HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.02.20 Email from Dennis Schmidt - Changes at Recology MRF due to COVID-19
From:Schmidt, Dennis
To:BOS
Cc:Hatcher, Casey;Miller, Eric;Kim, Sang
Subject:Changes at Recology MRF due to COVID-19
Date:Thursday, April 2, 2020 9:49:49 AM
Attachments:COVID-19 Letter re MRF Slowdown BUTTE COUNTY.docx
Good morning,
Please find attached a letter from Recology, notifying the County that due to COVID-19 concerns,
they will be implementing changes to their Materials Recycling Facility. These changes will likely
result in having to landfill some of the recyclable materials.
At this point, these changes should not cause any impact at the customer level – Recology still plans
to collect all carts, at the currently scheduled times.
Dennis J. Schmidt
Director of Public Works
Do the right thing, the right way, at the right time
Butte County Department of Public Works
7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
(530) 538-7681 |(530) 538-7171
dschmidt@buttecounty.net
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April 2, 2020
BY EMAIL/U.S. MAIL
Eric Miller
Manager, Waste Management Division
Public Works Department
Butte County
7 County Center Drive
Oroville, California 95965
Subject: Slowdown of Recology MRF Operations Due To COVID-19
Dear Eric:
Please be advised that, beginning Friday, April 3, 2020, the Recology Yuba-Sutter Materials
Recovery Facility (MRF) located at 3001 N. Levee Road, Marysville, CA will begin operating at
reduced capacity.
This measure is necessary to provide a safe and healthy work environment for MRF personnel and
minimize the risk that they are exposed to the coronavirus. Specifically, we have determined that
it is necessary to more effectively implement social distancing measures at the MRF, consistent
with federal, state and local health orders and recommendations. This means adjusting our sort
lines to ensure that Fewer sorters on the line means the line
must be slowed to produce commodities clean enough to be marketed. We have already
implemented other measures, such as sanitization and protective gear, but have concluded they do
not sufficiently reduce the risk.
One effect of this measure is that some recyclables collected from Butte County will have to be
landfilled. With the slowing of the sort line, the MRF will be unable to process the volume of
material collected from customers. The MRF does not have sufficient storage capacity to stockpile
material until the sort line can be fully staffed again. As a result, the excess material must be
landfilled. In disposing of this material, we will comply with applicable flow control requirements.
We will also track it separately from other waste so the impact can be measured. Recyclables will
continue to be collected from customers as usual.
We expect these measures to continue until at least May 1, 2020. The actual period may be longer
or shorter, depending on the local health situation. We will do our best to process as much material
as we can, and will restore the MRF to full capacity as soon as it is safe and legal to do so. . To the
extent the MRF slowdown and the effects thereof constitute non-performance of any contractual
obligations, we believe those obligations are excused under the
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provision of the Franchise Agreement between the County and Recology Butte Colusa Counties.
Further, we believe any diversion targets in the agreement will need to be appropriately adjusted.
We hope you agree that the safety of employees is paramount and that these temporary measures
are necessary under the circumstances. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
me. Thank you again for the privilege of serving the residents and businesses of Butte County.
Sincerely,
Dan Shea
General Manager
Recology Butte Colusa Counties
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