In October, the city of Morgan Hill will be expanding its method
of recycling. For residents, it will mean, among other changes, new
garbage containers, more frequent food and yard trimmings pickup,
and a 70-cent rate increase.
By Rose Meily staff writer
In October, the city of Morgan Hill will be expanding its method of recycling. For residents, it will mean, among other changes, new garbage containers, more frequent food and yard trimmings pickup, and a 70-cent rate increase.
The city of Morgan Hill has adopted 14 changes in the city’s solid waste program intended to enhance residents’ opportunities for recycling. During their meeting on Wednesday, July 6, the Morgan Hill City Council authorized City Manager Ed Tewes to execute a franchise agreement with South Valley Disposal and Recycling that will expand recycling services in the community.
Major changes to the city’s system will include the addition of food waste and food-contaminated paper waste to the community’s yard trimmings program, increasing yard trimmings collections to once a week, providing solid waste containers to all residents for garbage collection, and including plastic bags, scrap metal and household batteries to the recycling program.
In his presentation of the Utilities and Environment Subcommittee report, Assistant to the City Manager Tony Eulo told the City Council each resident will be provided with a 48-gallon garbage cart for solid waste and a 96-gallon container for yard trimmings and food waste, as well as new smaller yard waste containers. The city also will offer residents two 64-gallon carts for recycling bottles and papers separately, instead of the one cart and one blue bin. The city will likewise continue to offer residents optional bins and 32-gallon carts.
Eulo told the council the Utilities and Environment Subcommittee found the changes are consistent with policy goals of increasing the city’s recycling rate so it would be able to comply with the State Recycling Law. The subcommittee report states the city’s waste diversion rate is currently barely meeting the State’s minimum legal threshold of 50 percent. The changes enhance residents’ services, provide them convenience by offering new containers, and maintain low solid waste collection rates that are still competitive with similar communities.
In exchange for these additional services, South Valley will receive a minor rate increase and a seven-year extension of their franchise agreement. This means residents will see a 70-cent rate increase in their bill. Cost for the additional services comprise 1.21 percent of the rate increase. Other factors contributing to the increase include a 1.27 percent adjustment in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI increase, which was supposed to start in July, has been delayed to October. The .58 percent or .12 cents increase covers the loss of revenue associated with the reduction in the number of hillside customers. Eulo explained a study conducted showed it does not take more time to service this area’s customers and they therefore should not have to shoulder an extra charge in the service. The additional services will not impact the city’s General Fund; the increase will only slightly increase the franchise fee dedicated to the city’s General Fund.
The city official noted, even with the slight rate increase, Morgan Hill’s solid waste collection rates will remain low and competitive with similar communities. The city’s proposed collection rate of $21.82, in fact, remains the lowest among communities with unlimited garbage collection service in the county. Sunnyvale’s collection rate is $29.37 and Milpitas’ rate is $23.55.
Prior to the implementation of these changes this fall, the city will provide residents with details of the program by inserting information in their South Valley bill, the September city utility bill, mailing posters in September, offering refrigerator magnets explaining how the new system will work, delivering an “Opt-out” flyer with garbage carts and “Recycle Me” stickers for collection of old garbage cans. The media will be contacted and information may also be obtained from the city’s Web site at www.morganhill.ca.gov.
In response to a question raised by Councilman Greg Sellers, Eulo said while yard trimmings collection will be increased to a weekly basis, recycling will continue on a bi-weekly basis.
“In every poll we’ve conducted, most residents – 70 percent of them, seem happy with recycling on a bi-weekly basis,” he stated.
Eulo indicated since residents will be provided with new standard solid waste containers, the city give residents options to dispose of their old containers by assigning a drop-off area, and/or a sticker system so these containers can be recycled.
Councilman Mark Grzan said he was pleased with the proposed changes.
“They enhance recycling for the community,” and the increase in frequency of yard trimming collection would be “especially significant” for residents renovating their yards.
Councilman Steve Tate said he too welcomed enhanced opportunities for the community to recycle more. He exclaimed, “I just think we’re getting a heck of a lot of benefit.”
Other changes in the Solid Waste Program:
• Residents will no longer need to tie cardboard.
• Residential routes will start 30 minutes later.
• South Valley Disposal will provide residents with all extra bins (The city currently purchases these.)
• Elimination of Hillside charges to all residents except Holiday Lake Estates.
• Convert “Recycle Days” event into enhanced coupon system.
• Provide e-waste recycling opportunities
• Eliminate freon charges for items brought to the Transfer Station with vouchers (The city currently pays for this.)
Rose Meily covers city council for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach her at 779-4106 or rm****@*************es.com
