DATE:
June 13, 2023
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Public Works
TITLE: CalRecycle SB 1383 Local Assistance
Grant Program Funds
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to accept a one -time payment of $117,739 from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to fund Senate Bill 1383 program activities and software for the Solid Waste Section.
2. Appropriate $117,739 to the Public Works operating expenditure budget for grant revenue received from the Senate Bill 1383 program in the Solid Waste Fund. (Five votes required)
BACKGROUND
Landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions in California where over half of materials sent to landfills are compostable items, such as food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard. To mitigate the effects of climate change , the State approved Senate Bill (SB) 1383 (2016) to decrease methane emissions through reducing the amount of organic materials sent to landfill by 75% from 2014 levels and recovering 20% of surplus food by 2025.
CalRecycle’s SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program provides funding to help jurisdictions with the implementation of regulat ory requirements in the law . City staff submitted a grant application to fund three separate initiatives that will help encourage behavior change related to food waste, meet the State’s edible food recovery goals , and fulfill jurisdictional requirements outlined in SB 1383. CalRecycle approved the application in spring 2022 and awarded $117,739 to the City.
ANALYSIS
The three initiatives approved by CalRecycle as eli gible for use of grant funds are: (1) a food waste prevention campaign to support SB 1383’s goal of reducing organic material sent to landfill; (2) SB 1383 program tracking and reporting software ; and (3) the Countywide business food recovery program. These initiatives are described further below.
CalRecycle SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program Funds June 13, 2023
Food Waste Prevention Campaign
The City of Mountain View is collaborating with the cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy to develop a food waste prevention study and outreach campaign in support of SB 1383’s goals for each respective city. This study will build on a previously completed regional study through the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission (RWRC) Technical Advisory Committee.
In 2022, the RWRC hired a consultant to conduct a community-based social marketing food waste prevention campaign and study. Based on learnings from the initial study , Mountain View will implement a modified behavior change campaign and measure its effectiveness in reducing the disposal of food waste in residential collection carts. The project also aligns with the City’s Zero Waste Plan Initiative No. 7, Residential Food Waste Reduction. Approximately $15,000 of the grant funds would be allocated to this initiative.
Program Tracking and Reporting Software
Staff will use grant funds to implement a cloud -based software program that enables a wide variety of data tracking, including organics collection service compliance, waivers, paper and recovered organic waste products procurement, and enforcement. The integrated mobile app includes fieldwork functionality for logging inspections, route reviews, and other education and outreach activities with the purpose of tracking participation in recycling and organics programs.
This tool would fulfill the SB 1383 jurisdictional implementation record and re cordkeeping requirements. Approximately $80,000 of the grant funds would be allocated to this initiative.
Business Food Recovery Program
As an RWRC member agency, the City participates in a Countywide edible food recovery program to meet the SB 1383 requirements to divert surplus food from landfill. The program contractor, Joint Venture Silicon Valley (JVSV), identifies generators covered by the law, conducts outreach and technical assistance, inspects the businesses, and provides reporting. Each member agency must pay its share of the cost for JVSV to operate the edible food recovery program for F iscal Year 2023-24. The awarded grant funds will cover Mountain View’s costs and support edible food recovery organizations. Approximately $22,000 of the grant funds would be allocated to this initiative.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City received $117,739 from the SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant in Fiscal Year 2021-22. This money has been deposited into the Solid Waste Fund. Staff requests expenditure appropriation of this funding for the three initiatives listed in this report.
CalRecycle SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program Funds June 13, 2023
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve acceptance of the grant funds and direct staff to return the funds to CalRecycle.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Katie Green
Analyst II
Jennifer Cutter
Solid Waste Program Manager
Reviewed by:
Damian Skinner
Assistant Public Works Director
Approved by:
Dawn S. Cameron
Public Works Director
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
KG-JC/LL/1/CAM
958-06-13-23CR
203029