Jan 08, 2025 Zero Waste Advisory Commission

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, COMMISSIONERS, WE CAN COME BACK TO.

HEY, UH, SORRY I WAS HAVING TROUBLE UNMUTING.

UM, HELLO, UH, THIS IS KABA WHITE AGAIN.

UM, CALLING IN, UM, BOTH ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE AND AS AN AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY CUSTOMER.

AND OUR SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE ROLLING OUT OF THE ON-CALL BULK PICKUP SERVICE, AS WELL AS THE ON-CALL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS RATES, WASTE SERVICE, UM, BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR, UH, FOR, FOR IMPLEMENTATION CITYWIDE, UH, THIS MONTH.

UM, THIS, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM, UM, STARTING WITH THE PILOT A FEW YEARS AGO, IS TO INCREASE THE DIVERSION OF, UM, ITEMS THAT NORMALLY WOULD JUST GO TO THE LANDFILL DURING BULK COLLECTION AS EVERYTHING COLLECTED, UM, IN THOSE TRUCKS, UM, ON THE KIND OF MASS BULK COLLECTION DAYS GOES, GOES TO THE LANDFILL, UM, JUST 'CAUSE IT REALLY CAN'T BE SORTED EFFECTIVELY.

UM, A RR HAS PILOTED THE ON-CALL, UM, MODEL IN TWO DIFFERENT, UM, PARTS OF TOWN AND, UH, HAS, HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIVERT MATERIALS, UH, AS A RESULT.

AND, UM, IN, AT THE END OF 2019, UM, THEY DID SHARE WITH THIS WAC, UM, A SURVEY THAT THEY DID FROM THE, THE PILOT AREA PARTICIPANTS.

AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UM, THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY WERE VERY POSITIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE ON-CALL MODEL.

A CLEAR MAJORITY IN BOTH AREAS, UH, DID PREFER THE ON-CALL OVER THE TRADITIONAL MODEL.

UM, AND THAT WAS, UM, EVEN CONSIDERING THAT, UM, THERE WERE A LARGE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS THAT DID NOT, UH, KNOW THAT THEY ACTUALLY COULD HAVE USED THE SERVICE MORE THAN ONCE.

UM, WHICH I THINK MAKES THE ON CALL, ON-CALL MODEL ACTUALLY A LOT MORE CUSTOMER FRIENDLY, UH, FOR A RR CUSTOMERS WHO MAY HAVE ITEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, UNEXPECTEDLY KIND OF COME UP, YOU KNOW, YOUR REFRIGERATOR BREAKS OR YOUR, YOU GET A NEW STOVE OR THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND, UH, IT REALLY IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF THEM IN A PROPER WAY AND A RR IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECYCLE.

UM, AND I, AND I HOPE, AND I THINK THAT THAT PART OF THIS WILL BE POTENTIALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR FURNITURE PERHAPS, UH, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REUSE AS WELL.

UM, I, I WOULD JUST, UH, WRAP UP BY, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDING THAT, UH, THIS WAC DOES, UM, REQUEST REGULAR UPDATES ON THE, UM, KIND OF PROGRESS WITH THIS PROGRAM, UM, BOTH IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION AND USE OF IT, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF OVERALL DIVERSION OF MATERIALS.

WHAT TYPES OF MATERIALS ARE BEING DIVERTED, ARE THEY BEING RECYCLED OR, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS, UH, SOLD OR DONATED FOR REUSE.

UM, SINCE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY KIND OF IMPETUS FOR THIS PROGRAM.

UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF THAT SURVEY.

UM, AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I'M SURE STAFF COULD SHARE IT, UM, WITH YOU FROM, FROM THE END OF 2019.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, ALSO POINT OUT THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR WHAT PEOPLE, UM, MIGHT ALREADY BE DOING BEFORE THEY PUT ITEMS OUT TO THE CURB.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME INDICATION THAT PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO REHOME SOME OF THEIR OTHER ITEMS OR RECYCLE THEM OR WHATNOT BEFORE PUTTING THEM OUT FOR BULK COLLECTION, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS WERE NOT DOING THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY A RR WILL ALSO DO SOME EDUCATION, UM, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, DONATE OR IN OTHER WAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH MATERIALS AND, AND ITEMS THAT PERHAPS COULD HAVE ANOTHER LIFE.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY POSITIVE PROGRAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO USING IT MYSELF.

ON-CALL COLLECTION PROGRAMS THAT, UH, ARE BEING, UM, ACTUALLY SET OUT.

THANK YOU, KABA.

AND I THINK, AGAIN, THIS ENTIRE COMMISSION IS VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE AND EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE, UH,

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU, KABA.

OKAY, GUYS, THANK YOU.

MOVING

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ON.

THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES HERE, AND I THINK WE DO HAVE, UH, THE FIRST SET OF MINUTES, WHICH IS THE NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024 MEETING MINUTES.

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THOSE MINUTES.

WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION BY CRAIG BEYOND SECONDS.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS ON THIS, ON THIS MOTION HEARING? NO DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

NEXT ITEM IS THE, UH, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 5TH SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE JAN MOVES APPROVAL.

I SECOND CRAIG SECONDS.

DO I HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES HEARING? NO DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND PLEASE.

[3. Discussion and action to amend the Zero Waste Advisory Commission by-laws to remove the Organics Management Committee.]

MOVING ON.

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE, UH, IT'S AN ACTION DISCUSSION ACTION ITEM.

AND IT'S BASICALLY THE, UH, ZERO WASTE ADVISOR COMMISSION BY BYLAW AMENDMENTS TO THE ORGANIC MANAGEMENT, UH, COMMITTEE.

AND THEN I MOVE THAT WE, UH, UH, PASS THIS ITEM.

CRAIG MOVES APPROVAL OF THE, UH, OF THE, UH, CHANGE.

JAN.

