Sponsor: Public Health
Title
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Single Source Agreement with EcoConsilium for Technical Assistance for the School Waste Reduction and Recycling Program
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the single source agreement with EcoConsilium, Inc., 8457 Meadow Lake Road North, New Hope, Minnesota, 55428, for technical assistance services for the School Waste Reduction and Recycling Program for the period of October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023, with the option to renew for one additional two-year period, in a not-to-exceed amount of $400,000.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the agreement.
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the agreement in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of available funding.
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Background and Rationale
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The Ramsey County Solid Waste Management Master Plan (“Master Plan”) guides public and private activities related to waste management for the period of 2018-2038 and outlines county actions over the current six-year period, 2018-2024.
The Master Plan contains several strategies related to waste reduction and recycling in schools including a strategy that all public K-12 schools have robust and stable recycling and organics programs. In addition, schools are required by state statute to have recycling programs.
To support this, the Master Plan provides for the continuation of technical assistance and grant funding to schools.
School recycling programs educate future generations about the importance of waste reduction, recycling, and overall environmental stewardship. Recycling helps schools save on disposal costs and taxes associated with solid waste disposal. Ramsey County has long supported opportunities for waste reduction, recycling and organics management in schools.
EcoConsilium offers a full spectrum of waste diversion consulting services and has provided waste reduction, recycling and organics diversion technical assistance to Ramsey and Washington Counties since 2003. EcoConsilium currently holds a contract with Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (“R&E”) to provide technical assistance for private and small charter schools in Ramsey and Washington Counties. R&E is governed by the joint powers Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Board, which is comprised of commissioners from the two counties. Through R&E, the counties strive to best protect health and the environment to meet the state’s 75% recycling goal.
Public Health is seeking a single source contract with EcoConsilium to provide the same waste reduction, recycling, and organics diversion technical assistance for the remaining schools in the county that are not serviced under the R&E contract, which includes the public-school districts and the larger charter schools. From 2012 to 2020, EcoConsilium provided technical assistance to schools through the Ramsey County Public Entity Innovation grant (PEIG) program. For the period May 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, EcoConsilium provided technical assistance to schools through a sole source agreement. As there is a need to extend the project timelines, an additional single source contract with EcoConsilium is necessary to provide for the continuity in the school waste reduction and recycling programing in the schools across the county, and as a cost and time saving measure for the county.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Ramsey County is the most racially and ethnically diverse county in the state. The public and charter schools in the county are made up of a very diverse student body, with over 126 languages and dialects spoken in the schools. Many of the charter schools are geared towards a specific racial, ethnic, or cultural group. One grant application from a charter school with a predominantly East African student body emphasized the needs of its specific community regarding recycling and waste reduction. This grantee was adamant about creating a recycling education framework that both aligned with their values and was representative of their student body, pointing to the school’s engagement of their students and their families to understand their needs. By offering resources to the public-school districts and charter schools, the county is reaching many racially and ethnically diverse communities it might not otherwise reach for waste reduction and prevention messaging.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Community partnership and participation is integral to the School Waste Reduction and Recycling Program. The program was designed with the direct participation of school stakeholders, including school administration and facility staff. Three facilitated stakeholder group meetings were held prior to the development of the grant program. Stakeholders provided input, ideas and suggestions, as well as identified their vision and objectives for implementation. One product of this participation was the development of the school recycling best practices continuum and the identified need for technical assistance to guide the schools through the continuum. As part of the launch of the grant program, a school recycling advisory board, made up of these same stakeholders, was established and continues to meet quarterly. In addition, educators/teachers were engaged regarding recycling and waste reduction lesson plans for both Ramsey and Washington Counties. Two listening session were held and over 1500 surveys were sent out in the two counties to engage educators in what they need in lesson plans regarding recycling and waste reduction. This feedback informed the recycling and waste reduction lesson plans being created. Whenever possible, students are engaged in the program development. For example, one school’s student green team was instrumental in assisting with the grant application and resulting program implementation. Although the pandemic has made it difficult to engage with community at an optimal level, further community engagement opportunities with students and parents will continue to be pursued.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The total cost of services under this agreement is in an amount not-to-exceed of $400,000. Funding for this service is included in the proposed 2022-2023 Public Health budget, which includes the County Environmental Charge designated for school waste reduction and recycling technical assistance.
County Manager Comments
No additional comments.
Last Previous Action
On June 2, 2020, the County Board approved the Ramsey County School Waste Reduction and Recycling Program (Resolution B2020-116).
Attachments
1. Single Source Request
2. Agreement with EcoConsilium