REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Second Survey Results of Pilot Residential Food Scraps Recycling Program
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 1383 established methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California’s economy. Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills generate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020, and a 75 percent reduction by 2025.
On May 9, 2017, the City Council authorized the implementation of a pilot residential food scraps recycling program covering almost 5,000 households. In October of 2017, customers in the pilot collection area were provided with new split-cart containers to separate food scraps from the garbage. Staff conducted a customer survey in December 2017 and presented the survey results at the January 30, 2018 City Council meeting.
DISCUSSION
Every customer in the pilot program was mailed a second customer satisfaction survey on June 1, 2018. Customers had the option of completing the survey on the form provided and mailing it back to the City, or completing the survey online using the Open City Hall portal. Customers were required to provide an address in the pilot collection area for the survey to have been valid.
The primary purpose of the second survey was to determine if there were any changes to overall program satisfaction after customers became more accustomed to the program. The table below shows customer satisfaction levels for both surveys.
|
|
Satisfied/Somewhat Satisfied |
Dissatisfied/Somewhat Dissatisfied |
Undecided |
|
Survey #1 1,402 responses (29% response rate) |
53% |
37% |
10% |
|
Survey #2 1,254 responses (26% response rate) |
57% |
35% |
8% |
Both surveys collected information on participation rates and the pilot program’s impact on customer garbage capacity.
The table below summarizes the participation and garbage capacity data collected in the two surveys.
|
|
Participation Rate |
Customers with weekly capacity issues |
Customers with occasional capacity issues |
Customers with no capacity issues |
|
Survey #1 |
84% |
28% |
24% |
43% |
|
Survey #2 |
82% |
20% |
34% |
42% |
Reported challenges have not significantly varied since the last survey, except for participants reporting not knowing which type of bags are accepted in the program. This number decreased from 432 participants on the first survey to 193 on the second survey. Staff made a concerted effort to provide better information on the type of bags that are accepted in the program following the first survey, so it appears that outreach was effective.
During the first two months of the program, customer interactions averaged 123 calls/emails per month in the last 7 months of the program and since the first survey, customer interactions have averaged 16 calls/emails per month. Staff believes that the reduced contact volume is a result of the early emphasis on in-person technical assistance to minimize barriers to participation and customers adjusting to the new program over time. Some of the most commonly reported issues are the excess space on the food scraps side of the split-cart while not having enough space for garbage, carts breaking (e.g. lids cracking, dividers coming loose, and wheels detaching), concerns about pests (e.g. fruit flies, maggots, etc.), carts being hard to clean due to their design, and food scraps leaking and causing unpleasant odors.
Staff will continue to monitor and address collection split-cart container issues as they arise. There are no future pilot residential food scrap program customer satisfaction surveys planned at this time. The survey results will be used to assist in the evaluation of future organics collection system options that will be implemented citywide as part of the next solid waste collection franchise agreement that will be implemented in 2022.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact other than administrative staff time expense.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Pilot Residential Food Scraps Recycling Program Survey Results #2