to Commercial WASTE REDUCTION

Transcription

1 2013 ROADMAP to Commercial WASTE REDUCTION Appendix A Broadcast and Detailed Survey Questions CONTENTS Broadcast Survey Detailed Survey

2 The City and County of Denver, through a grant with USDN ( Urban Sustainability Director Network) is developing a roadmap to assist communities / counties in evaluating commercial waste reduction strategies appropriate for their community. We are asking for your assistance in identifying key background / decision making parameters and successful strategies for the study. Please do your best, but do NOT worry if you cannot answer all the questions just answer the ones you can. The survey should take about 1 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time and input, and we apologize for any duplicate requests our goal is to reach as many communities as possible. Please respond by April 1 if possible. If you have any questions on this survey, call tollfree Thank you very much! 1. Please provide your: Name Organization City State/province Zip Phone County 2. Are you answering as a community, county, or other organization? Community (city, town, village, etc.) County City and county entity Province Other (specify) 3. What is the (approximate) population of your community? Page 1

3 4. How would your describe your community? Urban Suburban Rural Urban/suburban Suburban/rural. Is the community also characterized as a tourist town, or a university town? (check all that apply) Yes, tourist town Yes, university town / has signifiant university activity Yes, other special designation. How would you describe your business community? (check all that apply) Mostly office and financial High percent retail Mostly manufacturing High percent restaurants High tech Tourist / outdoor Farming / ranching Natural resources (mining / paper / fishing, etc.) Solid Waste and Recycling System Page 2

4 7. How is commercial collection service currently provided in your community? (Check all that apply) Private haulers, unregulated Franchised hauler(s) Private haulers regulated locally Districted hauler(s) Private haulers regulated at state Other (specify) Contracted hauler(s) Municipal collection 8. Has your community taken any of the following strong authorities over the commercial sector? (Check all that apply) No authorities available Community took over commercial collection (municipal staff) Community took over commercial contract (contract or other) Community has regulatory authority over rates Took other authority (specify) No authorities taken Don't know 9. Is recycling market access a problem for your community? Yes No Not sure If yes, is it a large problem, small problem, other? 10. Is recycling market access made easier by any of the following... (check all that apply) Close to a port Close to paper mill taking recycled content Close to good rail transport Other (specify below) Close to glass plant None of the above / poor market access Page 3

5 11. Have there been any waste related "crises" or significant problems in the last few years? Yes (briefly specify below) No Don't know If yes, can you please decribe? Facilities 12. Single Stream Facility Yes No Don't know Is there a "single stream" recycling center (MRF) in your community or county? Is there one in a neighboring county? Do you have access or use of the MRF? Is a single stream facility the main one your community uses for recycling? Is the local recycling center that is used a "dual stream" MRF? Is the local recycling center that is used one that mainly handles just a few commodities? 13. Are there nearby facilities available to process organics? Yes, Yard waste only Yes, food waste only Yes, yard and food waste No facilities Don't know Page 4

6 14. Who owns and operates the following facilities that you use? (Please select one per row) Publicly owned & Privately owned & Publicly owned / operated operated privately operated No facility Other Landfill Transfer station Waste to energy Composting Recycling facility 1. To the best of your knowledge, what are the approximate tipping fees per TON at the following facilities? (Ranges are ok; if no facility please put "none", if unknown, put "DNK"). If you only know prices per cubic yard, please specify but clearly label units (CY). Landfill Transfer station Waste to energy Composting Recycling facility Other? (please specify) Waste Composition 1. Have you conducted local waste composition / characterization studies or "sorts"? (please check all that apply) Residential waste in last years Commercial waste more than years ago Residential waste longer than years ago Don't know. Commercial waste in last years Page

7 17. Which of the following are counted in your "commercial" waste stream? (Check all that apply) Commercially generated MSW (food, paper, cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, metal, etc.) Construction debris Demolition debris Land clearing Yard waste Industrial waste Biosolids Don't know 18. Generally, how are your citywide diversion rates calculated? How are your commercial diversion rates calculated? Financing 19. How are any commercial programs your community has in place paid for in your community? (check all that apply) We have no commercial sector programs Business taxes Residential user fees Household taxes Commercial user fees Advance disposal fees Property tax Deposits Surcharges or taxes or fees on disposal Special assessments "Generator" environmental fees per household Fines "Generator" environmental fees on businesses Other (specify) Page

8 20. Please describe the key elements of commercial rates? (Check all that apply) Volume based charges for TRASH service to businesses/owners (higher rates for larger containers, number, frequency) Separate fees for recycling service Recycling service cost included in trash rate (no separate fee) Separate fees for organics collection service Organics service cost included in trash rate (no separate fee) Trash cost included in tax base Other (specify) 21. Have you implemented or heard of any innovative funding mechanisms (e.g. beyond basic user fees / surcharges / taxes)? If so, can you please describe how they work? 22. Is solid waste operated as an enterprise fund in your community? (Check all that apply) Yes, residential Yes commercial included No Don't know Commercial Waste Page 7

