11 Feb The Scoop on the VERY Interesting Recycling and Solid Waste Scene
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by EcoBrandi
The Scoop on the VERY Interesting Recycling and Solid Waste Scene
At issue
1) The City of Austin’s Single Stream Materials Recovery Facility (MRF – pronounced "Murf") RFP process & players
2) Delaying the vote on Greenstar’s contract extension
3) Texas Disposal System’s existing contract with the City of Austin and their incredible new proposal
4) Integrated Solid Waste Master Plan and the new "zero waste star" SWS Director
1) Single Stream MRF RFP Process & Players
The Request for Proposals which the City of Austin is in the midst of has generated 8 applicants so far, including a few local players, one of which is an Austin EcoNetwork business partner, Balcones Recycling. Texas Disposal Systems, brand new AEN partner, was "disqualified" from the RFP process though they were speaking to members of SWAC (the Solid Waste Advisory Commission) about issues unrelated to the MRF RFP, allegations were dropped because they hadn’t yet even submitted a proposal. Greenstar was disqualified too – their hearing to appeal the decision is on Feb 18.
2) Greenstar – Too Far Away, Costs Too Much
Greenstar has been hauling Austin’s SIngle Stream Recycling first to Garland and now to San Antonio for processing. They have a contract to do so through September 2010. The cost is significantly higher than other Cities are paying for the same service and has a large environmental footprint due to the long-distance hauling. The SWAC was supposed to vote on an extension to the Greenstar contract, but was delayed in light of the following cost-savings proposed by TDS.
3) Texas Disposal System’s incredible proposalTexas Disposal Systems has a 30-year landfill contract with the City of Austin with 21 years left on it. TDS already hauls a large amount of the City’s solid waste and claim to have a right to the recycling materials as well. TDS has just purchased equipment and will be constructing their own MRF and have submitted a letter to City Council offering to take the City’s recycling and process it at no additional charge, FOR FREE starting October 1 of this year.
According to TDS, their "short-term solution alone would save the City approximately [$2.4 million] per year and more than [$7.5 Million] over the remaining term of the contract (initial term and all extensions), as compared to the City’s pending contract amendment with Greenstar." "TDS proposes to the City that TDS receive, weigh, process, sort, package, market and ship recyclable materials collected by the City’s curbside recycling program.
The TDS MRF will also have the capacity to process an additional 4,000 tons per month of similar materials, including commercial and multi‐family single stream recyclables. They are also saying they can process compost that might be collected from a three-cart collection regimen should the City move to that.
4) New Leadership for Zero Waste Goals and the ISWMMP
The City of Austin has adopted a bold Zero Waste strategy. SWAC approved last night and City Council will be voting to approve HDR as the contractor to create the Integrated Solid Waste Management Master Plan (which many members of this list weighed in on last fall). The good news is that the implementation of that Master Plan will be overseen by Bob Gedert, the exciting new Director of Solid Waste Services*, hired by the City of Austin in December. Gedert is a national leader in Zero Waste and has great management experience too. Looping back to the RFP issue in #1, it would seem wise to give Mr. Gedert a chance to evaluate the proposals which came in response to the largely open-ended RFP process and determne if we have what we need or whether the process should be re-started with clearer goals.
* the same search firm that brought us Bob Gedert, Mark Ott and several other key CIty hires is the same firm that is working on recruiting for the Chief Sustainability Officer position. You can send comments about qualities you think that person should have to
edna.santos@ci.austin. tx.us.
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