United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
JJ
Cutting the Waste
Stream in Half
Community Record-Setters
Show How
Waste
Reduction
The Waste Reduction Record-Setters Project fosters development
of exceptional waste reduction programs by documenting successful
ones. These programs can be used as models for others
implementing their own programs to reduce waste. This fact
sheet packet highlights record-setting waste reduction programs in
18 communities and summarizes information presented in the EPA report
EPA-530-R-99-013, Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community
Record-Setters Show How.
Good news for communities hoping to reduce dependence on disposal — reuse and
recycling (including composting) can cut their waste stream in half. The 18 diverse
U.S. communities featured in this fact sheet are recovering 40 to 65% of their residential
waste. Most report 50% and higher levels. Some are also reducing their municipal solid
waste (residential, institutional, and commercial waste) at high levels. One encouraging
finding is these high waste reduction levels are largely being achieved cost-effectively.
Strategies driving record-setting waste reduction levels include:
Targeting a wide range of materials
Accepting a wide range of materials increases the proportion of recoverable waste. These
record-setting communities recover 17 to 31 different types of materials. Paper and yard
trimmings are especially important. Paper recovery contributes 12 to 45% of residential
materials diverted. Composting of yard debris diverts 17 to 43% of total residential
waste in these communities.
Composting
For ten of the 18 record-setters, composting accounts for more than half of all
residential waste reduction. Fall leaf collection may be the single largest contributor
to waste reduction in communities with fall seasons.
Designing for convenience
Residents are more likely to participate if set-out requirements are uncomplicated
and recyclables collection is frequent. Providing adequate containers for material
storage and set-out also improves convenience. Providing both curbside collection
and drop-off sites for materials gives residents more recycling options. On-site
recycling at multi-family buildings makes recycling convenient to more residents.
Using "pay-as-you-throw" trash fees
Under pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) systems, residents pay by volume or weight for
trash they set out at the curb. Such fees are a direct economic incentive to reduce
trash and recover as much as possible. Eleven of the record-setters use PAYT fees.
Requiring resident participation
Local requirements and mandates encourage program participation. Eleven of the
record-setters have some type of local ordinance requiring residents to source-
separate or banning set-out of designated materials with their trash.
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Community
Character
Population
Residential Waste
Generated (tons)
Residential Waste
Reduction Level1
Ann Arbor, Ml
Bellevue, WA
Bergen Co., NJ
Chatham, NJ
Clifton, NJ
Crockett, TX
Dover, NH
Falls Church, VA
Fitchburg, Wl
Leverett, MA
Loveland, CO
Madison, Wl
Portland, OR
Ramsey Co., MN
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA
Visalia, CA
Worcester, MA
Urban, college town
Suburban, urban
Suburban (70 towns)
Suburban borough
Suburban, urban
Small rural city
Small rural city
Suburban
Small rural city
Rural town
Small residential city
Urban, college town
Urban
Urban, suburban, rural
Urban
Urban
City in rural area
Urban
112,000
103,700
825,400
8,300
75,000
8,300
26,100
10,000
17,300
1,900
44,300
200,900
503,000
496,100
873,300
534,700
91 ,300
169,800
47,900
39,190
1, 086,060 2
8,010
110,9302
2,710
9,460
6,660
4,150
650
17,970
88,580
966.9202
673.3002
1,315,4402
768,020 2
50,810
57,570
52%
60%
54% 2
65%
56% 2
52%
52%
65%
50%
53%
56%
50%
50% 2
47% 2
43% 2
44% 2
50%
54%
Key: HHs = households NA = not available
Note: Waste generation and reduction levels represent the 1996 calendar year except for Ann Arbor (fiscal year 1996): Bergen County (1995), and Falls
Church, Leverett, San Jose, and Visalia (all fiscal year 1997 data).
1 Waste reduction levels may differ from the EPA Standard Recycling Rate as defined in Measuring Recycling: A Guide for State and Local Governments. The
Institute for Local Self-Reliance excluded MRF rejects from recycling tonnages and included estimates of materials collected through container deposit
systems for communities in bottle bill states. Furthermore, materials recovered for reuse are included in both recycling and generation figures and
backyard composting tonnage was included in the composting and generation figures for those communities that provided creditable data on the
amounts of materials handled this way.
^Represents municipal solid waste (residential, commercial and institutional waste streams).
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Washington, DC, 1999.
Please Note
This fact sheet packet is based on the 171-page report,
Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Record-Setting
Communities Show How (EPA-530-R-99-013). The
report and this fact sheet were prepared under U.S.
EPA grant number X825213-01-2 by staff of the
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). Please refer
to the full report for detailed community profiles,
specific cost information, waste reduction calculations
and methodology, and a list of definitions.
The methodology used in this research for calculating
recycling rates refines the EPA Standard Recycling
Rate as defined in the document Measuring Recycling:
A Guide for State and Local Governments (EPA-530-R-
97-011). For example, ILSR included tonnage
diverted via state bottle bills, and subtracted material
rejected at processing facilities from waste reduction
levels. While ILSR recognizes that composting is a
form of recycling, they treat it separately in this fact
sheet packet so that the costs and diversion levels of
recycling materials such as paper, bottles, and cans may
be compared to the recycling of yard trimmings.
ILSR includes both recycling and composting under
the term "waste reduction."
Cost data are not meant to be comparable among
communities. Rather, cost data are useful for
comparing each community's program over time and
within a particular year.
Loveland's semi-automated dual-collection vehicle. Crews put recyclables
into the split side-loading compartment and trash into the rear-loading
packer compartment.
Contact
The Waste Reduction Record-Setters Project was
developed by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
(ILSR) through a grant from the U.S. EPA. For
more information on the project contact: ILSR, 2425 18th Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20009, phone (202) 232-4108, fax (202)
332-0463, Web site
-------
Highlights from Select Record-Setters
Ann Arbor, Michigan (Population: 112,000)
City programs recover 47% of household waste. The
state's bottle return law diverts another 5%. The non-
profit Recycle Ann Arbor (RAA) picks up 24 different
recyclables weekly and also runs a drop-off station.
From April through November, city crews collect grass
clippings, leaves, and brush at curbside (which are
banned from the landfill). The city earns $38,000 per
year from compost and mulch sales.
Bellevue, Washington (Population: 103,700)
Bellevue's residential waste reduction climbed from
11% in 1989 to 60% in 1996. Its PAYT system,
combined with comprehensive curbside collection, is
the heart of the program. Almost two-thirds of
customers subscribe to one 30-gallon can or 19-gallon
mini-can per week trash service.
Dover, New Hampshire (Population: 27,000)
A PAYT system is responsible for Dover's residential
recovery level increasing from 3% in 1990 to 52% in
1996. During the same period, per household costs
for solid waste management dropped from $122 to
$73.
Falls Church, Virginia (Population: 10,000)
After implementing multi-material curbside collection,
Falls Church reduced trash collection from twice to
once weekly and cut the number of trash crew
members from ten to seven. The solid waste
management budget dropped from $1.05 million in
FY90 to $630,000 in FY97. Falls Church recovers
65% of its residential waste.
Fitchburg, Wisconsin (Population: 17,300)
Fitchburg's mandatory recycling ordinance and multi-
family recycling ordinance were the first in Wisconsin.
It is also one of the few communities collecting
clothing, toys, books, small appliances, and housewares
at curbside monthly. The town disposed less waste in
1996 than in 1992 despite a nearly 20% growth in
households. Per household waste handling costs
dropped from $126 in 1992 to $108 in 1996.
Loveland, Colorado (Population: 44,300)
In the early 1990s, Loveland overhauled its waste
management system in response to rising worker
compensation insurance rates and aging trash trucks
needing replacement. Specially designed dual-
collection vehicles now pick up recyclables and trash
each week. This system along
with PAYT trash fees and
several options for yard
trimmings recovery result in a
56% residential recovery level.
The city estimates it saves
$100,000 per year through dual-
collection as compared to separate
trash and recycling collection.
San Jose, California (Population: 873,300)
This culturally diverse urban city diverts 43% of its
municipal solid waste. Single-family household
diversion levels reach 55%. Residential curbside
recycling service to all single-family and multi-family
households, PAYT trash fees, weekly year-round
residential yard trimmings collection, and financial
incentives for businesses to reduce waste drive San
Jose's high recovery levels.
# %
Community Materials1 Composted Mandatory PAYT
Ann Arbor, Ml
Bellevue, WA
Bergen Co., NJ
Chatham, NJ
Clifton, NJ
Crockett, TX
Dover, NH
Falls Church, VA
Fitchburg, Wl
Leverett, MA
Loveland, CO
Madison, Wl
Portland, OR
Ramsey Co., MN
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA
Visalia, CA
Worcester, MA
31
29
Varies
24
20
25
28
21
25
25
19
17
22
Varies
23
23
20
24
23% /
34% /
32% / Some2
43% / /
28% /
32% /
17% /
40%
21 % / /
23% / /
37% /
34% /
17% /
8%3 /4 /
26% /
21% YTonly /
33%
27% / /
Key: PAYT = pay-as-you-throw YT = yard trimmings
Note: Most of the communities operate drop-off sites for recyclables and
yard trimmings. Bergen County does not operate any drop-off facilities but
45 out of 70 communities in the county operate drop-offs for their
residents. Madison and Worcester accept yard trimmings only at their
drop-off facilities. San Jose does not operate any drop-off facilities but
residents can deliver materials to the numerous private drop-offs located in
the city.
1 Represents the number of types of recyclable and compostable materials
recovered through residential curbside and drop-off programs. For instance,
old newspapers is one type. Juice and milk boxes are another type.
2Four out of 70 communities within Bergen County have implemented PAYT
trash fees.
Represents percentage of municipal solid waste composted as Ramsey
County does not track residential materials separately from other MSW..
4Saint Paul and three other county municipalities have enacted mandatory
recycling ordinances. More than half the county residents live in these
communities. State law also bans leaves, grass, brush, and yard debris from
state landfills and incinerators.
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Reaching Record-Setting Levels
Some Questions and Answers
14 Which record-setting program is the model?
M There is no one model. No two record-setting
programs are exactly alike. For example, rural programs
differ from urban ones. However, you can integrate the
best features of the best programs to design a record-setting
program that meets your community's needs.
14 Can big cities achieve high waste reduction levels?
/\Yes. San Jose, California (pop. 873,300), recovers 55% of
single-family household waste. The city targets multi-
family and institutional and commercial waste (ICW), too.
Its overall residential waste reduction level is 45%; ICW
reduction is 41%. Seattle,Washington (pop. 534,700),
diverts 49% of its residential waste. Its ICW reduction
level is not far behind at 48%.
14 How essential is curbside collection?
M Program convenience is essential for high participation
and thus high waste reduction. Weekly collection of
recyclables and yard trimmings puts recovery programs on
par with weekly trash pick-up. In Worcester,
Massachusetts, residential recovery increased from 41% to
52% when pick-up switched from biweekly to weekly.
Only one of our record-setters, Leverett, Massachusetts,
offers no curbside service. However, residents in this rural
town must also self-haul trash.
14 What role do state laws and goals play?
M State waste reduction goals, requirements, and policies
influence many of our record-setters. Visalia, California,
began its program in order to meet the state's 50%
recycling goal. Worcester, Massachusetts' program was
implemented on the heels of the state's landfill bans.
Clifton, New Jersey, began its mandatory curbside program
in response to the 1987 Statewide Source Separation and
Recycling Act. Bottle bills have increased recovery levels
in states with these policies.
(4 Can high institutional and commercial waste (ICW)
reduction levels be achieved?
r\Yes. High ICW reduction may be easier to achieve
than residential waste reduction as ICW tends to be more
homogeneous and rich in recyclables. Bergen County,
New Jersey (63% ICW reduction level), requires businesses
and institutions to recycle a wide range of materials
including mixed paper. Portland, Oregon, requires
businesses to achieve 50% waste recovery by separating
recyclables from mixed waste. Economic incentives, such
as reduced tip fees for delivering recyclables to drop-off
Community % ICW Recovered
Bergen Co., NJ
Clifton, NJ
Portland, OR
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA
fey:
ICW = institutional and commercial waste
63%
68%
52%
42%
48%
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
sites, tax incentives,
and reduced franchise
fees, also encourage
businesses to recycle
and haulers to offer
recyclables collection.
For example, in San
Jose, California,
haulers pay the city
fees of more than $3 per cubic yard for trash; in contrast,
recycling collection firms pay no fees for recyclables
hauled.
(4 Is it better to contract out for service providers?
M Not necessarily. Service providers vary greatly among
record-setters. Some systems are entirely publicly
operated. Other record-setters contract or franchise out to
for-profit or non-profit companies. And others use a
combination.
(4 What if no market for mixed paper exists?
M Much of waste is paper, making its recovery critical to
record-setting waste reduction. If no market for mixed
paper exists, take heart, recovery can still increase.
Consider adding individual paper grades for which markets
do exist such as corrugated cardboard or high-grade paper.
Explore other opportunities such as
expanding yard debris recovery,
collecting textiles at curbside, and
ensuring that reuse opportunities exist.
(4 Won't costs increase as more types
of materials are added?
M Not if new materials recovered offset trash
collection and disposal so that the cost of trash crews,
routes, and tip fees can be cut. The higher waste reduction
levels are, the higher the avoided costs of disposal. The
curbside collection of 20 types of materials in Seattle,
Washington, have not raised net solid waste costs per
household.
(4 Does high waste reduction require big capital
investments?
M No. Some record-setters (such as Bellevue, Washington)
avoid equipment costs altogether with contracts. Others
use existing equipment to minimize start-up costs. In Ann
Arbor, Michigan, for instance, trash trucks double as yard
trimmings collection vehicles. Fitchburg, Wisconsin, uses a
tractor, which previously gathered dust in storage, to
landspread recovered organics.
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Cutting Costs
Most of the record-setters have reduced or stabilized
solid waste management costs. Many factors contribute
to cost-effective programs. One common thread is these
communities consider waste reduction a primary waste
management strategy. Recycling and composting are not
treated as add-ons; rather, they form an integral part of
overall waste management.
Specific techniques for cutting costs include:
Maximize diversion levels
High diversion levels can reduce costs in two major
ways: (1) by significantly reducing landfill or other
disposal costs, and (2) by eliminating some trash
routes and their associated costs.
High waste diversion allows Madison, Wisconsin, to
serve 10,000 more households with fewer and
smaller trash trucks. The smaller trucks cost less and
have lower maintenance costs. Since Worcester,
Massachusetts, began recycling, the city decreased
trash crew size from 3 to 2 and the number of routes
from 11 to 9.
Compost
Yard trimmings collection costs vary among our
record-setters, but tend to be lower than recycling
collection costs because the material is homogeneous
and needs less expensive, low-tech processing.
In Bellevue, Washington, one-third of residential
waste is composted. Bellevue residents spend about
$102 per ton for composting compared to $139 per
ton for recycling. Chatham, New Jersey, keeps its
composting program costs low by hosting a regional
compost facility in return for free tipping of its grass
clippings. Chatham also avoids capital outlays for
yard debris recovery by leasing county equipment
as-needed.
Implement PAYT trash programs
In communities with pay-as-you-throw (PAYT)
trash fees, trash disposal per household decreases.
Dover, New Hampshire, instituted its PAYT system
in 1991, the same year it began weekly curbside
recycling. Between 1990 and 1996, per household
trash disposal fell from 6 to 2.3 pounds per day.
Dover's net residential solid waste management costs
dropped from $1.1 million in 1990 to $798,000
while adding more than 1,000 customers. Per
household costs have decreased from $122 in 1990
to $73 in 1996.
Augment curbside with drop-off sites
While curbside collection is critical to maximizing
participation and therefore recovery levels, drop-off
collection is generally cheaper for the community.
In 1996, St. Paul, Minnesota, avoided $75,000 in
disposal fees and diverted 1,800 tons of material by
offering residents drop-off opportunities for bulky
goods from sofas and computers to skis. In Ann
Arbor, Michigan, a comprehensive drop-off center
accepts materials not collected at curbside (such as
building materials, hardcover books, and
appliances). Their costs to collect
materials through drop-off are $14 per
ton cheaper than through curbside
collection, and drop-off increased the
city's waste reduction level by 3%.
PAYT systems may also encourage
the use of drop-off sites. In Dover,
New Hampshire, drop-off collection accounted for
19% of all materials recovered. Their costs to collect
and process drop-off materials average $14 per ton,
compared to $77 per ton for curbside collection and
processing of recyclables and yard debris.
Consider dual-collection
One way that Loveland, Colorado, andVisalia,
California, have integrated recycling completely into
their solid waste management systems is through use
of dual-collection vehicles, which collect recyclables
and trash in separate compartments on one truck.
Dual-collection systems can save money by avoiding
the need for two separate fleets of trucks and by
increasing productivity of collection crews.
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Tips from Record-Setters
Collection
Collect as wide a variety of materials as possible.
Collect yard trimmings for composting.
Use drop-off sites to augment curbside collection.
Distribute bins to all participants.
Education
Educate, educate, educate.
Target education at new residents and at all ethnicities.
Repeat messages in a variety of media.
Program Planning
Build broad program support during the planning
stages by seeking public input, selling the program to
those active in community (such as service and civic
clubs), and building political support.
Make program participation as convenient as possible.
Keep the program easy and user-friendly
Investigate dual-collection, especially when faced with
an aging trash fleet.
Learn from others' experiences. Find out what other
communities have accomplished and how they did it.
Policies
Implement a pay-as-you-throw trash system (and
include small container options).
Encourage source reduction and reuse.
Pass a local ordinance requiring residents, businesses,
and institutions to participate in waste reduction
activities or requiring haulers to offer their customers
(residential and commercial) a minimal level of
recycling service.
Enforce mandatory programs to boost both the
quantity and quality of participation.
Offer recycling services to multi-family households,
require haulers to provide these services, or require
that multi-family building owners/managers provide
recycling services to their tenants.
Ongoing Programs
Be prepared for resistance to change. Try to anticipate
likely questions.
Seek out committed staff and administration to ensure
program success.
Secure stable markets for reusable items and
recyclables.
Avoid adding a material to the recycling program and
then taking it away, especially if the trash system is
pay-as-you-throw.
Track data to document success.
Be conservative when reporting recycling and
composting tonnages and program costs.
Talk to your customers. Solicit input and give
feedback on program progress.
Recruit and reward citizen volunteers, who have many
skills and can help maintain community motivation
Be creative.
RESOURCES
Waste Reduction Record-Setters
- Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-
Setters Show How (EPA-530-R-99-013). Available from
the RCRA hotline 1-800-424-9346 and at
.
- The Waste Reduction Record-Setters Project Web pages:
- On the Path to Sustainability (Seattle's solid waste plan
for reaching 60% diversion). Call (206) 684-7644 or
download from the Web:
- State waste reduction awards programs (e.g., California
recognizes outstanding businesses: visit its Web page:
. Wisconsin's
Governor's Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards
honor individuals, businesses, schools, and communities:
its Web page is located at:
- BioCycle: Journal of Composting & Recycling published
by JG Press, Inc., (610) 967-4135, Web:
- The U.S. Composting Council, (301) 913-2885, Web site:
- The Composting Resource Page Web site:
Pay As You Throw
- U.S. EPA has produced a video, guide book, fact sheets,
and a quarterly newsletter. Call 1-800-EPA-PAYT or
visit the Web site:
Recycling in Multi-Family Dwellings
- Multi-Residence Recycling Guide, by the New York
Department of Environmental Conservation and the
Cornell Cooperative Extension. Call (518) 457-7337.
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017a
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Ann Arbor, Michigan
52% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
Residential waste reduction in the City of Ann Arbor has
come a long way since the creation of its first community-
based non-profit drop-off station in 1970. Today the city
contracts with the non-profit organization, Recycle Ann
Arbor, for the collection — under mandatory ordinance —
of recyclables from all city households and the operation of a
drop-off facility for recyclables and yard debris. 1 In addition,
city crews collect yard debris at curbside seasonally. In FY96
the city diverted 52% of its residential waste through
recycling (30%) and composting (23%). Per household solid
waste management costs have increased by less than 10%
since FY89, even though per ton trash tip fees increased more
than 70% in the same period.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Contributing factors to Ann Arbor's waste diversion level
are a state ban on landfilling yard debris, curbside collection
of 24 types of recyclables coupled with a mandatory
ordinance, multi-family dwelling recycling service, and the
bottle bill. The state ban spurred Ann Arbor to develop a
compost site, draft an ordinance requiring residents to
separate "compostables" from trash, and start curbside service
for these materials. Nearly one-quarter of Ann Arbor's
residential waste stream is diverted through the city's
composting program. City ordinance requires residents to
source-separate recyclables and
compostables from trash. The city
enforces this requirement by not
collecting improperly sorted and
prepared materials. As 52% of
households are multi-family, the city
recognized the importance of
providing this sector with waste
reduction services. Multi-family
buildings receive recycling carts and
can divert the same materials as do
single-family homes, with the
exception of motor oil and batteries.
DHALU
POPULATION: 112,000
(1994)
HOUSEHOLDS: 22,000
single-family and
duplexes; 24,000 multi-
family
FY96
Tons Per Year
44,806
47,943
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
16%
16%
0%
52%
30%
23%
Average Ibs./HH/day
5.61
5.71
Net Program Costs/HH $72.96 77.61
Disposal Services 63.68 42.17
Diversion Services 9.29 35.44
Notes: 43,774 households served in FY89; 46,000 in FY96. 1989
dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
The bottle bill provides an
incentive to recover
designated containers. The
city's waste reduction efforts are
supported by city ownership of a
material recovery facility and composting
facility, and a comprehensive education
program.
Cost-Effectiveness
In FY96, after subtracting material
revenues, the city spent $78 per household
served on trash, recycling, and yard debris
services. This cost represents an increase of less
than 10% over per household costs in FY89.
In FY97, the average net per ton costs of waste
reduction were $71. In contrast, FY97 trash
frvjauai]
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines, and corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including paperback and phone books, office paper, mail,
and paperboard)
milk cartons and juice boxes
steel and aluminum cans
scrap metal (including ferrous metal, aluminum foil and pie tins, white
goods, and aerosol cans)
glass containers, dishes, and heat-resistant glass
ceramics
#1 -#3 plastic bottles
textiles
household batteries
used motor oil and oil filters
yard waste (including leaves, grass clippings, brush, and holiday trees)
DROP-OFF:
all materials collected in curbside recycling program plus
hardcover books
polystyrene
packing peanuts
foam egg
cartons
car batteries
other materials can
be (collected for a
Recyclables and yard
debris set out for
collection in Ann Arbor
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
FY89 FY96
] Trash ] Recycling | Composting
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
collection and disposal costs averaged $86 per
ton. Contracting with a nonprofit for curbside
recyclables collection and
operation of the drop-off
facility, reduced total disposal
costs, and yard debris
diversion are primarily
responsible for keeping the
increase to a minimum.
Tips for Replication
Keep the program easy and user-
friendly
Include public input.
Look for ways to cooperate with other
entities.
Use conservative projections for
tonnages and market prices.
Notes:
1 Residents in multi-family dwellings can recycle the same
materials at curbside as residents in single-family dwellings with
the exception of used motor oil and batteries.
Contact
Tom McMurtrie
Recycling Coordinator
City of Ann Arbor Dept. of Solid Waste
100 N. Fifth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
PHONE: 734-994-6581
FAX: 734-994-1816
WEB SITE: http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017b
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Bellevue,
Washington
60% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
Bellevue initiated its recycling program in 1989; by 1996
the city recovered 60% of its solid waste from single-family
homes (26% through recycling and 34% through
composting). Bellevue contracts with one local company to
provide most of its residential waste services, including
weekly trash collection, weekly curbside collection of 16
categories of recyclables, and twice monthly collection of
yard debris from March through November. 1 Residents can
also recycle materials at county-run drop-off facilities and
twice yearly special collection days offered by the city and its
solid waste contractor. Since the introduction of Bellevue's
waste reduction program in 1989, average per household trash
disposal has decreased from 6.52 pounds per day to only 3.69
pounds per day. The city has no mandatory recycling
requirements for residents, but its pay-as-you-throw fee
structure for trash provides an economic incentive for
residents to reduce trash disposal.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Bellevue's pay-as-you-throw trash rate structure and
ease and availability of waste reduction opportunities
contribute to the city's high waste reduction level.
Residents pay a monthly fee for trash
removal based upon the size of the
trash container they use. For instance,
in 1996, weekly collection of one 30-
gallon trash can costs Bellevue
residents $12.91 per month while
weekly collection of one 19-gallon
can costs only $7.13 per month. As
part of its convenient waste
reduction program, the city's
contractor provides residents with
three stackable recycling bins,
DHALU
POPULATION: 103,700
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 44,387
(1996); 26,026
single- family
households (1 -10
units), 18,361 multi-
family units
Tons Per Year
23,396
39,186
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
11%
6%
5%
60%
26%
34%
Average Ibs./HH/day
7.30
9.18
Net Program Costs/HH NA $235.64
Disposal Services NA $116.68
Diversion Services NA $118.97
Notes: 17,556 households served in 1989; 23,372 in 1996. Numbers
may not add to total due to rounding. 1989 program costs not
available as they occurred in the private sector and are not public
information.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
weekly curbside pick-up of recyclables, and bi-
weekly pick-up of yard debris. The city's yard
debris program is especially effective, diverting
more than one-third of the city's residential
waste stream.
Cost-Effectiveness
Bellevue's contractor collects service fees
directly from customers. The rates charged are
based on the level of trash collection requested
by each customer. Direct city
expenditures are limited to
administration and education and
publicity costs. Of total city and
contractor waste management
expenditures in 1996, about 50% was
spent on trash collection and disposal, 25% was
spent on recycling, and 25% was spent on yard
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
CURBSIDE:
newspapers, magazines, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (mail, office paper, phone books, paperboard, and kraft bags)
milk cartons and drink boxes
cans
aluminum foil and other non-ferrous scrap
glass containers
#1 and #2 plastic bottles
white goods
yard waste (leaves, brush, grass clippings, and other yard and garden
debris)
holiday trees
DROP-OFF:
all materials accepted in curbside program plus:
oil filters
household and lead-acid batteries
tires
household goods (textiles, working small appliances, and usable
furniture)
scrap metal
#6 plastic food containers
scrap lumber
antifreeze
fluorescent lamps and ballasts
ceramic bathroom fixtures
w.
1989 1993 1996
Trash ^ Recycling ^Composting
debris collection and composting. Overall,
trash cost $174 per ton, recycling $139 per
ton, and yard debris recovery $102 per ton.
Tips for Replication
Collect mixed paper.
Commit to and concentrate on high-
quality customer service.
Spend the extra money to make
promotional material attractive.
Continuously remind and educate the
public about waste reduction.
Raise overall environmental awareness.
Implement a variable rate structure for
trash.
Notes:
1Yard debris collection is once monthly from December through
February.
Contact
Tom Spille
Solid Waste Program Administrator
Resource Management and Technology
Utilities Department
City of Bellevue
301 116th Avenue Southeast, Suite 230
P.O. Box 90012
Bellevue,WA 98009-9012
PHONE: 425-452-6964
FAX: 425-452-7116
WEB SITE: http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/
bellevue/homemap. htm
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017C
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Bergen County,
New Jersey
54% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction
(49% Residential Solid Waste Reduction; 63% Institutional/Commercial
Solid Waste Reduction)
Overview
Bergen County provides solid waste management
funding, technical assistance, education programs, and data
management to its 70 municipalities. The county also owns a
waste transfer station and a yard trimmings processing facility.
The Bergen County Long-Term Solid Waste Management
Plan mandates residential recycling of eight materials. All
communities in Bergen County have passed their own
mandatory recycling ordinances; some of these ordinances
mandate recycling of materials in addition to those required
by the county. All but seven of the municipalities provide
residential trash services or hire and pay for a contractor to
collect their residents' trash, residents of the other
communities must contract directly with trash haulers. Sixty-
nine of the 70 county communities offer curbside recycling
services, and four have pay-as-you-throw trash systems. The
County Solid Waste Management Plan requires commercial
and institutional establishments to
recycle corrugated cardboard, high-
grade and mixed paper, glass food and
beverage containers, aluminum cans,
ferrous scrap, white goods, and
construction and demolition debris
and to track and report the amounts of
materials recovered.
DHALU
POPULATION: 825,380
(1995)
HOUSEHOLDS: 330,473
(1996); 250,000
single- family
dwellings (estimate, 4
or fewer units per
building), 80,000
multi-family
dwellings (estimate, 5
or more units)
BUSINESSES: 30,859
(1998)
Keys to High Waste Reduction
The keys to Bergen County's high
waste diversion rate are mandatory
recycling; historically high disposal
fees; the existence of well-
established markets for recovered
materials; extensive eduction and
outreach programs; technical
assistance; and the availability of a
PROGRAM SUMMARY
1993
1995
Tons Per Year MSW1
Tons Per Year RSW
Tons Per Year ICW
1,086,055
693,840
392,215
1,086,055
693,840
392,215
Percent MSW Diverted! 52% 54%
Percent RSW Diverted 49% 49%
Percent ICW Diverted 57% 63%
Average lbs./HH/day2
15.21
15.21
Net Program Costs/HH NA NA
Disposal Services NA NA
Diversion Services NA NA
Key: MSW = municipal solid waste RSW = residential solid waste
ICW = institutional and commercial waste
NA = not available
Notes: Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
11n order to account for waste bypassing the county transfer
station in 1995, ILSR assumed 1995 MSW, RSW, and ICW to be
equal to 1993 MSW, RSW, and ICW, respectively and added an
estimated tonnage to disposal.
2Rgures represent residential sector only. ILSR estimated
households served in 1993 and 1995 as 250,000, the number of
dwellings in buildings with four or fewer units.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
yard debris management facility. Although
trash tip fees dropped to $54 per ton at the
Bergen County Utilities Authority Transfer
Station in 1998, from January 1990 until
November 1997, tip fees at the facility were
over $100 per ton. Bergen County is home to
two paper mills that create a constant demand
for recovered paper. The county runs an
education and outreach program that includes
advertising, publications, promotions, education
programs, a hotline, and a lending library. The
county's 25-acre yard debris composting site
composts grass clippings, leaves, and brush and
sells the finished material.
Cost-Effectiveness
The Bergen County Utilities Authority's
budget for solid waste management includes its
transfer station costs, hauling costs, tip fees,
landfill closure costs, recycling and source
reduction financial assistance programs,
education and publicity costs, staff and
administration costs, and debt service. The
Authority's expenditures represent only a
portion of the costs of waste management in
the county. Each county community operates
a waste management program, which is for the
most part financed by community funds. In a
limited survey of community recycling
coordinators from Bergen County, all six
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
MATERIALS RECOVERED
The County requires each community to recycle newspaper, glass food
and beverage containers, food and beverage cans, ferrous scrap, white
goods, leaves, and grass clippings from residential waste. Some county
communities recycle additional materials such as
magazines, plastics,
and other paper
grades.
Compost piles at the
Bergen County-owned
compost facility
1993 1995
| Trash ] Recycling | Composting
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
respondents claimed their waste reduction
programs saved money or cost no more than
disposal. Reasons cited for the cost-
effectiveness of the programs include reduced
trash costs as a result of diversion, lower labor
costs as a result of waste reduction,
saving on compost for city
projects, free hauling and
no tip fees for recyclables,
and revenues from sale of
recovered materials off-
setting program costs.
Tips for Replication
Support community innovation with
small grants.
Make waste reduction programs
mandatory.
Design a user friendly program.
Provide bins for curbside recycling
participants.
Be accessible.
Contact
Nina Herman Seiden
Recycling Program Manager
Bergen County Utilities Authority
Department of Solid Waste Planning and Development
RO. Box 9
Foot of Mehrhof Road
Little Ferry, NJ 07643
PHONE: 201-641-2552 x5822
FAX: 201-641-3509
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017d
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Chatham,
New Jersey
65% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
This wealthy, tree-lined suburban community diverts 65%
of its residential waste from disposal (22% through recycling
and 43% through composting). The borough instituted a
pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system for trash in 1992.
Residents must place their trash in special bags or the city's
contracted trash collection firm will leave it at curbside.
Another contractor provides curbside collection twice a
month for 21 types of recyclables. The borough collects fall
leaves curbside and provides a drop-off location for brush and
other yard trimmings. Chatham had a successful waste
reduction program that diverted 63% of its residential waste
in 1991, before the PAYT system was introduced. The
current system is even more successful. In 1996, the average
Chatham household produced 6% less waste than in 1991
and per household trash disposal dropped by more than 10%.
Furthermore, average household costs for solid waste
management decreased 50% within this same time period.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Pay-as-you-throw trash fees, a curbside recycling program
that collects many materials, and a convenient yard debris
collection and composting program contribute to
Chatham's waste reduction program success. Chatham's
trash hauler only collects trash that
residents place in special 30- and 15-
gallon bags. The bags cost $1.25 and
$0.65 respectively; the price was set so
bag fees cover the cost of tip fees for
trash disposal. The Advanced
Recycling Technology Systems, Inc.
(ARTS) recycling company provides
twice monthly curbside recycling
for 21 categories of materials and
services the borough's drop-off site.
Composting of yard debris
accounts for nearly two-thirds of
DHALU
POPULATION: 8,007
(1990); 8,289 (1997)
HOUSEHOLDS: 3,285
(1996) 2,735
dwellings of 3 units
or less. 550 multi-
family dwellings
1991
1996
Tons Per Year
8,581
8,007
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
63%
13%
50%
65%
22%
43%
Average Ibs./HH/day
16.85
15.81
Net Program Costs/HH $456.62 $227.76
Disposal Services $392.81 $158.02
Diversion Services $63.81 $69.74
Notes: 2,750 households and 35-40 small businesses (2,790 total)
served in 1991; 2,775 (2,735 households, 40 businesses) in 1996.
1991 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
residential waste reduction in Chatham. Fall
leaf collection accounted for about 80% of all
yard waste recovered in 1996. In order to
encourage residents to participate, solid waste
management calenders with recycling
information and drop-off/pick-up times are
mailed every year to Chatham households.
Cost-Effectiveness
Before switching to the PAYT trash
system in November 1992, each Chatham
household paid the previous trash hauler a flat
annual fee of $350 for trash collection and
disposal, equivalent to more than $300 per ton.
The trash bag costs are now set to cover tip fee
disposal costs; total per ton trash costs were
$157 in 1996. Composting collection and
processing costs average $48 per ton;
recycling collection and processing, $39
per ton. Also, the recycling contractor
returns half of materials revenues to the
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspapers and inserts, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper ( paper bags, phone books, paperback books, paperboard,
colored and white paper, envelopes, mail, computer paper, wrapping
paper, and egg cartons)
glass containers
cans
juice and milk cartons
#1 - #3 plastic bottles
scrap metals (including aluminum foil and metal clothes hangers)
empty latex paint cans
aerosol cans
household batteries
white goods
leaves
DROP-OFF:
All materials accepted in
curbside program
(with the
exceptions of
household batteries
and white goods)
plus:
brush
grass clippings
Trash
1991 1996
] Recycling | Composting
community. In 1996, these revenues defrayed
recycling collection costs by 60%. Chatham's
recovery rate surpassed 60% under both the
old private trash collection system
and the new publically
contracted system but per
household costs dropped
dramatically when the new
system was implemented.
Funding for Chatham's
residential waste management
program is supplied by a $75 per household
fee paid by borough residents, the cost of trash
bags, and county and state funds.
Tips for Replication
Make program participation convenient.
Chatham switched to commingled collection
of containers because of residents' preferences.
Pay-as-you-throw systems encourage
trash reduction.
