Household Hazardous Waste disposal services for Sunnyvale residents are provided through the Countywide Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program. On June 20, 2000, the City Council set the City’s 3-year funding commitment to the HHW Program at $236,000 per year (RTC 00-204) through FY 2002/03. This amount is comprised of $80,000 in HHW program expenses included as a specific line item in the Solid Waste Program Budget and $156,000 from a $1.50 per ton fee paid at the landfill on all refuse disposed by the City at Kirby Canyon Landfill.

Due to increased use of the service by Sunnyvale residents, HHW program costs are higher than anticipated, and for the first nine months of FY 2002/03 total $225,121. Based on actual resident participation in HHW disposal events for the fiscal year to date staff projects that an additional 900 residents will require HHW disposal services in the balance of the fiscal year at an additional cost of $65,000.

Staff is recommending that the City Council increase the City’s FY 2002/03 commitment to the County HHW Program by $65,000. This will allow for uninterrupted HHW disposal services to Sunnyvale residents. The alternative would be to deny Sunnyvale residents access to HHW disposal until July, when the FY 2003/04 budget appropriation is available.

Funding is available in the Solid Waste Program budget, and the recommended action will have no fiscal impacts.

In June 2000, the City agreed to a change in the funding structure for the provision of HHW disposal services to Sunnyvale residents by the County. A $1.50 per ton landfill fee was approved for retention by the Santa Clara County HHW program, to provide funding for HHW disposal services. Prior to this landfill fee, Sunnyvale paid 100% of its share of HHW program costs directly to the County.

Key points of the HHW funding and service are summarized below.

• The participating cities make a three- year commitment to participate in the Countywide HHW program.
• A $1.50 per ton fee collected at the landfill provides funding for up to 3% of Sunnyvale’s households to participate in the Countywide HHW Program.
• Cities such as Sunnyvale provide supplemental funding from other sources to allow in excess of 3% of the households to participate in HHW disposal events.

Supplemental funding by the City of Sunnyvale totals $80,000 and is budgeted each year for HHW services in the Solid Waste Program budget. Together with the funding from the landfill fee, this amount provides enough funding for a total of 2,984 households to participate in the program each year.

Solid Waste Sub-element, Policy 3.2E.3—Minimize illegal and inappropriate disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).

There are two reasons why the usual funding system has failed to meet Sunnyvale residents’ demand for HHW services this year.

Since 1992 a Countywide AB 939 Fee has been imposed on all solid waste landfilled in Santa Clara County. The County distributes the revenues from the fee to all of the cities in Santa Clara County on the basis of how much landfilled waste each jurisdiction generated. The cities and the County to implement programs use fee revenues and services designed to meet the state mandate that local jurisdictions reduce the amount landfilled by 50% by 2000.

In FY 2000-01 an additional $1.50 was added to the fee and retained by Santa Clara County to fund HHW services. This funding gives the program a predictable funding source. However, economic factors have had an adverse effect on this funding.

When the City Council approved the Countywide HHW agreement, the budget was based on 112,759 Sunnyvale tons disposed at the landfill. At this level of disposal the $1.50 fee generated $169,139 for Sunnyvale’s contribution to the HHW program. In FY 00-01, 118,455 tons were landfilled, generating $177,683.

The proper disposal of HHW continues to increase in popularity. When the County HHW agreement was approved in FY 00-01 Sunnyvale estimated 2,984 participants based on revenues of $229,000. As mentioned above, the revenues have decreased due to decreased tons to the landfill. However, participation in the program has increased. For the nine months ended March 2003 the County has provided services to 2,547 Sunnyvale households. At this rate the County is expecting 900 additional households by the end of this fiscal year for a total of 3,447. This will be a 16% increase over the budgeted contract participation.

As a result of decreasing revenue from less tons landfilled and the increase in program participation, the City’s overall commitment to the Countywide HHW Program will be short by approximately $65,000, the cost to serve about 900 residents.

In order to assure uninterrupted HHW disposal services to Sunnyvale residents and to assure the County that the City intends to fulfill its financial commitments to the Countywide HHW Program, staff is recommending that the City Council increase the City’s direct commitment to participation in the Countywide HHW Program from $80,000 to $145,000. This $65,000 would allow for participation by up to 900 additional residents.

The City’s actual share of FY 2002/03 Countywide HHW Program costs will be determined by a year end reconciliation based on actual Countywide Program expenses and participation. Therefore, the final cost to the City may vary slightly from current projections.

The recommended action has no fiscal impact. Because landfill disposal expenses are down due to the decrease in tons of garbage disposed, sufficient funds are available in the Solid Waste Program budget to pay for the HHW services necessary to meet resident demand.

Notice has been provided through the publication and posting of the City Council agenda. In addition, all Reports to Council are available in the Library and on the City Internet home page.

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared by:
Richard Gurney
Recycling Supervisor

Reviewed by:
Mark A. Bowers
Solid Waste Program Manager

Reviewed by:
Marvin A. Rose
Director, Public Works

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager