Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC AGENDA PK 1992/03/23MEMORANDUM RATS: March 17, 1992 TOa Resource Conservation Commission Members VIA: Doug Reid, Environmental Review Coordinatcij FROM: Athena Lee Bradley, Conservation Coordinator RS: Proposed Recycling Education Project Attached please find a Council report describing a proposed recycling education project for which Council approval and appropriation of funds is requested. Your input on the proposed project and support, if so approved, would be appreciated. This will be on your agenda for March 23. Also, as many of you are probably now aware, the California Conservation Corps distributed doorhangers to all single-family residences describing the mandatory recycling ordinance, designated recyclables and ways to recycle in Chula Vista. We had 30-50 calls per day into the office during the time that the doorhangers were being left; calls have dwindled now to a couple a day. Most of the calls were simply for the purpose of asking clarifying questions, such as "I use newspapers for art projects, they become soiled, should I still recycle them?". Both the City and Laidlaw have had quite a few calls from residents requesting blue bins. Surprisingly few of the calls were from citizens opposed to the mandatory ordinance. We recently received notice that the City has been awarded another grant from the County to continue and expand our Business Recycling Outreach Project. This will allow us to keep the part-time intern that has been working with me on the Project. I am very excited about the award, since it will allow us to continue offering technical assistance to businesses in establishing recycling programs. You will be receiving a report on the grant for review at an upcoming meeting. cc: Stephanie Snyder, Principal Management Assistant pR~F COUNCIL AGENDA STATSMENT Item Meeting Date03 24 92 ITSM TITLS: Resolution Amending FY 1991-92 Budget to Add a Temporary Position In Unclassified Service in the Environmental Management Unit and Appropriating Funds Therefore. SUBMITTED BY: Conservation Coordinator REVIEWED BY: City Manager (4/Sths Vote: Yes X No BACKGROUND: City Council adopted a mandatory recycling ordinance (Chapter 8.25 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code) on February 4th, 1992. This ordinance will require the implementation of yard waste, industrial, commercial, multi-family recycling programs under a phased implementation timeline, by July 1993. Implementation of these Citywide recycling programs is in accordance with the County of San Diego's mandatory recycling ordinance and should provide sufficient waste diversion to meet the State's AB 939 diversion requirement of 25~ by 1995. Currently, little City staff time is allocated toward integrating recycling and waste reduction in schools. Staff realizes the importance of providing recycling education to children and young adults in order to foster a recycling ethic that will assist in implementing current recycling programs and insure recycling and waste reduction habits in generations to come. Studies indicate that instituting recycling education in schools not only increases general environmental awareness, but also increases participation in recycling programs. This report describes a proposed recycling and waste reduction educational project to assist area schools in incorporating recycling education into their school curricula activities. This report also describes a recommended use of the Waste Management Trust fund for the hiring of a temporary, part-time intern to assist with implementation of the project. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the resolution amending FY 1991-1992 budget to add a temporary, part-time intern position in the unclassified service and appropriating funds. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: The Resource Conservation Commission will review this report at its March 23, 1992 meeting. A brief oral presentation can be given to Council about the RCC discussion, if requested. DISCUSSION: Recycling and waste reduction requires each of us to change our habits--a task that is not always easy, especially for adults. As the next generation, children will have already developed the "recycling habit" provided that recycling and waste reduction education is integrated into school programming. Staff has made preliminary contact with school administrators regarding the incorporation of recycling and waste reduction into school programming. However, because of current recycling program demands staff resources are not available to devote sufficient attention to this effort. Staff feels that educating school children and young adults about the importance of recycling and waste reduction is a vital aspect of recycling program development. Staff therefore recommends the hiring of an intern to work on incorporating recycling education into school programming. The goal of hiring an intern would be to set up the necessary infrastructure for incorporating recycling education into the Chula Vista Elementary School District and the Sweetwater Union High School District. Staff proposes to hire the intern for ten weeks, through the beginning of June. The intern would work under the supervision of the Conservation Coordinator. In this way, the recycling education infrastructure can be in place for the next school year. Staff can make an assessment of the success of the intern's work at that time, in order to evaluate the need for additional intern assistance. The County of San Diego has developed a recycling and waste reduction curriculum for kindergarten through sixth grade. This interactive, activity oriented curriculum, entitled "RAYS: Recycle and You Save," is available free of charge to teachers. Staff (i.e., the proposed intern) would work with the County and I Love a Clean San Diego (under contract with the County for educational awareness) to ensure that teachers in the Chula Vista Elementary School District receive a copy of the curricula. Staff will also work with I Love a Clean San Diego County to provide teacher in- service trainings on the curricula. Curricula for junior high school and high school is available for purchase from various agencies. A curricula developed by the Keep America Beautiful, Inc. for junior and high school age children has recently been purchased by the Environmental Management Unit for use in the City. Additional educational materials appropriate for young adults will be investigated as part of the proposed educational project. Staff will also consult with the County, I Love a Clean San Diego and other agencies for additional recycling educational activities that can be incorporated into school programming. Field trips to area recycling facilities and "hands- on" recycling and environmental learning activities will also be pursued. Additionally, in conjunction with the City's Business Recycling Outreach Project, staff will work to establish recycling collection programs at area schools. City staff will provide technical assistance in establishing recycling programs at the schools. These programs will be designed to involve interested students in collection and educational activities in conjunction with recycling collection. FISCAL IMPACT: The full cost of the recycling education project is estimated at $1485, proposed to be appropriated from the Waste Management Trust Fund. The cost of the temporary part-time intern for ten weeks is estimated at $1360. The cost of mileage related to the project is estimated at $40; printing of educational materials, copying and postage for the project is estimated at $85.