Contact
Henry Underbill
Town Administrator
Borough of Chatham
54 Fairmont Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
PHONE: 973-635-0674 x!08
FAX: 973-636-2417
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017e
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Clifton, New Jersey
56% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction
(44% Residential Solid Waste Reduction: 68% Institutional/Commercial
Solid Waste Reduction)
Overview
In 1996, Clifton diverted 56% of its municipal solid waste
from disposal (38% through recycling; 18% through
composting). Clifton diverted 44% of city-collected material
and an impressive 68% of materials generated by businesses
and institutions not served by city waste management
programs. The city collects eleven categories of recyclables in
its curbside program and its drop-off recycling center accepts
thirteen categories of material (nine of which are also
collected curbside). Residents are required by local ordinance
to recycle other categories of materials, such as textiles, but
must do so through private recyclers. The city also offers its
residents and small businesses curbside collection of yard
debris. Private trash haulers and recyclers primarily serve the
city's businesses and institutions, which are required to recycle
22 types of materials.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Clifton's waste diversion success is driven by high waste
disposal fees, state and local recycling mandates, strong local
markets for recycling, composting yard debris, and an active
recycling coordinator. Tip fees in New
Jersey have traditionally been among the
highest in the nation. Waste diversion
offers many New Jersey businesses and
communities a less expensive alternative
to disposal. Clifton's residential
recycling ordinance requires every
household served by the city-operated
waste management program to source-
separate and recycle 18 categories of
materials. Another ordinance requires
Clifton businesses and institutions to
recycle 22 materials. Recycling-based
manufacturing is prevalent in New
Jersey and Clifton is near many
companies that use recyclables as raw
DHALU
POPULATION: 75,000
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 31 ,000
(1996) 25,500 single-
family homes and
duplexes, 5,500 in
dwellings with 3 or
more units
BUSINESSES: 3,100
(1999)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
1987
1996
Tons Per Year MSW 110,172 110,925
Tons Per Year RSW 49,310 54,211
Tons Per Year ICW 60,862 56,714
Percent MSW Diverted 15% 56%
Percent RSW Diverted 12% 44%
Percent ICW Diverted 18% 68%
Average Ibs./HH/dayi
9.83
10.14
Net Program Costs/HHi $153.38 $177.73
Disposal Services $144.98 $147.64
Diversion Services $8.40 $30.08
Key: MSW = municipal solid waste RSW = residential solid waste
ICW = institutional and commercial waste
Notes: 1987 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
ipigures reflect public sector collection from 26,200 households and
1,300 businesses served in 1987; 28,000 households and1,300
businesses in 1996.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
materials. Clifton diverts 18% of its total
municipal solid waste (28% of its city-collected
waste) through composting. Residents and
small businesses divert materials through the
city's seasonal curbside collection
programs for leaves and other
yard debris and its year-round
brush collection program.
Clifton's recycling coordinator has
assisted local businesses in locating
markets for materials, performed
waste audits, and provided advice on
ordinance compliance. The coordinator also
gives talks to civic groups and schools on reuse,
environmental purchasing, and recycling.
Participants in the city's curbside recycling
program must sort glass containers, cans, and
paper products into seven streams for collection.
Collection of sorted materials allows the city to
market materials directly, avoiding the cost of
processing and allowing the city to retain all
revenue from sales.
MATERIALS RECOVERED IN PUBLIC SECTOR PROGRAM
CURBSIDE:
newspapers, magazines
mixed paper (phone books, paperboard, mail, paperback books, hardcover
books without covers, office paper)
glass containers
cans
white goods
scrap metals
leaves, brush, grass clippings, holiday trees, and other yard and garden
debris
corrugated cardboard (businesses only)
DROP-OFF:
All materials accepted in curbside program (except white goods and scrap
metal) plus:
corrugated cardboard (from residents)
aluminum plates and trays
#1 and #2
plastic bottles
residents can
deliver car
batteries for
recycling to the
City Garage at no
cost
PUBLIC SECTOR WASTE GENERATION
PER CUSTOMER PER DAY
I
£
1987 1992 1996
Recycling
Note: Residential waste generation per household is not available
as Clifton serves businesses on its residential routes. Figures above
thus reflect pounds of waste generated per customer (
residents and 1,300 businesses) per day.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
Cost- Effectiveness
The city's solid waste management costs
increased from $153 per household in 1987 to
$178 per household in 1996. During this same
time period, per ton tip fees for trash more
than tripled in constant dollar value from $36
per ton to $112 per ton. If the tip fee in 1996
had only been $36 per ton and all other costs
stayed the same, per household costs would
have been $99. Therefore, the increase in per
household costs can wholly be accounted for
through the increase in trash tip fees.
Tips for Replication
Collect materials source-separated.
Enforce mandatory programs in order
to boost both the quantity and quality of
participation.
Contact
Alfred DuBois
Recycling Coordinator
City of Clifton Dept. Of Public Works
307 East 7th Street
Clifton, NJ 07013
PHONE: 973-470-2239
FAX: 973-340-7049
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017f
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Crockett, Texas
52% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
Prior to 1992, Crockett contracted with a private
company for waste collection and disposal, and no materials
were recovered for recycling or composting. The city ended
its contract with the private company in 1992 with the belief
that city staff could provide trash, recycling, and composting
services at a lower cost. City staff now provide all city
residents with twice weekly trash collection and once weekly
recycling and yard debris collection. City ordinance requires
residents of the city to source-separate designated materials
for recycling and composting. The ordinance also requires
residents to use clear bags for trash, recycling, and yard debris;
which allows collectors to easily identify improperly prepared
materials. The city processes all recyclables and yard debris in
its own facility, markets recyclables directly to end users and
retains all revenue from material sales. In 1996, Crockett
recycled 20% and composted 32% of its residential waste
stream. The city achieved this high diversion rate at a cost
similar to what it formerly paid its contractor. The net cost
of solid waste services has slightly decreased from $72 per
household in 1991 to $69 in 1996.
DHALU
POPULATION: 8300 (1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 3,292
(1996); 2,834 in
single-family
dwellings and
duplexes, 459 in
multi-family
dwellings
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Crockett's mandatory, weekly curbside
composting programs; the use of clear bags
composting, and recycling; and continuous
have contributed to the city's high
diversion level. Crockett's local
recycling ordinance designates 20
categories of materials that residents
must recycle and requires residents to
separate yard debris for recovery. The
clear bags allow collection staff to see
contamination in bags of recyclables
and yard debris and to see if
designated materials are mixed in
trash set out for collection. Crews
refuse collection of improperly set
out materials and tag them to
recycling and
for trash,
resident education
1991
1996
Tons Per Year
3,450
2,711
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
0%
0%
0%
52%
20%
32%
Average Ibs./HH/day
6.10
4.51
Net Program Costs/HH $71.94 $68.71
Disposal Services $71.94 $24.64
Diversion Services $0 $44.07
Notes: 3,100 households served in 1991; 3,293 in 1996. 1991
dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
explain to residents why they were not
collected. These tags provide city crews
opportunities to provide residents education
and feedback when it is most needed. The
city also publicizes waste reduction and public
participation strategies using radio, newspaper,
and other written materials.
Cost-Effectiveness
In 1991, the cost (in 1996 dollars) to the
city to have a private company collect and
dispose its trash was $223,000 or $72 per
household. In 1996, total solid waste costs
were $250,254 but were offset by $24,000 in
revenues so that net solid waste
management costs were $69 per
household. In 1996, trash collection and
disposal costs were $62 per ton, net
recycling costs were $144 per ton, and
composting costs were $78 per ton. Crockett's
program cost-effectiveness is enhanced by high
diversion levels, the dual-collection of
recyclables and yard debris, and the city
CURBSIDE:
newspapers, magazines, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (phone books, paperboard, office paper, envelopes, maif
glass containers
scrap metal
aluminum foil and plates
cans including empty aerosol cans
all plastics
white goods not containing freon
used motor oil
leaves, brush, grass clippings, and other yard debris
DROP-OFF:
all materials accepted in curbside
program plus oil
filters
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
7.0
1991 1996
] Trash ] Recycling
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
processing and marketing its own recyclables.
High diversion reduces the need for hauling
trash to the landfill 55 miles away, especially
yard debris diversion as the material is
composted and used locally. City crews collect
recyclables and yard debris on the same truck,
eliminating the need for separate truck fleets
and collection crews. By processing and
marketing its own materials, the city retains all
revenue from the sale of recyclables.
Tips for Replication
Secure the best possible markets for
recyclables.
Use clear bags to make
contamination evident.
Be creative.
Allow commingling.
Build positive relationships with
the public.
Contact
Buddy Robinson
Solid Waste Director
City of Crockett
200 North Fifth
Crockett, TX 75835
PHONE: 409-544-5156 (office), 409-544-4025
(center)
FAX: 409-544-4976
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017g
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Dover,
New Hampshire
52% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
In 1990, the city of Dover opened a drop-off center for
recycling and a year later instituted a curbside recycling
program and pay-as-you-throw trash fees. Since then the city
has increased its waste recovery and reduced its production of
waste. Average per household waste generation decreased
from 6.2 pounds per day in 1990 to 4.7 pounds per day in
1996. In 1996 Dover diverted 52% of its residential waste
(35% through recycling and 17% through composting) up
from 3% in 1990. Dover residents receive weekly trash and
recycling collection and seasonal yard debris collection
services. The city operates a drop-off center where residents
can deliver recyclables and yard debris. Dover's successful
waste reduction program has reaped financial benefits as well;
average per household costs for solid waste management have
dropped from $122 in 1990 to $73 in 1996.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
The keys to Dover's waste reduction are convenient
curbside residential recycling service, the city's drop-off facility
for recyclables and yard debris, and a pay-as-you-throw trash
fee structure. The curbside recycling program collects 20
categories of materials on the same day as trash; all
participating households are given free containers for storage
and set-out of materials. Materials
collected include many paper grades,
clear and colored glass containers, # 1
and #2 plastic bottles, juice and milk
containers, and aluminum foil. The
city's drop-off center accepts five
recyclable materials in addition to all
those collected at curbside. The center
also provides a free, regular outlet for
brush and other yard debris, which is
only collected seasonally at curbside.
The pay-as-you-throw trash
program requires all municipal
DHALU
POPULATION: 25,042
(1990); 26,094
(1996); 27,000 (1997)
HOUSEHOLDS: 11,315 (1996);
5,641 single family
dwellings (4 units or less),
5,674 multi-family
dwellings
1996
Tons Per Year
10,838
9,462
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
3%
3%
0%
52%
35%
17%
Average Ibs./HH/day
6.18
4.71
Net Program Costs/HH $121.55 $72.53
Disposal Services $121.28 $43.78
Diversion Services $0.28 $28.75
Notes: 9,611 households served in 1990; 11,000 in 1996. Dover also
serves 210 small businesses in its residential waste programs.
1990 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
waste customers to place their trash into
orange bags and tag oversized items. Untagged
trash or trash set out in unauthorized
containers is not collected. The trash fees
provide a direct financial incentive for trash
customers to divert materials through recycling
or composting and to reduce their total waste
generation.
Cost-Effectiveness
Dover's net residential solid waste
management costs dropped from $1.1 million
in 1990 to $798,000 in 1996 while adding
more than 1,000 customers. Taking inflation
into account, per household costs for solid
waste management have been reduced from
$122 in 1990 to $73 in 1996.
In 1996, trash collection cost $115 per
ton; and waste reduction averaged $60 per ton
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard,
mixed paper (including paperboard, mail, office paper, glossy paper, and
phone books)
juice boxes and milk cartons
glass containers
cans
#1 and #2 plastic bottles
aluminum foil
leaves, and other soft yard trimmings (including grass clippings, garden
plants, and pine needles but excluding brush and woody debris)
large appliances and scrap metal (collected separately by appointment)
DROP-OFF:
All materials collected at curbside (except milk andjuice cartons) plus:
brush and holiday trees
tires
automotive and other
batteries
textiles
empty aerosol cans
oil filters
wood
construction and
demolition debris
1990
1996
Trash
Recycling
[Composting
Source: institute for Local Se!f-Re!iance, 1999.
(recycling cost $75 per ton and composting
cost $27 per ton). Per ton trash costs have
remained relatively constant since Dover
instituted its recycling and composting
programs and switched to a pay-as-you-throw
trash system; $111 in 1990 and $115 in 1996.
Overall budget savings have resulted from
significantly lower per ton costs for
waste reduction and reduced
generation both for the city as a
whole and per household.
Tips for Replication
Institute a user-fee based program.
Research the bags used in bag-and-tag
system. It is important to have bags of the
correct size, strength, and color.
Talk about waste reduction plans to all
groups who will listen.
Include low-income residents in the
program.
Establish a newsletter to remind and
update residents on program changes.
Track data.
Contact
Jeff Pratt
Solid Waste Coordinator
Dover Community Services Department
Municipal Building
288 Central Avenue
PHONE: 603-743-6094
FAX: 603-743-6096
WEB SITE: http://www.ci.dover.nh.us
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017h
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Falls Church,
Virginia
65% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
Falls Church made a commitment to recycling in 1989
when it hired its first Recycling Coordinator. A city code,
effective since 1991, requires the city to provide curbside
recycling and yard debris services to all residents receiving
city trash service. The city provides weekly trash and
curbside recycling services, and brush, fall leaves, and bagged
yard debris collection. In addition, the city operates a drop-
off facility for recyclables. Falls Church's waste reduction rate
increased from 39% in FY90 to 65% in FY97 (25% through
recycling and 40% through composting). The biggest gain
was in recycling, which rose from 10% to 25%. During the
same period, per household trash disposal was cut nearly in
half.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Collection of a wide range of materials for recovery, year-
round curbside yard debris collection, and community
involvement and education programs contribute to Falls
Church's waste reduction success. Falls Church accepts 14
types of recyclables in its curbside collection program and
three additional categories at its drop-off facility. Materials
accepted include paperboard, mail, aluminum foil and scrap,
and some household batteries. Falls Church has many
mature lawns and trees and yard debris is a significant
component of the city's waste stream.
Each household generates more than
five pounds of yard debris per day. The
city's fall leaf collection and processing
program is alone responsible for 45% of
the city's total waste diversion. Falls
Church operates a multi-faceted
education and outreach program that
includes personal contact, volunteer
participation, written materials, and
school and community programs.
One notable program, the city's
DHALU
POPULATION: 9,578
(1989); 10,000 (1996,
estimate)
HOUSEHOLDS: 4,637 (1996);
2,194 single-family
households, 1,441 multi-
family units, 431
townhomes, 571
condominiums
1 RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SUMMARY 1
FY90
Tons Per Year 6,956
Percent Diverted 39%
Recycled 10%
Composted 29%
Average Ibs./HH/day 13.23
FY97
6,655
65%
25%
40%
12.45
Net Program Costs/HH $372.21 $215.21
Disposal Services $194.43 $104.30
Diversion Services $177.78 $110.91
Notes: 2,880 households served in 1990; 2,928 in 1997. 1990
dollars adjusted to 1997 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
"Recycling Block Captain" program involves
more than 100 community volunteers who
distribute recycling information in their
neighborhoods and serve as a liaison between
residents and the city.
Cost-Effectiveness
Falls Church experienced a $420,000
decrease in its solid waste management budget
from FY90 to FY97. In 1996, the city spent
about $215 per household served by city
waste management programs ($104 on
trash collection and disposal, $38
on recycling, and $73 on yard
debris collection and recovery).
On a per-ton basis, trash cost $139
and waste reduction cost $73 (recycling cost
$62, and yard debris recovery $80).
The city's waste reduction program is cost-
effective due to a reduction in trash routes
made possible by decreased trash generation,
and a fee structure whereby increased
recycling does not increase costs because the
recycling contractor is paid per household
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including mail, copier and computer paper, colored and glossy
paper, envelopes, folders, note cards, paperboard, and phone books)
glass containers
metal cans
#1 and #2 plastic bottles
white goods
brush, grass clippings, leaves, and other yard and garden debris
DROP-OFF:
all materials collected at curbside (excluding
compostables)
plus:
aluminum foil
and pie pans
scrap metal
some household
batteries
City workers vacuuming
autumn leaves in Falls Church
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
13.0
•S 9.0
FY90
FY94
FY97
Trash ] Recycling
Source: institute for Local Se!f-Re!iance, 1999.
Composting
served. Falls Church reduced trash collection
from twice to once weekly in 1991, less than
one year after the city started multi-material
curbside recycling. As a result, the city cut
trash collection labor needs by one-third.
Unlike recycling, trash, brush, and yard debris
costs grow as these streams increase because of
tonnage-based tip fees the city pays for their
management. In the 1990s, the greatest
increase in the city's diversion rate resulted
from recycling.
Tips for Replication
Community involvement and
encouraging volunteers are critical to keeping
residents motivated and participating.
Educate the community, especially
children, because children can have a big effect
on a household's behavior.
Recover yard debris.
Make program participation convenient.
Contact
Annette Mills
Coordinator
Recycling and Litter Prevention
City of Falls Church, Dept. of Public Works
Harry E. Wells Building, 300 Park Avenue
Falls Church.VA 22046-3332
PHONE: 703-241-5176
FAX: 703-241-5184
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017I
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Fitchburg,
Wisconsin
50% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
Fitchburg instituted the first mandatory recycling
ordinance and the first multi-family recycling ordinance in
Wisconsin and was the first city in the U.S. to implement
curbside polystyrene collection. The city's Solid Waste and
Recycling Ordinance requires all occupants of residential and
commercial property to separate 16 recyclables from trash,
details proper preparation methods, requires the
implementation of multi-family recycling programs, and
prohibits delivery of recyclables to any disposal facility.
Fitchburg contracts with a private hauler to provide trash
collection and disposal, weekly curbside recycling collection,
and curbside collection of non-woody yard debris four times
a year. City crews collect brush from the curb eight times a
year. Residents pay an annual base rate for trash, recycling,
and yard debris service and pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) rates
for excess trash. From 1992 to 1996, total residential trash
disposal dropped despite a 20% increase in households served.
In 1996, the city diverted 50% of its residential waste from
disposal (29% through recycling and 21% through
composting).
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Fitchburg achieved its high waste reduction through the
recycling of many items, composting, and PAYT trash fees.
Residents can recycle 21 types of
materials: 17 through weekly curbside
collection, two through monthly curbside
collection, one at the drop-off, and one
by special appointment. Yard debris
collection and drop-off programs accept
leaves, grass clippings, and other yard
and garden trimmings. A separate
program collects and processes brush.
PAYT trash rates serve as an incentive
for decreased disposal. In FY97
Fitchburg charged each household
DHALU
POPULATION: 1 6,254
(1992); 17,266 (1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 6,685(1990);
3,057 single-family
households and duplexes,
3,628 multi-family units.
7,500 (1996); 3,860 units
in buildings with 1-4 units
1996
Tons Per Year
3,644
4,147
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
35%
24%
11%
50%
29%
21%
Average Ibs./HH/day
6.16
5.89
Net Program Costs/HH $126.48 $108.12
Disposal Services $72.08 $52.51
Diversion Services $54.40 $55.61
Notes: 3,243 households served in 1992; 3,860 in 1996. 1992
dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
$82 for recycling and yard debris
services, and collection and
disposal of one 32-gallon trash
can per week. The city also
provided each household with
10 tags which could be attached
to extra containers of trash. The
weekly collection cost of a 64-
gallon container was an extra $34.68 per year
and a 95-gallon container was an additional
$60.96 annually. Additional tags for trash bags
cost $1.50 each at local retail stores.
Cost-Effectiveness
Fitchburg's net solid waste management
budget rose from 1992 to 1996, but so did the
city's population and number of households
served. When the cost of inflation is taken
into account, average per household costs for
waste management services have decreased
from $126 in 1992 to $108 in 1996. During
the same period, landfill tip fees increased by
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including mail, white paper, brown paper bags, paperboard,
and phone books)
cans
glass containers
all plastic containers and #4 plastic container lids
rigid and foam polystyrene
reusable household items (e.g., clothing, books, small appliances,
housewares, and toys)
white goods
grass clippings, leaves, brush, holiday trees, and other yard and garden
debris
DROP-OFF:
all materials accepted
at curbside except:
cans
glass containers
plastics
reusable items
white goods
1992 1994 1996
] Trash ^ Recycling ^Composting
Source: institute for Local Se!f-Re!iance, 1999.
17% in real dollars. On a per-ton basis, trash
cost $100 and waste reduction cost $101
(recycling cost $ 117 per ton and yard debris
recovery $78). Fitchburg's low-cost drop-off
composting program helps the city contain
costs. In 1996, residents delivered 534 tons
of yard debris (13% of their waste
stream) to the city drop-off site.
City staff land spread the material
over city land, avoiding higher cost
processing of the material.
Tips for Replication
Listen to your line employees.
Workers know the system and its strengths and
weaknesses.
Get your hands dirty.
Don't reinvent the wheel. Talk with
other recyclers when faced with problems.
Most likely someone else has encountered a
similar problem and can offer advice.
Optimize. Never stop striving to
improve; there's always room for improvement.
Contact
Kevin Wunder
Project Manager
Public Works Dept., City of Fitchburg
2377 South Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg,WI 53711
PHONE: 608-270-6343
FAX: 608-275-7154
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017J
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Leverett,
Massachusetts
53% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
Leverett's recycling system, like its trash program, operates
on a drop-off basis. In 1988, the city enacted a mandatory
recycling bylaw which banned recyclable paper, glass and cans
from its landfill. In 1990, Leverett began shipping its
recyclables to a state-developed materials recovery facility
(MRF) in Springfield, Massachusetts, and in 1993 revised its
recycling bylaw to ban all materials accepted at the MRF
from disposal with trash. Recycling extended the life of the
existing landfill by two years and reduced hauling and
disposal costs after the landfill closed in 1993 and the city
began disposing its trash in a landfill 27 miles from town.
The town's Recycle/Transfer Station is located on the site of
its former landfill. Residents can drop off recyclables at this
facility for free but must pay a per-bag fee for their trash.
The Recycle/Transfer Station is also the home of Leverett's
extensive reuse program. The town has no organized
program for the management of yard debris but it has banned
these materials from disposal. In FY97, Leverett residents
diverted 53% of their residential waste from disposal — 31%
through recycling and 23% through yard debris diversion.
The town's current waste management program is cost-
effective compared to the costs of operating its own landfill
and disposing of all the town's waste.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Leverett's yard debris disposal ban,
the acceptance of 25 materials for
recycling and reuse, and pay-as-you-
throw (PAYT) trash fees have
contributed to Leverett's 53% waste
reduction level. The town's disposal
ban forces residents to manage their
own yard debris. In the past the city
has sold reduced price compost bins
(120 bins in 1996) and provided
those residents who purchased them
DHALU
POPULATION: 1 .908
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 650(1996);
all single-family homes
and duplexes
FY87
FY97
Tons Per Year
NA
652
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
0%
0%
53%
31%
23%
Average Ibs./HH/day
NA
5.50
Net Program Costs/HH $84.46 $50.81
Disposal Services $84.46 $39.37
Diversion Services $0.00 $11.44
Notes: 651 households served in FY89; 650 in FY97. 1986 dollars
adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator. Numbers may
not add to total due to rounding.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
with instruction booklets. The
Recycle/Transfer Station accepts all materials
processed at the Springfield MRF and provides
recycling and source reduction
opportunities for other goods. Most of
the structures at the town's
Recycle/Transfer Station are devoted
to reuse; the most active is the "Take it
or Leave it." At this facility, residents
have moved items such as hand and
power tools, small and large appliances,
exercise equipment, toys, furniture,
housewares, building materials, and even a
snowblower into the reuse stream. The second
most popular component of the town's reuse
operations is its clothes bin where residents can
deposit their own unwanted clothing or take
items left by other residents. Residents must pay
per-bag fees for the disposal of all waste. In
FY97, disposal fees were $1.50 per 30-gallon
bag and $0.75 for 15-gallon bags.
Cost-Effectiveness
In FY97, Leverett's gross costs for
residential waste management were $37,600.
iwjauau
DROP-OFF:
newspaper, magazines, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including paperboard, mail, office paper, phone books and
other books, and kraft paper bags)
juice and milk boxes
glass containers
cans
all plastic bottles, tubs, trays, andjars
lead-acid batteries
household batteries
textiles
reusable goods
white goods
paint
scrap metal
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
FY97
] Trash ^ Recycling ^Composting
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
Of this, about 72% was spent on trash
collection and disposal and 28% was spent on
recycling. On a per-ton basis, trash cost $91
and recycling cost $51 ($36 with material
revenues). Leverett pays an average of $58 per
ton in landfill tip fees, while the town pays no
tip fees for delivering recyclables to the MRF.
The town's PAYT trash fees, lack of tip fees for
recycled materials, and reuse programs have
contributed to the cost effectiveness of it waste
management program. In FY87, before the
town expanded its waste reduction program,
waste disposal cost $84 per household. The
town's current costs for waste management are
only $58 per household ($53 per household
when revenues from recyclables are included).
Tips for Replication
Don't waste time reinventing the wheel.
People have to live with your
recycling/reuse program. Make it as easy, and
as useful to them, as possible.
Try not to get too caught up in the
numbers game (recycling rates); focus on how
to help your community deal with the waste
issues that are or will be important to them.
