Dear Council Members, City Staff, Chamber and SDA,
As a citizen, I have been listening to and digesting the changes in garbage service.
I hope the City Staff, the Chamber and the SDA can help businesses move forward with transitioning to the new service provider in a way that is economical for our business community.
First off, I hope that our new Economic Development Director, Emi Theriault, will develop content for the City's website to encourage business owners to reach out to SRCC as a first step in learning about options and that she will be available, in concert with SRCC, to help businesses transition.
The City needs to develop content for its website to help local businesses not only with this transition but also other concerns they may have. Ms. Theriault should be a liaison, boots on the ground, for new and existing businesses.
In addition, Zero Waste Sonoma County offers many free recycling programs. People can recycle cardboard and yard waste for free at many sites across Sonoma County. https://zerowastesonoma.gov/materials/cardboard
https://zerowastesonoma.gov/materials/yard-debris-food-scraps Sebastopol has a recycle and redemption program.
https://www.cityofsebastopol.gov/new-recycling-redemption-center-now-open-in-thecommunity-church-of-sebastopol-parking-lot/ There is a program run by the North Bay Conservation Corps called Zero Waste Crews to help achieve zero waste programs.
https://www.ccnorthbay.org/zero-waste/
Sebastopol has a seat on the Zero Waste Sonoma County and a Climate Action Committee.
Sebastopol residents are paying $35,000 - $50,000 per year to support the Climate Action Committee. The CAC should help businesses and schools with recycling and composting if a SCRR site visit does not mitigate costs. There are many free programs within Sonoma County, which are paid for by tax dollars.
If SCRR site visit does not reduce or mitigate recycle and composting costs to local businesses, then perhaps the Zero Waste and Climate Action representatives can work to help businesses use the free services offered by Zero Waste Sonoma.
It is conceivable that businesses could hire a local hauler to pick up both cardboard and green waste and take it to a free Zero Waste Site if SCRR proves to be too expensive. If you had 10-20 businesses that had a weekly cardboard pick up, it might cost $50 per week per business.
There are many resources in Sonoma County for recycling and composting. Sonoma County has a Zero Waste Program. The City of Sebastopol financially supports a Climate Action Committee.
Perhaps there is a way for businesses to work with existing resources, the Climate Action Committee and Sonoma Zero Waste to find a solution that is economical and achieves the recycling/ compost goals of local businesses.
From my understanding, the SCRR is the best provider for most residents and many businesses.
I also understand that some businesses might be adversely impacted and need additional resources. As small businesses are a key driver for revenue for the City, it is very important that the City and SCRR work diligently and consistently to help our business community through this transition. This will take outreach, clear communication and solutions.
Thank you for all your work on this.
Best,
Kate Haug