DATE: January 13, 2016
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Becky Caldwell, Director of Sanitation and Environmental Services
Russ Truell, ACA Finance and Administration
Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
SUBJECT:
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Consideration of Resolution 2015-111 A Resolution to Adopt a Policy to Limit Volume of Construction and Demolition Debris Accepted at the City-Owned Transfer Station (01/26/16 Worksession)
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Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) to consider granting authority to the City Administrator and the Director of Sanitation and Environmental Services, or their designees, to limit the volume of construction and demolition debris accepted at the City transfer station based on the amount needed to balance volume of solid waste and construction and demolition debris in everyday operations.
Background
During fiscal year 2013, the City processed 49,245 tons of landfilled waste through the City-owned transfer station. In FY 2014, the City managed 59,375 tons of landfilled waste through the transfer station. In the summer of 2014, the City started to see a dramatic increase in the volumes of waste delivered to our transfer station. By the end of FY 2015, the total of landfilled waste processed by our transfer station was 81,651; the most ever in the 11-year history of the transfer station. As City staff communicated with other transfer stations, landfills and private hauling companies the feedback the City received included (1) the City maintains a clean and safe facility during daily operations, (2) the City is efficient in moving customers into and out of the transfer station tip floor which saves time for waste collectors, (3) the City has professional and helpful staff at our facility, (4) the City’s transfer station is conveniently located near 840 and I-65 for easy accessibility and, most obvious, (5) even with our recent increase in tip fees, Franklin’s facility continues to charge less than most other landfills and transfer station in the middle Tennessee area.
The total tonnage includes wastes collected from our City customers as well as that delivered by private hauling companies. Further research indicated the increase in volume included some household and business waste, with the majority coming from construction and demolition debris. Construction debris typically includes lumber, concrete, bricks and other similar type wastes. These wastes post additional challenges because of the inability to compact these wastes to fill transfer trailers to capacity for efficient use of hauling capacity.
At the end of the first six (6) months for FY 2016 we processed 52,332 tons of waste through our transfer station. If we continue at this pace, we expect the total tonnage accepted through the facility to be 104,664 tons. Partnering with Bi-County Solid Waste Management for hauling and landfilling services has proven successful. An increase of this magnitude in a short period of time, is challenging for any operation to manage.
Financial Impact
Additional volume directly affects City revenues associated with transfer station services. Construction and demolition debris can greatly affect the City’s ability to safely and efficiently process these types of waste, which increases operating expenses and adds unnecessary inefficiencies to the hauling function provided by Bi-County Solid Waste Management. The cost of accepting a large amount of construction debris, measured in time and revenue, in comparison to the solid waste volume is greater than if the City is able to limit the volume accepted based on an as needed basis.
Recommendation
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Staff recommends approval of a policy to limit the volume of construction and demolition debris accepted at our City-owned transfer station.