The recycling rate will take care of itself.
Contact
Richard Drury
Recycling Coordinator
Town of Leverett, Town Hall
Leverett, MA 01054
PHONE: 413-367-9683
FAX: 413-367-9611
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017k
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Loveland, Colorado
56% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
In the early 1990s, Loveland overhauled its waste
management system in response to rising worker
compensation insurance rates and aging trash trucks in need
of replacement. The city instituted a dual-collection system
for trash and recycling and a separate system for curbside
collection of yard debris. In addition, the city instituted pay-
as-you-throw (PAYT) trash fees to encourage waste
reduction. In 1996, the city diverted 56% of its residential
waste from disposal; 19% was recycled and 37% was
composted. Average trash landfilled per household dropped
from 6.6 pounds per day in 1989 to 2.6 pounds per day in
1996 — a 60% reduction. Residents pay a mandatory flat
monthly fee for recycling and composting services plus a fee
for each bag of trash disposed. They can also subscribe to
weekly curbside pick-up of yard debris or take the material
to a central drop-off site. A drop-off site for recyclables not
collected at curbside is also available. The new waste
management system, fully implemented citywide in 1993,
results in fewer staff injuries, integrates recycling with trash
collection, and contains costs.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Keys to Loveland s high diversion rate are PAYT trash
rates, convenient collection of recyclables, and diversified yard
debris recovery. PAYT trash fees encourage participation in
curbside and drop-off waste reduction programs.
Residents must either buy a stamp
($0.85 for 30 gallons or $0.45 for 13
gallons) to place on their own trash can
or bag, or they must purchase special
trash bags printed with the city logo
($1.00 for 32-gallon blue bags and
$0.55 for 15-gallon green bags). The
city's weekly curbside recycling
program accepts eleven different
materials. The city provides
recycling bins to participating
households and requires minimal
DHALU
POPULATION: 37,352
(1989); 44,300 (1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 17,476
(1996); 15,220 single-
family households, 2,256
multi-family units
1996
Tons Per Year
15,680
17,973
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
0%
0%
0%
56%
19%
37%
Average Ibs./HH/day
6.63
5.86
Net Program Costs/HH $63.16 $85.48
Disposal Services $63.16 $40.36
Diversion Services $0 $45.12
Notes: 2,880 households served in 1990 ;2,928 in 1997. 1990
dollars adjusted to 1997 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
sorting of materials by residents (two major
segregations are required: paper and
commingled containers). Loveland residents
have a variety of options for diverting their
yard debris from disposal. They can subscribe
to the seasonal curbside collection service,
which operates from April through November
at a cost of $4.25 per month; use the city's
drop-off site; or handle their own materials
through mulch mowing and home
composting. In 1996, drop-off accounted for
two-thirds of yard trimmings collected for
composting in the city program.
Cost-Effectiveness
In 1996, the city spent about $1.45 million
to provide trash, recycling, and yard debris
services to 16,422 households — about $90
per household served. Materials revenues
reduced this by $81,000 to $1.40 million (or
$85 per household served). Per household
costs are higher under Loveland's current waste
management system than they were before the
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspapers, corrugated cardboard
brown grocery sacks
glass containers
cans
scrap metal (including aluminum foil, pie, food trays, white goods, and
aerosol cans)
narrow-necked #1 and #2 plastic bottles
grass clippings, leaves, brush, and other yard and garden debris
DROP-OFF:
magazines and catalogs, mixed office paper, phone books
motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid
automotive
batteries
fluorescent tubes
grass clippings,
leaves, brush, and
other yard and
garden debris
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
8.0
7.0
1989 1996
] Trash ] Recycling
Source: institute for Local Se!f-Re!iance, 1999.
changes ($63 in 1989; $85 in 1996). However,
residents receive more services than before, and
waste reduction may also ensure future cost-
effectiveness for Loveland's waste management
systems as it cushions Loveland against
expected increases in landfill tip fees.l The
city estimates it saves $100,000 per year
through its dual-collection system as compared
to separate trash and recycling collection.
Tips for Replication
Be prepared for resistance to change.
Try to anticipate likely questions.
Enact PAYT trash fees.
Do your own homework to
fit program to your community.
Sell program to those
active in the community.
1At $10 per ton, Loveland pays the lowest tip fee of the
record-setters profiled (and among the lowest in the
country). If tip fees had been just $25 per ton in 1989, per
household costs for solid waste management would have
dropped between 1989 and 1996.
Contact
Bruce Philbrick, Solid Waste Superintendent
Mick Mercer, Manager of Streets & Solid Waste
Services
Solid Waste Management Utility
City of Loveland
105 West Fifth Street
Loveland, CO 80537
PHONE: 970-962-2529
FAX: 970-962-2907
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017I
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Madison, Wisconsin
50% Residential Waste Reduction
jS+^tyfa
•: 50J
r <£/ I
C°'r*&A
Overview
In 1968 Madison began the first curbside recycling
program in the United States. This pioneering program
collected only newspapers; now the city collects 13 types of
recyclables weekly at the curb. The city also offers its
residents seasonal curbside collection of yard debris and
operates drop-off sites for yard debris and large items such as
appliances. The city's diversion rate has grow as program
participation has become mandatory and more materials have
been targeted for recovery. The city's waste diversion rate
jumped from 18% in 1988 to 34% in 1989, when the city
mandated that all businesses and residents source-separate
materials for composting. When cardboard and containers
were added and recycling became mandatory in 1991, the
tonnage of materials recycled more than doubled from the
previous year. In 1996, the city diverted 50% of its residential
waste; 16% through recycling and 34% through composting.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Yard debris recovery, the collection of a wide range of
materials through a convenient curbside program, and
mandatory source-separation of designated materials are keys
to Madison's waste reduction success. The city's yard debris
recovery program is the heart of its waste reduction efforts,
accounting for 67% of materials diverted from landfills in
1996. The city collected half of these materials through its
fall leaf program and a quarter in its seasonal curbside
brush collection program. Residents
delivered the remaining materials to
the city's drop-off sites. Madison
collects all residential recyclables at the
curb and operates two drop-off facilities
that accept appliances and scrap metals.
Residents commingle recyclable
containers in clear plastic bags and
bundle paper products separately. In
1989, Madison enacted a recycling
ordinance mandating all businesses
and residents of both single- and
DHALU
POPULATION: 191,000
(1989); 200,920
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 82,949
(1996); 40,314 single-
family households, 42,635
multi-family units
1996
Tons Per Year
71,640
88,583
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
18%
5%
12%
50%
16%
34%
Average Ibs./HH/day
8.19
8.38
Net Program Costs/HH $162.55 $174.79
Disposal Services $132.97 $103.20
Diversion Services $29.58 $71.59
Notes: 47,945 households served in 1988; 57,949 in 1996. 1988
dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
multi-family households source-
separate designated materials. The
city can issue tickets to residents
that fail to recycle but has not
done so although it has
ticketed residents for
scavenging recyclables and illegal
trash dumping.
Cost-Effectiveness
The cost-effectiveness of Madison's solid
waste management program is enhanced by
high diversion levels, low diversion costs for
yard trimmings, the use of large capacity clear
bags for recycling, and a revenue-sharing
contract with the materials recovery facility.
High diversion levels allowed the city to
decrease the number of trash routes serving
residents and helped to hold landfill tip fees in
check. The city's yard debris management
program diverts 34% of its residential waste
stream at a lower per-ton cost than recycling
or disposal. The large 30-gallon bags that
residents use for recyclables avoid the cost of
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
brown paper bags, phone books
glass containers
cans
#1 and #2 plastic containers
appliances
scrap metal
tires
brush, holiday trees, grass clippings, leaves, and other organic yard and
garden debris
DROP-OFF:
leaves, brush, grass
clippings, and other
yard trimmings
used oil
appliances
other large items
Brush collection in
Madison using tow-
behind brush chipper
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
1988
| Trash
Source: institute for Local Seif-Reiiance, 1999.
1991 1996
Recycling HComposting
purchasing bins and allow some residents to set
out recyclables every other week. Under its
MRF contract, the city receives 80% of
revenues from the sale of recyclables. The city
also reduced costs by closing its drop-off site
for recyclables. In 1996, the city spent about
$10.7 million for trash, recycling, and yard
debris services — about $185 per household
served. Material revenues from recycling
reduced this by $550,000 to $10.1 million -
$175 per household served. Madison's per
household waste management costs rose 8%
from $163 in 1988 to $175 in 1996. The
increase can wholly be explained by rising
disposal fees, which more than doubled during
the same period.
Tips for Replication
Don't fudge numbers in order to sell
your solid waste management program.
Know your markets.
Not collecting a material is better than
collecting it for recycling and then landfilling it.
Build political support.
Contact
George Dreckmann
Recycling Coordinator
Street Division
City of Madison Dept. of Public Works
1501 West Badger Road
Madison, WI 53713
PHONE: 608-267-2626
FAX: 608-267-1120
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017m
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Portland, Oregon
50% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction
(40% Residential Solid Waste Reduction: 52% Institutional/Commercial
Solid Waste Reduction)
jS+^tyfa
'50J
r <£/ J
C°'r*&A
Overview
In 1992, Portland switched to a franchising system for
residential waste management. Waste management companies
were required to institute pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash
rates, weekly same-day collection of 18 recyclable materials
and trash, and biweekly yard debris collection. In 1996, the
city diverted 40% of its residential waste — 21% through
curbside recycling, 17% through yard debris programs, and
3% through the state bottle bill. In addition to its residential
waste diversion program, Portland requires each of its
businesses to recycle 50% of their waste. The Portland
Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) provides businesses
assistance in meeting this requirement. In 1996, the first year
the requirement was in effect, Portland businesses recovered
52% of their waste; only 7% of businesses reported they did
not recycle. In 1996, Portland diverted 50% of its total
municipal solid waste (36% through recycling and 13%
through composting).
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Key strategies contributing to
Portland's high diversion rate are the city's
yard debris management program,
mandated recycling in multi-family and
commercial sectors, PAYT residential
trash fees, convenient curbside
collection of recyclables, and Oregon's
bottle bill. State Law requires each
jurisdiction to offer weekly collection of
yard debris or an approved alternative
program. Portland's biweekly program
meets this requirement. Portland
residents divert 17% of their waste
through this curbside program, private
composters, and the city's fall leaf
collection program. Multi-family
complexes must recycle newspapers
DHALU
POPULATION: 437,319
(1989); 503,000
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 198,368
(1996); 130,755 single-
family households, 59,613
multi-family units
BUSINESSES: 50,000
1992
1996
Tons Per Year MSW NA 966,921
Tons Per Year RSW 136,929 172,830
Tons Per Year ICW NA 794,091
Percent MSW Diverted NA 50%
Percent RSW Diverted 29% 40%
Percent ICW Diverted NA 52%
Average Ibs./HH/dayi
6.14
7.10
Net Program Costs/HH! $240.55 $210.83
Disposal Services $186.56 $143.52
Diversion Services $54.00 $67.30
Key: MSW = municipal solid waste RSW = residential solid waste
ICW = institutional and commercial waste
NA = not available
Notes: 1992 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
^Figures represent single-family residential sector only and exclude
self-haul recyclables. 122,245 households served in 1992; 129,698
in 1997. Costs represent fees paid to haulers by residents, not
costs to the city of Portland. 1996 figures are actual expenditures,
1992 figures are based on costs assuming all households
subscribed to weekly 32-gallon trash collection service.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
and scrap paper along with three of the
following additional materials: corrugated
cardboard, magazines, tin cans, glass containers,
or plastic bottles. A city ordinance effective
January 1996, requires all Portland businesses
to recycle 50% of their waste. Portland
instituted PAYT trash rates in 1992.
The city sets the rates charged for each
service level. To encourage residents to
reduce waste, a 20-gallon "mini-can" service,
the lowest service available, is priced below the
cost of service at $14.80 per month and fees for
service levels above 60-gallons of trash per week
include a disincentive premium. Portland
residents receive weekly curbside collection of
18 recyclable materials; the city requires haulers
to collect residents' recycling and trash on the
same day. In 1971, the state enacted a 5(
deposit on most carbonated beverage
containers. In 1996, Portland diverted 2% of its
waste through this deposit system.
