Out of Sight - Out of Mind Central Business District Sealed Compactor Program APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference May 5, 2016
City of Roanoke Downtown Roanoke Incorporated
Out of Sight - Out of Mind START AT THE BEGINNING
Motivation Remove unsightly trash set-out on curbs, sidewalks, and public spaces Trash lingered waiting for collection Remove unpleasant odors Discourage scavenging Reduce pest problems (insects, bees, raccoons, rodents, etc.) Specific problem area
How Could This Look? Keep our street scape beautiful, safe, clean and odor -free Encourage outdoor dining and local events Encourage citizens to visit all the downtown businesses Lessen impact on infrastructure (waste stains, stormwater pollution) Increase recycling rates Exceed customer expectations, best in class!
HISTORY Trash was collected at the curb or deposited at a dumpster Three daily collection times 3:00, 5:00, 10:00 p.m. Costly service to Solid Waste Management Fees were based on the number of bags collected Growing interest in outdoor dining Potential safety liability to vehicles and pedestrians Poor recycling participation
The Tipping Point Problem area - the dumpster area had two grease traps. One was rented by the city for the market building second was rented by one other restaurant Grease traps developed into a problem situation 15 years ago the area was eliminated This was the start of the compactor conversation
First Steps Set new collection times Introduced a recycling collection program Streamlined trash collections to o 3 times per day 6 days a week o Added weekend collection on Sunday
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated Non-profit downtown development organization Advocates for merchants Aware of rapid growth in the Central Business District Trash collection continued to be on everyone s radar A new compactor movement began
Planning Together Exploratory Compactor Committee Headed by Downtown Roanoke Incorporated (DRI) Comprised of: Merchants Police DRI City of Roanoke
Out of Sight - Out of Mind MAKING IT WORK
Compactor Zones
Sealed Compactor Service The sealed compactor is available 24 hours per day and seven days a week for trash and recycling disposal Each registered user receives a fob (electronic key) for access to the unit For each registered account - the first two uses per week are free Each subsequent use is $1 There is no charge for recycling
Market Area Compactor (MAC) Accessible location Partnership with local property owners Fully enclosed/fob accessible 24-7 monitored/lighted area
MAC Feedback Complaints: o Balked at the location and access o Worried - it would be too costly o Questioned employee safety Successes: o Trash off of the street o Accessible 24 hours / 7days a week o Costs were lower than expected
Campbell Court Compactor Build on the success of the MAC City owned building Overlap of the service area Merchants had a choice of locations
Kirk Avenue Compactor Progress continues
Church & Luck Compactors 4 th compactor at the Hampton Inn on Church Ave 5 th and final compactor soon to be under construction Completes the elimination of curbside trash collection
Compactor Success (MAC) Before Compactor Trash - 1038.336 tons per year Recycling - 59.64 tons per year After Compactor Trash - 576.44 tons per year Recycling - 337.558 tons per year
Success Recycling volume increased by Trash volume decreased by 55.5% 565%
Compactor Success Typical cost to a restaurant before compactor, $120 per month The average cost to a restaurant can be reduced up 60% per month Economic Development Downtown is Cleaner! McGinn (owner Roanoke Dawgs) was curious to check out several other things that for him were key indicators of whether Roanoke would be a good place to do business. One of them was to see how clean downtown was But as he described his May visit to us, he kept coming back to the part about downtown and how impressed he was that it was so clean. Roanoke Times, November 23, 2015
Key Compactor Facts DRI relationship key for community acceptance Negotiation of property can be challenging Continuing outreach necessary for success of the program Cost of the finished units approximately $150,000
Out of Sight - Out of Mind SERVING THE MARKET
Getting the Word Out Changing dynamics of downtown What is important to the CBD customer? Clean & Safe & Beautification Programs
Websites Video Community Outreach Customer Service Ongoing Training: for business owners and event planners Communication
Satisfied Customers Cornerstone Bar and Grill paid $120 per month for curbside collection, now they pay on average $70 per month due to separating recycling from trash, saving themselves $600 per year with the new service ************** "We love having it readily accessible and the recycling option is perfect for us." -John, Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op ************** "I think it is wonderful and beneficial to all. It beautifies the streets, encourages recycling, and provides a positive opportunity for us to come together for a better Downtown Roanoke." -Maya, On the Rise Bread Co.
Recognition The City of Roanoke Wins the 2015 Recycler of the Year! The Virginia Recycling Association (VRA) recognized the City of Roanoke s innovative approach to waste and recycling collection by naming the City the 2015 Recycler of the Year for its Downtown Sealed Trash Compactor Program. Each year the VRA recognizes the best waste reduction and recycling programs in the state at an annual awards ceremony. Representatives from Roanoke s Solid Waste Management Division and Downtown Roanoke Incorporated (DRI) will accept this top award on May 6, 2015 at VRA s annual conference held in Virginia Beach.
Panel Discussion Skip Decker Solid Waste Management Billy Basham - Solid Waste Management Tina Workman - Downtown Roanoke Incorporated