R2000-073 06-12-00 RESOLUTION NO. R2000-73
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,
TEXAS,SUPPORTING THE TEXAS SOLID WASTE GRANTS PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the State of Texas remits one-half of the "tipping fee" on solid waste
disposal to local governments and regional councils of governments in each region of the
state, and
WHEREAS, the aggregation and regional distribution of these funds has allowed
numerous cities to undertake local projects that could not have been otherwise
accomplished, and
WHEREAS, these projects have included law enforcement related to illegal
dumping, recycling services, waste collection stations, river and lake clean-ups, and
collection and disposal of household hazardous waste, and
WHEREAS, the private sector has benefitted from these projects through sale of
equipment and materials, through removal of waste products, and through improving
markets for recycled materials, and
WHEREAS, the program is contributing directly to private property owners and to
the State of Texas' legislative objectives by.
` • Identification of over 283,000 illegal dump sites,
• Removal of over 19,000 tons of waste from illegal sites,
• Diversion of over 615,000 tons of waste to recycling,
• Collection of over 200,000 gallons of paint and over 50,000 gallons of oil for
reuse or safe disposal, and
• Avoidance of litter through collection of over 50 tons of waste and
recyclables at citizen collection stations, and
1
RESOLUTION NO. R2000-73
WHEREAS, cooperation among local governments and with the state has been
promoted through regional identification of closed landfill sites, regional waste reduction
education programs, and regional recycling projects, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS
Section 1 That the City of Pearland supports the continuation and expansion of
the Texas Solid Waste Grants program
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this the 12th day of
June , A.D , 2000
TOM REID
MAYOR
ATTEST
//Ate'
OiUNGrgrr /
Y S.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
DARRIN M COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
2
Keep Pearland
Beautiful
Memo
To: Mayor Tom Reid
From: Delores Fenwick
CC:
Date:5-25-00
Re: Resolution in support of Solid Waste Grants
At the H-GAC Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting today they distributed the
attached material and asked us to encourage our cities and counties to pass
resolutions in support of the Texas Solid Waste Grants Program. As you know, our
city has received quite a bit of benefit from this program in the past few years. I would
like to encourage our council to consider passing a resolution. They have attached a
sample, but it could be reworded as the council and staff see fit. The have attached a
list of the committee members to whom it should be sent and ask that a copy also be
sent to Cheryl Mergo at H-GAC
•Page 1
TESTIMONY OF CAROLE LENZ
to House Environmental Regulation Committee
Good Morning,I am Carole Lenz, an aide Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack. I would
like to thank you for allowing me to testifying today in support of the regional councils of
government management of the solid waste grant program. I have been actively involved in
dealing with solid waste management issues on behalf of the Commissioner and am very familiar
with the regional council program
Dedicated Funding Source. As you know,the Texas Legislature established a goal of recycling
50%of the state's municipal solid waste. Largely because of the regional grant program, local
governments throughout the state have made substantial progress toward that goal. Dedicated
grant funding is the key to reaching the state goal. In my view the grant program is a win-win
situation for the state, local governments and private industry The continued growth of the
recycling industry is linked to a steady supply of materials. A vast majority of private businesses
rely on the local governments for collection of materials. Publicly-operated programs ensure a
steady supply of materials that can be recycled or composted. Harris County's recycling
programs have been supported with almost$400,000 in grants since program inception.
Varying Local Priorities. Management of the grant program at the regional level is the best way
to respond to changing local priorities. As the H-GAC grant program has matured,the funding k
priorities have shifted from developing a solid waste infrastructure towards illegal dumping and
local enforcement concerns and addressing rural solid waste collection needs. Since 1993,38
local enforcement programs have been funded for a total of$2,265,000
H-GAC has also supported enforcement by hosting 4 training classes for local enforcement
officers(with over 400 participants). Regional training classes are beneficial to local officers as
the participation cost is less, networking opportunities with other officers located in the H-GAC
area are greater,and the travel cost is less. In addition to the training opportunities,H-GAC has
commissioned 2 special studies on local enforcement. Its How to Establish and Operate a
Successful Environmental Enforcement Program serves as a model across the state and the
nation.
Harris County's own enforcement program,which has received H-GAC funding,has been a
model for the region and the state. An advantage of the regional approach has been our ability to
share expertise that our Harris County enforcement officers have gained with other law
enforcement agencies in the region.
Harris County has picked up funding for its enforcement officers funded initially through H-GAC
grants though we have received funding to supplement our initial program There will always be
a need for enforcement programs. Illegal dumping is like exceeding the speed limit. People may
know it's against the law, but that does not mean that they will obey it. Our enforcement actions
do have some deterrent effect though,and does mean that those breaking the law are prosecuted.
