HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 3 GRT WEST RECL 09-20-93 ! : ~. REPORTS NO. 3
~ATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 1993 I ~ t e r- C 0 ~ ~
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJEC~ REPORT REGARDING GREAT WESTERN RECLAMATION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that this report be received and filed.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
BACKGROUND
This report has been prepared in response to a request from the City
Council for information relative to the performance of Great Western
Reclamation.
DISCUSSION
The overall recycling program in the City of Tustin continued to show
strong results in the 199.2-93 program year. The total diversion for
the City increased to 9.2% compared to 6.9% for the 1991-92 program_
year. It is very important to note' that between the months of
January and June, 1993, the diversion amounts increased steadily with
diversion in June at 16.6%. The average diversion for this six month
period was 13.1%. This steady increase is the direct result of
significant improvements to the material recovery facility (MRF),
Sunset Environmental, which were completed in January, 1993.
The diversion amounts for Great Western Reclamation are only one part
of the total diversion of recyclable materials for the City of
Tustin. Staff has still not received any information from the Tustin
Unified School District or their contracted waste hauler, 5 Star
Rubbish. Staff will continue to work with the school district to
obtain the information necessary for our required annual report to
the Integrated Waste Management Board in order to accurately assess
the City's progress in meeting the mandated diversion requirements.
In order to insure the validity of the monthly reports submitted to
the City by Great Western Reclamation an aggressive auditing program
was implemented. The first phase of the auditing program involved
the Police Department conducting an undercover surveillance of the
refuse collection trucks operating within the City of Tustin. The
surveillance operation took place over a month long period in which
Great Western Reclamation trucks were followed on randomly selected
days to verify that only Tustin refuse was being collected and that
all refuse was being transported to the MRF. Information obtained
from this surveillance operation confirmed that the provisions in the
contract between the City and Great Western regarding those issues
were being adhered to.
The second phase of the auditing program involved the city s Finance
Department conducting a random check of the weigh tickets received by
Great Western Reclamation from the MRF to verify the tonnages
reported to the City monthly. Only minor discrepancies were
identified and all were reconciled directly.
The last phase of the audit program is on-going. Monthly, the City
receives detailed reports from Great Western Reclamation regarding
diversion activities. The reports are scrutinized by staff for
consistency, fluctuations in diversion and accuracy. We will
continue to receive and stUdy these reports, as well as an annual
report as required by the contract. It should be noted that at any
time the City questions the validity of the information provided
regularly by Great Western Reclamation both or either of the other
two phases of the auditing program can be implemented.
CONCLUSION
At this time, staff is comfortable with the progress made by Great
Western Reclamation in meeting the mandated diversion requirements of
AB939 (25% by 1995; 50% by 2000). The auditing of the recycling
programs progress will continue on a regular basis to insure
compliance with all provisions of the contract.
christine shing±.eton//
Assistant City Manager
~at~ Pitcher
Administrative Assistant II
KP:ktb:trash
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