GOAL A: ENSURE THAT ALL MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATED WITHIN THE CITY IS COLLECTED AND TRASNPORTED IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS PUBLICH HEALTH AND SAFETY.

Policy A.1. Provide convenient, competitively priced solid waste collection services.

Action Statements

A.1a. Establish, enforce, and periodically update collection service standards.

A.1b. Provide collection services that meet the needs of elderly and disabled residents.

A.1c. Evaluate methods of achieving increased efficiencies in solid waste collection.

A.1d. Compile and analyze information regarding collection operations to ensure that existing operations are operated in a safe, sanitary, and efficient manner and that collection costs are necessary and reasonable.

Policy A.2. Ensure that standards of Customer Service Excellence policies are met by those providing solid waste collection service.

Action Statements

A.2a. Provide and publicize convenient methods by which customer complaints can be filed.

A.2b. Investigate all complaints regarding solid waste collection and maintain records of complaint resolution.

GOAL B: REDUCE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL TO 50% OR LESS OF THE AMOUNT GENERATED IN 1990 (AS ADJUSTED TO REFLECT POPULATION AND ECONOMIC CHANGES) IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.

Policy B.1. Reduce generation of solid waste by providing source reduction programs and promoting source reduction behavior.

Action Statements

B.1a. Provide source reduction programs that reduce the generation of solid waste.

B.1b. Encourage and facilitate private source reduction programs, services, and facilities.

B.1c. Provide comprehensive and ongoing public education programs to encourage source reduction behavior by Sunnyvale residents and businesses.

B.1d. Continue to monitor the effectiveness of unlimited residential refuse collection.

Policy B.2. Maximize diversion of solid waste from disposal by use of demand management techniques, providing and promoting recycling programs, and encouraging private sector recycling.

Action Statements

B.2a. Continue to use demand management in determining refuse collection rates and policies.

B.2b. Provide, or facilitate the provision of, recycling collection services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in a cost-effective way that allows achievement of the 50% diversion goal.

B.2c. Provide comprehensive and ongoing public education and promotion programs to encourage residents and businesses to participate in recycling programs.

B.2d. Make City facilities models of source reduction and recycling behavior by stating that all employees are expected and empowered to incorporate source reduction and recycling in their work practices.

B.2e. Compile and analyze information regarding recycling and disposal amounts, program costs, and customer satisfaction to evaluate the City's progress toward achieving its disposal diversion goal.

Policy B.3. Meet or exceed all federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning solid waste diversion and implementation of recycling and source reduction programs.

Action Statements

B.3a. Periodically update the Sunnyvale Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE), and perform related tasks as required by state law.

B.3b. Continue to implement the source reduction and recycling programs described in the SRRE.

B.3c. Continue to monitor the City's compliance with waste diversion laws and regulations.

Policy B.4. Increase demand for recycled materials by advocating local, state and federal legislation that will increase use of recycled content products.

Action Statement

B.4a. Identify and support proposed laws and administrative actions that would increase the demand for and value of recycled materials in a cost effective manner.

GOAL C: ENCOURAGE REDIENTS TO MAINTAIN CLEAN NEIGHBORHOODS BY PREVENTING UNSIGHTLY ACCUMULATIONS OF DISCARDED MATERIALS AND ILLEGAL DUMPING OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE.

Policy C.1. Provide periodic opportunities for residents to dispose of refuse at discounted or no charge.

Action Statements

C.1a. Periodically provide "extended curbside collection" of bulky residential refuse.

C.1b. Periodically provide City residents free disposal of refuse at the SMaRT Station.

C.1c. Provide disposal services for neighborhood cleanup events.

GOAL D: DISPOSE OF SOLID WASTE GENERATED WITHIN THE CITY IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND, DEPENDABLE, AND COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.

Policy D.1. Assure that the City possesses a minimum of five years of refuse disposal capacity at all times.

Action Statements

D.1a. Annually assess the amount of disposal capacity available with existing disposal arrangements and projected disposal amounts.

D.1b. When available disposal capacity equals ten years or less, initiate actions to arrange for sufficient capacity to accommodate present and projected City needs.

Policy D.2. Reduce the amount of refuse being disposed, generate recycling revenues, and minimize truck travel to the disposal site through use of the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT ) Station.

Action Statements

D.2a. Achieve economies of scale in the operation of the SMaRT Station.

D.2b. Continue to monitor SMaRT Station operations to ensure compliance with all performance standards and regulatory requirements.

D.2c. Research developments in refuse transfer, materials recovery equipment and operations, and markets for recovered materials, and implement appropriate changes to SMaRT Station equipment and operations.

GOAL E: MINIMIZE POTENTIAL FUTURE CITY LIABILITY FOR WASTES GENERATED IN THE CITY.

Policy E.1. Select disposal methods and sites for solid and hazardous wastes that incorporate technologies and practices most likely to eliminate or minimize future City liabilities.

