Title
Resolution to Adopt City of Ann Arbor Solid Waste Resource Plan
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a resolution to adopt the Ann Arbor Solid Waste Resource Plan. The plan is a culmination of a year-long process developed by a special subcommittee of the Environmental Commission. The Environmental Commission passed a resolution in support of this plan on February 28, 2013.
A copy of the draft plan is attached. The draft plan and appendix can be viewed at:
The plan was last updated in 2002. The new draft plan includes a number of specific proposals aimed at reducing solid waste generation, as well as reducing the amount of solid waste sent to landfills. The suggested actions in this plan include developing more-detailed proposals for City Council review that would enable the following programs to be initiated if they are determined to be cost-effective, environmentally-responsible, and customer-friendly:
· Expand food waste composting to include all plate scrapings, such as meats and oils
· Evaluate expansion of food waste and compost collection program to year-round
· Increase apartment recycling rates
· Re-locate and upgrade the existing Drop-Off Station
· Expand zero waste services at special events
· Implement regulations for recycling construction and demolition waste
· Implement a single-use bag fee
The plan also includes goals of increasing single-family diversion from the current 50% to 60% by 2017, and increasing overall diversion from the current 31% to 40% by 2017. Diversion is a measured if the amount of solid waste not sent to landfills (recycling plus compost) divided by the total solid waste stream (refuse plus recycling and compost). These targets will be incorporated into the Sustainability Action Plan, which is currently under development.
The Solid Waste Resource Plan subcommittee brought together represe...
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