RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY – M. CHAMBLESS

Approve a two-year contract with National Stewardship Action Council for Regional Agency Household Hazardous Waste grant implementation, from January 25, 2022 through September 30, 2024 for a total contract amount not to exceed $85,000.00 (using 100% of Regional Agency HD37 Grant Fund Awards) and approve budget adjustment for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 for an amount of $45,000 (Regional Agency Fund, 100% will be reimbursement using HD37 Grant Fund Awards)(4/5 Vote Required).

SBC FILE NUMBER:142

San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency

The San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency was formed in 1995 through a Joint Powers Agreement and includes member agencies the City of Hollister, the City of San Juan Bautista, and the County of San Benito. Per the JPA the County is lead agency for waste diversion programming, IWM contract management, hazardous waste programming, CalRecycle state reporting, CalRecycle grant management, and more.

Household Hazardous Waste Grant Application 

On May 6, 2021 San Benito County Integrated Waste Management staff submitted a competitive CalRecycle Household Hazardous Waste Grant (HD37 Cycle) in collaboration with the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), making the primary deadline for the grant. NSAC is a nonprofit organization supporting Extended Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship throughout the nation to conserve resources, reduce costs to local governments, create jobs in remanufacturing, and to provide a circular economy. NSAC has worked with IWM staff in prior years on a previous Household Hazardous Waste Grant awarded to the IWM Regional Agency in 2014 (HD23 Cycle). The Hazardous Waste Grant (HD37 Cycle) was submitted on behalf of the IWM Regional Agency for $100,000 to implement retail take back programs in San Benito County to safely collect and properly dispose of lithium batteries, fluorescent lights, and gas cylinders. The grant application also included one mobile collection event for batteries and fluorescents ad well as free coupons to San Benito County residents for LED lights for our underserved communities.

At the May 25, 2021 Board of Supervisors meeting the Board adopted Resolution NO: 2021-58 to authorize Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Staff to submit a grant application on behalf of the San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency and delegated authority to IWM Staff to execute all grant-related documents. On August 30, 2021  the San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency was notified of the HD37 Cycle  Household Hazardous Waste grant awarded from CalRecycle  for $100,000.00.

National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) Contract

Per the awarded funds for the submitted grant project, the National Stewardship will 1) recruit local retailers to participate in household hazardous waste take-back programs, 2) develop and implement a public education campaign for participating local retailers and take-back programs, 3) assist the County in planning and promoting one mobile household hazardous waste collection event, 4) distribute reusable cylinder and LED light coupons to promote the local take-back programs, 5) and collect and submit data and reports. Additional details related to NSAC’s scope of work is included in the NSAC Contract (See Attachment A Scope of Services).

GENERAL PLAN GOAL PFS-7.5 Waste Diversion 

The County shall require waste reduction, recycling, composting, and waste separation to reduce the volume and toxicity of solid wastes sent to landfill facilities and to meet or exceed State waste diversion requirements of 50 percent. (RDR)