PRESENTER: Presenter
Elizabeth Ghiorso, Solid Waste Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution to accept up to $420,000 in grant funding from The Recycling Partnership, Inc. to support a comprehensive residential recycling education and outreach initiative and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents associated with the grant agreement.
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DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste and Recycling Division
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All districts
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels has been awarded grant support from The Recycling Partnership, Inc., a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving residential recycling systems.
Under the Grant Agreement, The Recycling Partnership will provide:
• Up to $420,000 in Cash Grants, which will be paid directly to approved vendors for eligible project costs; and
• Up to $125,000 in In-Kind Services, including technical assistance, outreach strategy support, and customized educational materials, mailers, flyers, and the like.
The grant period is flexible to accommodate our approval process and provide ample time for installation of the technology, initial analysis of the waste stream, community education, and implementation.
The City has elected to utilize the direct pay model, meaning The Recycling Partnership will pay vendors directly for approved project elements rather than reimbursing the City. This structure minimizes administrative burden on the City and ensures grant funds are used exclusively for eligible project components.
The project will implement a data-driven recycling improvement initiative designed to:
• Increase residential recycling participation
• Reduce contamination in curbside recycling carts
• Improve overall material quality and program performance
Project components include smart truck camera technology on four collection vehicles, personalized resident feedback, direct mail outreach, digital engagement, and field data collection.
Since grant funds will be paid directly to vendors by The Recycling Partnership, no grant revenues or expenditures will flow through City accounts for those items. Therefore, a budget amendment is not required.
City staff time and operational coordination will support implementation as outlined in the agreement.
ISSUE:
Strategic Priorities: Organization Excellence - Use data-driven decision making to provide efficient, effective, and high quality services.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Recycling Partnership will provide up to $420,000 in direct vendor payments and up to $125,000 in in-kind services during the grant period. The grant does not require a financial match from the City. Since payments are made directly to vendors, there is no impact to the City’s General Fund or Solid Waste operating budget beyond normal staff coordination and implementation support.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the grant agreement and related documents associated with this project.
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