Summary. The solid waste grant program administered at the regional level has been
successfully and I would not recommend changing the program at all.
H-GAC Solid Waste Grant Program
FY 1998/1999 Key Program Results*
Local Enforcement
• 20,739 litter and illegal dump sites identified
• 14,991tons.of waste removed from 6,629 illegal litter and dump sites
• 47 fines issued totaling $9,654
Source Reduction and Recycling
• 30,706 tons of waste collected for recycling
• $859,768 in local disposal costs avoided
• $1,424,288 in local revenues from recycling
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Management
• 62 tons of HHW collected for disposal
• 18,195 gallons of paint collected for recycling or reuse
• 1,663,lead-acid batteries collected for recycling
• 15,000 gallons of motor oil collected for recycling
• 3,652 oil filters collected for recycling
• 2,918 gallons of anti-freeze collected for recycling
• 2,918 tires collected for recycling
Citizen Collection Stations
• 7,009 tons of waste collected for disposal
• 199 tons of waste collected for recycling
Education and Training (doesn't include educational componet of other types of grants)
• 10 separate educational and training events held
• 785,993 educational and training items distributed
• 301 mass media items (i.e., billboards, ads, and public service announcements
• A total of 3,643,668 people estimated to have been reached
• Some projects were not initiated until late in FY 1999 In order to more accurately reflect the benefits of
all FY 1998/1999 projects, cumulative follow-up results will be reported later in the TARC Report to the
Legislature (late 2000)
H-GAC Local Projects by Type, FY93 — FY00
Grant Type No.of Projects Grant Amount($)
Source Reduction and Recycling 116 4,968,059
Local Enforcement 38 2,264,751
Education and Training 24 965,194
Household Hazardous Waste 21 824,874
Citizen Collection Stations 7 281,718
Planning Studies 3 122,366
River and Lake Cleanups 3 40,470
COG-managed Project 1 50,000
213 $9,517,432
Regional Approaches Examples
Permanent Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility (FY99)
Partners: City of Houston and various local governments surrounding Houston & Harris County
Total Grant Amount: $300,800
The City of Houston is establishing a permanent regional HHW facility to serve as a regional facility At
the onset, the facility will be open one day a week and will accept all types of HHW Other local
government can participate with the City of Houston via a voucher program. Each participating
government will be issued vouchers to give to their residents. Residents will bring their HHW and
vouchers to the facility The participating government will be charged by the number of vouchers
accepted. Two meetings have been held to inform other local governments on the facility Facility
opened October 1999
Fort Bend County Environmental Enforcement Task Force(FY96-FY00)
Partners: Fort Bend County Sheriff Department, Health Department, Emergency Management, County
Attorney, and smaller incorporated towns located within Fort Bend County (Arcola, Kendleton, Fairchilds,
Thompsons, Needville, Fulshear, Simonton, and Beasley)
Total Amount: $225,965
The countywide task force was established to discourage and reduce the illegal dumping of municipal
solid waste through surveillance, the gathering of evidence and prosecution as well as educational
programs to school, church and civic organizations. As part of the enforcement program, a full-time
certified peace officer is assigned to the smaller incorporated towns located in the county which do not
have sufficient resources or expertise to handle and properly investigate environmental issues.
PubliclPrivate Composting facility (FY 97—FY00)
Partners: City of Oak Ridge North, The Woodlands, and Nature's Way
Total Amount: $ 111,630
The City of Oak Ridge North and The Woodlands have worked extensively with Nature's Way to
develop a composting operation in Montgomery County Grant funds have been used to help the City
collect and transport its yard trimmings to Nature's Way facility
Region-Wide Tire Disposal Contract(July 1998)
Partners. H-GAC, Waste Recovery, Inc. and local governments (not limited to H-GAC region)
H-GAC has contracted with Waste Recovery, Inc., a private tire recycler, to provide waste tire collection
and disposal services. In 1999, WRI has served over 37 local governments and collected over 365,000
tires. The contract offers competitive prices for tire disposal. Passenger tire disposal costs range from
79 to 84 cents per tire. Local governments can choose from three different collection options.
Region-wide Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Contract(September 1999)
Partners: H-GAC, MSE Environmental, Inc., and local governments
Similar to the Tire Disposal Contract, H-GAC has contract with MSE Environmental, Inc., a private
vendor, to provide collection, transportation and disposal of HHW collected at various events around
the region. Each participating government will be required to pay for the actual disposal cost
themselves. The contract establishes a set price and eliminates the need for each local government to
issue and evaluate its own Request for Proposals. For Spring 2000, four local governments have
utilized the contract.
2
• Plan together for the future, since solid waste disposal is an issue that crosses
local government boundaries.
