Waste Reduction Initiative

Our waste reduction initiative is three-part:
1) education
2) advocating the City for waste-reduction policies
3) working with local organizations to reduce waste at community events

Los Altos Waste Contract

About Los Altos Waste Service Contract, to be Effective September 15, 2010

On Tuesday 2/23/10, the Los Altos City Council voted 5-0 to go forward with most of the city staff's recommendations for the new waste service. These reflected all the recommendations which GreenTown Los Altos made to the Environmental Commission and City Council over a year ago (including 75% waste diversion rate), so we are very pleased. GreenTown Los Altos commends city staff and others involved in producing an excellent outcome! Highlights of the City Council selected vendor and service are as follows:

• Mission Trails Waste System (MTWS) is the preferred provider and City will begin negotiations for the final contract
• All residents will receive rolling bins and weekly pick-up of garbage, recycling and organics/compostables
• Expanded weekly compostable collection (including yard waste, produce, meat, dairy, poultry, food-contaminated paper) for both residential and commercial customers
• Recycling will be single stream, with all cans, bottles, paper, etc going into the same bin.
• MTWS anticipates diverting 78% of waste from the landfill (current diversion is 54%) and will have penalties for not meeting that
• Residential service pricing should remain the same or less than current pricing
• Residential service will begin at 7AM instead of 6AM.
• The smallest waste bins will now be 20 gallons, with cost savings for those who generate less landfill waste
• All vehicles will be compressed natural gas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Sideyard pick-up will still be available, at an extra charge
• Basic Household Hazardous Waste to be collected curbside weekly (water-based paints, cooking oil, compact fluorescent bulbs, dry cell batteries, small electronics)
• On-call at-residence Household Hazardous Waste will be available for a fee (oil-based paints, fluorescent tubes, pesticides)
• Paired garbage and recycling bins will be located downtown and at Loyola Corners
• Recycling, compostable and garbage collection at all City-sponsored events


Perspective.  GreenTown Los Altos presented several questions in writing to City Council and Staff, which we hope will provide further clarification and services.  At the 2/23 meeting many community members echoed some of our concerns.  Some of these things can still be negotiated
 
GreenTown Los Altos emphasizes to the City the importance of:

• Thorough signage, communication and education to citizens about what can be recycled, composted, how/where, and what to do with hazardous waste, etc-- there are many ways education can be achieved, and it is critical
• Regular public reporting of waste diversion statistics, perhaps on city website, waste provider website, and in billing communications
• Low cost recycling, compostable and garbage collection at all community events
• We'd like to see recycling collection in all commercial areas, and in parks
• Tell us more about where our waste will go, how it will be treated/composted/recycled.  

Action:  GreenTown Los Altos also encourages all citizens to email City Council and Staff with your own comments and concerns during this final negotiation period.  Email to: council@ci.los-altos.ca.us and Jim Gustafson (Engineering Services Manager), at JGustafson@losaltosca.gov

Community Events Waste Reduction
Our community events waste reduction projects have now resulted in two events where recycling and composting was collected and diversion rates significantly increased.

• At the Community Picnic in September 2008, 75% of waste was diverted from the landfill.

• At the Rotary Club's Fine Art in the Park in May 2009, we diverted 80% of waste from the landfill, and a full 44% of the waste stream was compostable.

• At the Community Picnic in September 2009, we diverted 76% of waste from the landfill.

• We have provided guidance to many large and small groups and events to help them go green. See the Green Event Guidelines attached below.

For more information, contact: waste@greentownlosaltos.org

Kacey Fitzpatrick, Chair
Mike Barnes, Vice Chair