Update: Environmental Waste Services Programs

Update: Environmental Waste Services Programs

Discussion Topics 

Status: R.W. Beck, Inc., Solid Waste Operations Study - Landfill Operations Recommendations

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Landfill Operations Initiatives

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Commercial Route Optimization Project

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Status: R.W. Beck, Inc., Solid Waste Operations Study – Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations

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Status: R.W. Beck, Inc., Solid Waste Operations Study – Commercial Recycling Collection Recommendations

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Landfill Operations Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends upgrading the service window area on the inbound scale closest to the scale house to allow transactions to occur without the driver exiting the vehicle. Also, the City should consider an option that allows charge customers on the outlying scale to receive a load ticket without exiting their vehicle. _____________________________________________ Staff believes that the number of transactions per day does not justify the cost of improvements recommended at this time. 3

Landfill Operations Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends the Disposal Operations Manager communicate directly with the Heavy Equipment Crew Leader and outline the day’s intended operation. It is the Crew Leader’s responsibility to assign equipment, coordinate operations, and see that the plan is implemented. ________________________________________

Disposal Manager position is vacant. However, a Heavy Equipment Crew Leader assigns equipment and coordinates daily operations. 4

Landfill Operations Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends a thorough pre-trip/post-trip inspection and maintenance routine be implemented. Ongoing “refresher” courses on pre-trip/post-trip maintenance procedures and proper equipment operation should be conducted. ______________________________________________

Recommendation has been implemented:  Pre-Trip/Post-Trip program is functioning. Employees receive periodic updates regarding maintenance and equipment operations procedures.

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Landfill Operations Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends that each employee be required to wear hard soled boots and use gloves and safety glasses when performing maintenance operations and waste observing or handling operations. ________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented.

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Landfill Operations Recommendations The City could possibly reduce the operation by one track loader and one equipment operator. Also, the City may wish to consider using a rubber tired loader for that operation rather than a track type loader to minimize the surrounding ground disturbance, especially when the operation is moved to the newly constructed pad to the north of the present operation. ________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented:  Reduced by one track loader and one compactor  Reduced staffing by two equipment operators 7

Landfill Operations Recommendations The City should closely monitor the use of mulch on the slopes to ensure that an overly thick layer is not applied. ________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented:  Mulch is no longer used on the slopes.

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Landfill Operations Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends the City work to flatten the slope of the face to bring it more in line with a four horizontal to one vertical slope (4H:1V). __________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented.

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Landfill Operations Recommendations The lift thickness should be maintained between 10 to 15 feet thick. The landfill crew should attempt to remove a substantial portion of the previously placed daily or intermediate cover prior to placing a new layer of waste material. _________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented:  Reuse of cover material was introduced  Soil usage was reduced to industry standard of 6” compacted  Hydro Mulch is currently being used  Changes resulted in significant airspace savings 10

Landfill Operations Recommendations Under normal conditions, one on-site mechanic should be sufficient to assist with morning start-up, manage the servicing of equipment and handle minor equipment problems. Fleet Services could provide an additional mechanic on an on-call or as-needed basis to assist with major equipment repairs or assist the primary mechanic during periods when more than one critical piece of equipment is down for repairs. Shifts could continue to be rotated to allow for a mechanic to be on duty during Saturday operations. This would be a good time to perform routine servicing as the daily intake of waste is relatively low compared to the weekdays. _______________________________________________ Mechanic staff strength has increased to three in addition to out-sourcing repairs to outside vendors. This continues to escalate fleet costs. 11

Landfill Operations Initiatives

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Landfill Operations Initiatives 

The department revised the calculation method of incoming waste reported to TCEQ by using cubic yards or tonnage where appropriate.

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A savings of approximately $9,000 was realized the first reporting quarter this method was used and approximately $5,820 for the second reporting quarter.

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Wood Waste 

Participation in the TCEQ Composting Refund Program allows the City to recoup 15% of the cost of disposal for solid waste. This is approximately $73,000 based on last Fiscal Year’s disposal cost.

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Staffing 

The department was able to increase salary savings by not filling two operator positions and keeping overtime to a minimum.

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Equipment 

Currently, Fleet operations were reduced to two(2) compactors.

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The department is reassessing the cost of continued maintenance of equipment that is rarely used.

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Reduction in Employee OverTime 

FY2007-2008

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FY2008-2009

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Commercial Route Optimization Project

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Commercial Refuse Collection Presented by: Abhishek Kala

Commercial Waste Services •

EWS Dept. provides professional solid waste collection for residents & businesses.

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Accomplishes this at significantly & consistently lower cost than private haulers.

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Have special Front load & Roll off container trucks for providing services throughout Garland & adjacent cities.

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Have different sized containers (2,3,4,6 & 8 cubic yards) for meeting varied customer demands. 20

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COMMERCIAL COLLECTION REFUSE ROUTES

Monday

5

Tuesday

4

Wednesday

5

Thursday

4

Friday

4

Saturday

1 22

23

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AREAS OF CONCERN

IME ONNAGE RAVEL RIPS 25

ROUTES

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• 5 routes • Comparatively busy day 27

• 4 routes • Unevenly distributed geographically 28

• 5 routes • Route 4 narrow (redesigning route)

too

• Route 5 – very few stops • Route 2 & 5 to be merged 29

4 routes Unevenly distributed sites 30

• 4 Routes • Unproportionate division of routes 31

Only 55 stops containers

&

64

Collection sites spread throughout Extra labor cost apart from drivers

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TONNAGE

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Tonnage Per Trip

Wednesday Jan 28th 2009

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Wednesday Jan 21st 2009

35

36

37

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QUESTIONS

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Status: R.W. Beck, Inc., Solid Waste Operations Study Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations

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Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations The City should continue to monitor and minimize the time spent by the Field Supervisor serving as a backup Equipment Operator. __________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented:  Field Supervisor is not serving as a back-up equipment operator.

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Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations The ratio of frontline vehicles to back-up vehicles is appropriate if all vehicles are properly maintained, but vehicle downtime, and its impact on operations should be closely monitored going forward. __________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented:  Vehicle downtime is not impacting operations.

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Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends the City develop a specific marketing plan for apartments and other large accounts. __________________________________________ Currently reviewing a proposal from a firm develop a commercial services marketing plan.

to

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Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations R. W. Beck recommends the City conduct an initial commercial front-load route evaluation to determine the service level for each commercial front-load customer and reconcile the information with the information contained in the City’s utility billing system. If significant discrepancies exist, conduct periodic route audits and develop a more unified data management system to help minimize such problems in the future. __________________________________________ In progress – Developing an action plan to address recommendation.

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Commercial Refuse Collection Recommendations The Equipment Operators should be provided more user-friendly route sheets. __________________________________________ In progress – Developing an action plan to address recommendation.

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Status: R.W. Beck, Inc., Solid Waste Operations Study Commercial Recycling Collection Recommendations

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Commercial Recycling Collection Recommendations The City should seek to proactively increase the number of private accounts. __________________________________________ Pending

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Commercial Recycling Collection Recommendations The City should work with GISD to reduce contamination. __________________________________________ Recommendation has been implemented.

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Questions???

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