The regional solid waste management program at H-GAC tracks its results. For 1998-99
the following outcomes were achieved region-wide in grant funded projects.
• Over 30,000 tons of waste was collected for recycling;
• About 15,000 tons of waste was identified and removed from over 6,000
illegal dump sites,
• At regional household hazardous waste events 62 tons of household hazardous
waste was collected and 18,000 gallons of paint, 20,565 gallons of motor oil
and 3,652 oil filters were collected for recycling.
• H-GAC conducted 10 separate educational and training events and other
public education activities promoting recycling and source reduction.
Through the regional solid waste management program we have been developing, from
the local grass-roots up, a regional network of programs that promote recycling, combat
illegal dumping and help us manage disposal of household hazardous waste. We have
achieved measurable results and have been accountable.
There is more to do though and we need this program to continue if we are going to have
alternatives to landfills in this state. I urge your continued support for this effective
program.
Thank you.
Testimony of Commissioner W. E. Buddy Irby
House Environmental Regulation Committee
May 3,2000
Good morning. My name is Buddy Irby I am Chambers County Commissioner and also
represent Chambers County on the H-GAC Board of Directors.
I am here to speak in support of the regional solid waste grant management program.
Chambers County has been an active participant in the program. With grant program
funding we have developed a model solid waste management program for a rural county
Over the years Chambers County has developed a network of citizen collection stations.
We now have eight stations located in every part of the county These have been
developed with county funds and grants totaling about $185,000 from the regional solid
waste management program. The county supports the operation of these facilities.
These stations provide a place where county residents can bring household waste, brush,
demolition debris and recyclables such as tires, motor oil, filters, batteries and white
goods, such as refrigerators. These stations help reduce illegal dumping in Chambers
County by giving our citizens a place to take their waste.
Chambers County's citizen collection stations have been used as an example for other
similar projects throughout the region. H-GAC has also developed a guide book for
developing citizen collection stations and transfer stations that can be used by other
communities in the region, and the state too
I believe the regional program works by allowing us to
• Develop solutions that work for our local community;
• Share information on project successes, and
when the State discontinued the used tire program. We also developed a region-wide household
hazardous waste disposal contract.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council operates its program well. We have repeatedly passed-
through over 80% of the funds we have received for local grant projects. V,Ve also work hard to
assure project accountability These grants have funded 213 local projects worth over$9 million.
It is hard for me to imagine that so many projects would have been funded in so many
communities in a state-administered program. Attached to my testimony that I am filing with you
are figures that illustrate the wide range of projects we have funded
The private sector is actively involved on our Solid Waste Management Committee. We consult
closely with them to assure that projects funded through our grant program don't compete with
private providers.
Fort Bend County and cities located within it, has benefited directly from this program as well.
The County and our cities have been awarded 17 grants since 1995, totaling over $719,510
These projects have included hiring and equipping local enforcement officers to combat illegal
dumping, conducting household hazardous waste collection events and establishing a special
recycling center for latex paint, batteries, motor oil, and antifreeze, and Greenwaste public
education campaign (compost classes, bins, and materials).
In summary, I would respectfully request that the solid waste grant program, as managed by the
COGs not be changed. I believe that this is an effective program that is helping local
governments (who pay the tipping fees) deal with their solid waste management programs. To
eliminate or reduce the fee would be a step backward for Texas in our efforts to meet the goals
established by the Legislature for recycling and source reduction. Thank you for your time.
Testimony of Andy Meyers to
The House Environmental Regulation Committee
Good morning. My name is Andy Meyers. I am a County Commissioner from Fort Bend County
and a Houston-Galveston Area Council Board member I am testifying today in support of the
- -- -current solid waste grant program. I believe that the-solid waste grant program, as managed by
the regional councils of government, has benefited my community and Texas as a whole. I
believe that state-wide the COG's have been very effective in administering this program. The
advantages the COG's bring to the table include.
Local familiarity- grant proposals are evaluated by public and private experts from each region
who have greater familiarity with local needs and issues. COG's can also better promote the
program and encourage local participation from all different sizes of local governments,
particularly smaller governments, who may not be inclined to participate in a state-managed
grant program.
Flexibility- COG's can administer a wide range of grants, from $1,500 to $300,000 State-
managed programs find it costly or inconvenient to manage small grants. Under this program,
COG's also have the ability to tailor funding priorities to respond to special needs or changing
regional priorities. For example, in my region, the grant program has recently shifted emphasis
from equipment for recycling programs to enforcing laws against illegal dumping and establishing
household hazardous waste management programs.
Increase Cooperation and Reduce Duplication of Effort: solid waste management is rarely a
strictly local issue. If we are really going to address our solid waste problems, we will need to do
so on a regional basis. COG's are in an excellent position to do this. Several examples of
regional approaches from the H-GAC region include: establishing a permanent regional
household hazardous waste facility, countywide environmental enforcement task forces, and a
regional private/public composting facility H-GAC developed a region-wide tire disposal contract
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION COMMITTEE
CHAIR
Representative Warren Chisum,District 88- District Address.
Capitol Address: 8101 Boat Club Road, Suite 320
Room CAP GW 15 Fort Worth, TX 76179
Austin,TX 78701 (817)740-9922
(512)463-0736
Representative Zeb Zbranek,District 20
District Address: Capitol Address:
P 0 Box 2061 Room CAP GN 10
Pampa, TX 79066 Austin,TX 78701
(806)665-3552 (512)463-0488
VICE CHAIR District Address:
Representative Ray Allen,District 106 P 0 Box 2050
Capitol Address. Liberty,TX 77575
Room CAP GN.09 (936)336-6454
Austin,TX 78701
(512)463-0694 Representative Dawnna Dukes,District 50
Capitol Address:
District Address. Room EXT E2.718
2321 S.Belt Line Rd.#145 Austin,TX 78701
Grand Prairie, TX 75051 (512)463-0506
(972),264-4231
District Address.
PO Box 2910
MEMBERS Austin, TX 78768
Representative John Culberson,District 130 (512)463-0506
Capitol Address:
Room CAP 4S.5 Representative Edmund Kuempel,District 45
Austin,TX 78701 Capitol Address
(512)463-0528 Room CAP IN 12
Austin,TX 78701
District Address (512)463-0602
1500 S Dairy-Ashford
Houston,TX 77077 District Address:
(281)558-7018 523 E. Donegan#102
Seguin,TX 78155
Representative Charlie Howard,District 26 (830)379-8732
Email Address.
Charlie.Howard@house.state.tx.us Representative Robert Talton,District 144
Capitol Address: Capitol Address.
Room EXT E2.818 Room EXT E2 418
Austin,TX 78701 Austin,TX 78701
(512)463-0710 (512)463-0460
' District Address. District Address.
14100 Southwest Fwy,#200 1900 Strawberry
Sugar Land,TX 77478 Pasadena, TX 77502
(281)565-9500 (713)472-0539
Representative Sue Palmer,District 89
Capitol Address.
Room EXT E2.812
Austin,TX 78701
(512)463-0610
Signed resolutions and/or letters of support should be directed, with short cover letters, to
the following.
• Members of the House Environmental Regulation Committee;
• Members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee; and
• The Speaker, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor
Please send copies of resolutions to Cheryl Mergo, 713 993 4503 fax or PO Box 22777,
Houston, Texas 77227-2777
Thank you.
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
CHAIR Austin;Texas 78711
The Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown (512)463-0131
Capitol Address District Address
P 0 Box 12068 District Addresses
Capitol Station 418 S Polk
Austin, Texas 78711 Amarillo, Texas 79101
(512)463-0117
P O Box 1673
—District Addresses Midland,Texas 79702.
P O Box 888
Lake Jackson,TX 77566 The Honorable Tom Haywood
(979)297-5261 Capitol Address
P 0 Box 12068
12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 621 Capitol Station
Stafford,Texas 77477 Austin, Texas 78711
(281)494-7799 (512)463-0130
1350 NASA Road One, Suite 212 District Addresses
Houston, Texas 77058 2525 Kell, Suite 305
(281)333-0117 Wichita Falls,Texas 76308
VICE CHAIR 3201 Texoma Parkway, Suite 285
The Honorable Ken Armbrister Sherman,Texas 75090
Capitol Address
P O Box 12068 1025 East North 10th Street
Capitol Station Abilene,Texas 79601
Austin,Texas 78711
(512)463-0118 The Honorable Eddie Lucio,Jr.
(512)475-3736 (Fax) Capitol Address
P O Box 12068
District Address Capitol Station
3205 East Mockingbird Austin,Texas 78711
Victoria, Texas 77904 (512)463-0127
(512)572-8061 (512)463-0061 Fax
District Addresses
MEMBERS 33 North Park Plaza
The Honorable Gonzalo Barrientos Brownsville,Texas 78521
Capitol Address
P O Box 12068 100 E Cano, Suite 101
Capitol Station Edinburg, Texas 78539
Austin,Texas 78711
(512)463-0114 The Honorable Bill Ratliff
(512)463-5949(Fax) Capitol Address
P O Box 12068
District Address Capitol Station
105 Center Street Austin,Texas 78711
Kyle,Texas 78640 (512)463-0101
(512)268-1358
District Address
The Honorable Teel Bivins 110 South Madison
Capitol Address Mount Pleasant, Texas 75456
P O Box 12068 (903)572-1887
Capitol Station