United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5305W)
April 1999
EPA530-K-99-003
http://www.epa.gov
SEPA Recycling
Works!
State and Local Solutions
to Solid Waste Management
Problems
•=;—T T x ,x
© Printed on paper than contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber
-------
Contents
Recycling Works:
An Overview.
Page
.. 3
Alabama
Statewide used oil recycling program.
Austin, Texas
Voluntary curbside recycling program 11
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Citywide wet and dry recycling program 13
Hamburg, New York
Mandatory curbside recycling program 15
Hospital, University of Pennsylvania
Hospital recycling program 17
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Three-phased recycling program 18
New Jersey
Statewide mandatory recycling program 20
New York City
Leaf recycling to park restoration program 22
Oregon
Statewide voluntary recycling program 24
Perkasie Borough, Pennsylvania
Residential and business unit-based cost
recycling program 26
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Voluntary urban "block corner"
recycling program with cash incentive 28
Page
Pitt County, North Carolina
Partnership recycling program employing
the mentally and physically challenged 30
Rikers Island, New York
Food scrap composting/solar energy
conversion program at a large prison system 32
Riverdale Village, Maryland
Demolition pilot project using
deconstruction waste diversion
and recycling techiques 33
San Jose, California
Comprehensive waste reduction program 35
Santa Monica, California
Multi-faceted program, including
apartment house recycling zones 37
Seattle, Washington
Voluntary recycling experiment utilizing
private-sector collectors 39
University City, Missouri
Leaf composting program yielding
market demand 41
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Source separation drop-off recycling center 43
Wilton, New Hampshire
Multijurisdictional mandatory material
separation at drop-off center 45
Notes
Footnotes for "Recycling Works:
An Overview" 47
Information
List of state recycling offices 48
-------
Recycling Works: An Overview
The average American produces more than 1,600
pounds of trash a year! As this proliferation of waste
continues, we all must accept responsibility for reducing
the amount of garbage we throw away. Recovery for
recycling (including composting and yard trimmings)
continues to be one of the most effective waste manage-
ment techniques.
Recycling turns materials that would otherwise
become waste into valuable resources. And, it yields
environmental, financial, and social returns in natural
resource conservation, energy conservation, pollution
prevention, and economic expansion and competitiveness.
It is often the job of state and local governments to
deal with our trash. Every state has at least one authority,
agency, commission, or department responsible for
managing the disposal of refuse generated by its citizens.
Usually, local authorities handle collection and disposal,
but private companies are also frequently hired to manage
trash.
In some jurisdictions, trash appears to be a minor
problem and is easily buried in a landfill. But, to cut down
on the amount of trash requiring disposal, many commu-
nities have turned to recycling and discovered that it
works!
This booklet provides information about successful
recycling programs initiated by state and local agencies.
It also describes private recyling efforts and public-private
partnerships between government and businesses. Each
success story provides basic information to help you as
you consider recycling options for your community.
The National Picture
As a nation, we produce an unthinkable amount of
municipal trash. Our current rate of 210 million tons
per year could fill a convoy of 10-ton trash trucks nearly
90,000 miles long—enough to circle the equator nearly
eight times! To make matters worse, the amount of refuse
generated in the United States is projected to increase by
about 16% by the year 2010.
We now recycle 30% of our municipal solid waste.
This is a marked increase from the 10% recycling rate
in 1990. Incineration remains between 9% and 10%.
Landfilling still handles the majority of disposal at 70%,
but this continues to decline from its former lion's share
of 89% in 1989.!
It no longer makes sense to think of municipal solid
waste management without considering the role of recy-
cling. Average landfill tipping fees continue to increase
nationwide. More important, a sizeable portion of what
we throw away contains valuable resources—metals, glass,
paper, wood, and plastic—that can be reprocessed and
used again as raw materials.
Integrated Waste Management
Many states and local governments have taken steps
to prevent waste handling problems. Some are just begin-
ning to evaluate the adequacy of their current waste
management programs. Others have implemented an
integrated solid waste management approach. As state
and local governments plan for and implement integrated
waste management, they usually consider a hierarchy of
methods: reduce, recycle, and incinerate/landfill.
Reducing waste—preventing it from needing to be dealt
with at all—is generally the most favored management
tool. Recycling—next in order of preference—helps to
divert wastes from landfills and incinerators and provides
for the reuse of resources. Incinerating/landfilling are
considered co-equals and are next in the waste hierarchy.
Incineration reduces volume and can recover energy, but
may have some risks associated with it. Landfilling, while
Total United States Waste Generated,
in Millions of Tons
253
ooo
210
222
151.6
88.1
1960
1980
1996
2000 2010
(projected) (projected)
-------
necessary to handle some wastes, can be very costly and
may involve some risks. In most communities, locating
landfill and incinerator sites is a problem as well.
A number of agencies have recognized the value of
including recycling as part of their solid waste manage-
ment programs and have developed a variety of methods
to do so. In fact, by 1997, approximately 51% of the U.S.
population (135 million people) had access to the nation's
8,937 curbside recycling programs. In addition, there
were 12,700 drop-off centers for recyclables, and 3,484
yard trimmings composting programs. There were also
142 composting projects that handled municipal biosolids,
that is, "select organics" such as separated food residuals
and industrial organics.3
Components of construction and demolition (C&D)
wastes are candidates for recycling, too. Preliminary esti-
mates indicate that approximately 1,800 C&D recycling
facilities exist in the United States. To reduce waste and
cut the costs associated with building demolition, more
and more companies are turning to deconstruction, which
is the selective dismantling or removal of materials from
buildings to be sold for reuse or recycing. Results of
deconstruction projects so far indicate that the practice is
a cost-effective alternative to demolition, costing an esti-
mated 30% to 50% less than demolition. In the area of
residential construction waste management, the National
Association of Home Builders Research Center predicts
in A Builder's Field Guide: How to Save Money and Landfill
Space that roughly 80% of a home builder's waste stream
is recyclable and that waste management costs can repre-
sent as much as 5% of profit on a home.4
REDUCE
the amount of
waste generated
RECYCLE
as much material
as possible
INCINERATE/
LANDFILL
remaining portions of j
the waste:
Energy Savings of Products Made
with Recovered Material
100 T
80
60-
40
20-
Aluminum Linerboard Newsprint Plastic Steel
Paper (3 grades)
Products Made with Recovered Material
Source: Tellus Institute, 1992.
Percent Reduction in Energy Use
over Virgin Manufacturing
Recycling now plays a large role in the waste manage-
ment programs. However, it can play a much larger role.
Why Recycle?
Recycling pays in a variety of ways. At the local level
in some localities, recycled materials are sold, benefitting
the recycling program. Additionally, the business of recy-
cling expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S.
competitiveness. For example, a study of 10 northeastern
states found that processing and remanufacturing recycla-
ble materials in the region employed more than 103,000
people and added more than $7.2 billion to the value of
the materials.5 On a national level, the total market value
for recyclables in 1995 was approximately $3.6 billion.
Recycling reduces the amount of waste that needs to be
buried in a landfill or incinerated. This reduction in
volume may result in reduced disposal costs and add to
the useful life expectancy of a landfill.
In addition to providing economic benefits, recycling
offers environmental benefits. By reducing our reliance
on virgin materials, recycling reduces pollution, saves
energy, mitigates global climate changes, and reduces
pressures on biodiversity. Here's how it works!
-------
By decreasing the need to extract and process virgin
materials, recycling helps reduce or eliminate the pollu-
tion associated with the first two stages of a product's
development: material extraction and processing. Further,
studies show that less energy is needed to manufacture
products from recovered materials than from virgin mate-
rials.6 Conserving natural resources, reducing pollution,
and saving energy also yield a reduction in the emission
of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate
change and impact biodiversity.
A Recycling Component
Adding recycling to an existing municipal solid waste
system is a challenging process. To begin, your commu-
nity should consider the following approaches:
• Analyze the quantity and composition of your waste.
• Learn about existing waste disposal and collection
systems, including their costs and capabilities.
• Determine to what degree recycling is already being
conducted in your community.
• Identify public attitudes about recycling.
• Study which recycling options might best meet your
special needs.
• Explore existing markets for recovered materials and
the possibility of finding new ones.
Recycling Options That Work
Recycling programs come in many shapes and sizes.
The type of recycling program you choose should be
designed to meet your community's needs and must
consider the potential markets for materials considered
for recycling. For example, consider what land of collec-
tion system would be the most expedient, the most con-
venient to citizens, and ultimately the most successful.
And does it make sense in your community to target
specific wastes—office paper, yard clippings, plastic soft
drink bottles? Can large institutions such as hospitals be
encouraged to participate?
What's Recyclable in the
Waste Stream?
Plastics, Drink Bottles
Reprocessed for Auto Parts, Fiberfill, Strapping
Aluminum Cans
Reprocessed for Can Sheet and Castings
Construction Waste, Tires
Reprocessed for Pressed Board, Roads,
and Other Construction Projects
Food Waste
Composted and used to amend soil
Other Metals
Cleaned and Reprocessed
as Scrap and Structural Products
Paper
Mixed Paper, High-Grade Paper,
Newspaper, Cardboard
Reprocessed as Printing and Writing Papers, Newsprint,
Tissue Products, Paperboard, Insulation, Animal Bedding
Glass
Refilled or Gullet for Jars,
Bottles, Construction Material
Furnishings and Clothing
Reused by Another Person
Yard Waste
Composted for landscaping
-------
Collecting Recyclables
For citizens, the most convenient kind of collection
is curbside collection. To make collection even handier,
some communities provide households with special
containers for recyclable materials. Some neighborhood
pickups are combined with regular garbage collection;
others use separate collection systems. Although curbside
collection may require some additional costs, the success
rate may make it worthwhile, especially in populous areas.
In highly urbanized areas, apartment house and office
building collection systems can work well, too.
In many communities, drop-off centers work well.
These centers range from landfill locations, where people
or machines sort recyclables, to "exchange corners." For
example, the Wellesley Massachusetts, drop-off site has
a designated area where citizens can exchange reusable
items such as books, games, and furniture. Financial
incentives or contributions to charities encourage partici-
pation in other places. A number of communities locate
drop-off centers in convenient spots such as shopping
Summary of Recycling Jobs
in the Northeast, by Material
Ferrous Metals
13,080
Multimaterials
9,375
Paper
51,352
Glass
8,816
Textiles
1,133
Yard Trimmings
545
Tires
697
Source: Roy F. Weston, 1994.
malls; some centers are even mobile. Often, centers are
run by private groups or as joint private-public enter-
prises.
Obviously, most drop-off centers are less expensive to
operate than curbside collection systems. However, drop-
off centers typically yield less materials for reuse.
Choosing Recyclables
What is in a typical trash can in your community?
If it is anything like the national average, you can expect
the bulk of materials to be paper and paperboard products
and yard waste. Newspapers can be recycled into a variety
of materials. Yard clippings and leaves can be composted
and used for landscaping. Businesses around the country
are recycling computer paper and other high-grade paper,
cardboard, and glass. And clean wood wastes can be
processed into usable lumber or other products. Of
course, metals, such as aluminum and steel, are valuable
commodities as well.
Citizen Participation
Encouraging participation to increase the amount of
recovered materials can be the greatest challenge to any
recycling program. There are many ways to increase
recovery and participation rates. Many communities have
active promotional campaigns. Providing special contain-
ers for recyclables makes recycling more convenient.
Some places have chosen mandatory over voluntary pro-
grams. Others rely on voluntary efforts, but use creative
approaches to boost participation.
Incentives have been initiated in a number of commu-
nities. For instance, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has dis-
tributed over $150,000 of incentive money to community
groups for the tons of materials they have diverted from
the waste stream since 1993.
As recycling programs grow and ensure a steady
volume of recovered materials, new markets have evolved.
For example, Alabama's oil recycling program spurred
development of a new multimillion dollar state-of-the-art
refinery in south Alabama in 1995.
-------
Marketing Recovered Material
Identifying and developing markets for recovered
materials is another major challenge for state and local
recycling programs. A recycling market is any source of
demand for recovered materials. To find the most suitable
markets, many communities develop marketing plans.
A typical plan may address the availability and locations
of intermediate or end-use markets and the types and
grades, amounts, specifications, transportation require-
ments, and price-setting mechanisms for a community's
recovered materials. Services, such as storage and process-
ing, may also be factors to consider. Many communities
enter into contracts with purchasers, even though prices
usually fluctuate. And some programs market coopera-
tively with neighboring programs to cut marketing costs.
In 1987, New Jersey's Office of Recycling published a
guide to marketing recyclable materials. The guide has
been updated several times since and can be found at
http://www.state.nj.us.dep/dshw/recycle. The guide is one
of several available sources of useful information on
marketing recovered materials.
Developing markets is a continuing challenge to EPA,
states, communities, industries, and consumers. Demand
for recyclables needs to be stimulated; marketplace gluts
need to be minimized; and industries, business, and
household consumers need to buy products made with
recycled materials. An innovative mechanism for buying
and selling recovered materials that is intended to stabi-
lize markets is the Chicago Board of Trade Recyclables
Exchange . This centralized
marketplace is designed to bring the same level of price
stability and quality standards to recoverd materials that
have occurred with other long-standing commodities
traded daily.
Recycling Works!
All around the country—in communities such as
yours—recycling is working to conserve natural resources
and extend landfill life. Recycling is one key part of your
integrated waste management system that makes sense.
Estimated Market Value of Major
Municipal Solid Waste Materials
1000 ••
800 ••
600 ••
400 ••
200 ••
Alumi- Corru- Ferrous Office Plastics Yard News-
num gated Metals Papers Trim- print
Cans Boxes mings
Recovered Material
Source: Tellus Institute, 1997.
Total Market Value in $ Millions
Each community has its own unique waste manage-
ment problems that call for integrated solutions. A num-
ber of successful programs are described on the following
pages to give you some ideas as you plan your communi-
ty's recycling program. Some of the success stories take
place statewide; most are local. Two describe efforts of
villages and small towns to join together, forming regional
recycling programs. Some success stories highlight curb-
side collection, and others address unique drop-off sys-
tems. Several involve private-sector sponsorship; others
are totally run by private enterprises. One of the oldest
volunteer used oil collection programs in the United
States is highlighted as well as a new wet-dry separation
program. Don't miss the Rikers Island prison food scrap
compost system that produces electricity by use of solar
energy. These programs may vary in size, focus, cost, and
features, but their message is the same:
RECYCLING WORKS!
RECYCLING PAYS!
-------
Alabama
Type of Program
Used oil collection.
State Overview
With the exception of Birmingham and metropolitan
areas around Mobile, Montgomery, and Huntsville,
Alabama is predominantly rural. About 4.3 million
people live in Alabama.
automobile parts businesses. The Project ROSE collec-
tion site network has grown from two pilot programs to
more than 500 around the state.
From Project ROSE, other programs have been
developed to meet the needs of boating enthusiasts and
the state's vast farming communities. Marina ROSE was
developed as an onsite measure to control the dumping
of used motor oil in waterways. Collection sites are estab-
lished at area marinas to remind boat owners of their
proper used oil management responsibilities. The Project
ROSE Farm Management Program provides information
through the Cooperative Extension Service, Soil and
Water Conservation Districts, and Farmers' Cooperatives
throughout the state.
Rural used motor oil is often difficult to collect in
isolated areas. Project ROSE helps to establish 1-day or
week-long collection periods in farming communities
where significant quantities are often collected.
Background
Only about half of the nation's used oil was recovered
and reused in 1977. The other half was usually discarded,
often to the detriment of the environment.
In 1977, as part of a nationwide effort to conserve
energy, Project ROSE was created. ROSE stands for
Recycled Oil Saves Energy. Alabama recognized that its
citizens could collect millions of gallons of used crankcase
motor oil annually. Twenty years later the program is one
of the oldest volunteer used oil collection programs in the
United States.
Annually, the state generates more than 18 million
gallons of used automotive motor oil and 9 million
gallons of used industrial oil. Most of the industrial oil is
routinely recovered; however, recovering used automotive
motor oil presents an ongoing challenge in a predomi-
nantly rural state. Project ROSE was originally designed
to assist with collection from individual, corporate, and
municipal consumers and garages and service stations for
treatment by a used oil re-refiner. Today, volunteer
collection sites have expanded to quick-lube facilities and
MARINA
recycled oil saves energy
Program Description
Project ROSE is a nonprofit conservation program
funded by the Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs' Science, Technology and Energy
Division. The program is also sponsored and housed on
campus at the University of Alabama Chemical
Engineering Department.
Program goals are two-fold: to protect the environ-
ment and to conserve a valuable resource. To accomplish
these goals, Project ROSE helps establish used oil collec-
tion locations in all 67 counties. A network of used oil
transporter/haulers was established to collect from
collection sites and to make sure the used oil was safely
-------
delivered to re-refiners. Project ROSE also provides regu-
latory and technical information to used oil generators,
collectors, and re-refiners.
Currently, three types of used oil programs make up
Project ROSE: curbside collection, collection centers,
and drum placement.
The curbside collection program is primarily used
in, and best suited for, metropolitan areas in which consis-
tent garbage collection is provided. Based on survey data,
70% of all respondents replied that they would save their
used oil for recycling if it were collected at their homes.
Currently, eight metropolitan cities provide curbside used
oil collection. City garbage trucks, equipped with storage
racks or tanks, are adapted to transport used oil. Used oil
is stored during route collection and transferred to a
holding tank at city facilities. A collector picks up this
used oil and, depending on current market values, either
pays or charges the city for the used oil.
Promotion through the media reminds residents of
the service being provided to them by each city. The
campaign also explains the hazards of improper disposal
Project ROSE is one of the oldest
volunteer used oil collection programs
in the United States.
and outlines the procedures used and type of storage
container needed for participation in the program. Project
ROSE also provides informative materials to businesses,
civic groups, environmental organizations, trade associa-
tions, and state agencies.
The Project ROSE collection center program con-
sists of service stations, garages, quick-lube facilities, and
automobile parts stores that voluntarily accept do-it-your-
selfers' used oil for recycling. These businesses have
rapidly expanded in Alabama. Many use their businesses
as collection sites to recruit new customers and expand
their market base.
The drum placement program provides 55-gallon
drums for do-it-yourself used oil collection. This program
operates in rural areas where there are few service
stations, quick-lube facilities, or other collection site loca-
tions. Drums are located on the premises of cooperating
businesses and small government agencies.
What Makes Alabama's
Program Unique?
Many programs based on the Project ROSE model
now exist throughout the United States and several for-
eign countries. The Project ROSE hauler network con-
sists of more than 20 private, independent businesses. By
providing used oil collection sites and haulers with
information concerning sources of used oil that are avail-
able for collection, more than 8 million gallons of used oil
is collected annually. Alabama citizens and other pro-
grams replicating the Project ROSE model benefit from
energy savings and the aesthetic rewards that accompany
participation.
-------
Project ROSE has demonstrated that
one person can make a difference
in saving energy and
protecting the environment.
Obstacles Overcome
The chief obstacle is no longer convincing do-it-
yourselfers to recycle but, rather, sustaining consistent
funding for a strong education program. Project ROSE
has proven through the years that, when funding for
educational programs decreases, so do the quantities of
do-it-yourself motor oil collected. Strong state support is
needed to maintain a statewide used oil collection
program.
Also, it is only through the enthusiastic and voluntary
participation of collection site managers that used oil can
move from the do-it-yourself oil changer to the re-refin-
ery. In addition, the mere suggestion of listing used oil as
a hazardous waste threatened the program's future. More
than 25% of Project ROSE collection sites dropped out
of the program when the question of listing was first
posed. When listing was not enacted, Project ROSE
rebounded and more than doubled collection sites
through strong recruitment and education efforts.
Program Contact
For further information about Alabama's volunteer
used oil collection program, call (205) 348-4878 or write
to:
Program Coordinator
Project ROSE
Chemical Engineering Department
University of Alabama
Box 870203
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203
In do-it-yourself used oil recycling programs, the direct
deposit collection tank has become the program's public
symbol. The more attractive, convenient, and "user-
friendly" the tanks, the higher the participation from
do-it-yourselfers.
ID
-------
Austin, Texas
Type of Program
A "pay-as-you-throw" program to encourage recycling
and composting.
Community Overview
The City of Austin has approximately 130,000
households. In response to the cancellation of a proposed
waste-to-energy project and concerns about the prema-
ture closing of the city's landfill, Austin passed a compre-
hensive recycling resolution in January 1990.
Service consists of weekly collection of garbage, recy-
clables, and compostables and semiannual collection of
larger brush for composting and bulky items (e.g., appli-
ances) for recycling. Citywide curbside recycling of news-
paper, corrugated cardboard, glass containers, and metal
cans has been in place since 1982.
Background
A "pay-as-you-throw" (PAYT) program was proposed
in the summer of 1990 with the goals of conserving land-
fill capacity by increasing recycling and composting and
creating a more equitable, consumption-based billing
system. A 1-year PAYT pilot program involving 3,000
households began in July 1991. The pilot's success
prompted the city to implement the program citywide
over a 3-year period.
The city aggressively pursued new recycling opportu-
nities to increase diversion, including recycling of news-
paper inserts, magazines, soda bottles (PET), milk jugs
(HDPE), advertising mail, and home office paper. In the
fall of 1995, the use of plastic bags for yard trimmings was
banned.
Program Description
Residents choose either a 30-, 60-, or 90-gallon
wheeled garbage cart according to their needs. The
monthly solid waste services (SWS) rate varies according
to the size of the garbage cart: $11.75 for 30 gallons,
$14.50 for 60 gallons, or $17.25 for 90 gallons. If resi-
dents find that the garbage cart they have exceeds their
needs, there is no charge to downsize; however, there is a
$15 charge for increasing the size.
Residents purchase "extra garbage stickers" ($2 each)
for when their garbage exceeds their cart's capacity. These
stickers are not required during the week after Christmas
and during the April "Clean Sweep" week (i.e., spring
cleaning). The stickers are available at most local conve-
nience and grocery stores.
There is no charge for recyclable or compostable
materials. The city provides 14-gallon bins for recy-
clables, and residents use paper bags or open containers
for compostables.
What Makes Austin's
Program Unique?
Public education was extensive and critical to the suc-
cess of the PAYT program. The city notified residents of
the new program (e.g., "Recycle or Pay as You Throw—
It's Your Choice") through utility bill inserts, press brief-
ings, paid newspaper ads, and billboards.
-------
Obstacles Overcome
The city faced some criticism from citizens. Among
other things, residents expressed concerns about the
"higher cost of living," which single parents and the
elderly might not be able to afford. In response, the city
provided six complimentary stickers to all current SWS
customers.
Another difficulty stemmed from the fact that the util-
ity billing system could not implement the variable rates
right away. Until variable-rate billing was implemented,
those who did not have to pay extra for a 90-gallon cart
received an unfair advantage, since 30-gallon customers
had to buy stickers for any extra garbage. The city council
temporarily postponed the sticker program while it con-
sidered this issue carefully. In the end, the sticker program
was implemented before the variable-rate billing, but
council insisted that the utility billing system be ready for
variable billing within 6 months.
Program Contact
For further information about the City of Austin's
program, contact Rick Fuszak at (512) 499-1974 or write
to:
Rick Fuszak
Manager Planning and Development
City of Austin
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767
RECYCLES
479-6153
12
-------
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Type of Program
Citywide separation of wet and dry wastes for appro-
priate composting and recycling of reusable materials.
The Next Step in Recycling
Community Overview
Located about 100 km west of Toronto and nestled in
an agricultural area, Guelph is a university city with about
100,000 residents in 33,000 households.
Background
Several years ago, the provincial government required
that all cities prepare a waste management master plan
with a landfill diversion program. Initially Guelph
planned to use incineration; however, public outcry
required the city to find another option. Looking to
Europe for ideas, city officials adopted the Wet-Dry
separation program as the main component of its master
plan.
A pilot program had high participation rates, encour-
aging city officials to expand the program to include all
households and industries, commercial businesses, and
institutions (IC&Is). The city processing facilities became
fully operational in November 1995.
Program Description
Residents and IC&Is separate their Wet waste mate-
rials (e.g., food scraps, sanitary items, soiled tissues, and
disposable diapers) from the Dry materials, which include
both recyclable materials and unusable waste. The city
provides labels to help prevent cross-contamination.
Residents purchase color-coded see-through bags—green
for Wet, blue for Dry—for curbside collection. Bags are
used instead of bins primarily because in the winter it is
dangerous for sanitation employees to handle bins on top
of snowbanks. Alternatively, residents may place their Dry
waste loose in a labelled container with a lid, typically the
large pails they used previously for garbage.
Wet (i.e., compostable) waste is heated at 60 °C
(140 °F) for 3 days. The compost meets provincial safety
regulations and is sold at $12 (Canadian) per cubic yard,
which is the market price for topsoil. Dry waste is sorted
by the city, and recyclable materials are removed and
marketed. The remainder is sent to the landfill.
The recovery rate by weight is 72 % for the Wet waste
and 56% for Dry waste, averaging a total recovery rate of
about 60%. Janet Laird, manager of Solid Waste Services
for the City of Guelph, emphasizes that it is difficult to
recover much more than 70%. "Thirty percent of all
waste just isn't marketable," she says (e.g., small pieces of
paper, bits of broken glass, or items that cannot be broken
down into their recyclable and nonrecyclable compo-
nents).
Since Guelph is a very "green" community, participa-
tion rates are extremely high, with 99% of residents sepa-
rating their waste. (About 5% of waste suffers from cross-
contamination.) Surveys show that most residents are
enthusiastic about the program, particularly because the
division of materials makes sense to them and they need
not do any more separation than they did under the old
program. The question has changed from "Recyclable or
not?" to "Wet or Dry?"
Although there had been some concern that the
process would not yield a clean enough product, these
concerns were unfounded. "We have preferred-supplier
status," Dr. Laird asserts. "The prices for our products
have surpassed published rates."
-------
What Makes Guelph's
Program Unique?
There are two ways that Guelph's program is unique.
First, the program uses only two waste streams—wet and
dry—whereas most other programs of this type use
three—wet, dry, and garbage. The city believes that using
a simple two-waste system increases participation rates.
Also, the city processes essentially all waste that it
collects. Anything fully or semicompostable is treated,
and all noncompostable waste is sorted to remove
recyclables. The only waste that goes directly to landfill
is the waste from large industries that the city has deter-
mined to have a significant amount of nonrecoverable
material.
Obstacles Overcome
The biggest obstacle was convincing IC&Is to partici-
pate. The city worked with the waste generators and the
haulers to make it attractive for haulers to bring the waste
to the city's facility. One of the ways the city did this was
to limit its tipping fee to $40/tonne, compared to
$60/tonne at the landfill and as much as $120/tonne at
other facilities. Even if a hauler can get a better rate by
crossing the U.S. border, transportation costs significantly
reduce the savings. These efforts have resulted in the city
receiving 60% of IC&I waste.