SECONDS THAT, DO I HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION HEARING? NO DISCUSSIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

[4. Staff briefing regarding the Proposed Department Rule Amendments for Residential Collections by Jason McCombs, Division Manager, Austin Resource Recovery.]

MOVING ON.

THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE, UH, STAFF BRIEFING BY JASON REGARDING THE, UH, PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION, UH, CHANGES.

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, UH, WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS THE, UH, THE, THE NEXT ROUND OF, UH, PROPOSED, UH, RULE AMENDMENTS, UH, TO, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT RULES.

UM, IF YOU'LL, UH, REMEMBER THAT WE STARTED THIS, UM, PAT LAST, UH, SUMMER, I THINK IT WAS IN AUGUST, WHERE WE POST THE FIRST ROUND OF RULE CHANGES.

A LOT OF IT WAS JUST HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS, UM, GETTING OUR RULES UP TO DATE WITH, UH, CURRENT OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AND THINGS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO GET INTO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.

UM, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO, JUST A REMINDER, ADMINISTRATIVE RULES REALLY ARE HOW THE DEPARTMENT, UM, IMPLEMENTS THE, UH, THE, THE CODE OR THE ORDINANCES THEMSELVES, THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS.

AND IT'S, IT'S THE, HOW THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF WILL ACTUALLY, UH, IMPLEMENT THE DIFFERENT, UM, REQUIREMENTS AND POLICY SET FORTH BY, UH, CITY COUNCIL.

GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS JUST A REMINDER, UM, THAT, UH, WE'RE UNDER A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PROCESS HERE.

WHY WE'RE GOING THIS ROUTE THROUGH ZACK AND THROUGH COUNCIL IS JUST, UH, MOST, UH, RULES WITHIN THE CITY.

UH, DO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR APPROVAL.

AND THIS IS REALLY JUST FOR REFERENCE, AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS THE, UH, RULE AMENDMENT THAT WE FIRST, UH, PROPOSED LAST SUMMER.

I THINK IT WENT REALLY SMOOTHLY.

IT'S THE SAME PROCESS AS BEFORE.

UM, BUT WE WILL BE, UM, UH, THE, YOU HAVE THE STRIKE THROUGH VERSION OF THE RULES HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT HERE IN A SEC, BUT WE WILL, UH, BE POSTING THEM TO SPEAK UP AUSTIN HERE.

IT SHOULD BE UP TOMORROW ON JANUARY 9TH ON, UH, FOR SPEAK OF BOSTON.

WE WILL SEND AN EMAIL OUT TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND TO EACH OF YOU, UM, THAT WILL BE UP FOR 30 DAYS, UM, GATHERING STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS.

UH, WE DO RESPOND TO THOSE COMMENTS ONLINE AS WELL.

AND THEN WE'LL BRING ALL THE STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK AND PROPOSE THE FINAL PROPOSED RULE CHANGES FOR CONSIDERATION HERE IN WAC, UM, AND LIKE LIGHT SPRAY, UM, LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER WITH THE HOPE THAT WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL DURING THAT TIMEFRAME AS WELL.

UM, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF SOME OF THE, UM, UH, PROPOSED RULES THAT WE HAD, UH, IDENTIFIED AS, AS NEEDING ATTENTION, UM, LAST SUMMER.

JUST WE'RE ON ITEM TWO, SO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THESE ARE THE ACTUAL RULE CHANGES THEMSELVES.

THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THE ACTUAL STRIKETHROUGH VERSION AS PART OF YOUR BACKUP IN FRONT OF YOU.

UM, BUT PRIMARILY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS, UH, THE CART SET OUT TIME BEING ADJUSTED TO 5:30 AM INSTEAD OF SIX 30.

UM, AND THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE LATE, UH, SET OUT FEES, UH, THAT CAN BE ASSESSED FOR THAT.

UM, THESE ARE FEES THAT ARE ALREADY WITHIN OUR FEE SCHEDULE THAT ARE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, AND WE'RE JUST, UH, KIND OF, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING CAPTURING IN THE, UH, RULES THEMSELVES ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE REASONS WE DO ASSESS THOSE FEES SUCH AS LIGHT SET OUT, UM, AND RE UM, AND SOME OF THE OTHER ADDITIONAL RETURN TRIP FEES ITSELF.

UM, SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, RETURN TRIP FEES THAT WE DO HAVE IS ONE'S, IS THE, THE CART NOT BEING SET OUT ON TIME.

YOU MISSED MY CART, AND THEN WE HAVE TO RETURN TO, TO THE, TO THE SITE TO GO PICK IT BACK UP.

THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WHEN WE GET A CALL LATER THAT DAY, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT

[00:10:01]

UH, CONTAMINATION IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE, WE HAVE THAT HAPPEN A LOT THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING HERE IN THE WORLD AS WELL.

SO THAT WOULD BE A CART THAT MIGHT BE FULL OF GARDEN HOSES, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE WILL TAG THAT CART.

UM, BUT WE DO GET CALLS TO, HEY, CAN YOU COME BACK OUT AND PICK UP THE RECYCLING? AND THIS IS IN, THIS WOULD BE IN BETWEEN THE REGULAR, UM, IT'S AN OUT OF CYCLE COLLECTION, YOU KNOW, SO YOU LIKE, FOR EVERY TWO WEEKS, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THEN WE WOULD NEED TO RETURN THERE.

SO WE WOULD ASSESS A FEE IN THAT SITUATION.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO HERE.

WE'RE ALSO ADDING A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, DETAIL AND INFORMATION JUST TO ALIGN WITH OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AROUND, UM, YARD TRIMMINGS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SIZES OF THEM AND THE SET OUTS AS WELL.

SO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, I CAN ANSWER ANY, BUT, UM, LIKE I SAID, I THINK RIGHT NOW THESE ARE, THIS IS REALLY JUST KIND OF A BRIEFING TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, UM, WHAT THE PLAN IS AND, UM, AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING UP ON SPEAK UP AUSTIN TO START GATHERING INPUT FROM EACH OF YOU AND FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

SO, THANK YOU.

