Item 52 Staff Report Letter from Saratoga Regarding RecyclingCouncil Agenda
Date: 10/19/87
Item No.7c5k
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
Council Agenda Report
DATE: OCTOBER 15, 1987
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBORAH SWARTFAGER, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM SARATOGA REGARDING RECYCLING
RECOMMENDATION
Conceptually approve curb side recycling feasibility study and direct staff to
report back to Council on the costs and timing of such a study.
DISCUSSION
0n September 8, 1987 the Saratoga City Council scheduled a study session on curb
side recycling. Representatives of each of the West Valley Cities (Campbell, Los
Gatos, Monte Sereno) attended. Representatives from Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, and San
Jose also attended to discuss their experiences in implementing curb side recycling
in their communities.
At this time it appears that the most cost effective recycling effort would involve
a regional program involving all of the Green Valley contract cities or even San
Jose. To pursue this issue further staff requests conceptual approval to
investigate a feasibility study with the other Green Valley contract cities. Green
Valley has also been exploring curb side recycling and we will explore options with
them as well.
FISCAL IMPACT
the fiscal impact of this proposal will depend upon the costs associated with the
feasibility study.
PREPARED BY: DEBORAH SWARTFAGER, Town Manager
DS:pm Attachment
cc: Regular Distribution
City of Saratoga - Mayor Don Peterson - 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga 95070
Reviewed by:
TOWN COUNCIL ACTION DIRECTED TO:
ACTION OF COUNCIL:
COMMENTS:
Dear Mayor y_e_tt:
13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA. CALIFORNIA 95070
(408) 867-:34:38
September 15, 1987
Mayor Brent Ventura
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 9503015Laj;
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Karen Anderson
Martha Clevenger
Joyce Hlava
David Moyles
Donald Peterson
As you are aware, our City Council held a study session on
curbside recycling on September 8, 1987, which staff from your
City attended. Staff representatives from the cities of
Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, and San Jose were also present to discuss
their experiences in implementing curbside recycling within their
respective communities.
As we discussed the presentations and the report on the subject
prepared by our staff, we were reminded that the landfill we are
currently using is projected to reach its capacity by 1995 unless
efforts to expand it prove successful. More significantly,
landfill capacity throughout the County is disappearing and
becoming increasingly more expensive to use.
In light of the information we received at our study session, I
believe curbside recycling may be a thing whose time has come.
Because our cities use the same landfill and wastehauler, a
curbside recycling service would be much more effective if
offered on a regional basis involving all of the Green Valley
contract cities. Toward that objective, we would like to know if
your City would be willing to support a curbside recycling
feasibility study with us. Such a study would include a market
analysis of our communities and would provide us with essential
demographic and economic data enabling us to assess the potential
cost effectiveness of a curbside recycling service within each of
our jurisdictions. We could ask our staff to explore the cost of
conducting such a study if you agree conceptually this is
something we are collectively interested in pursuing. A task
force involving representatives from each of our communities
would review this information and make a recommendation on how we
should proceed with the study.
In the meantime, please feel free to contact us if we can answer
any questions or provide information.
Sincerely,
Don Peterson, Mayor
jm
TOWN of LOS GATOS
Office of the Mayor
354-6801
October 5, 1987
Con Peterson
Mayor
City of Saratoga
13777 Fruitvaie Avenue
Saratoga, California 95070
Subject: Curb Side Recycling
Gear Mr. Peterson:
The Council has been interested for some tine in pursuing a curb side
recycling program. Unfortunately our next Council meeting is not
scheduled until October 19, 1987. I have asked staff to agendize your
letter for discussion at that tine. Following our meeting, we will be in
contact with you through our staff.
Very truly yours,
f
7' ' `�,, i
BRENT N. VENTURA
?ayor
BNV:DS:pm
cc: Town Council
Deborah Swartfager, Town ;?anager
CIVIC CENTER • 110 EAST MAIN STREET • P.O. BOX 949 • LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95031
GREEN VALLEY DISPOSAL COMPANY
SEP 28 !on,-
P.O BOX 1227 • LOS GATOS. CA 95031 • PHONE 354-2100
September 24, 1987
B. Feuerborn
N_ Olson, power of attorney
283 Longridge Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Re: account number 000 237900283
Dear B. Feuerborn and N. Olson:
Thank you for your September 1987 letter regarding unlimited
service and recycling.
We have already started the process of developing a curbside
recycling program for the areas we serve. We are extracting the
best ideas from the curbside recycling programs in the San
Francisco Bay Area.
We feel recycling the various materials will benefit you by
placing valuable resouces back into the productive cycle instead
of being buried, and by conserving landfill space for future
years.
It is also important to realize that the sale of recyclable
materials does not cover the costs of curbside recycling. City
of San Jose has stated it costs $.95 to $1.50, depending on what
costs it includes, per month per household for curbside
recycling. The residents of San Jose are not seeing the true
costs becuase San Jose has elected to fund the program from taxes
they are collecting elsewhere_
You have also indicated an interest in unlimited service.
Presently, in place of unlimited service, you and the other
residents of Los Gatos have the opportunity twice a year, in the
Spring and the Fall clean-ups, to put out as much refuse and
trash at curbside for pick-up. The next clean-up is on Friday,
October 9, 1987.
We understand the Town has looked at this matter in the
past. However, you and we need to keep in mind that many
proponents of recycling feel unlimited service discourages
recycling and are interested in getting cities with unlimited
service to switch to measured can service like you have in Los
Gatos!
We are forwarding your letter to Deborah Swartfager, your
town manager, for her review and consideration.
If you have any comments on this letter, or further
questions or ideas, please contact us.
it.
We also want to thank you for your business. We appreciate
Sincerely, .
cc: Deborah Swartfager
ilk
Gerard J. Wen
Chief Financial Officer &
Assistant General Manager
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