Program Contact
For further information about the City of Guelph's
program, contact Janet Laird at (519) 837-5604 or write
to:
Janet Laird, Ph.D.
Manager, Solid Waste Services
City of Guelph
59 Garden Street
Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A1
Wet
PUT IN YOUR GREEN BAG.
PUT IN YOUR BLUE BAG OR DRY CONTAINER.
-------
Hamburg, New York
Type of Program
Mandatory curbside pickup of separated trash.
Community Overview
The Village of Hamburg, a suburb of Buffalo, has
a population of 10,500. Its mandatory program was
enacted in 1981.
Background
Hamburg's recycling effort began as a voluntary pro-
gram with citizens taking separated newspapers, bottles,
and cans to a recycling center. From there, local firms
purchased the material they recovered.
Through the efforts of a volunteer committee, resi-
dents were surveyed and public hearings were held to
determine whether to make recycling mandatory. As a
result, a law was passed in 1981 that required separating
and recycling of waste material. Compliance with the law
after 1 month was 85%; since then, compliance has
exceeded 95%.
Program Description
Residents put out recyclables on regular garbage
collection day. Newspapers are put into a paper bag,
bottles and cans into another, and cardboard into a third
bag. Garbage trucks pulling trailers for the recyclables
collect all the trash on a single run. The trailers filled with
recyclables are taken to a center operated by an associa-
tion for the mentally handicapped. There, the material is
sorted for dealer pickup.
Recyclables represent 49% of Hamburg's waste, by
volume. Recycling has reduced the need for landfills by
49% and saved as much as $257,000 in tipping fees each
year.
What Makes Hamburg's
Program Unique?
Comply or else! While as many as 98% of Hamburg's
residents cooperate, those who do not are penalized. If a
household fails to separate all of its recyclables, it gets
only one of its trash cans picked up. This one empty can
is marked with an orange sticker, which serves as a
reminder that garbage must be separated. If the problem
persists, a warning letter is sent. If the household still does
not comply, their garbage is not picked up for a week—a
rare occurrence. Offenders can be summoned to court,
but not having garbage picked up is considered a greater
punishment.
15
-------
Obstacles Overcome
Hamburg has been successful in finding markets.
There is, however, no assurance these markets will be
steady. Securing markets is a constant challenge. For
instance, when the newsprint market fell, the town con-
tinued to pick up the newspapers, taking what money
they could for them. Hamburg has an agreement with
Browning Ferris Industries that stipulates that the town
gets $10/ton for all recyclables.
Program Contact
For further information about Hamburg's program,
contact Gerald Knoll at (716) 649-4953 or write to:
Gerald E. Knoll
Superintendent of Public Works
100 Main Street
Hamburg, NY 14075
-------
Hospital, University of Pennsylvania
Type of Program
Hospital recycling program. Includes aluminum
(beverage cans), glass, corrugated cardboard, and high-
grade office paper.
Community Overview
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a
725-bed medical facility with a campus of 14 buildings
occupying 1.8 million square feet. The hospital annually
recycles the following materials:
• Corrugated cardboard - 350 tons
• High-grade office paper - 130 tons
• Aluminum cans - 4 tons
• Glass food and beverage containers - 12 tons.
aluminum cans for recycling under the supervision of an
area coordinator.
Program Description
Recycling containers are distributed throughout the
facility. Every desk has a wastebasket-sized paper recy-
cling container, and vending and staff lounge areas are
equipped with large glass and aluminum containers. Areas
with copy machines are equipped with large paper con-
tainers. Desk-side, glass, and aluminum containers are
emptied daily, and the collection containers are removed
on an as-needed basis.
Revenue generated from recycled items is charged
against the cost of removal. This amount varies from
month to month due to fluctuations in waste volume and
market value for recyclables.
Background
Recycling corrugated cardboard was in place at the
hospital prior to the 1994 recycling requirements estab-
lished by the city of Philadelphia. The hospital's compre-
hensive recycling program was initiated in 1994 as a cost-
saving venture and to comply with State regulations and
city ordinances. Thirty-five departments, including the
nursery, pharmacy, and many laboratories, collect
corrugated cardboard, high-grade paper, clear glass, and
Obstacles Overcome
At the time the program was initiated, no citywide
residential recycling program was in place. As a result,
hospital employees who were Philadelphia residents were
slow to adapt to the concept of recycling. As the city
implemented curbside recycling pickups, the hopsital's
recyclable volumes increased. Storage prior to pickup has
posed a problem. Vendors are unwilling to provide daily
service, requiring the hospital to stockpile recyclable
waste in open-top dumpsters until full. In 1996, a new
building was opened on the campus with sufficient space
allocated for the storage of recyclable waste.
Program Contact
For further information about the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania's recycling program,
contact Bill Jalbert at (215) 614-0212 or write to:
Billjalbert
Environmental Services Department
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
J1
-------
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Type of Program
Comprehensive integrated solid waste management,
which includes a solid waste management plan overseen
by a citizen's Waste Management Advisory Board.
RECYCLE NOW
Community Overview
Mecklenburg County is a growing area, spurred by
the economic development of its principal city, Charlotte.
The Mecklenburg-Charlotte Metropolitan Area has a
population of over 1 million people.
The City of Charlotte and the surrounding municipal-
ities provide for the collection of waste from its citizens,
while Mecklenburg County handles waste management
county-wide.
Background
Mecklenburg County began recycling as a pilot pro-
ject in 1987 and has since become a nationally recognized
leader in recycling and waste reduction.
The county still uses landfills to dispose of much of its
municipal waste and construction/demolition waste. The
private landfill currently used by the county for its resi-
dential waste will stop receiving waste by July of 2001, at
which time Mecklenburg County will begin sending its
waste to its own regional landfill. Construction and
demolition waste is currently disposed of at one landfill in
the county, which is also expected to close within the next
several years. There are no plans to build a new construc-
tion and demolition landfill in the county.
Locating new landfills has been difficult because of the
decreasing amount of available land, unsuitable soil condi-
tions, potential long-term environmental concerns, legal
barriers, public opposition, and restrictive new permitting
regulations.
As a result, the North Carolina state legislature
required all localities to adopt a 10-year solid waste man-
agement plan by July of 1997. It further set a statewide
goal of a 40% per capita reduction in disposal by June 30,
2001, and an even more aggressive goal for 2006.
In order to meet these goals, Mecklenburg County
will need to reduce its waste production by 12% by 2001
and 20% by 2006. The county plans to achieve this goal
through intensive recycling and waste reduction efforts
aimed at the residential and commercial sectors with spe-
cial attention paid to operations that produce construction
and demolition waste. It will also concentrate on source
reduction and composting.
Program Description
Mecklenburg County currently collects plastic, glass,
aluminum, steel, tin, newspaper, phone books, and
magazines at the curbside in towns and in Charlotte. In
addition, Mecklenburg County operates seven recycling
centers, three staffed, which provide additional recycling
services for its residents. These centers accept an enor-
mous variety of wastes including paper, cardboard, oil,
tires, batteries, paint, and household hazardous wastes.
18
-------
Despite these efforts, much of the county's waste is
still landfilled. However, when the county's recycling
program is fully implemented, the landfills will receive
only wastes that cannot be feasibly recycled or composted.
The solid waste management plan adopted by
Mecklenburg County outlines a two-phase waste reduc-
tion program to be implemented over the next 10 years.
The county plans to use a number of approaches to meet
these goals:
• Emphasis on source reduction
• Increasing the amount of recyclables collected at the
curb by 20%
• Creating commercial recycling drop-off centers
• Amending the local zoning code to require space for
collection, separation, and storage of recyclables
• Establishing construction and demolition recycling
facilities
• Providing technical assistance to businesses, including
waste audits or recycling program development.
What Makes Mecklenburg County's
Program Unique?
Two of the county's seven recycling centers are
so-called "super recycling centers" because they provide a
large number of services. Here residents can drop off car
batteries, oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, tires, and
other bulky wastes. They may also drop off or pick up
oil-based or water-based paint. Household hazardous
wastes will be accepted at three of these facilities by the
end of 1999. The county has an arrangement with a
licensed hazardous waste hauler to collect and store these
wastes at the centers free of charge.
Additionally, the county operates two yard waste facil-
ities that accept yard waste, compost it, and sell it to the
public. These facilities will even provide home delivery on
request.
Mecklenburg County has also established a Waste
Management Advisory Board to oversee the implementa-
tion of their solid waste management plan. The board is
composed of a diverse group of citizens including profes-
sionals from the fields of law, science, engineering, and
finance. Other groups represented are the Chamber of
Commerce, the utility industries, environmental groups,
the Planning Commission, and the Clean City Commit-
tee. This group will review and revise the solid waste
management plan every 3 years and will consider: (1) con-
tinuing the recycling program on a voluntary basis if the
county is on schedule to meet its goals, or (2) making it
mandatory if it is not.
Obstacles Overcome
The most difficult hurdles the recycling program has
had to clear are economic inefficiencies and market fluc-
tuations. It took several years to secure startup funding
for the recycling pilot program. However, due to good
planning and public support, the pilot program is now a
tremendously successful regional waste management
system.
A major obstacle that Mecklenburg County will have
to overcome is that of finding additional landfill space.
There is enough space for residential waste for the next
several years, but that is not the case with construction
and demolition waste. Wastes from this class represent
about 33% of the county's total waste stream. If the coun-
ty wants to meet its goals, it will have to maintain a sound
recycling program as well as locate an adequate disposal
site.
Finally, the recycling program will have to stress the
use of the additional services at the recycling centers as a
complement to its curbside collection program.
Program Contact
For further information about Mecklenburg County's
program, contact Bobbie Campbell at (704) 336-4528 or
write to:
Recycling Division
Mecklenburg County Engineering and Building
Standards Department
700 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
19
-------
New Jersey
Type of Program
Statewide mandatory recycling law.
State Overview
New Jersey has 565 municipalities with a population
of nearly 8 million. The state is comprised of 22 solid
waste districts and exports approximately 2.2 million tons
of solid waste a year, primarily to Pennsylvania. The cost
to manage trash at landfills is now market-based.
Background
In the early 1980s, New Jersey began the process of
closing over 300 unsafe or unregulated landfills. This
resulted in a serious shortfall of disposal capacity within
the state and increased disposal costs by as much as
800%. In an effort to enlist public support for recycling,
the New Jersey Legislature passed a law in 1981 that
encouraged voluntary recycling. This voluntary act
launched statewide recycling management as an economi-
cal and environmentally effective method of waste man-
agement. As the disposal crisis worsened, mandatory recy-
cling in New Jersey was established through legislative
amendment in 1987. The Recycling Act required New
Jersey's 21 counties to mandate the recycling of at least
three designated recyclable materials in addition to leaves.
In response to the recommendations of a solid waste
task force convened by the governor in 1990, the
Recycling Act was amended in 1992 to increase New
Jersey's recycling goals so that the recycling of at least
50% of the municipal solid waste stream and 60% of the
total solid waste stream was required by December 31,
1995. The state's latest goal is to achieve a 65% solid
waste recycling rate by 2001.
In 1996, over 10 million tons of the approximately
17 million tons of solid waste generated in New Jersey
were recycled. This represents a state recycling rate in
excess of 60%. This figure includes the recycling of mate-
rials such as concrete, asphalt and scrap metal. Those
recycling efforts geared toward the municipal solid waste
stream, or waste stream generated by residential, com-
mercial, and institutional premises, have also been suc-
cessful in New Jersey. New Jersey's recycling efforts led to
the recycling of over 3.3 million tons of municipal solid
waste in 1996, which in turn represents a municipal solid
waste recycling rate of 42%.
Program Description
In 1987, New Jersey's mandatory recycling law went
into effect. It required each county to develop and submit
a recycling plan as part of its solid waste management
plan. Following approval by the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection, each community began a
recycling program that recovered a minimum of 15% of
recyclable materials in the first year. After 1 year, the
minimum increased to 25%. According to the law, at least
three materials had to be recycled in addition to leaves.
Typically, they were newspaper, aluminum cans, and glass
containers. As of September 1988, leaves were banned
from landfills, making composting a high priority as well.
NJ Recycling Payouts*
40% Tonnage grants to counties and municipalities
35% Low-interest loans to businesses for research
and market development
10% Public education and awareness programs
8% Program grants for counties
7% Administration
*Note: The Recycling Tax sunset December 31, 1996.
The Department is currently waiting for the state
legislature to reauthorize the tax. Until reauthorized,
recycling payouts have been temporarily suspended.
-------
New Jersey, with it's 65% recycling goal, also counts
on waste-to-energy facilities to manage a significant
portion of its waste stream. Five large-scale projects were
in operation as of July 1997.
Studies have shown that recycling and energy recovery
can be compatible in New Jersey. Removing recyclables
from burning may increase the heat content of the
remaining waste and thus reduce the ash residue. Recy-
cling also cuts capital costs significantly because the
waste-to-energy facilities could be smaller. Five facilities
were in operation as of July 1997.
What Makes New Jersey's
Program Unique?
New Jersey's mandatory recycling law provided for
the funding of state, county, and municipal efforts
through a $1.50/ton facilities surcharge. Through this, an
annual revenue of $12 million was anticipated. This fund
initially supported New Jersey's Office of Recycling,
which received 7% of the total amount annually to run
the program. Counties received 8% for program grants
and also received funding for education programs.
Municipalities received 40% of the fund in tonnage
rebates. A market development study to focus on recycla-
bles such as tires, paper, and plastic beverage containers
was funded at about $200,000. The recycling surcharge
sunset December 31, 1996.
The law encouraged industries to purchase new
recycling equipment by allowing them to receive a 50%
tax credit. Moreover, a number of the law's provisions
helped stimulate markets for recyclables. For instance, by
1989, at least 45% of the amount of money spent for
paper purchased by the state had to be spent for recycled
paper. Further, the State Department of Transportation
was encouraged to use recycled material in its asphalt. In
addition, priority was given to using leaf compost material
in maintaining public land.
Each county designates a recycling coordinator and is
responsible for plan development. Municipalities have
additional responsibilities. They must
• Designate a recycling coordinator
• Provide for collection
• Require source separation of its designated recyclables
• Develop recycling plans for new development
• Submit tonnage grant reports
• Publicize the recycling program at least every
6 months
• Require separate leaf collection during fall months.
By April 1990, the first report to the New Jersey
Legislature documented progress under the law; and
the recycling surcharge was continued until December
31, 1996. The surcharge maybe reauthorized.
Obstacles Overcome
The main obstacle has been to get 100% county and
municipal participation. State, county, and municipal
recycling coordinators continue to work together to over-
come this obstacle. This land of network helps stimulate
activity, encourages interprogram support, and promotes
information exchange.
More and more county and community programs
are joining the recycling effort. Before the program
was mandatory, the tonnage grants provided a strong
incentive to recycling. The tonnage grant program has
also paid off as more complete waste data are collected,
helping the state plan ahead. An ongoing challenge is to
continue market development efforts to create demand
for products made with recycled materials.
Program Contact
For further information about New Jersey's program,
contact Guy Watson at 609-984-3438, or write to:
Guy Watson, Chief
Bureau of Recycling and Planning
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection
401 East State Street (P.O. Box 414)
Trenton, NJ 08625
E-mail can be sent to gwatson@DEP.state.NJ
or visit the New Jersey Recycling Website at
http:\\www.state.nj.us.dep/DSHW/recycle
-------
New York City
Type of Program
A leaf collection program that teams up the Depart-
ment of Sanitation (DOS) and the Parks Department to
restore degraded parklands and restore wildlife habitat.
Community Overview
New York City's five boroughs generate 26,000 tons
per day of combined commercial, residential, and insti-
tutional waste. Compostable materials make up approxi-
mately 20% of this total (or 5,000 tons per day).
Background
The need to increase composting became crucial with
the announcement in 1996 of the closure of the Fresh
Kills landfill at the end of 2001. Since then, the DOS has
developed several composting programs. In one such
program, DOS partnered with the Parks Department to
develop composting sites on a decentralized basis.
Program Description
The DOS and Parks Department are working
together to create composting sites that also improve
parkland. Although the sites are officially classified as
parkland, they are not usable parks. Sites are filled with
household garbage, construction debris, sand dredged
from the harbor, and rubble removed from postwar
London and used as ballast on trans-Atlantic ships.
According to Marc Matsil, director of the Natural
Resources Group of the Parks Department, "Improving
the soil with compost will allow the seeding of native
flora, which will provide improved wildlife habitat and
restore the visual integrity of the sites."
The Parks Department provides the site, and DOS
provides the compost through leaf collection. As of the
fall of 1997, DOS is collecting leaves in Staten Island
(3,000 tons/year) and in the Bronx (1,500 tons/year). By
1999, Brooklyn and Queens will be added to the pro-
gram, with projected collections of 8,000 tons and 13,500
tons, respectively.
What Makes New York City's
Program Unique?
By teaming with the Parks Department, DOS can
create composting sites throughout the city. This helps
to reduce transportation costs because leaves collected
in one borough do not need to be transferred to a
composting site in another borough.
22
-------
Obstacles Overcome
When a partnership such as this is proposed, there is
often concern that the problem will simply be transferred
from one department to another. It was important for
DOS to assuage any concerns the Parks Department
might have. In developing the memorandum of under-
standing, DOS included several provisions to reassure the
Parks Department that the arrangement would serve both
departments' interests.
In addition, when the city first began to undertake this
program, funding had not been secured—not when the
request for proposals (RFP) went out, not when the ven-
dor was selected, and not when the contract was signed.
(The contract stipulated that the arrangement was subject
to available funding.) The advantage with undertaking
these efforts early was that, when the funds became avail-
able about a year after the contract was signed, DOS
could go forward with the program immediately. Because
RFP, vendor selection, and contract processes can take up
to 2 years, DOS's early legwork clearly paid off.
Program Contact
For further information about the New York City's
program, contact Robert Lange at (212) 837-8156 or
write to:
Robert Lange
Director, Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse,
and Recycling
Department of Sanitation
City of New York
44 Beaver Street, 6th floor
New York, NY 10004
23
-------
Oregon
Type of Program
Law requiring recycling opportunities, public educa-
tion and promotion, and recycled content.
State Overview
Oregon's 3.2 million people live in small cities and
towns and in the major urban area centered around
Portland. For recycling program purposes, the state is
divided into 35 "wastesheds," mostly along county lines.
The state's strong timber industry provides a market for
recycled paper and cardboard in its pulp and paper mills.
Oregon has been in the forefront of environmental con-
sciousness, with residents recycling 90% of beer and soft
drink containers and 70% of newspaper and cardboard.
Background
Oregon's recycling programs are designed to offer
opportunities—not requirements—for residents to
recycle. The 1991 Oregon Recycling Law established
recycling responsibilities for local governments beyond
the requirements in the 1983 Recycling Opportunity Act,
which required recycling depots, monthly curbside collec-
tion in larger cities, and public education programs.
The 1991 law also: (1) established a statewide recovery
rate of 50% by 2000; (2) required wastesheds not meeting
established 1995 recovery rates to implement two more
recycling program elements; and (3) created recycled
content levels for newsprint, directories, glass containers,
and rigid plastic containers.
Program Description
Cities with populations exceeding 4,000 must provide
at least three (four for cities over 10,000) recycling
program elements. The elements are: provision of recy-
cling bins to residents, weekly residential curbside collec-
tion, expanded education/promotion programs, an on-
route multifamily residence program, a commercial
program with regular onsite collection, expanded recy-
cling depots, a residential yard debris collection/compost-
ing program, residential garbage collection rates that
encourage waste reduction, or a commercial and institu-
tional composting program (added in 1997).
Of the 75 communities in Oregon with a population
of 4,000 or more, 95% offer residential curbside collec-
tion programs, and the remaining 5% have approved
alternative programs. More than half of the communities
have commercial collection programs, and one-fourth
have yard debris programs. Most provide an expanded
education and promotion program, and the commercial
sector has begun receiving additional recycling program
attention.
The state provides technical assistance to local gov-
ernments and recyclers to support their efforts. Oregon
also offers local governments recycling and waste reduc-
tion grants, which have been used to purchase recycling
bins and drop boxes, establish recycling drop-off centers,
and help with recycling education. Grants have proved
"Oregon's residential curbside programs
are well established and effective.
Commercial generators of solid waste recycle
much of their cardboard and office paper,
but often recycling opportunities for
additional materials are more limited.. .
Focusing additional program attention
on the commercial side may provide
more bang for our buck as we keep moving
toward the state's 50% recovery goal."
Paul Slyman, Manager of the Solid Waste
Policy and Program Section,
Department of Environmental Quality,
State of Oregon
-------
particularly useful in rural areas. Regional staff of the
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality serve as
information clearinghouses and technical resources for
local recycling programs throughout the state.
What Makes Oregon's
Program Unique?
Oregon's recovered paper has proven to be a valuable
substitute for lumber. Recovered paper combined with
mill and other wood wastes has provided raw materials for
the state's paper industry. Mills have made major invest-
ments in de-inking and other processes to accommodate
recovered materials, enjoying a 50% state tax credit on
these investments. Oregon's wood processing industry has
found new uses for wood chips and urban wood, such as
making high-quality fiberboard. The state's steel mills buy
scrap metal, and there are ample markets for glass and
aluminum. Many of Oregon's communities have easy
access to local and export markets. While Oregon has the
built-in advantage of good markets, the state has supplied
a steady stream of recovered materials to maintain these
markets.
Target recovery goals for wastesheds help maintain
a high profile for recycling. Legislation passed in 1997
requires cities and counties to adopt higher target
recovery goals.
Obstacles Overcome
Oregon's recycling efforts have successfully jumped
many hurdles. An ongoing challenge for the mostly rural
eastern two-thirds of the state is distance from major
markets. State recycling grants have been used to enhance
these smaller communities' abilities to prepare collected
materials for market through the purchase of items such
as balers, glass crushers, and storage buildings.
Although close to many markets, Oregon is distant
from major plastic markets. The 1991 Recycling Act with
its mandate for rigid plastic containers was instrumental
in increasing opportunities for recycling plastics. The
plastics industry assisted with purchases of equipment
such as balers and a "plastics recovery facility" with
automatic sorting capability by resin and color. Many
curbside programs now include plastic milk jugs and
other plastic bottles. Some programs accept all plastic
bottles, and some even include all rigid plastic containers
(including tubs). Oregon's recycling rate for rigid plastic
containers was estimated to be around 33% for 1996.
The rigid plastic container recycling law was changed
in 1995, however, to exempt food packaging (other than
beverages). This has reduced industry concerns about
maintaining robust plastic recycling opportunities. Several
voluntary plastic recycling programs in grocery stores
have closed down since then.
Program Contact
For further information about Oregon's program,
contact Peter Spendelow at (503) 229-5253 or write to:
Peter Spendelow
Waste Management and Cleanup
Division
Department of Environmental Quality
811 SW 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Curbside collection truck operated by Sanipac, a garbage
and recycling service in the Eugene and Springfield area.
25
-------
Perkasie Borough, Pennsylvania
Type of Program
A borough-run, unit-cost-based, trash and recycling
program that is mandatory for residents and voluntary for
businesses within the borough's limits.
Community Overview
Perkasie Borough covers 15,034 acres and is home to
more than 8,000 residents. This is the area serviced by
Perkasie Borough's trash and recycling crews.
Background
Prior to 1988, Perkasie residents had trash pickup
two times each week and paid a quarterly fee. In 1988,
Perkasie began its trash and recycling program under
ordinance No. 598 of the Borough Council. Under the
ordinance, curbside trash pickup is paid for through the
purchase of special "borough bags," which are available at
various locations throughout the borough.
Program Description
The purchase of a large or small bag is payment for
trash placed in that bag and deposited at curbside for
removal. This cost incentive is in place to promote recy-
cling; if residents participate in the program, trash costs
can be kept quite reasonable. The sale of borough trash
bags provides the program's main financial support, with
state grants being used to upgrade the program and its
associated equipment. Market prices for recycled mate-
rials are not consistent enough to rely on as income to
fully support the program.
There is no charge at this time for collection or drop-
off of recyclables. Glass and aluminum are picked up
curbside once a week, and newspaper and cardboard are
collected curbside once a month. These recyclable mate-
rials—along with tin cans, water and milk jugs, and plastic
soda bottles—can also be placed at a 24-hour drop-off site
located behind the Perkasie Borough Building.
26
-------
Perkasie also has a bulk trash pickup day for each
household each month. Tree limb chipping is provided
once a month by appointment, and leaves are collected
curbside during October and November each year. Tree
limb chippings are kept at a central location where resi-
dents can come pick them up. Leaves collected in
Perkasie Borough's program are used for three purposes:
• A local landscape supply company uses them to make
mulch for resale.
• Two local farmers use them to mulch their fields.
• Leaves from the borough's park system are ground,
along with other debris, and left for borough residents
to take on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What Makes Perkasie Borough's
Program Unique?
Perkasie Borough's recycling effort was one of the first
unit-based programs in the country. In this type of pro-
gram, residents pay only for units (special trash bags) in
which household trash is placed for collection, which
encourages recycling.
Obstacles Overcome
Perkasie experienced some resistance to the program
during the first year of its inception. Some residents
would burn trash, which violates local ordinances.
Recently, a few households have been noted using outside
haulers for trash removal. However, the number of resi-
dents using these haulers has been minimal. It has not
been necessary to fine violators in order to regulate this
activity. Perkasie attributes the minimum number of vio-
lations to the educational programs it has presented from
the start of its recycling effort.
Program Contact
For further information about Perkasie Borough's
recycling program, contact Linda Mentzer at (215) 257-
5065 to request the current trash and recycling report or
write to:
Linda Mentzer
Perkasie Borough Recycling Program
311 S. Ninth Street
P.O. Box 275
Perkasie, PA 18944
27
-------
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type of Program
Urban neighborhood drop-off program with cash
incentive.
Philadelphia Partnership
Recycling Program
Community Overview
Ten urban neighborhoods scattered throughout
Philadelphia participate in the Partnership Recycling
Program. The Streets Department and PhilaPride, a
nonprofit environmental organization, support and
administer the program.
Background
The Partnership Recycling Program grew out of the
block corner collection program developed in 1985 by
Queen Village, a central Philadelphia neighborhood. By
1993, there were 16 neighborhoods involved, together
collecting about 2,000 tons of recyclables a year. In 1993,
when the city's recycling program extended curbside
collection to all residential premises, the block corner
program had evolved into a new community-based
recycling program.
The city offered the community groups a deal: if you
can beat our unit cost of collecting curbside and disposing
of trash, we will pay you some of the savings. This new
program was based on the premise that city savings
from the very efficient block corner collection would be
shared with participating community groups. Thus, Part-
nership Recycling was born. Three community drop-off
programs joined the Partnership and became the nucleus
of the program when the block corner program ended.
Program Description
On the first and third Saturday mornings of each
month, residents take their mixed paper, plastics, and old
clothing to designated drop-off locations in 10
Philadelphia communities. Volunteers help load the mate-
rials onto city-operated trucks or stack recyclables for city
collection at the end of the drop-off period. Additionally,
New Threads, a nonprofit group dedicated to job training
through clothing recycling, collects old clothing from the
Partnership sites.
City crews deliver the mixed paper and plastics to
scrap mills. The mills may pay or charge for materials,
depending on current market value.
Through PhilaPride, the city pays the community
groups for the tons of materials they divert from the
waste stream. Since the program began in 1993, the city
has distributed over $150,000 in incentive money to
community groups for their recycling efforts. The incen-
tive funds, the cost of the city's collection service, mill
charges if any, and program administration costs are
derived from money the city would otherwise have spent
on trash collection and disposal.
The community groups, in turn, fund local good
works: street beautification and sanitation, community
gardens and parks, community education and communi-
cation, public safety, and social programs. Examples
-------
include tree plantings, purchase of playground and grafitti
removal equipment, community newsletter publication,
support of police mini-stations, meal and house rehabili-
tation programs for the homeless, nursery and afterschool
programs, train station landscaping, and a tree nursery
operated by school children. Program policies allow for
local innovation within spending guidelines.
What Makes Partnership
Recycling Unique?
The unique feature of Partnership Recycling is that
tax dollars are diverted away from landfill disposal and
trash collection and into good works at the neighborhood
scale. Other important features include:
• Community groups earn incentives based on the cost-
effectiveness of their efforts to collect and load materi-
als. The lower the city's per-ton cost for collection, the
higher the community group's per-ton cash incentive.
• Volunteers see the benefit of their efforts in the public
life of their neighborhoods - both the good works
funded and the increased contact between neighbors
on recycling day.
• Trash is converted to scrap commodities.
• Partnership Recycling provides the city with a source
of innovative ideas and volunteer energy to pilot test
colletion of additional materials prior to collection in
its curbside recycling program.
• Volunteers and city sanitation crews work side by side
for a common purpose.
Bob Pierson, coordinator for the Partnership
Recycling program, believes there is wide
applicability of the program's shared savings
feature to other municipalities: "Partnership
Recycling is a great way for citizen volunteers
to earn funds for local good works using
public funds which would otherwise pay
for trash collection and disposal."
The neighborhood uses the proceeds
for block improvement projects.
• The program provides Philadelphia citizens with an
opportunity to recycle plastics after they were dropped
from the city's curbside program.
Obstacles Overcome
Recruiting new members and helping them reach
cost-effective levels of recycling is a challenge. Program
administrators are able to do this through technical assis-
tance and program flexibility.
Partnership Recycling directs incentive payments to
community groups, mainly in middle class neighbor-
hoods. Program elements are now being designed to
extend incentive payments to individuals to increase par-
ticipation in recycling in low-income neighborhoods.
Program Contact
For further information about partnership recycling,
contact Bob Pierson at (215) 925-5971 or through the
internet: piersonrob@aol.com; or write to:
Bob Pierson
Partnership Program Coordinator
PhilaPride
1818 Market Street, Suite 3510
Philadelphia, PA 19103
-------
Pitt County, North Carolina
Type of Program
A regional recycling program under partnership with
a nonprofit organization serving mentally and physically
challenged citizens.
Community Overview
Located in eastern North Carolina, Pitt County has
a population of 110,000. The county is home to Eastern
Carolina Vocational Center (ECVC), a nonprofit corpo-
ration dedicated to providing training and jobs to the
mentally and physically challenged.
Background
In the mid-1980s, Pitt County residents requested that
a countywide recycling program be established. Since
ECVC had been involved with recycling since 1974 when
it began processing newspaper and cardboard at a rate of
about 1 million pounds per year, the county decided to
partner with the nonprofit organization.
The partnership began with the county appropriating
$25,000 to upgrade the processing capacity of ECVC's
recycling programs, while ECVC agreed to double its
processing rate. In 1987, the county purchased a high-
density baler to increase capacity and overseas market-
ability. Within 4 years, the county had converted all
14 solid waste collection sites into recycling centers, seven
of which also serve as transfer stations for municipalities.
In 1993, the county invested nearly $1 million to
construct and supply a materials recovery facility (MRF)
using existing ECVC buildings, land, and equipment.
Program Description
Trash and recyclables arrive at ECVC by different
routes. Within Pitt County, the City of Greenville
collects trash and recyclables and tranports them directly
to ECVC. Other cities contract with waste haulers, who
bring the materials to one of seven transfer sites. Citizens
living in the unincorporated areas of Pitt County can
bring their trash and recyclables to one of the 14 recy-
cling centers strategically located throughout the county.
The county transports the materials from the recycling
centers/transfer sites to the landfill and ECVC, respec-
tively.
Several cities outside of Pitt County also participate,
with the haulers going directly to ECVC. ECVC also
receives materials from its own trucks, which serve large
industries and a military base.
The recycling centers accept commingled materials,
including aluminum scrap, lead acid batteries, used motor
oil, yard waste, used clothing, and prepared farm chemical
containers. About one-third of county residents recycle
consistently, while just over half participate less regularly.
The MRF operates two conveyor systems, one for
handling separated recyclables and one for commingled
materials. For the latter, most materials are separated by
30
-------
hand; steel cans are removed using a magnet. Once com-
pletely separated, materials from both systems are baled
(glass is placed in large containers) and transported to
markets. The income from the recycling is used to pay
the MRF's operating expenses, which are estimated at
$900,000 annually. If quarterly gross revenue does not
exceed $225,000, the county has committed to pay up to
$100,000 per year to make up the shortfall. Because the
figure is tied to gross revenue, the county will not be sub-
sidizing inefficiency; rather, this is a safety net for ECVC
if the recyclables market were to plunge.
Of its 146 employees, ECVC has 36 working in the
MRF, two-thirds of whom have physical or mental
impairments. They processed over 57 million pounds of
recyclables in FY1995-96, reducing the county's disposal
fees by approximately $840,000.
What Makes Pitt County's
Program Unique?
Beside providing a simple method of recycling for all
county residents at minimal costs, Pitt County's program
created meaningful, productive jobs for 24 individuals
who are physically or mentally challenged.
Obstacles Overcome
Extensive negotiations were required to establish an
arrangement that was agreeable to both the county and
ECVC. The county was going to provide over $1 million
in buildings and equipment; however, if ECVC went
bankrupt, those materials could be seized. As a result,
ECVC deeded all of its land and buildings to the county
with a 20-year lease agreement, at which time all the land,
buildings, and equipment would revert to ECVC. Under
this agreement, the county relinquished the right to sell
the property, providing some security for ECVC.
Program Contact
For further information about Pitt County's program,
contact Doug Bonds at (919) 758-4188 or write to:
Doug Bonds
Marketing Manager
Eastern Carolina Vocational Center
P.O. Box 1686
Greenville, NC 27834
-------
Rikers Island, New York
Type of Program
Food scrap composting converted by solar panels into
electricity at a municipal prison system.
Community Overview
Rikers Island, sited on a former landfill near New
York City, is the largest municipal prison system in the
United States. The 17,000 inmates and 7,000 officers
generate more than 20 tons of food residuals per day.
Background
The need to increase composting at the prison
became crucial in 1996 with the announcement that the
Fresh Kills landfill, where Rikers Island disposes of its
food waste, would close at the end of 2001.
Program Description
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DOS)
constructed a $5 million, fully enclosed composting facili-
ty on Rikers Island. Food scraps from inmates and officers
are composted using a concrete bay technology specific-
ally designed for this type of waste. Food residuals are
mixed with shredded corrugated cardboard, also gener-
ated by prison kitchens. Finished compost will be used to
amend soil on Rikers Island.
Although it takes 3 months to complete composting,
the project diverts from Fresh Kills at least 6 tons of food
residuals per day. At least three prisons are participating
now, and eventually all eight major prisons will partici-
pate. More efficient collection programs are being
designed and implemented, and facility operators are
perfecting the compost "recipe."
What Makes the Rikers Island
Program Unique?
The compost facility installed 216 photovoltaic
(i.e., solar) panels as roofing tiles. These panels generate
approximately 150 kilowatt hours per day of electricity.
Obstacles Overcome
As with the City of New York's composting in park-
lands project, cooperation with another city department
requires a recognition of that department's priorities.
The DOS had to address the Department of Corrections'
safety and security concerns, particularly during construc-
tion. Security issues added approximately 10% to con-
struction costs.
In addition, the DOS suggested this project to the
Bureau of Prisons at a time when the population at Rikers
Island was decreasing. By the time the prison population
began to increase, the land for the composting facility had
already been dedicated to the project. This timing was
crucial to the success of the program, as it would not have
been approved when the prison population was rising.