Action Statements

E.1a. Obtain and review permits, reports, and other information related to disposal facilities to verify compliance with laws, regulations, and prudent practices.

E.1b. Whenever practical, select to dispose of hazardous wastes by reuse, recycling, incineration, and landfilling, in that order.

Policy E.2. Minimize impact on future rate payers of potential liability for past disposal practices.

Action Statements

E.2a. Evaluate existing reserve funds and potential liabilities and adopt appropriate reserve fund policies.

E.2b. Seek changes to federal law to minimize the City's potential liability for disposal of municipal solid waste.

Policy E.3. Minimize illegal and inappropriate disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).

Action Statements

E.3a. Encourage use of HHW source reduction practices by providing promotion and public education.

E.3b. Provide and promote convenient HHW disposal services.

Policy E.4. To meet or exceed all federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and implementation of HHW programs.

Action Statements

E.4a. Periodically update the Sunnyvale Household Hazardous Waste Element (HHWE) and perform related tasks as required by state law.

E.4b. Implement the HHW programs described in the HHWE.

GOAL F: MAINTAIN SOUND FINANCIAL STRAGTEGIES AND PRACTICES THAT WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE KEEPING REFUSE RATES AT OR BELOW COUNTYWIDE AVERAGES FOR CITIES USING COST OF SERVICE PRICING.

Policy F.1. Establish refuse collection and disposal rates in a manner that equitably allocates program costs among rate payers and promotes rate stability.

Action Statements

F.1a. Periodically restructure refuse collection and disposal rates to incorporate demand management, minimize demand for services, and reflect actual costs.

F.1b. Annually survey refuse rates and rate-setting methods for comparable Santa Clara County cities to determine City's relationship to countywide averages.

Policy F.2. To the greatest extent possible, anticipate changes required in refuse collection rates in response to changes in laws, regulations, and economic factors affecting the solid waste management system.

Action Statements

F.2a. Prepare budgets that reflect costs for anticipated legislation and regulations, new programs, and modifications to existing programs.

F.2b. Annually establish refuse collection rates that use long-range budget projections to maximize the predictability of future rates.

F.2c. Identify, and work to modify, proposed laws and legislation that have potential financial impacts on the solid waste management program.

Policy F.3. Identify additional revenue sources and, where possible, increase revenues from solid waste programs, services, and facilities without jeopardizing program goals and customer service quality.

Action Statements

F.3a. Seek grant funding from the State and other sources where the cost of obtaining and maintaining the grant does not negate its value.

F.3b. Identify and pursue potential customers for any unused capacity of the SMaRT Station.

F.3c. Review and audit revenue sources to ensure that all appropriate revenues are being received.

F.3d. Evaluate revenues of existing and proposed programs as decisions are being made regarding those programs.

GOAL G: CONTRIBUTE TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF BUSINESSES.

Policy G.1. Provide solid waste services desired by businesses at competitive rates.

Action Statement

G.1a. Conduct periodic surveys to verify that businesses receive useful services at a competitive price.

GOAL H: MANAGE THE CLOSED SUNNYVALE LANDFILL IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTES ENJOYABLE PUBLIC USE OF THE SITE, AND ASSISTS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OTHER GOALS OF THE SOLID WASTE SUB-ELEMENT.

Policy H.1. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Action Statements

H.1a. Continue to monitor and manage leachate, groundwater, and landfill gas.

H.1b. Continue to monitor and manage the landfill cap, slopes, and surface vegetation.

H.1c. Maintain post-closure maintenance financial assurance mechanism in compliance with regulations.

Policy H.2. Extract available resources from the refuse buried at the landfill.

Action Statements

H.2a. Provide landfill gas of a quality and at a flow rate suitable for energy recovery.

H.2b. Continue to monitor new technologies for further opportunities to extract buried resources.

Policy H.3. Provide for safe, enjoyable recreational access to portions of the landfill.

Action Statements

H.3a. Maintain environmental control systems to provide for safe public access to open space portions of the site.

H.3b. Maintain a vegetative screen along Caribbean Drive and Borregas Ave. to enhance the aesthetics of the landfill, as viewed from the adjacent industrial area.

H.3c. Provide information to visitors regarding the site's history and relationship to other nearby City-operated environmental management facilities.

Policy H.4. Provide for facilities and activities on portions of the landfill that support achievement of the City's solid and household hazardous waste goals and policies.

Action Statements

H.4a. Continue to provide for concrete and asphalt recycling.

H.4b. Consider long-term use of the Carl Road Recycling Center as a household hazardous waste facility.

H.4c. Provide a disposal area for dried sewage sludge from the Water Pollution Control Plant.

H.4d. Evaluate the benefits to the solid waste program of other waste diversion facilities and activities proposed to be located on the landfill.

Policy H.5. Generate revenues from post-closure uses of the landfill.

Action Statements

H.5a. Periodically evaluate the possibility of increasing revenues generated by existing facilities located on the landfill.

H.5b. Evaluate the suitability and revenue potential of proposed revenue-generating uses of the landfill.

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