Rapid City solid waste fees may see changes – KOTA Territory News

Report on Proposed Solid Waste Fee Adjustments in Rapid City and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

• The Legal & Finance Committee of Rapid City has unanimously approved a resolution to update the municipal solid waste fee structure.
• This action is prompted by a significant financial deficit in the city’s recycling program, a critical component of its waste management strategy.
• The proposed changes and the underlying challenges directly relate to the achievement of key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Financial and Operational Analysis

A presentation by Finance Director Daniel Ainslie highlighted the economic challenges facing the city’s waste management operations, with specific attention to recycling.

• Financial Deficit: The municipal recycling program currently operates at a net loss of approximately $4 million per year.
• Waste Diversion: Despite the financial loss, the program is instrumental in diverting 4-5% of the city’s annual waste from the landfill, contributing to extended landfill life and reduced environmental impact.
• Regulatory Compliance: The operation of the recycling program is a mandatory requirement stipulated within the city’s current landfill permit.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The city’s review of its solid waste fee structure is intrinsically linked to its commitment to global sustainability targets.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The initiative directly addresses Target 11.6, which aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities by improving municipal waste management. Establishing a financially viable fee structure is essential for the long-term sustainability of these services.

2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The discussion aligns with Target 12.5, which calls for a substantial reduction in waste generation through recycling and reuse. The financial challenges reported by Rapid City underscore the economic complexities that municipalities face in implementing circular economy principles and achieving sustainable production and consumption patterns.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The need for the Rapid City government to collaborate with the state government to potentially update landfill permits highlights the importance of Target 17.14 (Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development). Effective multi-level governance and partnerships are crucial for creating a regulatory environment that supports both environmental and economic sustainability goals.

Resolution and Next Steps

• The resolution to implement new fees for services such as landfill use and garbage pickup account activation has passed the Legal & Finance Committee.
• The measure now requires final approval from the full Rapid City Council.
• If approved, the updated fee schedule is slated to take effect on January 1.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article discusses the management of municipal solid waste in Rapid City, including landfill use, garbage pickup, and recycling. This directly relates to making cities more sustainable by managing their environmental impact.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The core issue of the article is the city’s recycling program, its financial unsustainability, and its effectiveness. Recycling is a key component of sustainable production and consumption patterns, aiming to reduce waste generation.

2. Specific Targets Identified

Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities

• The article’s focus on updating fees for “landfill use, garbage pickup” and the overall management of solid waste in Rapid City is a direct effort to manage the city’s environmental footprint. The discussion about the recycling program’s effectiveness and cost is central to the city’s strategy for municipal waste management.

Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

• The article explicitly analyzes the city’s recycling program. The Finance Director notes that recycling “does divert about four to five percent annually of our waste.” This highlights the city’s engagement with recycling as a method to reduce waste, directly aligning with the objective of this target. The financial challenges mentioned (“a net loss to the city of about $4 million per year”) reflect the complexities of implementing this target.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal solid waste generated, by cities

• This indicator is implied through the discussion of the city’s comprehensive solid waste system, which includes collection (“garbage pickup”), management in controlled facilities (“landfill use”), and treatment through recycling. The article provides a specific data point for the recycling component, which is part of this overall management process.

Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled

• The article provides a specific, local measure that directly corresponds to this indicator. The statement that the recycling program “does divert about four to five percent annually of our waste” serves as a local recycling rate, measuring the progress and effectiveness of the city’s efforts toward Target 12.5.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kotatv.com