HomeMy WebLinkAbout011325 Submitted by P. Quinn 3/Z0 z S
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SMART Disposal
Proof Of Concept Plan
Objective: To prove the feasibility of weighing single-family residence containers when they're emptied
for disposal without, in any way, slowing down or delaying the garbage truck pickup time.
• Weighing each container can be done with reasonable accuracy.
• The truck driver does not need to take any special actions to make the system work.
• The residence container's number can be accurately read by the optical character
recognition (OCR)system.
• The container's number and its weight can be transmitted from the truck-based system
into a cloud database.These records can then be accessed for analysis and for postcard-
type reports.
Requirements of the Proof of Concept:
1. The city will:
a. Procure a rented side-loader garbage truck,with the manufacturer and model type
provided by Loadman (the manufacturer of the scale).
b. Provide a truck driver.
c. Pay Loadman to install a scale on the rented truck, provide on-site support during testing,
and de-install the scale from the rented truck.
i. The rented truck will first be delivered to the Loadman offices for two weeks to install
the system and test it prior to proof-of-concept testing.
Loadman/Creative Microsystems, Inc.
15224 SE Renton Issaquah Road
Renton,WA 98059
ii. When the truck is delivered to Loadman, loan them five disposal containers matching
the types used within the city for single-family residences.
d. Provide an independent scale to obtain verified weights of each container and, separately,
its contents.
e. Provide an unused lot where the rented garbage truck can simulate a disposal pickup of
the five containers.
f. Provide several bags of sufficient weight to effectively simulate disposal weights at single-
family residences.
g. Conduct multiple-trial disposal runs for both types (with scale inactivated and with scale
activated) during the days of testing. This will help assure statistical significance.
2. Cost Estimate:
a. Loadman installation/deinstallation of the scale on rental truck plus support as needed:
$17,800
1I
b. Big Truck Rental of a Heil Python side-loader garbage truck(4-week minimum):
$13,900
3. Video filming:
a. The testing process will need a videographer.
i. Video recording within the cab of the truck to demonstrate:
1. What the driver is doing during the baseline test run (when the scale is not
activated).
2. What the driver is doing when the scale is activated.
ii. Video recording of the truck picking up the containers.The video image will include a
timer to demonstrate the time required to process the containers, both when the
scale is not activated (establishing a baseline)and when the scale is activated.
iii. Video production would consist of:
1. a 2-to 3-minute video suitable for showing at a City Council meeting.
2. a 20-to 30-minute video demonstrating in detail the testing process and
providing conclusive evidence of a comprehensive and compelling proof of
concept.This video would also include interviews with key constituents.
iv. Proposed bids from localvideographers are available.
b. Cost Estimate:
i. Up to 3 days of on-site videoing, approximately 6 hours per day @$200 per hour-
$3,600
ii. Interviews of key constituents up to 6 hours @200 per hour: $1,200
iii. Post-production editing, music licensing, etc... up to$4,500.
iv. Total Video costs: $9,300
4. Testing process for each trial:
a. Scale not Activated (baseline)
i. The truck will pick up each of the five containers,with the video showing the elapsed
time for each pickup.This will establish the baseline time without the scale being
activated.
b. The bags will be removed from the truck and returned to their original containers so the
scale-activated test will measure each container with precisely the same setup.
c. Scale Activated
i. The truck will pick up each of the five containers,with the video showing the elapsed
time for each pickup,this time with the scale activated.
21
Handout #1 - Analysis of City Tonnage and Diversion Rates
City of Renton YTD Nov-24
1 %of %of TOTAL DIVERSION RATE
Tonnage(total all types) YTD Nov-23 YTD Nov-24
Total Total 70.0%
Single-Family 29,641 44% 30,511 45% T
Commercial 28,251 42% 27,485 41% 65.0% P�9.ot
ikeMulti-Family 9,140 14% 9,379 14% 60.0% aeedeASoq_s �,'�/�'
Total 67,032 100% 67,375 100% Je�e.t°eCc3 -'' ,'�'
55.0% \R`pr� E�
Tonnage(by how disposed) YTD Nov-23 of
YTD Nov-24 °f 50.0% .' '
Total Total 00' ,'
/
Garbage(landfill) 41,897 63% 41,682 62 45.0% .' ,'
Recycle 12,088 18% 11,804 18% 40.1% 0'0
,/
40.0% 38.6%QM 38.1%
Food Scraps/Yardwaste 13,047 19% 13,888 21% ` ,
Total 67,032 100% 67,375 100% 35.0%
3
Diversion Rate YID Nov-23 YTD Nov-24 vs Prior 30.0%
YR
Single-Family 66% 66% 0.4% 25.0%
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Commercial 15% 15% -0.1%
Multi-Family 15% 15% -0.2% INCREASE IN MONTHLY GARBAGE
%of tot.waste put in recycling CHARGES (32 GAL)
&food scraps 37.5% 38.1% 0.6% $40 �,
p /Yardwaste bins2020-2024 ACTUAL PLUS 2025-2030 PROJECTIONS L'g?!
4 $38 (BASED ON 3 YEAR TREND) 37
Missed Opportunity^ YTD Nov-23 YTD Nov-24 353
joe
Tons of Recycle&Food Scraps/ 28,071 tons 27,927 tons
Yardwaste in Landfill 33.6ire
$34 ^
31.9
ly
5 How Many Pickup Sites Do Not have a Recycle or a $32 30.2
Food Scraps/Yardwaste Container $30
151(
Garbage No No Food Scraps/ $28
Recycle
Container Yardwaste Container
Container <?g
z4-7
Single-Family 24,598 (9) (346) 24.0
Commercial 1,261 (381) (1,24' ; s
Multi-Family 377 - (377) $zz
Szo
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2us
Each month Renton sends to landfill 25 9 tons that could have gone her•
%ofwhat's t''' .' \
dumped in '
+w landfill could
. — s `'`' be diverted �; -
4/4
,, 4'"", �" to recycling
a
F* . A .. _ �► or compost^ 1 ,
A estimate based on King County 2022 Waste Characterization and Customer Survey;2/3's of what is put in landfill could have been diverted
*Roll-off tonnage data,if provided,are applied to primary-source category. Roll-off tonnage is typically generated by open-top dumpsters,at some
businesses&apartments,and at sites of construction or home renovation.
Paul Quinn l l 206-515-9165 l l firstnonviolence@pm.me
Handout #2 - Recommended Actions to Improve City Diversion Rates
City of Renton
What We CAN do to Improve Diversion Rates NOW
CITYWIDE
Include, in each newsletter sent to residents,the most current diversion statistics and tips to improve their
1
rates of recycling and composting
r
Initiate a program to provide each household and business •"y.
both a free indoor recycling container and a free °•
2
countertop kitchen-scraps container. (Typically your aS et
disposal company will help defray costs)
EAMPC1
•
Change pickup schedules to have garbage picked up every other week while retaining every week pickup
3 for recycling and compost
SINGLE-FAMILY
Pass a City Ordinance to require all 346 remaining single-family homes to utilize a food scrap/yardwaste
1
barrel
Start a pilot with 100 residents where diversion advisors review weekly contents of trash, recycle,and
2
compost containers and provide feedback to improve accuracy of material disposal
BUSINESS
Pass a City Ordinance to require all businesses serving the public to make available a recycle container.
1 This would include some of the 381 remaining businesses
2 Require each business to work with the disposal company to assure all public-facing disposal containers
match the colors used by residents. This would increase accuracy of disposal of materials.
Pass a City Ordinance to require all businesses serving the public to make available a food scraps container.
3 This would include some of the 1246 remaining businesses
MULTI-FAMILY
Pass a City Ordinance to require all 377 remaining multi-family locations to make available a food scrap/
1
yardwaste container
What We CAN do to Improve Diversion Rates In the Near Future
In the next disposal contract or amendment, require this:
Require that each container picked up (a)be identified (using number already on container) and (b) be
weighed before and after being dumped into the truck. This SMART Disposal program would facilitate
improved diversion rates by pickup location. (This technology already exists, see handout#3).
Once in place,this program would help each person understand how they are doing in comparison to their
neighbors (like PSE does now).
Paul Quinn 11206-515-9165 I I firstnonviolence@pm.me
Handout #3 - SMART Disposal And Why We Need It
City of Renton
Why should we make changes in landfill diversion now?
SMART Disposal, which weighs each container emptied by the disposal company, provides individual weight
information to city residents and businesses, helping us move from a "toss and forget" mindset toward making
better choices. We all know that feedback through measurement works because our water, electricity, and gas
are all metered,helping us to moderate our use.We wouldn't want to pay for other people's use of water or power,
yet we are now paying disposal fees based on container size and not weight.This is not fair and fails to incentivize
landfill diversion. Would PSE ever try to base our energy bill on the size of our houses? Does the water district
base charges on the size of the pipes entering our homes? It just makes sense that our disposal fees should be
based on weight usage and not on container size. SMART Disposal effectively meters our actual use of the disposal
utility,providing a basis for charges that are fairer.
Why incentivize diverting waste from the landfill?
Landfill diversion is cheaper for haulers as they will be charged for less
tonnage put in the landfill.These savings should be passed on to residents
and businesses when they reduce trash and increase their recycling and your energy use
composting. We should reward people for making better recycling and a,aglance
composting decisions.
How you compare to others .we.aoa.as
How do we incentivize residents and businesses to divert from the
landfill items which can be recycled or composted?
Let's provide each of us with information about how we're doing 0
relative to comparable locations,just as PSE is already doing.
�► Is SMART Disposal even possible? Does the
as technology exist?
otron `?".; Yes! A company in Renton,WA, Loadman-Creative
< � Microsystems, Inc.,has the product right now.
An article from WasteAvantage Magazine,titled,
�._ "Waste Haulers Get on Board With On-Board
Weighing"shows that this approach is ready now. A
notable quote from this article: "Anything less than real-time feedback is inaccurate and prevents customers
from making immediate changes."
SMART Disposal Benefits the City In Several Ways
1. Lowers landfill tonnage
2. Lowers greenhouse gas emissions
3. Lowers costs to residents and businesses
4. Lowers costs to disposal companies
1 https://wasteadvantagemag.com/waste-haulers-get-on-board-with-on-board-weighing/
Paul Quinn 11206-515-9165 I I firstnonviolence@pm.me
Handout #4 - Example Postcard Sent to Residents
Home Trash Reduction Report
1234 Anywhere St., Renton,WA 98074 Composting Recycling Trash
food scraps/yard
waste
Your Average Pounds Last Two Pickups 5 lbs 10 lbs 20 lbs Improving!
Your Average Pounds Prior Mth (4 pickups) 4 lbs 8 lbs 23 lbs
How you compare to others in your neighborhood (pounds of trash per week)
You
Your Neighbors
17.0 17.5 18.0 18.5 19.0 19.5 20.0 20.5
Tips on 3 items, among many,you can compost:
1 Paper take-out food containers (e.g. fast food)
2 Used paper towels
3 Pasta
Renton Supports Recycling and Composting!
Single Family Resident
1234 Anywhere St.
Renton, WA 98074
Paul Quinn 11206-515-9165 I I firstnonviolence@pm.me