SSC Annual Report 1998January 26, 1999
Mayor Robert D. Corrie and the Meridian City Council
33 E. Idaho
Meridian, ID. 83642
Subject: 1998 Annual Report to the City of Meridian
Deaz Mayor Cowie and City Council Members
It is the primary goal of Sanitary Service Inc. to provide the highest quality service that is
available in our industry. Commensurate with this goal we therefore submit the attached annual
report for 1998. This report presents information by the following categories:
• Residential Refuse Collection
• Commercial Refuse Collection
• Roll Off Refuse Collection
• Recycling
• Personnel Issues
• Community Involvement
• New Program Irnplementation and Future Issues
We are proud of our accomplishments in 1998 and look forwazd to being an integral part of
making the City of Meridian a great place to live. The City's growth rate is a challenge to keep
up with but we look forwazd to meeting the challenge in 1999. At the end of this report we look
forward and discuss our future plans for the various systems, and the services we would like to
implement in 1999.
If you have any questions about this report please contact us at (208) 888-3999.
Sincerely,
Sanitary Service, Inc.
Billy Gregolry J
Owner, Operations Manager
~~~ ~~~~
Steve Sedlacek
Owner, Business Manager
h P.O. Box 626, Meridian, ID 83680 Phone 208/888-3999 Fax 208/888-5052
~= Printetl on Recycletl Paper
Sanitary Services Inc.
1998 Annual Report to the City of Meridian
Prepazed For:
Mayor Robert D. Come
Councilman Chazlie Roundtree, Chairman
Councilman Glen Bentley
Councilman Keith Bird
Councilman Ronald Anderson
Residential Refuse Collection
Services
Sanitary Services provides unlimited, weekly solid waste collection to the residents of the City of
Meridian. At the beginning of 1998 there were 9,272 residential accounts and as of December
31, 1998 there were approximately 10,700 residential accounts, a 15.4% increase for the yeaz. In
March all residential customers were contacted regarding changing service days throughout the
City. This rerouting effort was successfully completed with minimal comments from city
residents.
The rate structure for unlimited weekly collection remained $7.20 per dwelling per month for the
1998 calendaz yeaz. In 1998 we introduced 95-gallon toter service to the residents of Meridian on
a voluntary basis for an additional $2.30 per month. As of December 31, 1998 there were 1,264
residential customers utilizing a toter cart. The free limited introduction period has resulted in a
65% participation rate of those that have had access to the toters.
Christmas tree collection was completed the first week of January 1999. There were 2,257 trees
collected and recycled which is a 22.6% participation rate.
Equipment
Three, 1998 International trucks with 25-yard McNeilus rear-load compactor bodies provide
service to the residential accounts. These vehicles were new in 1997 and were modified in 1998
with hydraulic tipping units to service 95-gallon toter carts. This equipment remained on a 20-
day maintenance cycle throughout the year. Out of approximately 6,240 operational hours there
were 4.25 hours of mechanical breakdowns throughout the year. There are two back-up trucks
available in the case of breakdown of service needs.
Waste Generation Rates
$98, 485.00 in landfill fees were paid to Ada County for disposal of residential waste from
Meridian. This is equivalent to 27,784,537 pounds of waste for the yeaz, 7.61 pounds per house
per day, and 2.54 pounds per person per day.
Future Services
In 1999 we hope to provide a number of new services to the citizens of Meridian:
Used oil collection and recycling
Household hazardous waste collection day
Curbside residential recycling
Fall leaf collection program
Drop-off yard waste collection at a new shop/office facility
We hope to begin discussions with the City Council on each of these issues in January 1999.
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Commercial Refuse Collection
Services
Sanitary Services provides at least weekly collection to the commercial businesses of Meridian.
The frequency of collection and the container size aze deterrnined by the waste generation
characteristics of each business. At the beginning of 1998 there were approximately 250
permanent commercial accounts while at the end of the yeaz there were 401 permanent accounts,
a 60 percent increase.
In October of 1998 a commercial rate restructuring went into effect to address an increase in
landfill fees and to restructure the commercial rates to provide incentives to commercial accounts
to use larger containers with less frequent service. Although this reduced the amount collected
for each account our operating costs were also reduced and the wear and tear on city streets was
also reduced.
Equipment
All commercial accounts aze serviced with a rear load truck with a 25 cubic yazd compaction
unit. In 1998 a new 1999 Intemational/McNeilus 25 cubic yazd truck was purchased to service a
majority of the commercial accounts. A 1986 Mack truck with a 25 cubic yard Heil compaction
unit is used as a second commercial truck. One backup truck is available at all time in case of
equipment breakdown. This equipment remained on a 20-day maintenance cycle throughout the
yeaz and there was 5.8 hours of mechanical downtime during the 3,640 hours of use throughout
the yeaz. During the yeaz both of the front line commercial trucks were modified with hydraulic
tipping plates so that commercial accounts could utilize the toter cart system rather than a small
dumpster or a lazge number of 30-gallon cans.