JASON, ANY QUESTIONS FOR JASON? JASON? I HAVE ONE.

UH, I'M SORRY, MELISSA, GO AHEAD PLEASE.

SORRY, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

FOR THOSE RESIDENTIAL HOMES THAT REQUEST TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE RECYCLING BIN, OR, UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW, MAYBE IF THEY NEED MORE THAN ONE COMPOST BIN OR, OR LANDFILL BIN, IS THAT AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OR IS THAT A FREE ADDITIONAL BIN THAT GETS USED? UM, I'LL PROBABLY, I'LL NEED TO VERIFY THAT.

MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WOULD BE THE ONE RETURN TRIP FEE, NOT PER CART, UM, SITUATION.

BUT I, I CAN VERIFY THAT AS WELL.

SO FOR SPEAK UP, AUSTIN WOULD BE GREAT PLACE TO MAYBE PUT THAT QUESTION AND WE CAN MM-HMM .

GET YOU A SOLID ANSWER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MELISSA? THANK YOU.

YOU, THANK YOU.

REAL QUICK, JUST A KIND OF A COMMENT AND, AND MAYBE A CHALLENGE, UH, ITEM 6.1 0.4, BOY, 15 FEET CLEARANCE.

IS THAT REALISTIC IN SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS? UM, YEAH, I WOULD HOPE SO.

YEAH.

I, I THINK IT, IT IS, YEAH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE JUST BECAUSE OF THE ARMS AND THE ARM HEIGHTS AS WELL.

EXACTLY.

I MEAN, I'M JUST, YEAH.

AND WE DO WORK CLOSELY, I THINK WITH AUSTIN ENERGY TO HELP KINDA TRIM TREES WHEN NEEDED, UM, FOR THAT CLEARANCE.

BUT, UM, AND AGAIN, A SIMILAR QUESTION.

OBVIOUSLY THE PROCEEDING QUESTION, THE ONE WITH, UH, WHAT IS 6.1 0.3, I GUESS THE, THAT THERE ARE TWO.

I MEAN, IT JUST, WITH SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS BEING SO TIGHT.

OH BOY, YOU'RE, YEAH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE, UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE TWO, SPECIFICALLY THE ARMED HEIGHT AND THEN THE SET OUT FEES, CORRECT.

THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE NOT THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE CHARGING FEES ON AS WE RETURN TRIP FEES, BUT THEY ARE THE PRACTICES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED FOR OUR OPERATIONS TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WORK EFFECTIVELY, SAFELY.

CORRECT.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

LET'S SEE WHAT SPEAK UP AUSTIN, UH, BRINGS US HERE, BUT, UH, JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

OF COURSE.

ALRIGHT, GUYS.

MOVING, UH, MOVING ALONG

[5. Staff briefing regarding the FY25 Breakdown Analysis of Waste and Organics Collections for the month ending October 31, 2024, by Theodore Horton, Deputy Director, Austin Resource Recovery.]

HERE.

THE NEXT NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION, STAFF PRESENTATION BY TED, TED HORTON.

AND TED'S GONNA GIVE US THE, UH, BREAKDOWN ON THE, UH, WASTE AND THE ORGANICS COLLECTION PROCESS MONTH TO MONTH, I SHOULD SAY.

UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, TED HORTON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.

UM, YES, OUR, OUR GOAL HERE IS AT THE END OF EVERY, UH, WAC MEETING WE TYPICALLY HAVE, OR EVERY REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING ANYWAY, WE HAVE, UH, THREE PAGES OF REPORTS.

AND OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, UH, STARTING WITH THIS MONTH, WE'D LIKE TO JUST GO OVER THE CONTENT OF THOSE REPORTS JUST SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF LEVEL SET, UM, THINK OF IT AS A, A REVIEW FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN, UH, EXPERIENCED WITH THIS FOR A WHILE, BUT ALSO NOTING THAT WE HAD SOME NEWER COMMISSIONERS WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OF VALUE.

UM, SO, UM, THESE REPORTS ARE BEING LOOKED AT RIGHT NOW, UH, FOR REVIEW AND UPDATES BY STAFF.

UH, GOING TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT CAME UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER, UM, WHERE AS OUR PROGRAMS ARE EVOLVING, SOME OF THE, UH, CAPTIONS AND TITLES ARE GOING TO NEED TO EVOLVE, AND SOME OF THE DATA WE'RE GONNA CAPTURE NEEDS TO EVOLVE.

SO, AS I'M GOING THROUGH THIS, OR AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU GUYS HAVE COMMENTS, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY OPEN TO THOSE THOUGHTS.

IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR US AS WE'RE STARTING TO CONSIDER WHAT THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW FOR LATER THIS YEAR.

AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST PAGE OF THE REPORT.

I DID INCLUDE IT IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST PAGE OF THE REPORT THROUGH OCTOBER.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S AN OLDER VERSION BECAUSE AS I, AS I WAS PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION, THE NEWEST REPORT WASN'T AVAILABLE YET.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE, UH, PHOTO DEFINITIONS, IF YOU WILL, OR EXAMPLES.

UM, AND LITERALLY HERE YOU CAN SEE, UM, A SNAPSHOT FROM THE REPORT,

[00:15:01]

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS INTENDED TO BE.

ALSO NOW ENTERED, UM, INTO THE, THE PUBLIC RECORD AS A PART OF THIS MEETING.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHEN WE SAY TONS OF CURBSIDE TRASH, WE ARE LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT THE REFUSE THAT FOLKS THROW IN THEIR CARTS AND PUT OUT AS WELL AS EXTRA, EXTRA TRASH.

UH, TONS OF CURBSIDE BULK DISPOSED IS EXACTLY THAT, AND THAT WILL BE MOVING TO THE ON-CALL SYSTEM.

