and Act as Lead Agency for a Regional Program
Report
BACKGROUND
Recycling Program staff submitted an application requesting $87,846 in grant funding to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) on behalf of the SMaRT Station® partner cities, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale. CalRecycle authorizes up to $1,500,000 annually statewide in the form of grants for household hazardous waste programs.
The grant funding would be used to provide outreach and education to residents who use one pound propane gas cylinders for camping, tailgating and other recreational activities, to promote the environmental benefits, availability, and use of reusable cylinders, and to provide locations of various retailers who sell or refill them. Success would mean reduced City costs for disposing illegally dumped cylinders and reduced hazards to SMaRT Station employees and equipment.
The funding will help support implementation of the Zero Waste Strategic Plan adopted by Council on April 23, 2013 (RTC 13-085) and help offset City costs of disposing of the cylinders in favor of a higher and better use of the containers by refilling and reusing them.
The application form for the grant requires, by May 29, a Council resolution that:
· Authorizes Sunnyvale to act as a lead for the three cities to submit a regional application;
· Identifies the time period for which the authorizations are valid; and
· Identifies the individual authorized to execute the agreement.
The proposed resolution is presented as Attachment 1.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 3.2.4 - Zero Waste
a. Reduce the amount of Sunnyvale waste being disposed
b. Encourage residents, businesses and agencies to reuse, reduce, and recycle materials judiciously
c. Empower consumers to use their buying power to demand non-toxic, easily reused, recycled or composted products
d. Work locally and regionally to assist in Zero Waste planning
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Acceptance of the CalRecycle grant is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it is not a Project which has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(a).
DISCUSSION
The City submitted an application for $87,846 in grant funds on behalf of the cities of Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto to promote and educate residents on the benefits and use of reusable and refillable one pound propane gas cylinders.
The SMaRT Station currently recovers over 6,000 illegally disposed cylinders each year and over the past three years has spent $144,404 for a processor to properly dispose of 16,641 gas cylinders. The majority of the cylinders recovered are the small, one pound propane tanks used for camping. Because the empty cylinders are classified as hazardous waste, some users avoid the cost and inconvenience of properly disposing of them and instead place them illegally in the trash. SMaRT Station sorters and equipment are then exposed to dangerous explosions or inhalation of gas if the tanks are punctured.
The proposed project is designed to provide an outreach program to:
· Educate residents on the environmental benefits and cost savings associated with reusing propane gas cylinders;
· Assist users with finding refill centers; and
· Encourage vendors to participate and provide refill stations.
Funds would also be used to conduct outreach to various venues in the participating cities, such as community parks and sports fields, where residents use propane cylinders.
Every grant applicant is required to submit a resolution that authorizes specific grant-related matters. The City of Sunnyvale will function as the lead agency for coordination with the cities of Palo Alto and Mountain View. The resolution authorizes Sunnyvale to act on behalf of the cities and the City Manager to execute all grant-related documents. These authorizations are effective for five years from the date of adoption of the resolution and allow for application of all CalRecycle grants for which the City is eligible.
California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), a non-profit product stewardship organization, will be subcontracted to develop the outreach materials and conduct outreach to the general public, retailers, and venues. Part of the funding covers the cost of hiring temporary staff to conduct site visits with CPSC, conduct the pre-and post-waste audits, and oversee the reporting and scheduling of the outreach and education efforts. Should the grant monies be awarded, City funds will be expended and reimbursed by CalRecycle. There are no matching fund requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the Council approving the attached resolution in support of the grant application.
If the grant is funded by CalRecycle, staff will return to Council with a budget modification for appropriation. The grant would provide $87,846 in revenue to the Solid Waste Fund to be used from July 2014 to March 2017. Upon completion of the project, monitoring of the program would become part of staff's regular duties and not require additional funding.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution as presented in Attachment 1.
Staff
Prepared by: Karen Gissibl, Environmental Programs Manager
Reviewed by: Mark Bowers, Solid Waste Programs Division Manager
Reviewed by: John Stufflebean, Director, Environmental Services
Approved by: Robert Walker, Interim City Manager
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution for CalRecycle Household Hazardous Waste Grant program, HD23 Cycle