Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Third Amendment to the Agreement with SCS Engineers for Targeted Zero Waste Technical Assistance for Commercial Businesses and Multi-Family Accounts in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,334,978. (Public Works 26241631)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On July 1, 2018, the City Council adopted the Zero Waste Implementation Plan Update (ZWIP Update) and authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a one-year agreement for zero waste commercial and multifamily technical assistance as part of the second key strategy included in the ZWIP Update. On October 9, 2018, the original agreement with SCS Engineers (SCS) was entered into following a competitive procurement. The agreement has been amended twice, and expired July 7, 2021. As a result of this targeted technical assistance, Alameda businesses and apartment buildings reduced the amount of garbage sent to landfill by 1,697 tons per year. Consistent with the recently adopted Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), the ZWIP Update, and on account of the results delivered by SCS, staff is recommending a third amendment be executed.
BACKGROUND
On October 19, 2010, the City Council adopted the ZWIP and set a goal of achieving zero waste, or 89% diversion, from landfill by 2020. The 89% diversion goal derives from a per capita disposal rate, or the amount of waste disposed in pounds into the landfill by person per day (PPD). PPD is calculated by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). If the City of Alameda (City) were to reach 1.2 pounds PPD, then the City will have achieved 89% diversion.
In the summer of 2018, the City Council approved the ZWIP Update, which included five strategies to be implemented over five years to achieve zero waste. Conducting targeted technical assistance with commercial and multi-family waste generators is Strategy 2, as these generators have the greatest opportunity to reduce waste sent to landfill.
As part of approving the ZWIP Update, the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a one-year agreement for zero waste commercial and multi-family technical assistance to begin delivery of the second strategy. On October 9, 2018, an agreement with SCS was entered into following a competitive procurement. A first amendment was entered into on January 14, 2020, and a second amendment was entered into on July 22, 2020.
The work conducted by SCS to date was the first 2.5 years of a five-year plan recommended in the ZWIP Update. SCS’s technical assistance to date has resulted in:
• Increased recycling service for 36 generators
• Increased organics service for 38 generators
• Increased recycling diversion by 340 cubic yards per week
• Increased organics diversion by 182 cubic yards per week
• Reduction in garbage by 261 cubic yards per week
The work conducted by SCS demonstrates a positive impact towards increasing recycling and composting activity and reducing garbage by 80% amongst the City’s largest waste generators. Focused assistance for commercial and multi-family waste generators has proven to significantly reduce total tons of material sent for disposal to landfill. This demonstrates the importance of having a sustained presence and approach for technical assistance.
DISCUSSION
Staff recommends approving the amendment with SCS to continue their effective work with commercial and multi-family waste generators. This work ensures the City continues to be a leader in waste reduction amongst other jurisdictions in Alameda County, and allows the community to remain on the path toward reaching the City’s zero waste goals.
For the term of this proposed amendment, SCS has developed, and staff has approved, a scope of work consistent with ZWIP Update Strategy 2 over the next two years (see Exhibit 4). The work targets the City’s waste generators that:
1. require additional assistance to complete their new service change agreements;
2. are suitable for training and outreach;
3. require follow up to ensure a sustainable recycling and organics program;
4. require verification and/or quantification of backhauling, third-party, or self-hauling diversion activities;
5. are commercial businesses adjusting service levels and operational activities after closure and reopening due to the shelter- in-place directives;
6. have qualified for a follow-up assessment to reduce garbage services due to sustained increase in recycling and organics service; and
7. are commercial businesses that would benefit from assistance with implementation of edible food recovery activities (if directed).
Staff expects that SCS will continue the current pace of performance and delivery of this scope resulting in an additional 500 cubic yards of recycling and organics being diverted weekly and approximately 1,500 tons of garbage being kept out of the landfill each year.
Staff anticipates bringing an agenda item to the City Council in late 2021 to provide an update on progress towards the City’s zero waste goal and recommended next steps for the ZWIP Update, as well as further recommended actions to meet Senate Bill (SB) 1383 requirements, California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with SCS, as discussed above.
• Redirect resources to greater enforcement and fines. Fines are useful short-term tools for compliance, and perhaps the time may be right in the future invest in greater enforcement.
• Do not authorize execution and discontinue the technical assistance. Consistent with the ZWIP Update, staff advises that the commercial and multi-family sectors will not show a significant, measurable increase in diversion without continued technical assistance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funds for this contract are budgeted in the Public Works Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2021-23, funded from the Integrated Waste Fund/Measure D Fund (262). There is no impact to the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (2019), the Zero Waste Implementation Plan (2010), and ZWIP Update (2018).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. The strategies in the ZWIP Update are intended to guide the City in the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, thus protecting the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
The City’s CARP assumed full implementation of the ZWIP Update and its attendant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through 2030. The services rendered in this contract divert waste, including organics, from the landfill, which reduce methane emissions. The importance of reducing methane emissions from municipal waste sent to the landfill is codified in California’s Senate Bill 1383 passed in 2016.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a third amendment to the agreement with SCS Engineers for targeted zero waste technical assistance for commercial businesses and multi-family accounts in an amount not to exceed $1,334,978.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends authorization to execute a third amendment to the agreement with SCS. This is consistent with our Zero Waste implantation plan.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Marc Green, Program Specialist
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Original Agreement
2. First Amendment
3. Second Amendment
4. Third Amendment
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager