The South Bayside Waste Management Authority (RethinkWaste) and the Member Agencies own the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center (SRDC) in San Carlos. This operation serves as a central location for receiving, transferring and/or processing all garbage, recyclables, yard trimmings and food scraps materials collected from residents and businesses in the RethinkWaste service area. Without this facility, solid waste and recycling collection vehicles would have to travel much greater distances, resulting in higher collection costs for the ratepayer, more pollution and traffic congestion. This facility also houses the 250+ collection trucks that service the RethinkWaste Member Agencies.
Shoreway Facility FAQs
Submitted by simonk on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 17:46.
- What is the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center?
- Why are the improvements to the Shoreway facility needed?
- What is the Shoreway Environmental Center?
- When did the SBWMA begin the redesign of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center?
- Where are we in the permitting process for the new Shoreway Environmental Center?
- Are there other options that have been discussed, i.e. remodeling or expanding the material recovery facility building and/or other cost saving options?
- What is the cost of the new Shoreway Environmental Center and how will it be funded?
- What are the next steps?
Why are the improvements to the Shoreway facility needed?
RethinkWaste’s mission is to design and implement sustainable waste reduction, recycling and facility operations services to achieve our Member Agencies’ environmental goals and requirements. These include meeting and exceeding state-mandated diversion (recycling) goals, implementing new collection services and facility operating contracts effective January 1, 2011, and addressing climate change and other environmental needs through enhanced programs and services – all while ensuring that customers pay competitive rates for quality programs and services
The current Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center is obsolete and does not allow for the achievement of these goals. The existing materials recovery facility building was built in 1968 and the transfer station building in 1984. The improvements are needed to allow for the processing of single stream (commingled) recyclables under the new residential and commercial collection services set to be rolled out on or before January 1, 2011. A 30% increase in the amount of recyclables collected through the new curbside programs is anticipated, and a larger building and new equipment is needed to handle this increase.
In addition, the improvements will provide new recycling opportunities, increased public safety and convenience, and other environmental benefits. They will also provide flexibility for future waste reduction/recycling programs and services so that the Member Agencies can set higher diversion (recycling) targets to meet sustainability goals.
What is the Shoreway Environmental Center?
The Shoreway Environmental Center will be the new name for the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center once the facility master plan improvements are completed. In April 2007, the RethinkWaste Board of Directors approved a facility master plan to guide facility improvements, including retrofitting the existing transfer station and constructing a new materials recovery facility (processing facility for recyclables).
Key features of the plan include:
- New state-of-the-art materials recovery facility for sorting single stream (commingled) recyclables from residents and businesses
- Expanded transfer station for more recycling and customer convenience
- Major traffic improvements to increase safety, customer convenience and operational efficiencies
- Improved customer service through a decrease in wait time at the scales, simplified payment process, directive signage and consolidated service areas
- Consolidated public recycling services into one convenient, safe location with its own designated entrance
- “Green building” features such as solar panels and use of natural light
- New environmental education center
RethinkWaste will be seeking to achieve U.S. Green Building Council LEED® certification or equivalency for the facility construction. The County of San Mateo has a green building ordinance and a number of RethinkWaste Member Agencies are also considering such ordinances.
When did the SBWMA begin the redesign of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center?
RethinkWaste initiated this process in July 2005, as part of planning for the future collection programs, services and facility infrastructure needs. The facility master plan was developed following eight months of planning, discussion and review by the RethinkWaste Board of Directors, outside technical experts, and the existing Shoreway operator, Allied Waste of San Mateo County. Site visits were also conducted at other recycling and solid waste facilities in the western United States to benchmark best practices and review facility design concepts. To date, the Shoreway master plan has been reviewed at six public meetings, including two City of San Carlos Planning Commission meetings (6/2/08 and 7/21/08), and four RethinkWaste Board meetings (3/22/07, 4/26/07, 4/24/08, 6/26/08 and 1/22/09) and an elected official briefing meeting on 1/22/09.
Where are we in the permitting process for the new Shoreway Environmental Center?
The proposed changes to the Shoreway operations require updates to the facility’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP) with the City of San Carlos and to its state operating permit. The City of San Carlos Planning Commission held a study session on Shoreway plans on June 2, 2008. A revised CUP was approved by the Planning Commission on July 21, 2008.
Staff from the RethinkWaste and Allied Waste is still working on securing a revised Solid Waste Facility Permit from county and state regulatory agencies.
Are there other options that have been discussed, i.e. remodeling or expanding the material recovery facility building and/or other cost saving options?
An exhaustive Shoreway master planning process was initiated by RethinkWaste staff in July 2005 and was completed in April 2007 with the RethinkWaste Board approval of a master plan preferred alternative consisting of the materials recovery facility (MRF) Alternative 2 (i.e., new MRF building) plus the transfer station site improvements to address traffic improvements, self haul tipping, and improved safety and service convenience for public buyback and drop-off recycling. Various alternatives were considered including the size and scope of retrofitting the existing transfer station building, whether to retrofit the existing MRF building or a build a new one, different traffic configurations, etc. These alternatives were reviewed by Board staff, Board members, an outside architectural and engineering firm, a traffic consultant, and local Allied Waste staff.
More recently at the September and October 2008 Board meetings, RethinkWaste staff and an outside consultant shared the results of an analysis of a MRF retrofit plan from Allied Waste. The conclusion of the analysis was that it is more cost effective to construct and operate a new MRF facility than to retrofit the existing facility as proposed by Allied.
Final design work and construction bids are now in for the project. Building construction bids all came in well below the engineers' estimate.
What is the cost of the new Shoreway Environmental Center and how will it be funded?
On July 23, 2009, the RethinkWaste Board approved sale of tax-exempt bonds to fund the Shoreway master plan improvements. The Board also approved award of the construction contract to S.J. Amoroso.
Based on total costs for the improvements, roughly a 3-4% rate increase in residents’ and businesses’ garbage rates is anticipated, which translates into an increase of approximately $0.50 - $1 per month for households.
| Phases | Projected Costs | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I (“Traffic Improvements”) | ||
| ||
| Traffic Improvements Subtotal: | $2.405 M | 5.7% |
| Phase II (“Building Improvements”) | ||
| $2.495 M | 5.9% |
| $4.277 M | 10.1% |
| $12.66 M | 29.9% |
| $2.798 M | 6.6% |
| $0.787 M | 1.9% |
| Building Improvements Subtotal: | $23.02 M | 54.4% |
| Phase III (Single Stream Recycling Equipment) | ||
| Recycling Equipment Subtotal: | $16.866M | 39.9% |
| Total Traffic, Building, & Equipment: | $42.288M |
What are the next steps?
Please see the Construction Update page on our website for details on the construction.
For a visual representation of the proposed master plan improvements please take a look at the architect’s video.