9 23. What are the key barriers in your community for commercial recycling? (check all that apply) Politics Focused on residential City cost Too complicated to start/ run Cost to businesses Problematic mandates / regulations / ordinances in place "Pushback" from haulers Lack of (needed) mandates / regulations / ordinances Program staffing Low tip fees / difficult economics/transport/market issues Disruption concerns No barriers Don't see problem/ need Other 24. Do you currently have any programs, policies, or initiatives focusing on commercial waste reduction, recycling, or solid waste services? Are you considering any, or any more? (Check all that apply) Yes, current programs Yes, considering some, or considering more No Not sure 2. If you have, or are considering commercial programs, on what types of BUSINESSES are you focusing? (check all that apply) Restaurant Schools Office Industrial Manufacturing Agricultural Retail Food Processing Small businesses Other Medical Page 8

10 2. If you have, or are considering commercial programs, on what types of MATERIALS are you focusing? (check all that apply) Cardboard E waste Office paper Aluminium Glass Other metals Plastic Wood pallets Beverage containers Organics/ compostables Plastic film Other Page 9

11 27. Please note the types of commercial sector recycling / organics / diversion program(s) in your community. Answer YES OR NO in each box, then for yes, describe (e.g. basic characteristics / enforced / impacts / tracked?) Some prompts for broad program types are listed below. First program(s) you think of ==> Goals for businesses or haulers? (describe) Reporting or trackingrelated programs? (describe) Incentive related programs for haulers? (describe) Incentive related programs for businesses (embedded recycling or other)? Special tip fees or surcharges? (describe) Requirements to offer commercial recycling / composting? (describe) Recycling mandates (some/all businesses or materials?) (describe) Bans on materials affecting commercial? (describe) Construction/demolition programs? (describe) Procurement programs, recycled content programs? (describe) Grants, technical assistance, awards / recognition? (describe) Programs for small businesses? (describe) Hub and spoke, exchanges, partnerships / coops? (describe) City conducts some / all collection? (describe) Outreach / tips? (describe) ANY OTHER PROGRAMS YOU'VE Page 10

12 IMPLEMENTED? (describe) 28. What motivated (or is motivating) your implementation of commercial sector waste strategies? (check all that apply) A climate action plan Already achieved a great deal in residential sector/next step Local sustainability goals Lack of landfill space Mayor/ Council goals High tip fees / economics Ordinances Invested in recycling facility more tons desired Community demands Regional regulations/ goals Businesses are interested State regulations/ goals Local green image / expected Other 29. If regulations / ordinances are drivers in implementing commercial sector programs, what are the conditions or actions that are required in the legislation? 30. Which of the following decision makers are most important in driving action on commercial waste reduction strategies in your community? City Council/ Mayor Local task force Staff Regional planning organization Voters State Planners Haulers Other Businesses Page 11

13 31. What barrier was the key one to get past or what factor opened the door in getting your commercial programs implemented? (if more than one round of programs / interest, answer for the initial phase)? Education Incentives Bins/ containers Ordinance/ laws Trucks Business involvement Money Other 32. What is (will be) the source of funding for your commercial program(s)? Solid Waste Fund tax Grants Sales tax Tip fee surcharge Property tax Extended producer responsibility Hauler license/ franchise fees Other User fees 33. Do you have a ballpark estimate you can provide of the general cost to initiate and implement the commercial waste program (or key programs)? 34. When you discuss whether commercial programs are successful, what measure(s) do you use / care about? Diversion rate Revenue Tons recycled Greenhouse gas reduction Participation Other Job creation Page 12

14 3. What do you think are your strongest, most successful commercial programs? Which Programs? Why? 3. How would you rate the percent participation in your commercial programs? Low (but Low (but Medium about as wanted (about as planned) higher) planned) Medium (planned higher) Medium High (better High (per (higher Unknown than plan) than planned) expected) Overall program participation Key programs Material targeted programs Business type programs Education/ Assistance Programs and WHY do you think some are better / worse than planned? (key drivers) Bans/ Mandates 37. Do you have any material disposal bans or mandates that affect your commercial generators? Yes, state level (put materials in "other" below) Yes, local level (put materials in "other" below) No Don't know If Yes, please describe. Page 13

15 38. How are your bans or mandates enforced? (Check all that apply) Hauler responsibility Letters/ fines Community inspections License revocation Container inspections Higher tip fees Reports from others No enforcement Inspections at transfer / other facilities Other Last Page 39. Have you cut back or expanded commercial efforts in the last few years? Cutback from recession, budget Expanded important/ interest in this sector Cutback poor participation Expanded Regional/ State requirements Cutback other Expanded other 40. What future goals / directions / plans do you have for commercial sector programs? 41. What commercial programs, policies, or legislation have you heard of that you thought were innovative or strong programs? Where are they from or where did you hear about them? 42. What commercial programs have you considered, but not yet undertaken? Why not? 43. What type of information do you / your community decision makers need before considering a new commercial program? Page 14

16 44. What kind of assistance could the grant program provide that would be helpful for commercial recycling? Toolkit Webinar Decision tool Articles Inventory of programs Don't know Case studies Other Website 4. Would you be willing to speak with us more about your programs? Yes No 4. Are there other cities you know of that we could / should include in this survey? If yes, please list. If you have contact information, please include. 47. Please let us know of anything you'd like to add. 48. Would you like to receive a summary of results from this survey? Yes No If yes, please add (or repeat) your below:: You're done! Thank you very much for your help! Page 1

17 COMMUNITY NAME: DENVER USDN / COMMERCIAL STRATEGIES FOLLOW-UP SURVEY A: CONTACT INFO Interviewer: Time / Date: 1 st try 2 nd try 3 rd etc. Interviewee Name / Title / City Interviewee Phone: Selected program of interest to be interviewed about. Copy of initial survey attached? YES NO B: INTRODUCTION SCRIPT: You recently completed a commercial recycling programs survey for us, distributed for a grant project with USDN (Urban Sustainability Director Network) recall Denver and a number of other communities and counties are co-sponsors? IF NEEDED - This project is developing a roadmap to assist communities in evaluating commercial waste reduction strategies appropriate for their community. IF NEEDED - *Adams County, CO; Boulder County, CO; City of Boulder, CO; Cincinnati, OH; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Fort Collins, CO; Houston, TX; New York City, NY; Salt Lake City, UT; Santa Fe, NM; and Vancouver, WA. We are following up with a specific sample of some of those communities ones that have programs of interest and your community was one of those selected. I wondered if we could talk with you again? Do you have time now? IF YES, continue. IF NO, schedule a time for the call back C: PRIORITY QUESTIONS COMMERCIAL PROGRAM DETAILS 1. FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROGRAM FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETED (OR FOR EACH TARGETED PROGRAM) ASK <GET MUCH DETAIL THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SET OF QUESTIONS!!> a. Com l program design i. business types ii. materials included, iii. incentives or other elements of design b. Com l program budget? *Also what is the cost per ton for the program? c. Com l program enforcement and administration i. specifics on enforcement, ii. who is responsible iii. how enforced, iv. penalties, and 1 U S D N D e n v e r F o l l o w - u p S u r v e y

18 v. FTE for enforcement & administration COMMUNITY NAME: d. Com l program - why put in place e. Com l program how/why passed? i. How / why passed / motivation? ii. What key groups were involved? f. Com l program general implementation steps / order g. Com l program problems i. Any associated problems / unintended outcomes when you implemented (or later)? What? ii. How addressed? h. Com l program Outreach strategy? i. Strategy / plan ii. How did you introduce the strategy (public meeting, focus groups, pamphlets, etc.) iii. Did you partner with special groups for introduction? iv. Special groups / partners ongoing? v. How much did it cost? (per business, ton, total, whatever is available). i. *Com l program Participation. i. How much of the commercial sector is targeted for the program? ii. How many were reached? iii. How many participating? j. *Com l program impacts (and/or relative impacts, metrics, etc.) k. *Commercial baseline before you introduced the program (s)? i. How determined / tracked / measured? (who haulers, businesses, landfills?) ii. Changes due to the program? iii. Commercial volume trends in your community? This program help? 2 U S D N D e n v e r F o l l o w - u p S u r v e y

19 COMMUNITY NAME: l. Com l program success indicators and/or impressions (and what scale(s))? i. Success indicators they ve identified / values and how tracked? ii. GHG? iii. Job creation? m. Com l program BMPs i. Best Management Practices (BMPs) and ii. lessons learned going forward (positive and negative)? How / whether they ll be addressed? 2. What other types of commercial waste reduction programs do you have in your community? (asked on first survey; revisited here) a. Goals for businesses b. Goals for haulers c. Reporting / tracking-related efforts d. Incentives for haulers e. Incentives for businesses f. Special tip fees or surcharges g. Requirements to offer com l recycling h. Requirements to offer com l composting i. Recycling mandates (some businesses) j. Recycling mandates (all businesses) k. Bans on materials affecting com l (specify ) l. Construction / demolition programs m. Procurement programs n. Recycled content programs o. Grants / technical assistance / awards / recognition initiatives (circle) p. Programs for small businesses q. Hub and spoke / exchanges / partnerships / coops (circle) r. City conducts some / all collection s. Outreach / tips t. Other (specify) 3. Assuming you have one or more commercial sector programs a. How did you phase those programs? Where did you start? Did they all go in at once? What went in first? b. How / why did you decide to expand? c. Which is / are the most important programs in your commercial portfolio? d. Next commercial goals you ll tackle? What is critical in meeting those goals? e. Suggestions? 4. How are these initiatives funded? (describe in detail). How are costs additionally defrayed, and by what percent? (grants, franchising, etc.). Overall, does your set of commercial waste reduction strategies represent an added cost when compared to disposal costs? (describe) 3 U S D N D e n v e r F o l l o w - u p S u r v e y

20 COMMUNITY NAME: D: TONS AND DOLLARS. *Current Commercial Tonnages: MSW 7. *Commercial Tonnages: Recycling 8. *Commercial Tonnages: YW / FW / organics (define what s included) 9. *Commercial Diversion Rates % (Q20); how do you measure it? Where do you collect the data? 10. *Approximate cost differences between disposal and recycling, if known. 11. Is commercial waste carried out as an enterprise fund? Yes No a. IF so, what kind of programs are the funds used for? E: ABOUT COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL TRASH / RECYCLING 12. Is COMM'L trash collection mandatory? No Yes (describe) Don t know 13. Do Comm l haulers have to offer recycling? No Yes (describe) Don t know 14. Is COMM'L recycling mandatory? No Yes (describe) Don t know 1. What is your SW budget? Outreach budget? 1. Approximately how many full-time-equivalent staff are involved in solid waste in your community? If you have separate information for residential vs. commercial, please provide; otherwise, all / total. Commercial Residential Total collection-related staff those not involved in collection or outreach outreach staff total staff Don t know collection-related staff those not involved in collection or outreach outreach staff total staff Don t know collection-related staff those not involved in collection or outreach outreach staff total staff Don t know 17. At what "household units" threshold is Multifamily considered res vs. com'l? -8 unit range 9-1 unit range Don t know Other specify 18. Are large multifamily buildings a significant segment of your residential customer base? No Yes (describe) Don t know Other specify 19. Is RESIDENTIAL trash collection mandatory? No Yes (describe) Don t know 4 U S D N D e n v e r F o l l o w - u p S u r v e y

21 COMMUNITY NAME: Other specify 20. Do RES haulers have to offer recycling? No Yes (describe) Don t know Other specify 21. Is RESIDENTIAL recycling mandatory? No Yes (describe) Don t know Other specify 22. Is the residential bill higher for extra trash? (check all that apply) No Yes (describe) Don t know Other / specify F: GOALS / PLANS / POLICIES 23. Do you have local or state "recycling" or diversion goals (or similar)? (check all that apply) No Yes state Don t know Yes local Yes other (describe) Other/specify 24. Has your community developed any of the following plans? Integrated solid waste plan Zero waste plan Sustainability plan Not yet, but planning to Other / specify 2. Is there a robust environmental activist contingent in your community? No Yes (describe) Don t know Other specify 2. On a scale where 0 means "not at all green", and 100 means "extremely green", How would you rate a. Your community (the citizens) b. Your programs? c. Your current council? 27. If you know, on the last "green" agenda item, did your council vote "for" or "against"? FOR it was close AGAINST it was close FOR it was a landslide AGAINST it was a landslide Don t recall Other specify 28. Which of the following materials are taken at your main local Recycling processing center (MRF)? (check all that apply) Cardboard Mixed paper Newspaper Glass U S D N D e n v e r F o l l o w - u p S u r v e y HDPE PET Plastic 3-7 Other plastic (specify) Aluminum Bi-metal cans Don t know Other specify

22 COMMUNITY NAME: 29. Regional trash-related problems Illegal dumping Markets far No control / authority No processing locally Tip fees low Tip fees high No competition Contamination Little interest Don t know Other specify 30. Do you have a single use / plastic bag fee or ban? (check all that apply) No, not planning No, considering Yes (fee or ban? Paper and plastic? All business types? When implemented? Exemptions? Describe) 31. Do you have local advance disposal fees (ADFs)? On which materials? No, not planning No, considering Yes (what materials? Describe) 32. Advice for other communities? Other comments? 33. Is there another city you look to / follow when considering next steps and programs? If so, specify (and why?) 34. Where did you initially hear about this survey? USDN Another city / county told me Recycling association Other/ specify G: LAST PART OF INTERVIEW - NOW LOOK BACK ON SURVEY AND FILL IN MISSING DATA WHERE THEY KNOW IT. H: NOT FOR INTERVIEW - FILL IN FROM CENSUS / EXTERNAL SOURCES 3. In which EPA region is your state/province? 3. If you know, about how many businesses are in your community? (IF NOT, fill in from census) 37. Employment by sector: a. Ag b. Office c. Restaurant d. Construction e. Other key sector 38. Attach waste comp (if any) YES NO U S D N D e n v e r F o l l o w - u p S u r v e y