Cost-Effectiveness
Net costs households pay for residential
solid waste management services decreased from
wasl
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including mail, paperboard, kraft paper bags, paper egg
cartons, and phone books)
milk cartons and aseptic containers
glass containers
aluminum cans and other clean aluminum
all plastic bottles
ferrous cans and lids
ferrous and non-ferrous scrap
(limited amounts)
used motor oil
aerosol cans
leaves, grass, brush, and other
yard debris
DROP-OFF:
(varies by site)
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
$241 per household in 1992 to $211 per
household in 1996.1 Improved collection
efficiency and a drop in average trash can
weights reduced trash management costs from
$187 per household to $144 per household.
Net diversion costs have increased from $54 per
household in 1992 to $67 per household in
1996, representing a 25% cost increase while
per household diversion increased 59%.
Tips for Replication
Institute PAYT trash rates, which
encourage customers to reduce waste and
increase diversion.
Know the public and conditions in your
jurisdiction and plan accordingly.
Be responsive to the public.
Focus on convenience.
Notes:
1 Portland residents pay franchised haulers
directly for services. Reported costs
represent cumulative payments by
customers to haulers for waste services.
Contact
Solid Waste and Recycling Specialist
Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
1120 SW 5th, Room 400
Portland, OR 97204
PHONE: 503-823-5545
FAX: 503-823-4562
WEB SITE: www.europa.com/
environmentalservices/gar.htm
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017n
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Ramsey County,
Minnesota
47% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction
Overview
In 1996, Ramsey County diverted 47% of its municipal
solid waste from disposal (39% through recycling and 8%
through composting). The 17 communities reporting data to
Ramsey County each operate their own municipal solid
waste (MSW) management system. County MSW activities
include providing grants, technical assistance, and educational
resources; ownership of a material recovery facility and a
network of yard trimmings drop-off and processing facilities;
and tracking data about waste management activities. The
county requires trash haulers to charge both residential and
commercial customers pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash rates
and directs municipalities to assure curbside recycling is
available to all residents.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Ramsey County's 47% waste reduction level is due to
commercial sector recycling, PAYT trash fees, state disposal
bans, and residential recycling requirements. The county
supports business recycling through the Ramsey County
Business Waste Assistance Program, which provides technical
assistance to help reduce waste. Residential and business waste
reduction is encouraged through PAYT trash fees. Haulers
must charge PAYT rates but these rates often vary among
haulers and by neighborhood. In Saint Paul, the largest
community in Ramsey County, trash haulers offer residents
four levels of PAYT service ranging from low-
volume/senior rates to unlimited/full
service. A Minnesota Statute effectively
bans leaves, grass clippings, garden debris,
and tree and shrub waste from state
landfills and incinerators. Recovery of
this material accounted for 8% of
Ramsey County's MSW in FY96.
The state also prohibits many other
materials such as tires, and major
appliances from disposal. Ramsey
RAMSEY COUNTY
POPULATION: 496,068
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS:197,500
(1996, est); -138,250
single-family dwelling
(three or fewer units per
building), -59,250 multi-
family dwellings
BUSINESSES: 14,417
(1996, est.)
POPULATION: 270,441
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS:100,327,
73,745 in 1-11 unit
properties, 26,582 in
apartment complexes with
12 or more
BUSINESSES: 7,794
(1996, est.)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
1991
1996
Tons Per Year
483,929
673,298
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
41%
32%
47%
40%
8%
Notes: Figures above cover Ramsey County total MSW. Numbers
may not add due to rounding. Per household generation and
cost data not available because the county does not track data
according residential versus institutional/commercial origin.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
County directs municipalities to ensure that
curbside recycling is available to all residents. In
Saint Paul, for instance, the city contracts with
the Saint Paul Neighborhood Energy
Consortium and the Macalester Groveland
Community Council to provide residential
recycling services.
Saint Paul's residential recycling program
serving single-family homes includes a unique
program for durable household goods.
Residents simply bag reusable household
durables (such as textiles, books, working small
appliances, and toys) for donation and set them
out with their recyclables. Recycling
contractors collect these reusable items on the
same truck as recyclables. Goodwill processes
the goods for sale in its retail stores.
Cost-Effectiveness
According to a study performed by the
Saint Paul-Ramsey County Department of
Public Health, Ramsey County's single-family
households spent approximately $237 in 1996
CURBSIDE COLLECTION IN SAINT PAUL:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (mail, office paper, paperboard, and phone books)
cans
glass bottles and jars
durable household goods (including textiles, books, working small
appliances, hardware and tools, unbreakable kitchen goods, games, toys)
yard debris collection (for an extra fee)
DROP-OFF COLLECTION IN SAINT PAUL:
plastic containers
hard-to-handle materials at annual neighborhood clean-up events (such as
tires, furniture, appliances, concrete, brush)
DROP-OFF
COLLECTION
IN RAMSEY
COUNTY:
grass clippings,
leaves, and other
soft-bodied yard
debris
for regular municipal solid waste services.
Trash collection and disposal was $196 per
household; yard debris management was $3.70
per household; recycling collection and
processing was $28 per household; and
administration and education was $4.61 per
household. PAYT trash rates and low-cost
drop-off yard debris collection help residents
keep costs in check.
Since 1987, Saint Paul Public Works has
coordinated a neighborhood clean-up program
for hard-to-handle household discards (such as
tires, furniture, appliances, concrete, and brush).
The program offers an inexpensive disposal
option for citizens and maximizes recovery of
the materials dropped off. The city's 1996
expenditure of $108,700 was a fraction of what
residents would otherwise have paid for disposal
of items accepted at clean-ups. The program
recovered over 1,800 tons of materials in 1996,
saving an additional $75,000 in disposal fees.
Tips for Replication
Talk to your customers and
give the public feedback.
Keep promotion simple and
targeted to your audience. Repeat messages
in a variety of media.
Offer consistent, dependable, and cost-
effective recycling service.
Contacts
Cathi Lyman-Onka
Program Analyst, Environmental Health Section
St. Paul-Ramsey County Dept. of Public Health
1670 Bean Avenue, Suite A
Maplewood, MN 55109
PHONE: 651-773-4444
FAX: 651-773-4454
Hatti Koth
Recycling Outreach Coordinator
The St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium
623 Selby Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55104
PHONE: 651-222-7678
FAX: 651-221-9831
Rick Person
Solid Waste and Recycling
800 City Hall Annex
Saint Paul, MN 55102
PHONE: 651-266-6122
FAX: 651-298-4559
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-0170
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
San Jose, California
43% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction
(45% Residential Solid Waste Reduction; 42% Institutional/Commercial
Solid Waste Reduction)
Overview
Prior to implementation of the Recycle Plus Program
in 1993 — part of San Jose's Integrated Waste Management
(IWM) Program — residents set out unlimited trash for a
flat monthly fee and recycled only five material categories.
Now they can set out more types of recyclables (including
mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, mixed plastics, scrap
metals, and textiles), multi-family dwellings (MFDs) are
offered recycling and yard debris collection services, and
recycling contractors are paid per household and per ton
recycled. 1 As a result, from 1992 to 1996, the single-family
household participation rate increased from 66% to 83% and
the single-family waste reduction level increased from 33%
to 55%. In FY97, San Jose diverted 45% of its residential
waste and 42% of its commercial waste. Overall diversion
was 43% (34% was recycled and 9% was composted).
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Key elements of the IWM Program are weekly residential
curbside collection of 19 categories of recyclables (available to
all MFDs too),2 pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) fees for single-
family household trash pick-up, weekly year-round residential
yard trimmings collection, and financial
incentives for businesses to recycle and
reduce waste. To encourage participation,
the city provides three yellow stacking
bins to single-family households and
sets of three 96-gallon recycling carts to
MFDs. PAYT trash fees are an
economic incentive to divert materials
from the trash through recycling and
composting. Yard trimmings account
for about two-thirds of material
recovered. The city's unique "loose-
in-the-street" collection system
allows residents to set out more yard
debris than would fit in a typical
cart. (MFDs also have curbside
yard trimmings pick-up.) In order
DHALU
POPULATION: 849,363
(1996), 873,300
(1997)
HOUSEHOLDS: 259,365
(1993), 269,340(1996);
188,900 single-family
households, 80,440 multi-
family units
BUSINESSES: 27,000
FY93
FY97
Tons Per Year MSW NA 1,315,436
Tons Per Year RSW 283,000 433,576
Tons Per Year ICW NA 881,860
Percent MSW Diverted NA 43%
Percent RSW Diverted 33% 45%
Percent ICW Diverted NA 42%
Average Ibs./HH/day
8.61
8.82
Net Program Costs/H HI $206.85 $187.03
Disposal Services $142.78 $81.95
Diversion Services $64.07 $105.09
Key: MSW = municipal solid waste RSW = residential solid waste
ICW = institutional and commercial waste
NA = not available
Notes: 1992 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP
deflator.
1 Figures reflect residential sector only. FY93 tonnage data represents
180,000 single-family dwellings only; multi-family dwellings
were included in commercial service at that time. In FY97,
269,340 single-family dwellings and multi-family dwellings were
served.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
-------
to encourage waste reduction among
businesses, San Jose charges trash haulers
serving businesses fees of more than $3 per
cubic yard for trash; in contrast, recycling
collection firms pay no fees for commercial
recyclables hauled.
Cost-Effectiveness
The financial elements of the IWM
Program are varied and complex. There are
numerous funding sources, multiple programs
serving a variety of customers, and oversight
of more then 25 residential and commercial
contracts. All of the city's fees encourage
maximum waste reduction. Its recycling
contractors, for instance, receive additional
payments for each ton they actually market to
an end user. As a result, recycling costs were
$206 per ton in FY97, more than twice as
high as per ton trash or yard trimmings
management costs.3 However, the net cost of
single-family residential waste services has
remained relatively stable ($207 per household
SFD RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENER-
ATION PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including mail, colored and white paper, envelopes, bags, egg
cartons, paperboard, and phone books)
glass containers
cans
juice and milk cartons
plastic bottles/jugs and polystyrene packaging
scrap metals (e.g., aluminum foil and plates, small metal appliances, hub
caps, metal pots)
textiles
used motor oil
grass clippings, leaves,
brush, and other yard
and garden debris
holiday trees
bulky goods (collected for
a small fee)
DROP-OFF:
the city operates no public
drop-off facilities
Recyclables set out at
curbs/tie in San Jose
•g 5.0
FY93 FY97
] Trash ^ Recycling | Composting
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliancer 1999.
in FY93 compared to $210 in FY97). The
city spends less per household for the
provision of trash services to MFDs compared
to single-family dwellings so that net program
costs per household for all 270,000 San Jose
households averaged $187 in FY97.
Tips for Replication
Set up a cost structure that encourages
recycling and waste reduction (for households,
for businesses, and for contractors).
Know customers and implement a
program that balances needs of city and
customers.
Create a relationship with haulers that is
conducive to continuous improvement.
Pilot programs and collect data (put
reporting requirements in contracts).
Notes:
ifhe contractor serving MFDs is paid per ton only not per
household.
^Residents in multi-family dwellings can recycle the same
materials at curbside as residents in single-family dwellings
with the exception of used oil.
3fhe city has since renegotiated its contracts with its haulers to
reduce recycling costs.
Contact
Ellen Ryan
Program Manager *!:-
City of San Jose Environmental Services Department
Integrated Waste Management Program
777 North First Street, Suite 450
San Jose, California 95112
PHONE: 408-277-5533
FAX: 408-277-3606
RESIDENTIAL WEB SITE: www.recycleplus.org
COMMERCIAL WEB SITE:
www. sjrecycles. org/business/
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017p
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Seattle, Washington
44% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction
(49% Residential Solid Waste Reduction: 48% Institutional/Commercial
Solid Waste Reduction, 18% Self-haul Waste Reduction)
Overview
Seattle faced a trash disposal crisis in the late 1980s after
two city-operated landfills closed. Because of citizen
opposition to incineration, the city opted to pursue an
aggressive waste reduction program. In 1988, the city set a
goal to recycle 60% of its residential and commercial waste by
1998. Curbside recycling service for single-family homes
began in 1988, and an apartment recycling program and
curbside collection of source-separated yard debris in began
1989. The city has charged pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) rates
for trash disposal since 1981. In 1996, Seattle diverted 49% of
its residential waste stream, 48% of its commercial waste
stream, and 18% of the materials delivered to its drop-off
sites. Overall, Seattle diverted 44% of its waste stream (34%
through recycling and 11% through composting). Private
companies provide residential waste management services
under city contracts and compete on the open market for
commercial customers. City waste management staff functions
include operating two transfer stations, providing education
and publicity, and overseeing contractors.
DHALU
POPULATION: 534,700
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 248,970 total
units: 149,500 SFDs (4 or
fewer units in building),
99,470 MFDs
BUSINESSES: 45,000
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Comprehensive curbside recycling and
yard debris programs, PAYT trash rates,
strong private sector recycling, and
multi-family recycling service
contribute to the effectiveness of
Seattle's waste reduction program.
Seattle's single-family curbside recycling
program accepts 16 categories of
materials; its apartment program accepts
13. In 1996, Seattle residents diverted
14% of their waste through the city's
curbside yard debris collection
program. The city's PAYT trash rates
have been so successful, the city
added two small-volume subscription
PROGRAM SUMMARY
1987
1996
Tons Per Year MSW NA 767,144
Tons Per Year RSW 233,230 288,106
Tons Per Year ICW NA 379,166
Tons Per Year Self-Haul NA 99,843
Percent MSW Diverted NA 44%
Percent RSW Diverted 19% 49%
Percent ICW Diverted NA 48%
Percent Self-Haul Diverted NA 18%
Average Ibs./HH/dayi
5.61
6.34
Net Program Costs/HHI $155.33 $154.93
Disposal Services $155.33 $101.14
Diversion Services $0.002 $53.79
Key: MSW = municipal solid waste RSW = residential solid waste
ICW = institutional and commercial waste
NA = not available
Notes: 1987 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP
deflator. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
^Figures above reflect residential sector collection only. 227,890
households served in 1987, 248,970 in 1996.
2Reported recycling in private sector. The city incurred no costs for
this recycling.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
-------
levels (the 12-gallon "micro-can" and the 19-
gallon "mini-can") in response to public
requests. Strong local markets for recyclable
materials and a city tax incentive provide
support for recycling in the private sector.
Since more than 40% of Seattle
households are located in multi-family
units, providing recycling to these
households is a critical element in the success of
Seattle's waste reduction program.
Seattle involves its citizens in its
comprehensive education programs. The city's
Master Composter and Friends of Recycling
programs provide free training to residents who
then perform outreach.
Cost-Effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness of Seattle's waste
reduction efforts is due to the city's PAYT
trash fees and lower per ton costs for recycling
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
7.0
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE (SFDs):
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (mail, colored and white paper, bags, paperboard, and phone
books)
glass containers
cans
juice and milk cartons
#1 and #2 bottles
ferrous metals and white goods
leaves, grass clippings, brush, holiday trees, and other yard debris
CURBSIDE (MFDs):
aluminum and tin cans, glass bottles and jars, newspaper, mixed paper,
white goods (two of the four private haulers that service apartment
buildings also collect plastics)
DROP-OFF:
all items collected
curbside plus:
lead-acid batteries
used motor oil
oil filters
clean wood scrap
and lumber
Seattle's micro-can
and 32-gallon trash
can sizes
1987
1996
Recycling
and composting as compared to trash disposal.
On a per-ton basis, total waste management
cost $154 per ton; trash cost $173 per ton;
recycling; $121 per ton; and composting; $142
per ton. The city's PAYT trash fee structure
encourages residents to recover rather than
dispose of materials. Doing so also saves the
city money as fees paid to its contractors are
based on per-ton fees. In 1996, per household
waste management costs averaged $155, the
same as in 1987.
Tips for Replication
Recover mixed paper for recycling.
Distribute bins to all participants.
Institute PAYT rates for trash service.
Invest in education programs, support
the programs with market research, and target
messages to people of all ethnicities.
Accept some or all the risk of
secondary materials prices.
Pay trash haulers partly based on tons
collected so as recycling increases, savings
result.
Contact
Jenny Bagby
Resource Management Branch
The Seattle Public Utilities
710 Second Avenue #505
Seattle, WA 98104
PHONE: 206-684-7808
FAX: 206-684-8529
WEB SITE: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017q
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Visalia, California
50% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
In 1991, Visalia began its waste reduction program in
order to meet California's state mandated recycling goals.
The city tried several curbside recycling pilot programs
involving bins and bags and manual collection. However
none of the programs were implemented due to poor
productivity and high worker compensation rates as
compared to the city's existing automated trash collection
system. Instead the city, in partnership with a local trash
equipment distributor, designed a special 110-gallon split
container for trash and recyclables and a dual-compartmented
automated truck that allows crews to collect trash and
recyclables simultaneously. The city implemented this
innovative automated dual-collection system citywide in
1996. At the same time, it reduced trash collection frequency
to once a week (from twice a week) and added a weekly
"green waste" collection program. In FY97,Visalia diverted
50% of its residential waste from disposal — 33% through
composting and 16% through recycling.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
Recycling program convenience, collection of 15
categories of recyclable materials, the replacement of the city's
previous second-day trash pick-up with a green waste
collection day, the state bottle bill, and an extensive outreach
campaign contribute to the success ofVisalia's waste reduction
program. Residents can commingle
virtually all paper products, and metal,
plastic, and glass containers for recycling
in one side of their wheeled, split
containers. Visalia diverts 33% of the
city's residential waste through its yard
debris program. All green waste is taken
to a local compost facility. Visalia
diverts nearly 3% of its residential
waste through the state container
deposit and redemption program.
The city undertook an extensive
outreach campaign to teach residents
DHALU
POPULATION: 91 ,314
(1996), 92,677 (1997)
HOUSEHOLDS: 28,869
(1996), 25,346 single-
family households, 3,523
multi-family units
FY97
Tons Per Year
45,395
50,806
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
50%
16%
33%
Average Ibs./HH/day
10.58
10.71
Net Program Costs/HH $190.33 $202.20
Disposal Services $190.33 $108.77
Diversion Services1 $0 $93.43
Notes: 23,500 households served in 1994; 26,000 in 1996 and 1997.
1994 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
1Diversion represents deposit container recovery only in FY94,
therefore; there were no direct costs to the city.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
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how to use the new system and emphasize the
importance of recycling.
Cost-Effectiveness
In 1996, the city spent about $5.26 million
for trash, recycling, and yard debris management
services — about $202 per household served.
Of this, about 54% was spent on trash collection
and disposal, 18% was spent on recycling, and
28% was spent on yard debris collection and
processing. On a per-ton basis, trash cost $117
and waste reduction programs cost $96 —
recycling, $114 and green waste
recovery, $87.1 Overall, net solid
waste management costs per
household served have increased
from $190 in FY94 to $202 in
FY97. During this same time period,
per ton trash tip fees increased 10%. If
these fees had not risen, per household
waste management costs in FY97 would
have been within 5% of per household costs in
FY94. In FY94, per ton trash costs were $101
per ton, now waste reduction and trash services
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (including mail, paperboard, and office paper)
glass containers
cans
all plastic containers
milk andjuice cartons
scrap wood and lumber (except creosote or treated wood)
grass clippings, brush, leaves, and other yard and garden debris
DROP-OFF:
same materials as curbside plus holiday trees
Fully automated dual
collection truck used to
collect trash and
recyclables in Visalia
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
11.0
•§ 6.0
FY94
FY97
I | Trash | | Recycling
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
\ Composting
cost $106 per ton. Recyclables processing and
composting costs are less expensive per ton than
landfill tip fees, helping to contain costs.
Tips for Replication
Investigate the dual-collection split-
container system and automated collection.
Focus on education to teach residents
how to use the system.
Seek out committed staff and
administration to ensure program.
Find processor willing
to receive commingled
recyclables.
Put together a Citizen
Advisory Group or find other
ways to obtain resident input.
Note:
line differences in the per-ton costs in these figures are largely reflections of
the per-ton costs for recycling and composting processing and trash
disposal. Visalia does not track curbside collection costs for recyclables, yard
debris, and trash separately and reports per-ton collection costs for all
materials as the total system average curbside collection cost.
Contact
Kathy Onsurez, Conservation Coordinator
Torn Baffa, Solid Waste Services Manager
City of Visalia Public Works Department
336 N. BenMaddoxWay
Visalia, California 93292-6631
PHONE: 209-738-3531 or 209-738-3569
FAX: 209-738-3576
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017r
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Worcester,
Massachusetts
54% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
In the early 1990s, Worcester faced looming state landfill
bans for recoverable materials, and the city needed to transfer
trash costs from its tax base to user fees. In 1993, the city
implemented curbside recycling and a pay-as-you-throw
(PAYT) trash system. The per-bag trash fees offer financial
incentives for residents to reduce trash disposal, recycle at
curbside, and deliver their yard trimmings to one the city's
three yard debris drop-off sites. Per-bag trash fees combined
with a city ordinance that prohibits the disposal of recyclables
and yard debris with trash resulted in the city nearly tripling
its residential waste reduction rate from 15% in 1992 to 44%
in 1994. In 1996, Worcester switched from biweekly to
weekly recycling collection and the residential waste
reduction rate further increased to 54% (27% through
recycling and 27% through composting).
Keys to High Waste Reduction
The variety of materials collected at curbside, pay-as-you-
throw trash fees, a state bottle bill, and diversion of yard debris
all contribute to the city's high diversion rate. Worcester's
weekly curbside recycling program collects up to 18 types of
recyclables (including mixed paper, all plastic containers, and
milk and juice cartons). Residents can also recycle large items,
such as appliances, through a special bulky items collection
program. Residents must place trash in
special yellow bags or city trash crews
will not collect it. A 30-gallon bag costs
504 and a 15-gallon bag costs 25(t.
Massachusetts' container deposit law
requires consumers to pay a 5(t deposit
on many beverage containers. In 1996,
approximately 4% of Worcester's
residential waste stream was recovered
through the deposit system.
Worcester provides fall leaf
collection and operates drop-off sites
DHALU
POPULATION: 1 71 ,226
(1995), 169,759
(1996)
HOUSEHOLDS: 63,588
(1996); 22,500 single-
family households (one
unit per building), 41,088
multi-family units
1996
Tons Per Year
53,087
57,573
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
15%
7%
54%
27%
27%
Average Ibs./HH/day
5.84
6.20
Net Program Costs/HH NA $75.34
Disposal Services NA $48.15
Diversion Services NA $27.19
Notes: 49,824 households served in 1992; 50,868 in 1996. 1992
dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-Q17).
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for other yard debris from April through
November. Residents can deliver their yard
debris to these facilities at no charge. In 1996,
more than one-quarter of the city's residential
waste was composted in the city's yard debris
collection and processing program.
Cost-Effectiveness
In 1996, the city spent $3.8 million for
trash, recycling, and yard debris services —
about $75 per household served. Of this, 64%
was spent on trash collection and disposal, 20%
was spent on recycling, and 16% was spent on
yard debris collection and recovery. On a per-
ton basis, trash cost $96, while waste
reduction cost $47 ($54 for recycling
and $40 for yard debris
recovery). The city has
contained costs by reducing the
V number of trash crews and the number
of workers on the crews in response to
decreasing trash disposal. Since recycling
began, trash crews service the same number of
houses but do so for one-third less labor costs.
The number of city Solid Waste Management
program employees dropped from 58 in 1993
to 46 in 1996.
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
7.0
1992 1994 1996
] Trash ] Recycling | Composting
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliancer 1999.
Tips for Replication
Implement a pay-as-you-throw trash
system.
Collect as wide a variety of materials as
possible.
Make program participation convenient.
Avoid adding a material to the recycling
program and then taking it away, especially in a
pay-as-you-throw system. Residents do not
like to be told they have to pay to dispose of
something that had been free.
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard
mixed paper (mail, office paper, paperboard, paper bags, and phonebooks)
milk andjuice cartons and boxes
glass containers
scrap metal
aluminum cans, trays, and tins
steel food and beverage containers
all plastic containers (except motor oil and antifreeze containers and pails
or buckets)
white goods
leaves
DROP-OFF:
leaves, grass clippings, brush, Christmas trees, and other yard and garden
debris
Contact
Robert Fiore
Assistant to the Commissioner
Department of Public Works
20 E.Worcester Street
Worcester, MA 01604
PHONE: 508-799-1430
FAX: 508-799-1448
WEB SITE: http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/
services /dpw/index.html
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