UH, HHW, UH, OCCURS DOWN AT OUR R-R-D-O-C SITE.

AND THEN THE ESTIMATED TONS OF, UH, CURBSIDE RECYCLING RESIDUALS.

I APOLOGIZE, THAT CAPTION GOT CUT OFF A LITTLE BIT.

UM, THAT, THAT IS MATERIAL AT THE MUR RF UM, THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT RECYCLED OR NOT CAPTURED BY THE EQUIPMENT.

AND THAT'S JUST A PHOTO OF A STANDARD MF LINE.

SO DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME LOOKING IN THE PICTURE AND, YOU KNOW, PICKING OUT CERTAIN PAPERS AND CARDBOARD.

IT'S JUST TO, UH, TO SYMBOLIZE THAT, UH, WHAT GOES OFF AT THE LAST CHANCE LINE TO THE LANDFILL.

THIS IS JUST MOVING DOWN THE REPORT.

UM, AGAIN, BLUE CARTS ARE TOTAL TONS OF RECYCLABLES COLLECTED.

THE RRC TONS ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE BRING US.

SO THEY BRING US DOWN TO OUR SOUTH LOCATION SITE, UH, CARDBOARD.

THEY BRING STYROFOAM, WHICH YOU SEE THERE, UH, FOR DENSIFYING, AND THEY BRING OTHER, OTHER RECYCLABLE MATERIALS.

UM, THE NEXT PICTURE I CHEATED A LITTLE BIT.

UM, IT'S THE RRC TONS OF BRUSH COLLECTED.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, YOU'LL NOTICE WE HAVEN'T COLLECTED ANY IN QUITE A WHILE.

WE NO LONGER ACCEPT BRUSH AT THE, UM, RRC.

UH, WE DO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT IT AT HORNSBY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REPORT MODIFICATIONS WE'RE LOOKING AT.

'CAUSE WE REALIZED AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS DATA THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY UNDER STATING, UM, SOME OF OUR DIVERSION POTENTIALLY BY NOT COUNTING THAT MATERIAL THAT'S GOING OVER TO HORNSBY.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AND, UH, JUST IN CASE ANY OF YOU AREN'T AWARE, THAT MATERIAL'S ULTIMATELY TURNED INTO DILLOW DIRT, UH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF, UH, AUSTIN WATER.

THEN WE HAVE OUR HHW OPERATIONS, UH, TONS THAT ARE RECYCLED OR REUSED.

AND THOSE, UM, REALLY COME FROM PREDOMINANTLY, UH, TWO CATEGORIES.

ONE A LITTLE BIT LARGER THAN THE OTHER.

THE FIRST IS AUSTIN'S PAINT PROGRAM.

UH, THAT RE BLEND PROGRAM IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN COME IN AND BASICALLY REQUEST, UM, ESSENTIALLY AS MUCH FREE PAINT AS THEY WANT.

THERE ARE FEW RESTRICTIONS AROUND COMMERCIAL ENTITIES DOING SO.

UH, BUT ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, IT'S, IT'S A, A GREAT BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE.

AND THEN WE ALSO PUT MATERIAL OUT INTO THE REUSE STORE, WHICH IS, UH, THE SORT OF SHED LOOKING BUILDING THAT YOU SEE THERE.

AND THOSE ARE PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE BRING US WHERE THEY MAY HAVE A BOTTLE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT OF A, A HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL THAT IS HALF USED, CLEARLY LABELED, AND REALLY READY TO CONTINUE TO BE USED, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO BROUGHT IT TO US DOESN'T HAVE A PURPOSE FOR IT ANYMORE.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IT INTO THAT REUSE STORE, FIND A NEW HOME FOR IT, UM, AND, UH, BENEFITS SOMEONE BOTH ECONOMICALLY AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, REUSING OUR RESOURCES AND KEEPING MATERIAL OUT OF DISPOSAL.

REUSED FOR FUTURE CARTS AND OTHER APPLICATIONS.

UH, JUST CONTINUING DOWN THE REPORT, UH, WE HAVE OUR COMPOST CARTS, OR SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM OUR, OUR GREEN WASTE CARTS.

UH, KEEP IN MIND THEY SERVE BOTH PURPOSES.

NOW, UM, TONS OF CURBSIDE, BULK RECYCLED ARE, UM, MATERIALS THAT ARE DROPPED TO, UM, THE RDOC AS WELL AS MATERIALS THAT, UH, WE BRING ON OUR OWN TRUCKS.

UH, HENCE THE, THE RELATING TO THE CONVERSATIONS WE JUST HAD ABOUT ON DEMAND, UM, BULK, UH, PICKUP, UM, MOST COMMONLY TIRES, UH, VERY FREQUENT.

UM, AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE SCRAP METAL, SUCH AS THE, THE TWO WATER HEATERS THAT ARE IN THOSE PICTURES.

UH, IF YOU CAN LOOK CAREFULLY AT THAT PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE SOME, UH, TELEVISIONS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL MATERIALS, EVEN THINGS LIKE VACUUM CLEANERS.

UM, WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE GET ALL OF THOSE COPPER MATERIALS OUT THROUGH PROCESSING AS OPPOSED TO IT JUST GOING DIRECTLY TO THE LANDFILL, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

UH, AND THEN DOWN ALONG THE BOTTOM ROW, YOU HAVE TONS OF CURBSIDE BRUSH COLLECTED, TONS OF CURBSIDE TECH CURBSIDE TEXTILES COLLECTED, AND THAT'S A, UM, A RETAIL OUTLET, BUT THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THOSE MATERIALS END UP.

UM, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S AN OUTLET THAT BENEFITS A LOT OF FOLKS IN TOWN.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ON, UH, THIS SECTION OF THE REPORT, WE HAVE TONS OF CARTS RECYCLED, AND THAT IS LITERALLY THE CARTS THEMSELVES.

SO THE PLASTIC MATERIAL, WHEN THEY REACH THE END OF THEIR USABLE LIVES, OR THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, UH, FROM HOW, UH, EITHER OUR, OUR TRUCKS HAVE MISHANDLED THEM OR AN OP UH, UH, CONSUMER, UH, RESONANT HAS MISHANDLED THEM OR THEY'VE JUST WORN OUT OVER TIME, WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, TAKE THEM BACK AND THEN, UH, GET THAT MATERIAL

[00:20:01]

ALRIGHT, NOW, WE, UH, ARE GONNA SEE IF, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS AND ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WATCHING IS READY TO DO SOME MATH AT THIS TIME OF THE EVENING.

SO TRY TO KEEP IT PRETTY SIMPLE.

BUT I WANTED TO PUT OUT THE INDIVIDUAL FORMULAS FOR THE DIFFERENT LINES AGAIN, SO THAT ANYBODY REFERRING BACK TO THIS PRESENTATION COULD SEE, UM, HOW WE ACTUALLY WORKED THESE NUMBERS.

SO THE FIRST FORMULA TO WATCH IS THE FORMULA ACROSS THE TOP OF THE PAGE.

UM, THE RRC PLUS THE HHW EQUALS THE R-R-D-O-C.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN TRYING TO SPELL IT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE IS THE RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTER.

THINGS LIKE THOSE CARDBOARD AND STYROFOAM AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT YOU SEE BEING DROPPED OFF DOWN SOUTH, PLUS THE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY WHERE THEY DROP PAINT AND OTHER CHEMICALS COMBINED.

THAT WHOLE FACILITY, UM, DOWN OFF OF, UH, TODD LANE IS, UM, CALLED THE RECYCLE REUSE DROP OFF CENTER.

AND THOSE TERMS ARE IMPORTANT JUST BECAUSE YOU'LL SEE THEM KIND OF USED INTERCHANGEABLY AND ABBREVIATED, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE VARIOUS, UH, ROWS OF THE REPORT.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO CALL OUT HERE IS THERE IS A ROW THAT IS BOLDED.

AND IF YOU LOOKED AT IT FAST, YOU MIGHT MISTAKENLY THINK IT'S JUST A SUBTOTAL OF ALL THE ROWS ABOVE IT.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A VERY SPECIFIC FORMULA, UH, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING SURE WE DON'T DOUBLE COUNT ANY MATERIALS AND SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE COLLECT AT THE CURBSIDE, UM, WE THEN TAKE TO THE R-R-D-O-C FOR RECYCLING.

AND SO IT HAD POTENTIAL TO GET COUNTED TWICE.

SO IT'S JUST AN ACCOUNTING OR A MATHEMATICAL ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH THE MATERIAL NUMBERS WE REPORT.

AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS IS THE, UH, HOW TO CALCULATE THE SUBTOTAL THAT'S IN GREEN MM-HMM .

AND THEN, UM, JUST TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE, I USED THE NUMBERS FROM THE FIRST, UH, BLUE COLUMN SO THAT YOU COULD SEE HOW IT'S WORKING MATHEMATICALLY.

UM, AND THE NOTE THERE IS THAT THAT SUBTOTAL SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDES, UM, THE DOUBLE COUNTING THAT I JUST REFERENCED, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, THE BOLDED SUBTOTAL LINE.

SO THAT'S WHY THOSE ARE BLANKED OUT UP ABOVE.

SO YOU CAN FOLLOW THE MATH A LITTLE EASIER AND WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, HERE I WANTED TO NOTE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE MISTAKENLY LOOK AT THIS REPORT NOW, AND THEY ASSUME THAT WHEN WE ARE CALCULATING OUR, UM, UH, DIVERSION RATE, UH, THAT THAT SHOWS UP IN THAT PERCENTAGE, THAT THAT IS THE SUM OF ALL THE LINES ABOVE.

AND IT IS, IT IS NOT, IT SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDES ALL OF THE MATERIALS FROM THE R-R-D-O-C, THOSE MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING DROPPED AT THE REUSE CENTER OR HHW CENTER DOWN SOUTH.

AND THESE ARE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE BEING COLLECTED CURBSIDE.

NOW THAT WE'RE GONNA BE COLLECTING MORE THINGS CURBSIDE WE'LL SHOULD SEE THESE NUMBERS GO UP.

AND IT'LL ALSO BE A FAIR REPRESENTATION, BUT JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE ADJUSTED.

SO IT ADJUSTS, UM, REALLY ALL THREE COMPONENTS.

UM, THE, THE TWO COMPONENTS OF, OF THE NUMERATOR AND THE COMPONENT OF THE DENOMINATOR.

AND THERE'S JUST SOME MATHEMATICAL NOTES ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME COMMISSIONERS HAVE EXPRESSED SPECIFIC INTEREST, UM, HOW MANY TONS OF DEAD ANIMALS DOES A RR REALLY COLLECT? I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE LAST LINE OF THIS REPORT SHOWS IT.

UM, I WILL OPENLY SAY I DID NOT HAVE THE HEART TO ACTUALLY PUT A DEAD ANIMAL PHOTO, SO, UH, APOLOGIZE.

I NOTED THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, WHICH I ENCOURAGE THE USE OF AND THE REPORTING FORM, UH, THAT CITIZENS CAN USE TO ASK FOR HELP, UH, GETTING A PICKUP OF A, OF A DEAD ANIMAL.

UM, SO THIS IS JUST THE REPORT IN ITS TOTALITY.

AND AGAIN, UM, NEXT MONTH, UM, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UH, GINA MCKINLEY, PLANS TO GO OVER THE NEXT PAGE OF THE REPORT.

AND THEN ON THE, UH, FOLLOWING MONTH, RON ROMERO WILL GO OVER THE THIRD PAGE OF THE REPORT.

SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO, UM, ASK IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, UM, AND, AND WE WELCOME ANY INPUT THAT YOU HAVE.

FIRST OFF.

THANK YOU, TED.

I MEAN, THIS HAS INFORMATIVE AND GIVES US A BETTER IDEA AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT HERE.

CATEGORIES IN 2024 THAN WE DID IN 2023.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR TED? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION AND IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD FOR ME TO GET ALL THIS IN, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE'RE COLLECTING LESS IN MANY

[00:25:01]

AND SEEING AS OUR POPULATION IS INCREASING, UH, I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY FACTORS IN THAT THAT YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT COULD EXPLAIN THAT? UM, CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS IN THAT I, I THINK I'D REALLY LIKE TO SAVE THE BULK OF THAT DISCUSSION FOR, FOR NEXT MONTH.

AS WE START TO LOOK AT THE, THE ROLLED UP DIVERSION RATES.

I THINK THERE'LL BE A, A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

BUT, UM, I, I THINK PROBABLY THE, THE SINGLE BIGGEST FACTOR, UM, AS MUCH AS WE'D ALL LIKE TO FORGET IT, IS COD, UM, COVID SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED, UH, CONSUMER PATTERNS.

IT CHANGED, UM, LIFESTYLES.

UM, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE, THE FREEWAYS AND HIGHWAYS IN THE MORNING, YOU NOTICE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT ON THEM, EVEN TO THIS DAY IN 2025.

SO I'M SURE, UH, FROM A, UH, CLIMATE IMPACT AND VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, THAT'S GREAT.

UM, BUT IT HAS CHANGED OUR PATTERNS.

AND MOST OF THESE NUMBERS, UM, ARE RESIDENTIALLY BASED.

AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT, UM, PEOPLE SPENDING MORE TIME IN THEIR HOMES THAN SPENDING MORE TIME RETURNING TO OFFICES, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST, UH, 12 MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN SOME TRENDS AROUND THAT.

UM, AS WELL AS JUST CONSUMER, UH, BEHAVIOR CHANGES.

I THINK THAT WOULD ALL PACKAGE IN.

BUT I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS I WOULD POINT TO.

UH, THE OTHER THING I WOULD JUST POINT TO LARGELY IS, UM, THE REFUSE BUSINESS AS A WHOLE HAS ALWAYS, UH, UH, REALLY BEEN, UH, ALMOST A DIRECT CORRELATION TO, UH, GDP AND THE ECONOMY.

AND, UM, AS GDP AND THE ECONOMY, UH, CONTINUES TO CHANGE IN THIS AREA, WE MAY SEE AN IMPACT THERE, BUT I'VE NOT, UH, DONE A DEEPER ANALYSIS THAN THAT.

I APOLOGIZE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR TED HEARING? NO OTHER QUESTIONS, TED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH'S UPDATE.

I I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER THEM UNTIL OUR FEBRUARY UPDATE.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

IS LITERALLY THE STAFF BRIEFINGS.

ALRIGHT, THE NEXT ITEM HERE

[6. Staff briefing on the status of Austin Resource Recovery Operational and Administrative projects as well as public outreach efforts by Theodore Horton, Deputy Director of Austin Resource Recovery.]

AND TED, I, THAT'S YOU AGAIN.

YES.

SORRY.

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH.

UH, TED HORTON, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.

UM, SO A, A FAIRLY SHORT, UH, REPORT THIS MONTH AS, UH, AS WE, UH, PULL OUT OF OUR HOLIDAYS AS WELL.

AND I HOPE, UH, HOPE THE COMMISSIONERS HAD A, A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON.

UM, AS WE'RE LAYING OUT THE YEAR, UH, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO, UM, START HAVING, UH, ESSENTIALLY A PRE-SCHEDULED FOCUS OF TOPICS FOR THE YEAR.

UM, THE IDEA, UH, BEING, UH, BOTH AS, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE, UH, REQUESTED ITEMS OR AS, UH, THE DEPARTMENT HAS, HAS NEEDS TO PRESENT INFORMATION, UM, WE SHOULD SORT OF LAY OUT A, A ROADMAP, UM, AND, AND HELP US ALL LEVEL SET OUR EXPECTATIONS JOINTLY.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE, UM, AT THE TOP OF THAT REPORT.

AND, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS, UH, WRITTEN IN INK, I WILL OFFER THE INTENTION OF IT IS THAT IT IS WRITTEN IN PENCIL.

SO, UM, IF THERE ARE, UH, THINGS THAT COME TO MIND NOW THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ON IT, OR THINGS YOU'D LIKE ADJUSTED, UM, EARLIER OR LATER, UH, WE'RE OPEN TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

UM, OR IF IN FUTURE MEETINGS, UM, YOU HAVE SIMILAR SUGGESTIONS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO, UH, TREAT THIS AS A LIVING DOCUMENT.

SO THIS IS LIVING AND, AND AS A LIVE DOCUMENT EACH AND EVERY MONTH.

THAT IS, COULD BE, COULD BE.

THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

UM, AND THEN THE, UH, SECOND TOPIC I WANTED TO REVISIT, UM, SINCE OUR LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, UH, IS AN UPDATE ON THE COMPOST PROCESSING CONTRACT.

UM, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE COMPOST, UH, PROCESSING CONTRACT WAS, UH, PULLED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

UM, AND WE HAVE CONTINUED THE HOLDOVER, UM, THAT WAS ALREADY IN MOTION FOR THAT CONTRACT.

AND THAT HOLDOVER WILL EXTEND THROUGH, UH, FEBRUARY OF 2025, UH, LATE FEBRUARY OF 2025.

AND, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, OF EXECUTING A EMERGENCY EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING AGREEMENT.

UM, THAT EMERGENCY EXTENSION, UH, IS SET TO LAST, UH, SIX MONTHS.

AND DURING THAT SIX MONTHS, WE INTEND TO USE THAT TIME TO, UH, PUT OUT A NEW PROCUREMENT, UM, DETAILS ON THE, UH, NEW PROCUREMENT.

I'M NOT PRIVY TO, TO ALL OF THEM YET, BUT THERE WILL BE, UH, SOME, SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, WHICH SHOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT, UH, THAT HAD ARISEN PREVIOUSLY.

TED, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? HEADACHES, TED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE, UH, FOR THE UPDATE.

I GUESS WE'RE DOWN GUYS, UH, TO THE NEXT, UH,

[00:30:01]

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

THE NEXT ITEM IS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO, TO LOOK AT.

ONE OF THEM, OBVIOUSLY, THE, UH, POSSIBLE PRESENTATION BY THE, UH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT ON THE COMPOSTING ISSUE.

IS THAT A POSSIBLE, I THINK WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE PROCESS THAT THE ORIGINAL YEAH.

UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, RICHARD MCHA, DIRECTOR FROST AND RESOURCE RECOVERY.

I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE PURCHASING OFFICE ABOUT, UH, ATTENDING A WAC MEETING TO OH, THANK YOU.

AND THE NEXT ITEM I LOOK AT HERE IS THE PROPOSED, UH, AND JUST A DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM ON THE PROPOSED MERGER OF THE, UH, ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, IF WE COULD, UH, HAVE THAT ON THERE ALSO.

ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER ITEMS, COMMISSIONERS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF? YES, UH, I HAVE A, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE PROCESS OF WHEN CARTS ARE DETERIORATING AND THEY'RE TAKEN AWAY, AND THEN THEY'RE BROUGHT BACK.

IT, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOME POLICIES ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS AND HOW IT GOES ON, AND I'M KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

UH, THANK YOU CRAIG.

UH, RICHARD ML, DIRECTOR FOR A R.

SO, CRAIG, CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT, LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT CART COMES BACK OR WHAT, WHAT MAKES US BRING IT BACK? OKAY.

SO, UM, IF I, AND I ASSUME, 'CAUSE I, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS, BUT, UH, 'CAUSE I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GARBAGE COLLECTION COMES BY AND SUDDENLY SOMEONE'S CARD IS MISSING MM-HMM .

AND MY ASSUMPTION, OF COURSE, IS THAT SOME, YOU KNOW, THE CARD'S DETERIORATING OR SOMETHING'S GOING WRONG WITH IT, AND IT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY AND IT'LL COME BACK AT SOME POINT.

UH, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE POLICY IS, HOW YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT AND EVERYTHING, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I LIKE IN RY WILL SAY, HEY, THEY TOOK MY CAR, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? AND I, YOU KNOW, I'M USING IT, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT.

YEAH.

SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN.

UM, OFTENTIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT CARD CART ACTUALLY WILL FALL INTO THE HOPPER, AND IT MAY STILL BE A USABLE CART, BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET RETRIEVE THAT, UH, CART OUT OF THE HOPPER.

SO, UH, PROCEDURES, AT THAT POINT, THE, THE DRIVER'S SUPPOSED TO LEAVE A NOTICE, UM, THAT THE CART HAD BEEN, UH, ACCIDENTALLY DISPOSED OF.

AND, UH, SUPERVISORS SUPPOSED TO BRING A CART OUT THAT DAY.

SO IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEN THAT ENDS UP THE CUSTOMER'S HAVING TO CALL IN INTO 3 1 1 TO REQUEST A CARD.

SO, UM, BUT WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON OUR DRIVERS TO MAKE SURE THEY NOTIFY US WHEN THAT SITUATION HAPPENS.

SO BOTH DON'T HAVE TO CALL IN ABOUT THE CARTS.

NOW, OTHER TIMES THERE ARE CARTS THAT ARE, CUSTOMERS HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, MY CART'S NOT ANY GOOD.

AND, UM, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEN WE JUST TAKE THAT WHOLE CARD AND THEN WE'LL BRING THEM A REPLACEMENT CARD.

UH, WELL, I MEAN, JUST MY, WHAT I JUST LIKE SAW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT THE CART WAS TAKEN AND NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN.

AND SO THE, YOU KNOW, MY SUGGESTION WAS TO CALL 3 1 1, BUT THE 3 1 1 DOESN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED OR I, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY KNOW, HAVE A THING OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY.

UH, I MEAN, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF LIKE, YOU KNOW, A DOOR HANGER.

SO, YEAH, SO WHAT THE DRIVERS HAVE IS A TWO PART FORM.

UH, THEY SUPPOSED TO TEAR OFF, LEAVE PART OF IT WITH THE CART AND TAKE THE OTHER PART BACK TO THE SUPERVISOR.

SOMETIMES THAT CART, UH, THAT, UH, THAT NOTICE WILL EITHER GO INTO THE CART OR FLY OFF THE CART.

UH, SO SOMETIMES RESIDENTS DON'T GET THE NOTICE, AND SOMETIMES, TO BE HONEST, THE DRIVER JUST DOESN'T LEAVE THE NOTICE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ON, UH, TO GET OUR DRIVERS TO, TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES TO, TO DO THE, THE RIGHT THING.

SO, UM, SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON.

BUT, UH, WE TRY TO GIVE NOTICE WHEN WE DO DISPOSE A CART, UH, AND GET ONE BACK OUT THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WELL, THANK YOU THAT THAT ANSWERS A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS.

UM, AND ALONG WITH THE CARTS, SINCE WE HAVE A STRONG EMPHASIS FOR OUR, UH, SINGLE USE BLUE CARTS TO NOT BE BAGGED FOR THE RECYCLABLES, BECAUSE IN THE MURPH THEY DON'T LIKE THEM TO BE BAGGED.

ANY, ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE, I'M SORRY, MELISSA, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

YEAH, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS NEW BULK PICKUP ON CALL PROGRAM THAT WE'RE INITIATING, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY MOMENTUM TOWARDS RECYCLING MATTRESSES, IF, UM, THAT'S BEEN REISSUED AND GETTING, UM, A RECYCLING COMPANY TO TAKE ON OUR MATTRESSES, OR IF THAT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, BEING DIVERTED TO THE LANDFILL.

