The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSC 01-15-2026 PresentationsSC 1-15-2026 Item No.2 Feasibility and Logistics of Event or Panel Presentations January 15, 2026 Sustainability Commission Feasibility and general logistics of a sustainability commission-run event or panel about reducing consumption Commission Powers and Functions (2.94.08) 3. Advise the City Council how to strategically accelerate Cupertino's progress towards sustainability and recommend priorities to promote continued regional leadership in sustainability. 4. Illustrative examples include creation of infrastructure for low-emissions vehicles, installation of renewable energy or energy efficiency technologies, drafting of water conservation or waste reduction policies, delivery of habitat restoration and conservation programs, design and roll-out of pollution prevention campaigns, etc. 6. Accept public input on the subject areas noted above and advise the City Council on ways to drive community awareness, behavior change, education, and participation in City programs modeled upon the field's best practices. 8. Pursue any other activity or scope that may be deemed appropriate and necessary by the City Council. Other Commission Project Examples Teen Commission —Mental Health Awareness Bobateeno Mayor-led event –Based on success, it was added to base budget to host annually TICC —Cyber Security Awareness Event Council-directed –CWP 2024. Occurred in October 2025. Commissioners' roles were to recruit businesses to table and sponsor the event. CAP 2.0 Engagement Actions Waste 2.4: Outreach Campaign “Conduct targeted, multi-lingual, culturally appropriate, and geographically diverse waste prevention educational and technical assistance campaigns based on outcomes of WCS.” Waste 2.5: Waste Warriors –Need approval “Create a training/education program that is free and accessible to all residents and employees to learn about waste prevention and diversion strategies and effects of overconsumption.” Waste 2.10: Fix-it Clinic/Repair Café –Need approval “Partner with local organizations, schools, and libraries to establish pop-up repair café for commonly broken and easily repaired items.” Discuss your proposals and feasibility •Option 1 (awareness and feedback campaign) –Motion to form a subcommittee to work with staff and create content. •Option 2 (event)-Draft a written proposal to City Council to consider. Formally approve/recommend the proposal at the next commission meeting. If directed, form a commission subcommittee to meet regularly with staff to execute. •Option 3 (not feasible) –Revisit coordinating an event at a later date. Next Steps SC 1-15-2026 Item No.3 Recycling Comparison Presentations Comparing Cupertino and Other Jurisdictions Recycling For Removal and Management of Garbage & Recyclables, Cupertino has two agreements: •A franchise agreement with Recology to collect all the streams of materials (garbage, recyclables, organics) as well as construction & demolition (C&D) debris. •An agreement with Republic Services to dispose of garbage and to process and dispose of C&D debris. Background: Material Collection and Disposal The agreement with Recology includes collection and processing of the recyclables and organics: •After collection, through sub-agreements arranged by Recology: •Material in green carts/bins is taken to be processed into compost at two industrial facilities, owned by Recology •Material in blue carts/bins is taken to be processed for sale on the recyclables market at GreenWaste in San Jose Background: Recology handles the blue & green cart materials Material disposition agreements maintained by Recology per the Franchise Agreement What happens to materials in the green and blue carts/bins? •Sort materials into 3 streams •Yard waste and food scraps together •Garbage and food scraps together •NO post-collection sorting of garbage •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •Sort materials into 4 streams •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •Sort materials into 5 streams •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •NO post-collection sorting of garbage How many different ways are there? Organics, mixed recyclables, garbage •Yard waste and food scraps together •NO post-collection sorting of garbage •Cupertino now •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •Cupertino future (SMaRT) •Palo Alto (GreenWaste MRF) •San Jose residential (GreenWaste MRF) •Garbage and food scraps together •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •Santa Clara (GreenWaste MRF) Sorting into three streams Organics, paper, containers, garbage •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •Mountain View (SMaRT) Sorting into four streams Yard waste, paper, containers, landfill, food scraps •YES post-collection sorting of garbage •Sunnyvale (SMaRT) •NO post-collection sorting of garbage •Milpitas Sort materials into five streams Notable recycling differences: Palo Alto – accepts e-waste in the blue cart, accepts bio-plastics in the green cart, aseptic cartons are landfill Mountain View – accepts textiles bagged at curb, aseptics are recyclable, no bio-plastics in compost Sunnyvale – no clamshells or hinged containers, no black plastic, no hot or cold cups, no film plastic, no hard plastic toys/buckets Garbage (and recycling) processing facilities: GreenWaste MRF in San Jose: Processes materials via sorting Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer Station (SMaRT Station®): Processes materials via sorting Recycling only processing facility: California Waste Solutions San Jose Processes materials via sorting Newby Island Resource Recovery Park Processes materials via sorting Wet/Dry processing facility: GreenWaste Zero Waste Energy Development (Z-WED) Facility: Processes commercial organic waste from San Jose (wet/dry sorting)and food/yard waste from Palo Alto via anaerobic digestion How do rates compare? 2025 Single-Family Residence Garbage Rates (monthly cost) City 20 or 24-gallon cart 32 or 35-gallon cart Milpitas $34.07 $40.08 Cupertino $43.48 $46.33 Sunnyvale $41.98 $48.39 Mountain View $37.55 $50.05 Palo Alto $27.81 $50.07 Campbell $42.55 $52.68 Santa Clara $45.66 $53.68 Los Altos $49.89 $53.74 San Jose N/A $54.51 Los Gatos $45.94 $57.22 Orange = garbage is processed How do rates compare? Questions and Discussion •Ideas about messaging and outreach? •We already have: •cupertino.gov/waste •MANY sub-pages •recology.com/recology-south-bay/cupertino/what- bin/ •Empty, scraped out, dry •Acceptable items depend on which facility is processing (and marketing recyclables)