Laserfiche WebLink
What makes Los Altos Hills different and the garbage rates higher? Angin <br />explained that the reasons include: specialized service (backyard pickup) - an option <br />that is offered in very few Towns; distance to the landfill, which is approximately <br />50 miles round-trip; the terrain of the Town and the length of the driveways <br />necessitates smaller routes with fewer homes per route, and lastly, there is no <br />commercial base to help subsidize the cost. <br />Angin added that the Town's recycling program has been a resounding success. He <br />explained that limited markets for recyclables are the main determining factor in <br />what is included in the program. Materials need to have a consistent resale value to <br />ensure that they are targeted for reuse and not put back into the landfill. In <br />reference to the program in San Jose, Angin noted that they are developing markets <br />for their materials, i.e. scrap metal on a residential basis. San Jose is also the host <br />city for landfill which enables them to negotiate more favorable rates --$9.00 per ton <br />vs. the Town's $35.00 per ton. <br />New programs that LAGCO will be incorporating into our present recycling <br />program will include a cardboard drop off site at the Purissima yard waste center <br />with no additional cost except for minimal improvements to the site (concrete pads) <br />and more plastics will be added to the acceptable list of recyclables. Residents will be <br />able to drop these off at the same site. Angin added that this should be monitored <br />closely to ensure there is no contamination from the new materials, i.e. detergent <br />bottles. LAGCO is also looking at alternatives for our yard waste program and trying <br />to develop something that would work within our present rate structure but be <br />more accommodating to the residents. <br />Siegel asked if it would be possible to offer compost from our yard waste materials to <br />the residents under a similar program to Los Altos. Angin felt this was feasible and <br />could be done perhaps on a monthly basis with a debris box of material available at <br />the corporation yard with no additional cost to the program. <br />Dauber questioned whether window envelopes and glossy paper could be included <br />in our paper recyclables. Angin noted that it was an option being considered but <br />because it down grades the value of the newspaper which is already suffering from a <br />limited market these additions could eventually cost the program. <br />Angin proceeded to explain the spreadsheet from LAGCO that was included in <br />Attachment A referencing the categories and their breakdown into revenues, <br />expenses, fees and Town costs, total costs and revised costs, revenue increase <br />required, percentage rate increase, average cost per ton and average cost per <br />container/annual. <br />Mayor Tryon thanked the Council Sub -Committee and the City Manager for the <br />hours they have expended in resolving this difficult issue. She noted that as a result <br />of the Public Hearing the Council had directed changes in the original proposal and <br />March 3, 1993 <br />Regular City Council Meeting <br />