[00:35:01]

SO WE WERE, WE'RE TRYING TO ESPOUSE AND EMPHASIZE THAT THE CUSTOMERS THROW IN THEIR ITEMS LOOSELY INTO THE BIN.

WHAT I HEAR FROM MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICT TWO IS THAT THEIR BINS GET FILTHY VERY QUICKLY AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO USE THEM AS IF THEY'RE BEING INSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY THE COMPOST THEN.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A, IT'S A FUTURE PROSPECT TO, UM, PURCHASE A TRUCK THAT COULD BE ROUTED TO WASH THE BINS FOR CUSTOMERS AS LIKE A, AS LIKE A PAID FOR NEEDS SERVICE.

UM, I KNOW I WOULD DEFINITELY UTILIZE THIS SERVICE AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE.

SO IF THIS COULD BE PUT ON THE AGENDA MAYBE LATER ON IN THE SUMMER IF, UM, MM-HMM .

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA TALK ABOUT TOO QUICKLY, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT MM-HMM .

HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME AND MY DISTRICT AND IT'S, UM, SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT OFF AND ON.

SO, UM, YEAH, AS FAR AS CLEANING THE CARTS, NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR US TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE DEFINITELY WOULD BE OPEN TO LISTENING TO, TO CONCERNS ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

WE DO HAVE TIPS ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT HOW TO KIND OF CLEAN, KEEP YOUR CART AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMPOST.

UH, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY DELVE INTO THAT MORE, UM, IF THE COMMISSION SO DESIRES, UH, AS FAR AS MATTRESSES GO, WE'RE STILL KIND OF DEALING WITH THAT WHOLE ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE ON DEMAND PROGRAM AND THE UPCOMING FURNITURE REUSE WAREHOUSE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SOMEHOW, UH, RECOVER THOSE MATERIALS AND ONES THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REPURPOSE, UM, KIND OF BRING THAT INTO A, UH, AN OPERATION WHERE WE CAN, UH, UH, RECYCLE THAT MATERIAL.

UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, UM, UH, KIND OF NEW IN THE AREA THAT ARE DOING THIS.

UM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO SEE IF OF THEIR INTEREST IN COMING TO THE AUSTIN AREA AND DOING SOME WORK.

UM, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS TODAY.

UM, 'CAUSE WE HAVE BEEN, UM, TALKING A LOT ABOUT STYROFOAM LATELY AND OUR DENIER AND USING THAT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF MATTRESSES NOW THAT ARE ACTUALLY MORE OF A FOAM TYPE PRODUCT.

SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA LOOK TO SEE, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET A FOAM MATTRESS AND JUST KIND OF TAKE A, SOME OF IT OFF AND SEE, RUN IT THROUGH OUR DENIER AND JUST SEE, SEE IF WE CAN DO STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL SOLUTION FOR AT LEAST THE FOAM MATTRESSES.

BUT REALLY JUST, THIS IS REALLY EARLY.

WE JUST ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY.

SO, UH, NOTHING WE REALLY, UM, CAN GO OUT AND, AND SHOUT ABOUT AND, AND BRAG ABOUT YET.

BUT, UH, LET'S SEE HOW IT WORKS FIRST.

UM, BUT ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO GET THAT MATERIAL.

UM, ESPECIALLY MATTRESSES ARE STILL AN END USABLE CONDITION, UH, TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE REPURPOSED.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY WHEN WE DO GET THAT FURNITURE WAREHOUSE SET UP AND OPERATING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT MATERIAL THROUGH THAT, THAT, UH, SYSTEM THERE.

SO, UH, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU UPDATED 'CAUSE MATTRESSES HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN A BIG, BIG ISSUE FOR, UH, FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, MELISSA? UH, YEAH, SO RELATED TO THAT, DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE TIMELINE FOR THE WAREHOUSE? UM, WE ARE, WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR REAL ESTATE.

WE'VE BEEN, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR NOW, SO WE HAD FOUND A COUPLE PROPERTIES THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN.

UH, ONE, THE BUYER DECIDED TO BACK OUT, UH, AND NOT SELL THE PROPERTY.

THE OTHER ONE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE PROPERTY AND PROBABLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE IN BY THE DEADLINE.

'CAUSE WE HAVE, I THINK ANOTHER TWO, TWO YEARS IN A FEW MONTHS OR SO TO, TO GET THIS FACILITY UP AND RUNNING, UM, PER THE EPA, UH, AGREEMENT.

SO WE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO TAKE ON A HUGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE.

SO, UH, WE'RE REALLY, I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING SET UP FOR FEBRUARY TO REALLY KIND OF GO OVER OUR LIST AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE BEST PROPERTY THAT, UH, THAT REALLY DOES THE BEST THING FOR US.

BUT IT MAY COME TO A SITUATION WHERE WE JUST HAVE TO GET A PROPERTY AND THEN MAKE WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS WE NEED TO ON THAT PROPERTY LATER.

BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET THAT FACILITY UP AND RUNNING PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE.

YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.

TO, TO LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL.

UM, I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THE CHANGES FOR 2025, THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING IN PLACE FOR ALL THE FUTURE MEETINGS.

I THINK IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THAT'S REALLY JUST THE RESULTS OF THE MEETINGS I'VE HAD WITH EACH OF YOU AND, AND HEARING YOUR CONCERNS.

AND, UM, SO I TOOK MY BEST SHOT OF, OF TOPICS I THOUGHT YOU WOULD, UH, FIND OF INTEREST AND, UH, PERHAPS APPRECIATE A DEEPER DIVE.

BUT, UH, LIKE TED SAID, IF THERE'S SOMETHING ON THERE THAT'S, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, THAT YOU'RE THINKING THAT MAYBE I WASN'T, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU STAFF FOR, UH, BEING HERE WITH US OR EDUCATING US, I SHOULD SAY.

THANKS RICHARD.

THANK COMMISSIONERS.