In 1998 Sanitary Services developed a relational database to track customer information and
service levels. This database allows us to verify commercial account information with the city to
reduce the number of billing errors.
Waste Generation Rates
Based on landfill fees paid for disposal of commercial waste, there were 16,714,775 pounds of
commercial waste collected from businesses in Meridian in 1998 which is approximately equal
to 4.6 pounds per business per day.
Future Services
In 1999 Sanitary Service will purchase and put into use front load commercial equipment. The
equipment will be a 1999 Volvo with a 40-yard Wittke body and a 1994 Mack with a Heil body.
This change away from the current reaz load system will increase the efficiency of the
commercial collection to better enable us to keep pace with the rapid gowth of the number of
commercial accounts in the city. This will require that a majority of the commercial containers
and container enclosures be altered to accept the front load system, but it will also mean that
customers will have a greater choice of container sizes and reduced collection frequencies.
Further use of the toter carts in the commercial system will continue in 1999 with the rear load
collection vehicles.
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Roll Off Refuse Collection
Services
Roll off services are provided to permanent accounts that have compactors (Albertson's, Fred
Meyer, Rite Aid, etc...) or roll offboxes (Computrol, Oak Hazbor Freight, BMC West, etc...)
Temporary accounts utilize the 20, 30 and 40 cubic yazd boxes, typically for construction debris
during home building or renovation.
Roll offrates were adjusted in October of 1998 to account for the landfill rate increase and to
bring the rates into alignment with the costs of providing the service.
Equipment
Service is provided with a 1989 White/GMC with a cable hoist system. There is one back up
truck available for this system if there is a breakdown. Out of approximately 2,200 hours of use
there were 4.25 hours of mechanical down time in 1998.
Waste Generation Rates
Based on landfill fees paid for disposal of roll off system waste, there were 27,415,730 pounds of
collected from permanent and temporary commercial accounts that utilize roll off boxes or
containers.
At the end of 1997 there were 12 permanent commercial accounts while at the end of 1998 there
were 28 permanent accounts; a 133 percent increase. Temporary account activity was steady
throughout the yeaz with a seasonal high in activity in the summer months during the
construction season.
Future Services
In 1999 the roll off services provided will not change but there will be an increase in the number
of truck utilized in the City. Sanitary Service will purchase two trucks, one a new front-line
truck that will be a 1999 International with a roll off frame and a second used truck as a second
back up.
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Recycling
Services
We have worked throughout the yeaz to identify and assist businesses in ways to recycle wastes.
Cazdboazd and wood wastes are both currently recycled from businesses in Meridian.
Businesses that practice recycling gain through reduced solid waste fees. Allowing reduced rates
to those that recycle was pazt of the rate restructuring effort that was completed in 1998.
Additionally we have completed recycling of Christmas trees and phone books as described
below.
Cardboard
The Fred Meyer store on Fairview Avenue segregates recyclable cazdboazd in two compactor
boxes. These compactor boxes aze transferred and unloaded at Westem Recycling on Cole
Road. In 1998 there were 2,130 cubic yards of compacted recyclable cazdboard diverted from
the landfill in 1998 (through November.) This is equivalent to 575,100 pounds or about 290 tons
of cazdboazd. The value of this material is remunerated to Fred Meyer.
Wood Waste
Approximately 560 cubic yards (20 truckloads) of wood waste was diverted from the landfill in
1998 (through November). These wastes aze transferred to the landfill where they aze milled in a
tub grinder and then shipped offsite for use as cattle bedding. These wastes come from
commercial accounts, such as Yellow Freight and Stor-Mor, that generate sufficient wood waste
volumes that they can segregate wood wastes from other types of waste. The wood waste stream
is collected at the business location in a 20 or 30 yazd roll offbox for shipment to the landfill.
Consolidated Freightways began segregating wood wastes at the end of the year.
Christmas Tree Recycling
Christmas trees were collected for recycling the week of January 4"' 1994. Approximately 2,257
trees were collected during the week with is a participation rate of approximately 22.6%. This
amounted to 244 compacted cubic yazds. All trees were collected sepazate fro residential solid
waste and were delivered to the wood chipping operation at the Ada County Landfill where they
were chipped and shipped off site for cattle bedding.
US West Yellow Pages
Sanitary Services has donated all collection costs to complete recycling of US West Yellow
Pages in Meridian. In November 1998, eight, 3 cubic yazd dumpsters were located at four
Jackson's Texaco locations within the City limits of Meridian. Books were collected
periodically as the dumpsters were filled and the books were delivered to Westem Recycling for
processing. Approximately 100 cubic yazds of phone books were collected which is about
31,580 pounds. This is the second yeaz in which Sanitary Service Inc. has participated in the
program. Our cost to provide this service was approximately $1,500.00.
