Item Description:
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Agmt PR00005863 with the City of Edina to expand organics drop-off sites, 01/22/24-01/22/26, NTE $12,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Agreement PR00005863 with the City of Edina for an organics drop-off grant during the period of January 22, 2024 through January 22, 2026, with a not to exceed amount of $12,000; that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Waste sort studies continue to show that organic materials comprise about 30% of the trash-the largest proportion of any material. Separating organics from the trash also helps to further progress toward achieving zero waste. Minnesota State Statutes §115A.551 requires metro counties achieve a 75% recycling rate by 2030, and the county’s Zero Waste Plan aims to achieve 90% or more. The county’s Climate Action Plan also identifies diverting organic material from the trash as an important strategy to reduce emissions.
Recovering organics from the trash is a better use of resources, turning organic materials into compost for healthier soil. Organic material in landfills produces methane, which is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of trapping solar radiation and exacerbating climate change. An estimated 58% of the methane that escapes from municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste.
Organics drop-off sites fill a service gap for residents who do not have access to city curbside organics recycling programs. For people who live in multifamily buildings, organics drop-off sites may be the most accessible option for recycling organic waste.
Organics drop-off grants are available to cities, businesses, non-profit organizations, and multifamily properties to cover the initial costs of setting up and hosting public organics drop-off sites in the county.
The county released a request for proposals in the fall of 2023. The county received one proposal, a $12,000 request from the City of Edina, to establish two new organics drop-off sites and expand three existing sites. Staff recommends funding the proposal.
The City of Edina currently provides curbside organics recycling service to households of up to four units, but the approximately 11,300 households living in multifamily buildings are not included in the city’s service. The five organics drop-off sites will supplement the city’s curbside organics recycling program. The drop-off sites are the Edina Senior Center, Southdale YMCA, Centennial Lakes Park, Alden Park, and Pamela Park. These sites are near dense multifamily populations and will serve users from Edina, Richfield, and Bloomington. Two of the locations, Southdale YMCA and Centennial Lakes Park, are near environmental justice areas.
Current Request: This request seeks authorization for the County Administrator to negotiate Agreement PR00005863 with the City of Edina for an organics drop-off grant, during the period of January 22, 2024 through January 22, 2026, with an amount not to exceed $12,000. Board approval is requested because the county has contracts with the city where expenditures exceed $100,000 during the previous 365 days.
Impact/Outcomes: These funds will expand three and establish two additional organics drop-off sites in the county and increase access to organics recycling, especially for residents who live in multifamily units not served by city programs. These drop-off sites will increase service to more than 11,300 households who live in multifamily buildings and are estimated to collect approximately 41,000 pounds of organics each year.
Diverting organic material from the trash are foundational strategies of the county’s Climate Action and Zero Waste plans. Increasing access to organics recycling supports these goals.
Organics drop-off grants also support the county’s disparity reduction efforts by increasing access to organics recycling for underserved residents who live in multifamily housing units that do not have curbside service or are in designated environmental justice areas.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval