Out of Sight - Out of Mind - Virginia Recycling …...APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference May 5,...
Transcript of Out of Sight - Out of Mind - Virginia Recycling …...APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference May 5,...
Out of Sight - Out of Mind
Central Business District Sealed Compactor Program
APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference
May 5, 2016
Motivation
• Remove unsightly trash set-out on curbs, sidewalks,
and public spaces
• Trash lingered waiting for collection
• Remove unpleasant odors
• Discourage scavenging
• Reduce pest problems (insects, bees, raccoons,
rodents, etc.)
• Specific problem area
How Could This Look?
• Keep our street scape beautiful, safe, clean and odor -free
• Encourage outdoor dining and local events
• Encourage citizens to visit all the downtown businesses
• Lessen impact on infrastructure (waste stains, stormwater
pollution)
• Increase recycling rates
• Exceed customer expectations, best in class!
HISTORY
• Trash was collected at the curb or deposited at a
dumpster
• Three daily collection times 3:00, 5:00, 10:00 p.m.
• Costly service to Solid Waste Management
• Fees were based on the number of bags
collected
• Growing interest in outdoor dining
• Potential safety liability to vehicles and pedestrians
• Poor recycling participation
The Tipping Point
• Problem area - the dumpster area had two
grease traps.
• One was rented by the city for the market building
• second was rented by one other restaurant
• Grease traps developed into a problem
situation
• 15 years ago the area was eliminated
• This was the start of the compactor conversation
First Steps
• Set new collection times
• Introduced a recycling collection program
• Streamlined trash collections to
o 3 times per day – 6 days a week
o Added weekend collection on Sunday
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated
• Non-profit downtown
development organization
• Advocates for merchants
• Aware of rapid growth in the
Central Business District
• Trash collection continued to
be on everyone’s radar
• A new compactor
movement began
Planning Together
Exploratory Compactor Committee Headed by
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated (DRI)
Comprised of: Merchants
Police
DRI
City of Roanoke
Sealed Compactor Service
• The sealed compactor is available 24 hours per
day and seven days a week for trash and
recycling disposal
• Each registered user receives a fob (electronic
key) for access to the unit
• For each registered account - the first two uses
per week are free
• Each subsequent use is $1there is no charge for
recycling
Market Area Compactor (MAC)
• Accessible location
• Partnership with local property owners
• Fully enclosed/FOB accessible
• 24-7 monitored/lighted area
DRI contacted a property owner in Historic District
MAC Feedback
Complaints:
o Balked at the location and access
o Worried - it would be too costly
o Questioned employee safety
Successes:
o Trash off of the street
o Accessible 24 hours / 7days a week
o Costs were lower than expected
Campbell Court Compactor
• Build on the success of the MAC
• City owned building
• Overlap of the service area
• Merchants had a choice of locations
Church & Luck Compactors
• 4th compactor at the Hampton Inn on Church
Ave
• 5th and final compactor – soon to be under
construction
• Completes the elimination of curbside trash
collection
Compactor Success (MAC)
Before Compactor
Trash - 1038.336 tons per year
Recycling - 59.64 tons per year
After Compactor
Trash - 576.44 tons per year
Recycling - 337.558 tons per year
Compactor Success• Typical cost to a restaurant before compactor,
$120 per month
• The average cost to a restaurant can be reduced up
60% per month
• Economic Development – Downtown is Cleaner!
“McGinn (owner Roanoke Dawgs) was curious to check out several
other things that for him were key indicators of whether Roanoke
would be a good place to do business.
One of them was to see how clean downtown was…But as he
described his May visit to us, he kept coming back to the part about
downtown — and how impressed he was that it was so clean.” Roanoke Times, November 23, 2015
Key Compactor Facts
• DRI relationship key for community acceptance
• Negotiation of property can be challenging
• Continuing outreach necessary for success of
the program
• Cost of the finished units approximately $150,000
Getting the Word Out
• Changing dynamics of downtown
• What is important to the CBD customer?
• Clean & Safe & Beautification Programs
Communication
• Websites
• Video
• Community
Outreach
• Customer Service
• Ongoing Training: for
business owners and
event planners
Satisfied Customers
Cornerstone Bar and Grill paid $120 per month for curbside collection,
now they pay on average $70 per month due to separating recycling
from trash, saving themselves $600 per year with the new service
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"We love having it readily accessible and the recycling option is perfect
for us."
-John, Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op
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"I think it is wonderful and beneficial to all. It beautifies the streets,
encourages recycling, and provides a positive opportunity for us to
come together for a better Downtown Roanoke."
-Maya, On the Rise Bread Co.
•
Recognition
The City of Roanoke Wins the 2015 Recycler of the Year!
The Virginia Recycling Association (VRA) recognized the City of Roanoke’s
innovative approach to waste and recycling collection by naming the City
the 2015 Recycler of the Year for its Downtown Sealed Trash Compactor
Program. Each year the VRA recognizes the best waste reduction and
recycling programs in the state at an annual awards ceremony.
Representatives from Roanoke’s Solid Waste Management Division and
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated (DRI) will accept this top award on May 6,
2015 at VRA’s annual conference held in Virginia Beach.