HomeMy WebLinkAboutA029 - Rezoning of a part of property located within the Iowa State Research Park located along South 530th Avenue from Agricultural (A) to Research Park Innovation District (RI)ITEM #:32
DATE:01-27-26
DEPT:PW
SUBJECT:MODIFICATIONS TO GARBAGE AND REFUSE CHAPTER OF AMES
MUNICIPAL CODE
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
Chapter 10 of Ames Municipal Code contains a variety of regulations related to the collection
and disposal of solid waste in the community. Some of these regulations are antiquated and
need to be revised to reflect modern solid waste collection practices. In addition, with the City
seeking to conclude its waste-to-energy process and implement curbside recycling, language
authorizing curbside recycling must be added to this chapter.
Staff has prepared an ordinance to implement these changes. Key aspects of the proposed
changes are described below:
1. New language defining "recycling." Recycling (or recyclable materials) are items
designated by the City that can be collected, processed, and turned into new raw materials.
2. Standards for recycling containers. The existing chapter establishes standards for when
garbage receptables may be set out, how they must be covered, etc. The revisions apply
similar standards to recycling containers.
3. Container weight and frequency of collection. Since 1990, Municipal Code has limited
the weight of garbage receptacles to 65 pounds. In addition, since 1970, Municipal Code has
required that residential customers receive garbage collection twice per week by default,
unless the customer opts for once per week collection. This frequency of collection was the
subject of some complaints during City Council discussion of garbage collection in 2023 and
2024.
Most garbage haulers today use 95- or 96-gallon carts, emptied using hydraulically operated
equipment. Since these containers have far greater capacity than those used in decades ago,
they require emptying less frequently. Therefore, the proposed ordinance eliminates the
weight limit for containers and establishes once per week collection as the default for
residential curbside collection. When necessary to address an unusual quantity of garbage
(e.g., following a disaster, calamity, construction project or other incident), a customer may
make arrangements to have garbage collected more frequently.
4. Manner of Disposal. With the creation of a category of "recyclable materials," the
ordinance directs that these materials must be disposed of through the City's residential
curbside recycling collection program, by delivery to a recycling facility, or by contracting with
a hauler to deliver the materials to a recycling facility.
5. Creation of Residential Curbside Recycling Collection Program. This section creates
the authority for the City to collect recyclables from single-family residences and multi-family
residences of up to four units.
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The cost for the residential curbside collection service will billed to eligible residences on their
monthly utility bills. Although the eligible residences may elect not to receive a container and
participate in the program, they will not be relieved of the obligation to keep recyclable
materials out of the garbage. In addition, they would continue to be charged the monthly fee
for the service.
The purpose for continuing to charge for this service is two-fold: 1) It is anticipated that the
contracted hauler will charge the City on the basis of the number of eligible households, not
just the number of partic ipatin g households. This is the common arrangement in other
communities with city-wide contracted curbside collection; and 2) it would be extremely
challenging for the City and its contracted hauler to forecast and budget for an estimated
percentage of participating households. This uncertainty would result in financial risk for the
hauler that would be reflected in higher fees for the participating households.
City staff is in the process of evaluating responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP)
for curbside recycling collection services. Staff is proposing that the City Council
consider first reading of the ordinance making revisions to Chapter 10 and establishing
the recycling program, and align the third reading and adoption of the ordinance with
the approval of the recycling collection contract. This will allow for simultaneous
adoption of:
1) These Chapter 10 revisions,
2) The recycling collection contract, and
3) The Municipal Code appendix containing the proposed monthly customer fee. This
fee will be based on the selected contractor's per-customer monthly charge, anticipated
disposal costs, and internal costs such as customer service staff time, marketing,
etc.).
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
City staff conducted a public survey in September of 2025 requesting feedback from the
community on certain elements of the proposed residential curbside recycling program. Over
1,500 responses were received and information gathered from the survey used to help further
refine details of the program.
City staff has utilized a periodic e-newsletter called the R3Cycled Report to communicate
updates regarding the R3C project and the recycling and diversion programs to local haulers
and other key stakeholders. Both editions of this newsletter in January provided updates
regarding the potential changes and the timing of the discussion. In addition, staff has
contacted the list of registered rental property owners/landlords to inform them of the
anticipated curbside recycling program implementation, so they may consider the impacts of
this program on their lease agreements.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve first reading of the attached ordinance modifying Chapter 10 of Ames Municipal
Code and establishing a curbside residential recycling collection program.
2. Direct staff to make modifications to the attached ordinance.
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3. Do not approve first reading of the ordinance.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Chapter 10 of Municipal Code (Garbage and Refuse) contains several provisions that are
antiquated and do not reflect modern solid waste collection practices. The attached ordinance
addresses those issues. In addition, the conclusion of the City's waste-to-energy process
requires a greater reliance on landfill diversion, which is best accomplished through curbside
recycling.
The draft ordinance contains the language necessary to implement curbside collection of
recyclables for residential properties. Once the contracted hauler and its rates are identified,
the contract and the proposed rates will be returned to City Council for approval at the time of
third reading and adoption of the Chapter 10 modifications. Therefore, it is the
recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as
described above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Ordinance Chap 10 (Garbage-Refuse-Recycling).PDF
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