Attendees learned about cost savings associated with yard waste diversion. How simple operational changes and a cohesive message can saved more than $70,000. Presentation of RFT and SWANA Joint Summit
2. City of Largo, Pinellas CountyCity of Largo, Pinellas County
4th largest city in the Tampa Bay Area
75,000 residents
17,500 Single family homes
Curbside recycling since 1991
Certified Silver Florida Green City
3. Solid Waste Fleet
Residential:
11 Automated Side loaders
4 Curb-sort Recycling Trucks
5 Claw trucks
2 Rear loaders
Commercial:
11 Front loaders
5 Roll off trucks
4. Background
Previous Yard Waste Collection Methods:
Rear-load mixed collection:
Yard waste & Class III
Claw trucks:
Large piles of yard waste, bulk items, & white
goods
Paid $37.50/ton to process yard waste
5. Clean Christmas Tree Test
In 2010...
Advertised clean tree collection
Asked residents to remove decorations &
place unbagged tree at curb on recycle day
Results:
13.5 tons collected two weeks after
Christmas
6. 2010 Operational Changes2010 Operational Changes
Securing a vendor through RFPSecuring a vendor through RFP
RFP encouraged competitive biddingRFP encouraged competitive bidding
Lowered processing feeLowered processing fee by $13/tonby $13/ton
Enabled neighboring cities to piggyback onEnabled neighboring cities to piggyback on
clean yard waste processing priceclean yard waste processing price
7. Current Collection Method:Current Collection Method:
Rear-load Trucks:Rear-load Trucks:
Step 1: Read-load Trucks collect small brush piles & yardwasteStep 1: Read-load Trucks collect small brush piles & yardwaste
Step 2: Note stops with small junk itemsStep 2: Note stops with small junk items unableunable to fit in theto fit in the
automated canautomated can
Step 3: Take clean brush to processorStep 3: Take clean brush to processor
Step 4: Return to collect junk stopsStep 4: Return to collect junk stops
Step 5: Take junk to Class III processorStep 5: Take junk to Class III processor
Claw trucks:Claw trucks:
Step 1: Collect large bulk items/junkStep 1: Collect large bulk items/junk
Step 2: Note large brush stopsStep 2: Note large brush stops
Step 3: Take to Class III processorStep 3: Take to Class III processor
Step 4: Return to large brush stops for a clean loadStep 4: Return to large brush stops for a clean load
Drivers collaborate to collect at least 1 clean brush load per routeDrivers collaborate to collect at least 1 clean brush load per route
8. Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:
2011 Operational Changes2011 Operational Changes
Modifying RFP to include bagged/unbaggedModifying RFP to include bagged/unbagged
Received two prices for bagged/unbaggedReceived two prices for bagged/unbagged
Price continued to decrease as clean tonnagePrice continued to decrease as clean tonnage
increasedincreased
Enhanced yard waste collection efforts in countyEnhanced yard waste collection efforts in county
due to lower processing pricedue to lower processing price
9. Staff Support & EducationStaff Support & Education
Drivers/Worker Training:Drivers/Worker Training:
Employees trained to educate residentsEmployees trained to educate residents
Brightly colored stickers to get smallerBrightly colored stickers to get smaller
Class III waste in the automated canClass III waste in the automated can
Coached employees to determineCoached employees to determine
automated vs. claw truck wasteautomated vs. claw truck waste
Overcame employee hesitance to changeOvercame employee hesitance to change
10.
11. Staff Support & Education
Customer Support Training:
Telephone representatives were trained on
new collection system
Customers were confused about new system
Communicated with drivers
when stops were missed
Call volume was heavy for
first 3 months, then slowed
22. Contact:
Gene Ginn, S.C., Assistant Solid Waste Manager
Marissa Segundo, S.C., APR, LEED Green Associate
Recycling Coordinator
City of Largo
(727) 587-6760
Recycle@Largo.com
_www.LargoingGreen.com
24. City of Largo, Pinellas CountyCity of Largo, Pinellas County
4th largest city in the Tampa Bay Area
75,000 residents
17,500 Single family homes
Curbside recycling since 1991
Certified Silver Florida Green City
25. Solid Waste Fleet
Residential:
11 Automated Side loaders
4 Curb-sort Recycling Trucks
5 Claw trucks
2 Rear loaders
Commercial:
11 Front loaders
5 Roll off trucks
26. Background
Previous Yard Waste Collection Methods:
Rear-load mixed collection:
Yard waste & Class III
Claw trucks:
Large piles of yard waste, bulk items, & white
goods
Paid $37.50/ton to process yard waste
27. Clean Christmas Tree Test
In 2010...
Advertised clean tree collection
Asked residents to remove decorations &
place unbagged tree at curb on recycle day
Results:
13.5 tons collected two weeks after
Christmas
28. 2010 Operational Changes2010 Operational Changes
Securing a vendor through RFPSecuring a vendor through RFP
RFP encouraged competitive biddingRFP encouraged competitive bidding
Lowered processing feeLowered processing fee by $13/tonby $13/ton
Enabled neighboring cities to piggyback onEnabled neighboring cities to piggyback on
clean yard waste processing priceclean yard waste processing price
29. Current Collection Method:Current Collection Method:
Rear-load Trucks:Rear-load Trucks:
Step 1: Read-load Trucks collect small brush piles & yardwasteStep 1: Read-load Trucks collect small brush piles & yardwaste
Step 2: Note stops with small junk itemsStep 2: Note stops with small junk items unableunable to fit in theto fit in the
automated canautomated can
Step 3: Take clean brush to processorStep 3: Take clean brush to processor
Step 4: Return to collect junk stopsStep 4: Return to collect junk stops
Step 5: Take junk to Class III processorStep 5: Take junk to Class III processor
Claw trucks:Claw trucks:
Step 1: Collect large bulk items/junkStep 1: Collect large bulk items/junk
Step 2: Note large brush stopsStep 2: Note large brush stops
Step 3: Take to Class III processorStep 3: Take to Class III processor
Step 4: Return to large brush stops for a clean loadStep 4: Return to large brush stops for a clean load
Drivers collaborate to collect at least 1 clean brush load per routeDrivers collaborate to collect at least 1 clean brush load per route
30. Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:
2011 Operational Changes2011 Operational Changes
Modifying RFP to include bagged/unbaggedModifying RFP to include bagged/unbagged
Received two prices for bagged/unbaggedReceived two prices for bagged/unbagged
Price continued to decrease as clean tonnagePrice continued to decrease as clean tonnage
increasedincreased
Enhanced yard waste collection efforts in countyEnhanced yard waste collection efforts in county
due to lower processing pricedue to lower processing price
31. Staff Support & EducationStaff Support & Education
Drivers/Worker Training:Drivers/Worker Training:
Employees trained to educate residentsEmployees trained to educate residents
Brightly colored stickers to get smallerBrightly colored stickers to get smaller
Class III waste in the automated canClass III waste in the automated can
Coached employees to determineCoached employees to determine
automated vs. claw truck wasteautomated vs. claw truck waste
Overcame employee hesitance to changeOvercame employee hesitance to change
32.
33. Staff Support & Education
Customer Support Training:
Telephone representatives were trained on
new collection system
Customers were confused about new system
Communicated with drivers
when stops were missed
Call volume was heavy for
first 3 months, then slowed
44. Contact:
Gene Ginn, S.C., Assistant Solid Waste Manager
Marissa Segundo, S.C., APR, LEED Green Associate
Recycling Coordinator
City of Largo
(727) 587-6760
Recycle@Largo.com
_www.LargoingGreen.com
