Recycling Program Consolidation in Wisconsin: A Decision-Making Guide

1. Recycling Program Consolidation in Wisconsin: A Decision-Making Guide Prepared for the Bureau of Waste and Materials Management Department of Natural Resources by: Jon Alfuth Andrew Evenson Sylvia Fredericks Kristina Krull Jennifer Vandermeuse

2. Introduction Consolidation is the start of a legal agreement such that one new or existing responsible unit of government provides some or all the recycling services previously provided by two or more responsible units of government.

3. Data Overview ● DNR database of RU cost figures ● Personal interviews with experts and RU staff ● Statewide survey to RU staff

4. Presentation Outline ● Overview ● Changes to the mandate and grant ● Goals of the consolidating ● Why consider consolidation? ●Decision Guide ● Phase One – Services ● Phase Two – Level of Government ● Phase Three – How ● Examples of County Consolidation ●Recommendations and Conclusion ● Recommendations for DNR ● Recommendations for RUs ● Conclusions

5. Governor Walker’s Budget Proposal ● Governor Walker ● Eliminate the recycling mandates ● Retain landfill bans ● Eliminate state grant ●Legislature ● Retain grant funding ● Retain mandate ●Conclusion Economic hardship due to a reduction in state grants is likely.

6. Goals of Consolidation ● Efficiency ● Costs ● Economies of Scale ● Equity ● Equity of Services ● Equity of Costs ● Equity of Staff Knowledge and Time ● Feasibility ● Ease of Implementation ●Barriers ● Aids

8. Ranges of RU Cost per Ton of Recycled Material Collected, 2008

9. Ranges of RU Cost per Ton of Recycled Material Collected, 2008

10. Presentation Outline ● Overview ● Changes to the mandate and grant ● Goals of the consolidating ● Why consider consolidation? ● Decision Guide ● Phase One – Services ● Phase Two – Level of Government ● Phase Three – How ● Examples of County Consolidation ●Recommendations and Conclusion ● Recommendations for DNR ● Recommendations for RUs ● Conclusions

11. Phase One: What AdministrationEducation OperationsOther Services Flow Chart of the Consolidation Guide Phase Two: Where Inter-County County Sub-County Phase Three: How Resolution Inter-Government Agreement

12. Phase One: What Services to Consolidate? ● Operations (e.g., curbside pickup) ● Education (how/where to recycle) ● Administration of programs ● Other (e.g., electronics recycling)

13. Phase Two: At What Geographic Level to Consolidate? ● Inter-county (across county lines) ● County (at the county level) ● Sub-county (within counties/between municipalities)

14. Phase Three: How to Legally Consolidate? ●Resolution ● Inter-government Agreement

15. Examples of County Consolidation ● Waukesha ●Eau Claire ● St. Croix ●Outagamie

16. Examples of County Consolidation

17. Presentation Outline ● Overview ● Changes to the mandate and grant ● Goals of the consolidating ● Why consider consolidation? ● Decision Guide ● Phase One – Services ● Phase Two – Level of Government ● Phase Three – How ● Examples of County Consolidation ●Recommendations and Conclusion ● Recommendations for DNR ● Recommendations for RUs ● Conclusions

18. Recommendations DNR ●Facilitate consolidation ● Provide data when unavailable at local level

19. Recommendations Responsible Units ●Consider goals, including costs ●Communicate with other RUs

20. Conclusion ● Consolidation could increase efficiency and equity ●Survey indicates it is feasible politically ● DNR should actively assist RUs ●All RUs should explore potential for savings from consolidation

21. Questions?

22. For further information Contact the La Follette School’s publications office at 608-263-7657 or publications@lafollette.wisc.edu The full report and this presentation can be found here: www.lafollette.wisc.edu/publications/workshops.html Thank you!