1999 Trash Cutter Awards Program Case Studies

City of El Monte:  Best Urban Waste Reduction Program

• Program Description
• Program Summary
• Costs
• Benefits
• Contact

Program Description

On September 27, 1999, the City of El Monte's recycling program was selected as the most outstanding urban program in the nation by the National Recycling Coalition. Judges for the competition were impressed with the way El Monte, a large blue collar community, with a diverse ethnic composition, was willing to invest significant resources to increase diversion from the landfills. The city, in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, went from a 6 percent recycling rate in 1994 to a whopping 34 percent in 1998.

Program Summary

The key to El Monte's success has been persistence and foot power. In 1995, the city initiated a toll-free recycling hotline, and bilingual waste auditors began visiting more than 4,500 businesses and industries in the city to encourage recycling, waste reduction, and reuse. Numerous educational materials were produced, including a newsletter that is mailed three times a year, a poster calendar, decals and recycling guide.

In 1997 the city invested considerable resources reaching out to its 475 apartment and condominium complexes and 1,500 mobile home units. The recovery rate for multifamily is now at 15 percent. Waste auditors visited every complex, working with property managers to put source reduction and recycling programs in place. Bilingual signage is provided as well as tenant education brochures.

The city also conducts business recycling seminars at City Hall that are sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and local business associations. At these seminars the city educates local business owners about the importance of implementing solid waste recycling and recycled-content procurement polices.

Costs

Funding is provided by a $1 per month AB 939 charge for residents and a 35 cents per cubic yard charge for all trash capacity. Haulers do not assess the 35-cent charge for diverted materials. The fee more than covers the consultant's contract and other costs for the system. It is estimated that the city saved more than $3 million in avoided disposal costs as a result of its various programs.

Benefits

Each year the city presents its own recycling awards in three categories: best business, multifamily complex, and nonprofit organization, which includes schools and government facilities. Awardees are invited to City Hall to receive a plaque. The message is that everyone has a contribution to make and must be a part of the solution. In 1998 a significant outreach was made to city schools with encouraging results. On-site visits have been made to 20 schools so far, with extra effort to involve cafeteria and janitorial staff to design a program that is user friendly.

The city also creates jobs by hiring and training students from the Environmental Division of Rio Hondo College and the Waste Management Credential Program at UCLA. Since the beginning of this program, nine students have finished their training and found permanent jobs in the waste management field.

For Further Information Contact:

City of El Monte
11333 Valley Blvd
El Monte, CA  91731
(800) 579-4979

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