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Personnel Issues
The goal of Sanitary Services Inc. is to provide the highest quality of service available in our
industry. We have built a team of customer service representatives that delivers service to our
customers daily. In the Spring of 1998 the Meridian Police Department trained all employees of
Sanitary Service Company regarding the Crime Watch/Radio Alert program. Employees were
instructed on what to look for and how to initiate the system if there is any suspicious activity to
be reported. In 1999 we will implement extensive customer service training and safety training.
In 1998 Sanitary Service Inc. increased insurance benefits to include not only medical but also
dental, vision, and chiropractic care. Additionally, wages were also increased to a competitive
level thus enabling us to attract and retain the highest quality service providers in the market.
In 1999 it is our intent to implement a 401K savings program, subsidize the medical, dental,
vision, program to a greater degree and start a premium only plan that will allow employees to
deduct benefit costs on a pre-tax basis.
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Community Involvement
Below is listed some of the organizations and functions that we supported in 1998:
American Diabetes Association
American Heart Association
Meals on Wheels Region IV Health Department
Meridian Annual Chili Feed
Meridian Athletic Roundtable
Meridian Chamber of Commerce
Meridian Crime Watch/Radio Alert
Meridian DARE Program
Meridian Dairy Days
Meridian Downtown Merchants Assoc.
Meridian Education Foundation
Meridian Fire Department -Salmon Feed
Meridian Holiday Parade
Meridian Lions Club Rodeo
Meridian Optimist Club
Meridian Parks and Recreation -Generations Plaza
Meridian Parks and Recreation -Donated collection services
Meridian Parks and Recreation -Waste receptacles at new parks
Meridian Pancake Feed
Meridian School District -Miscellaneous services
Meridian Senior Association
Nampa Housing Program
P.A.L. Soccer Association
Treasure Valley Education Foundation
US West Dex
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New Program Implementation and Future Issues
Sanitary Services is anxious to implement new solid waste management programs for the
residents of Meridian in 1999. Many of these programs can take many steps to implement and
we hope that the City will appoint a solid waste committee or board that reports to the City
Council. The committee would be able to address issues more frequently and in a less formal
manner and then bring options to the City Council and Mayor after many of the details have been
worked out.
Contract Revisions
Sanitary Services' contract has not been modified formally since 1988. In September of 1998 we
modified our contract with the City and provided ared-line strike out edition to the council for
comment. We aze currently waiting for city comments.
Recycling
Many residents have contacted us regazding curbside residential recyclable collection. We hope
to begin this program in 1999, with City concurrence, but there aze many issues to be resolved to
start a successful program.
Revisions to the Meridian Solid Waste Code
To address the issues described below we would like to revise the Meridian Solid Waste Code
(Sections 7-301 through 7-317A.)
Billing of multiunit dwellings. Currently there are some multiunit dwellings that aze billed at the
residential monthly rate of $7.20 per month per unit although they have a commercial dumpster.
Others aze billed as commercial accounts. This creates a situation of over billing of lazge
multiunit complexes and under billing of smaller duplex, triplex and 4-plex units. Sanitary
Service will be seeking clarification of this issue with the council in the form of revisions to the
City's solid waste ordinance.
)~ortation of waste into the City. In the past year there has been at least one instance where
municipal solid waste was being brought into the City of Meridian for collection. This material
was being brought in from a residence in unincorporated Ada County where solid waste
collection is voluntary. Upon contacting the code enforcement officer in Meridian we were
informed that there is no strict prohibition of this. Therefore, we will be looking to work with
the City Council to prohibit this in the future through a change to the city's solid waste
ordinance.
Used Oil Collection
In 1998 Sanitary Services invested approximately $7,500 to install six 32-gallon oil holding
tanks on six of the collection vehicles. Additionally, a 500 gallon double-walled collection tank
was installed at our shop at 722 W. Franklin to accumulate the used oil in. We hope to begin the
used oil collection program in Meridian in March 1999 after consultation with the Mayor and the
City Council. We desire the council's input regarding promotional and educational materials as
well as press releases and publicity.
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Fall Leaf Collection
There was no fall leaf collection in the City in the Fall of 1998. The first leaf collection program
was completed at a limited number of homes within the City in 1997. The Boy Scouts
spearheaded this initial program. In 1998 the Boy Scouts were again contacted to see if there
were any troops in Meridian that were going to head the program in 1998. The response from
the Boy Scouts was that there was no troop heading the program. We would like to discuss with
the City Council how to complete this program more consistently in the fixture.
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