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Encampment Trash Pilot

Encampment Trash Pilot. Background. In 2016, the City of Seattle initiated the Encampment Trash Pilot to address growing community concerns and associated public health risks of unauthorized homeless encampments (UHEs).

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Encampment Trash Pilot

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  1. Encampment Trash Pilot

  2. Background In 2016, the City of Seattle initiated the Encampment Trash Pilot to address growing community concerns and associated public health risks of unauthorized homeless encampments (UHEs). The goal of the pilot is to test service for proactive and preventative garbage collection at UHEs. Outcomes include: • Improved encampment conditions; • Reduced community trash; and, • Recommendations for on-going trash response at selected unsanctioned encampments. 2/22/2019

  3. Pilot design considerations • All work within encampments is bound by the City’s Multi-Department Rules (MDARs). • Conventional residential & commercial waste solutions were not effective and in some cases dangerous. • UHEs produce diverse and mixed waste, including hazardous materials and bio waste. • Work within UHEs requires sensitivity to issues affecting vulnerable populations. • 2/22/2019

  4. Solutions Trash collection 20 ft away from active UHEs Use of labelled purple bags for trash removal Private waste contractors for debris removal Outreach contractors for bag distribution • 2/22/2019

  5. So how does it work? A site is selected based on predetermined criteria. Once selected, a designated pick-up location is chosen. Outreach contractors distribute purple bags. UHE residents pile bags in the designated location. SPU contractors visit the site once a week and collect trash. When a site is removed, the pilot location is moved to a new location. • 2/22/2019

  6. Selection Criteria SPU selects UHEs to service, based on: Safe traffic & pedestrian conditions Safe conditions for outreach Safe conditions for people in UHEs Site not immediately scheduled for removal Trash collection location at least 20 ft away • 2/22/2019

  7. Activities in each UHE include: Disposal of garbage in designated collection areas Disposal of bulky items encountered Disposal of hazardous materials encountered Distribution of authorized (purple) garbage bags Coordination with local outreach & non-profit groups On-call trash pick-up for items 20ft from active camp 2/22/2019

  8. Purple Bags • The use of labeled authorized (purple) bags improved how contractors distinguished debris from private possessions. • Purple has no other obvious significance in Seattle. • When encampments are removed, new UHEs often resume putting out their trash in the designated bags in new locations without prompt. 2/22/2019

  9. Outreach • Seattle Public Utilities contracts outreach services with the Hepatitis Education Project to distribute purple bags. • Contractors also distribute additional public health supplies and collect sharps. • Formalizing relationships with local non-profit outreach improved consistent bag distribution and compliance. 2/22/2019

  10. HEP Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOOoWrta_xA • 2/22/2019

  11. YTD Encampment Trash Results • SPU has collected 729,270 pounds of litter since July 2017; • Distributed 31,513 authorized bags and recovered 21%; • Made 3,264 contacts with people living in UHEs; and • Serviced 24 different UHEs through the program. 2/22/2019

  12. Thank you.Questions? Lou-Anne Daoust-Filiatrault Sr. Planning & Development Specialist lou-anne.daoust-filiatrault@seattle.gov

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