CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – PUBLIC HEARING
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL,
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: CHRISTABEL SORIA MENDOZA, MANAGEMENT ANALYST I
DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT: “THE STATE OF
COMPLIANCE IN SAN MATEO COUNTY”
RECOMMENDATION
Review and consider the Town’s response to the San Mateo Civil Grand Jury on their report entitled "The State of Compost Compliance in San Mateo County," and if appropriate, authorize the Mayor to sign the response letter.
BACKGROUND
On July 15, 2024, the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury released a report entitled "The State of Compost Compliance in San Mateo County" (Attachment 1). The report focuses on assessing the effectiveness of composting efforts across San Mateo County, especially in light of California's SB 1383 mandate, which requires the separation of compostable materials from regular waste to reduce methane emissions. It addresses compliance challenges, contamination issues, and the availability of information on waste diversion and participation rates.
The Grand Jury’s investigation revealed several key areas where improvements are necessary, particularly regarding the management of organic waste by multi-family dwellings and businesses. Additionally, the report highlighted the lack of readily accessible data on diversion rates, which hampers public awareness and accountability.
The Town of Atherton, along with other municipalities, is required to respond to the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury by October 14, 2024.
ANALYSIS
The Grand Jury’s report included multiple findings and recommendations aimed at improving compost compliance and reducing contamination in San Mateo County. Key recommendations include the need for cities to publish waste diversion reports and to improve the granularity of data related to waste tonnage by property type.
The Town of Atherton’s response addresses these findings and recommendations as follows:
Findings: The Town agrees with most of the Grand Jury’s findings, particularly the challenges associated with contamination in green bins and the significant organic waste contributions from multi-family dwellings and businesses. However, the Town disagrees with the finding that waste diversion and participation rates are not accessible, as this information is regularly included in the Refuse & Recycling Committee’s meeting packets.
Recommendations: The Town has committed to implementing several of the Grand Jury’s recommendations, including publishing quarterly waste reports with detailed diversion and participation rates starting November 30, 2024, and working towards separating waste tons by property type in collaboration with GreenWaste Recovery by December 31, 2024. Additionally, the Town is prepared to conduct more frequent route audits and analyze contamination trends as needed.
The attached response letter (Attachment 2) provides detailed feedback on each finding and recommendation, outlining the Town’s planned actions and timelines for implementation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no immediate fiscal impacts associated with the Town’s response to the Grand Jury report. However, future costs may arise related to enhanced waste evaluations, route audits, and data collection efforts.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This report aligns with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area D – Enhance Environmental Sustainability: By addressing compost compliance and contamination issues, the Town is taking steps to promote sustainable waste management practices.
• Goal Area E – Strengthen Community Engagement and Transparency: Publishing detailed waste diversion reports will enhance transparency and community engagement on environmental issues.
POLICY FOCUS
The Grand Jury requires that the Town indicate agreement or disagreement with specific findings and respond to each recommendation, indicating whether it has been implemented, will be implemented, requires further analysis, or will not be implemented. This response is crucial for ensuring compliance with state and county waste management mandates and for improving the Town’s overall environmental sustainability efforts.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Civil Grand Jury Report: "The State of Compost Compliance in San Mateo County"
2. Draft Response Letter to the Civil Grand Jury