SR-091774-11Cy_ j~
Santa Monica, California Se tember li 1974
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TO: Mayor and City Council
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FROM: Cit-3 Staff ~, ~.
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SUBJECT;-
Pilot 1Fewspaper Recycling Fs~~gram; THio 4 '~ rF~=~a
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Background
Concern has been expressed by the City Council about the need to protect the
This report transmits a proposed pilot newspaper recycling, programwherein
the City will pick up used newspapers monthly from two pilot areas in the City.
znvironmert by conserving existing resources and recovering =esources from
solid wasie disposal. For example, the increased t;se of paper and wood
pulp products is rapidly diminishing forest resources. However, through a
relati veiy simple process, used newspapers can be de-inked and recyciad for
re-use as newsprint, and a variety of other products. tilany cities in California
are involved in a newsprint recycling program either on a pilot or trial basis
or as a city-wide program aster successful completion of a trial.
Description of Proposed Pilot Area
Tire Staff is recommending two areas £or the pilot program. One area is in
thz north section of the City and the second area is in the southeast seciion
of the City. The north section is about 99~o single family and the south section
is about 70°,'0 einale famiiv and 30%~ multiple and commercial.
TPZ north area is '_Known as refuse collection route No. 12 aac is bounded by
Stir: Vicznte, 2nd Street, 19th Street and ~dontana Avenue and contains apprax-
~mately X49 lots.
To: Ylayor and Council -2- September Il, 1974
The south .area is known as refuse collection route No. 2 and No. 5. It is
bou-ided by Pico Boulevard, Ocean Park Boulevard; 28th Street and Centinela
_Avenue and contains approximateiy 97o apartment units, 451 single :family'
lots, and 57 comr.-iercial lots.
The north area is collected on Tuesdays and Fridays and the south area on
Mondays and Thursdays.
Description of Proposed. Pilot Program
It is anticipated that asix-month pilot program would start the week of
October 1. Daring the interim prior to program initiation, the City will hand
deliver a notice to each dwelling unit and business sxplair_ing the program and
seeking participation (printed on recycled paper),. Also, spot announcements
will be made on KSRF and :copefully, local newspapers ~c-i1~ print stories
concerning the program based oneress releases issued by the City.
The proposed program will consist of or_a man from the Ref,zse Division in a
pickup truck following regular refuse collection trucks on the first regular
collection day of the month for each pilot area as follows:
South Area North Area
Thursday, Oct. 3 Tuesday, Oct. 1
~Sonday, ~lov. 4 Friday, ~Fov. 1
Monday, Dec. 2 Tuesday, Dec, 3
'T'hursday, Jan. 2 Friday, Jan. 3
Monday, Feb_ 2 Tuesday, Feb. ~
Monday, Mar, 3 Tuesday; filar, 4-
The once-per-month frequency is recommended since it is easy for those
participating in the -pilot program to -remember, .especially when the frequency
of regular refuse collection is twice per week and the netivspaper pickup is
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refuse. _
.zen acceptance o€ the idea'of
separating newspapers from other refuse... It is recommended that the City not
interfere with the citizen's right to donate used newspapers to those charitable
organizations that also have recycling programs. Nor is it proposed that any
ordinance be established during. the pilot program prohibiting scavenging. It
is felt that such an ardinance is not necessary because of the current depressed
used newspaper market due to_a supply exceeding demand situation discussed
below. Scavenging is currently not nearly as profitable as it was four to
six months ago when demand exceeded supply. Scavenging should be prohibited
cohere the City collects city-wide and under a contract with a paper stock
dealer or user in order to protect a contract minimum.
Present used Newspaper Market. Considerations
The present used newspaper market is depressed due to the fact that supply far
exceeds current demand. Paper stock dealers and paper stock users report.
warehouses full o£ used newspaper throughout. Southern California mainly because
the Sapanese have temporarily withdrawn from purchasing this material. It was
the Sapanese, approximately four to six months ago, who were accounting for
the reverse situatior. when they were seeking all available used newsprint for
t`re many newly-built de-inking plants in that country, Consequently, demand
exceeded supply forcing prices up, Now the .Iapanese face an ins7ation problem
and 'nave not yet reentered the market.. Prices at the peak demand which were
To: ivLayor and Council -?- September lI, 1974
running at $32. OQ,per-ton are now at $10. 00 to $12. OO per ton. Therefore the
pilot program should not be viewed as a profitable enterprise.: _ !,
Goals of the Pilot Program
1. To determine whether or not Santa Monica. residents will
voluntarily separate newspapers from regular refuse as a
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commitment to the environmental/recycling effort.
2, To allow time for the market to change (hopefully upward}
and, assuming. the-pilot is successful, to initiate achy-wide.
newspaper recycling program when prices-per-ton are: ai a
higher level..
3. To determine tons collected per mor_th (which also equals
tons diverted from regular refuse placed at the Mission
Canyon laadiillk participation rates; time/manpower required
to collect the newspapers; determine problems Jsolutions to
apartment-house pick-up; and other operational characteristics.
o_` the pilot that may be transferred ;or eliminated. if negative}.
to a city-=ride grogram.
Alternative s
1. 1)o not initiate a pilot program as described. This is a policy
decision which mus# be viewed in light of existing environmental
concerns being expressed by the public.
2. Initiate a c ify-wide collection program. (Without a pilot program)
the City does not now know the operational. characteristics of a
"best method of collection" given Santa Monica's situation of a
preponderance of apartment-condominium type dwelling units.
Further, the market has not yet stabilized and is dependent unbn
foreign demand for paper. The City should not consider a city-
wide program until
A. Scavenging is regulated or prohibited, and
B. TJrtil the domestic demand for used newspaper stabilizes
to the point =where paper dealers are once again willing
to enter into long-term contracts for the product.
3. Initiate the pilot program as described,