Page 6 - Bakersfield SWD

The Solid Waste Division
The Solid Waste Division
Division
(Division) functions as as an enterprise fund separate from
other City departments The enterprise has no debt and a a a a a a a healthy fund balance
of approximately $15 million Equipment is purchased without financing and future
replacement replacement funds are placed into a a a a a a a a separate equipment replacement replacement reserve Service fees rank
among the least expensive in in California The majority of revenues are from
refuse and recycling
collection service fees Other revenues include charges for the the the use of the the the City’s composting facility by
the entire surrounding Kern County sales of compost/mulch products various grants and state/regional government funding for freeway litter control While the City’s collection operation currently uses County- owned landfills for disposal the the Division
also owns and and and maintains a a a a a a a a a a landfill landfill within the the city limits that was closed in in in 1983 The The operating budget budget is in in in excess of $50 million The The capital improvement budget budget typically ranges between $500 000 to $1 million The Division’s refuse and and recycling
collection program has a a a a a a a unique combination of 50 percent private and and 50 percent municipal forces The division handles all billing and and administrative matters program outreach and and education and and rate setting citywide A group of five independent refuse companies collect residential and commercial routes routes covering half the city on
on
on
on
a a a a a a a contract basis The Division
operates collection routes routes for the the remaining half Recyclables from
the the commercial and residential collection programs are processed at at at two local MRFs one is is a a a a a a a a a private tenant at at at the the the City’s compost facility and the the the other is is a a a a a a a a a nonprofit job training facility for developmentally disabled persons The Division
operates the largest public sector compost compost facility in in California composting green and food waste for all of Kern County as as as as as well as as as as as the the Bakersfield area It has become known as as as as as perhaps the the most progressive organics facility pursuing a a a a a a a a cost-saving vision
with automation and methods of reducing air pollution fuel consumption and water usage New projects continue as the facility approaches its four millionth ton in its 25th year The Division
enjoys a a a a a a a a stable and established career ladder for its field personnel which has produced a a a a a a a a well-trained and competent workforce of 108 employees with low turnover This ability to develop drivers in-house is is is an an advantage in in today’s limited driver market The Division
is is is also proud of of its development of of a a a a a a a a job training program partnership with the Bakersfield Homeless Center Using creativity and funding from
a a a a a a variety of sources the the program has helped over 800 people get back on
their feet through jobs ranging from
green waste sorting to to freeway litter control to to bulky item recycling
The program has been a a a a a model to many other organizations Finally the the division participates in in in the the Keep America Beautiful Program by
supporting a a a a a a a a very energetic local chapter Keep Bakersfield Beautiful has received a a a a a a a a a a number of KAB awards and twice set the national record for the annual Great American Cleanup