Program Contact
For further information about this program, contact
Robert Lange at (212) 837-8156 or write to:
Robert Lange
Director, Bureau of Waste
Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling
Department of Sanitation
City of New York
44 Beaver Street, 6th floor
New York, NY 10004
32
-------
Riverdale Village, Maryland
Type of Program
Demolition pilot project that used deconstruction
waste diversion and recycling techniques.
Project Overview
The U.S. Department of Housing and Development
(HUD) owns Riverdale Village, which, prior to decon-
struction, consisted of a four-unit public housing project
in an urban area of Baltimore County, Maryland. The
building, erected prior to 1950, was constructed with
exterior structural brick and interior stick framed with
wood. An important project objective was to provide
information on salvage value and labor requirements for
brick and light-framed structures.
Background
Many demolition firms and private/public property
owners have questions about how and under what condi-
tions deconstruction (building disassembly and salvage)
is a cost-effective alternative to demolition. HUD, the
owner of Riverdale Village, supports deconstruction
because of the employment opportunities it can provide
public housing residents. Deconstruction creates more
jobs than demolition because it is labor-intensive and
relies primarily on the use of hand tools and "people
power" to take buildings apart. It also presents an oppor-
tunity to teach job skills to people currently unemployed.
To address these concerns, EPA and the National
Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHB-
RC) conducted a pilot project at Riverdale Village.
Program Description
Deconstruction workers salvaged common building
materials such as brick, framing lumber, hardwood floor-
ing, windows, doors, and assorted fixtures. The project
diverted 96.5 tons of construction materials. Salvaged
items were sold at an onsite sale and earned a total of
$2,440. Unsold items were donated to a construction
material reuse organization in Baltimore, Maryland.
By volume, 70% of all materials from the building
were salvaged or recycled. The research team docu-
mented the time required to manually disassemble and
salvage/recycle/dispose of 25 different building materials.
Commodities that have wide application, such as framing
lumber, were relatively easily sold for approximately 50%
of full, new retail value. However, the pilot found that the
more finished and use-specific materials, such as windows,
have a much lower proportion of retail value and require
more intensive and targeted marketing. The research
team also documented the time required to manually
disassemble and salvage/recycle/dispose of 25 different
building materials. It was determined that approximately
half of the labor was spent on disassembly and half was
spent on "processing" (denailing, sorting, stacking).
Therefore, manual disassembly of light-frame (low-rise
residential) buildings represents an excellent opportunity
to identify and develop low-skilled workers with an
aptitude and interest in the building trades. The environ-
mental benefits of deconstruction were calculated as
decreased disturbance to the site, conserved landfill space,
energy saved by reused materials replacing new building
33
-------
materials, and decreased airborne lead, asbestos, and
nuisance dust at and around the job site.
What Makes the Riverdale
Program Unique?
By using Riverdale as an example, the pilot project was
able to lay out a wide range of environmental, regulatory,
worker, and logistical issues that must be addressed prior
to the start of deconstruction work. Additionally, it
addressed issues that affect the overall process of building
removal.
Obstacles Overcome
It is not possible for a single case study to compre-
hensively address each of the issues the building removal
industry faces. However, the Riverdale pilot project
was designed to address, to the fullest extent possible,
the issues that affect the overall process of building
removal. The Riverdale pilot project report lays out
recommendations for future work on deconstruction in
general and on the Riverdale project in particular.
Program Contact
A hard copy of the Riverdale case study can be
obtained by calling the HomeBase Hotline at the NAHB-
RC (1-800-898-2842). The Riverdale pilot project case
study can also be downloaded from the EPA Internet site
. For further information about
the Riverdale project and other deconstruction projects,
contact Robin Snyder by telephone at (202) 260-8331 or
write to:
Robin Snyder (2127)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail can be sent to
-------
San Jose, California
Type of Program
Integrated waste management includes curbside
collection of recyclables and yard trimmings, privatized
commercial garbage and recyclables collection, programs
to promote recycling at city facilities, and economic
incentives to reduce waste generation.
SAN JOSE
CAPITAL OF SILICON VALLEY
Community Overview
San Jose is a major metropolitan area of approximately
845,000 people that lies at the southern end of San
Francisco Bay. Although four landfills currently handle
San Jose's waste, the city has a long-standing tradition of
commitment to the environment. This commitment grew
in response to a disposal crisis in the early 1980s and
highlighted the need for the city to diversify its waste
management strategy.
Background
The city of San Jose administers one of the largest
waste management programs in the nation. Their inte-
grated waste management program is designed to con-
serve natural resources and protect public health. It is also
designed to meet the State of California's requirement to
reduce the amount of landfilled waste by 50% by 2000.
The city has pursued this goal through curbside col-
lection of traditional recyclables, yard trimmings, furni-
ture, appliances, motor oil, corrugated cardboard, and
much more. Residents are also charged a volume-based
collection fee, thus providing an economic incentive to
recycle.
Efforts have certainly paid off. In fiscal year 1996-
1997, the city diverted 44% of its waste stream from
landfills and is well on its way to meeting the State's goal
of 50% by 2000.
Program Description
San Jose's waste management program consists of
intensive recycling efforts in the residential, commercial,
and civic sectors. This is combined with source reduction,
outreach efforts, and technical assistance to businesses.
In the residential sector, the curbside program reaches
188,000 single-family households and 80,000 multiple-
family households. Under San Jose's Recycle Plus pro-
gram, which started in 1993, it is possible for residents to
recycle up to 80% of their waste stream. As a result of
such intensive recycling efforts, the city collected over
80,000 tons of recyclables in fiscal year 1995-1996 alone.
Participants in the commercial sector can choose any
of a number of private haulers to handle their solid waste.
These haulers must be permitted by the City, but other-
wise may operate without any restrictions on their hauling
districts or rates. Recylables collection works on the same
principles.
San Jose, unlike many other municipalities, allows
recyclables haulers to charge their commercial customers
for their services. The city, however, assesses additional
fees on commercial solid waste collection but not on
recyclables collection. Thus, the price of recycling is still
lower compared to garbage collection, providing a finan-
cial incentive for businesses to recycle.
The city's waste management staff also provides tech-
nical assistance to encourage businesses to recycle and to
assist those who decide to do so. This same staff also
manages San Jose's Recycling Market Development
Zone program. Its purpose is to increase the number of
manufacturers who make new products from collected
recyclables.
For city-owned facilities, the city has established
contracts with waste haulers, which provide flexible rate
schedules and service levels for all city departments. The
-------
city has also established the Recycle at Work program to
increase the amount of material recycled at city work-
places, increase awareness of solid waste issues, and
reduce the city's overall cost for garbage collection and
disposal.
What Makes San Jose's
Program Unique?
San Jose's intensive recycling program, Recycle Plus,
has accounted for much of its success in the residential
sector. As a part of outreach, the Recycle Plus program
will undertake several new projects including greater
emphasis on source reduction, establishing a web page,
producing a promotional video, and conducting a cam-
paign to thank its participants.
The Recycle Plus program has largely been about
educating residents concerning the need to reduce waste;
but, as it reaches maturity, the outreach program is shift-
ing its efforts to educate residents about source reduction
of waste. Recycle Plus has implemented several new out-
reach efforts such as using recycled materials at holiday
gift wrapping tables at local malls and shopping cart
"waste prevention assessments" at local supermarkets.
Beginning in fiscal year 1997-1998, Recycle Plus will
begin a campaign to show residents how they can lead
more sustainable lifestyles.
A pilot program is also under way to increase the effi-
ciency of the curbside yard waste program. The program
will use compostable bags for waste collection.
Obstacles Overcome
Through a carefully constructed strategy implemented
over several years, San Jose has successfully changed its
entire waste system from one that relied solely on landfill-
ing to one that emphasizes recycling and waste reduction
as primary goals.
The main problem with such a large and diverse
stream of recyclables is finding markets for them. The
city has itself undertaken projects to find markets for food
waste and mattress components. Other projects have been
funded by grants to institutions such as San Jose State
University.
Funding of the expanded waste management program
as a whole is also a major concern. Because many of San
Jose's contract payments are based on the number of
households served, the growing population will increase
the cost of providing garbage and recycling services.
Although the costs of all of the city's programs are
currently being met, steps have also been taken to ensure
their long-term financial security. The city has passed on
much of the responsibility for many public education
activities to its contracted waste haulers. This has permit-
ted a 65% decrease in the actual public education budget.
In addition, the city has renegotiated its contract with its
waste haulers, resulting ina$12 to $16 million dollar
savings over the next 7 years.
With its progressive and efficient integrated waste
management program, San Jose will undoubtedly con-
tinue its role as a leader in waste management innovation.
i ->.
\i
v'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle PlusR1
'
City of San Jose
Environmental Services Department
Program Contact
For further information about San Jose's program,
contact Jo Zientek at (408) 277-5533 or write to:
Jo Zientek
Environmental Services Department
777 North First Street,
Suite 450
San Jose, CA 95112
-------
Santa Monica, California
Type of Program
"Recycling zones" and other strategies to offer
convenient recycling options for residents of multifamily
dwellings.
SANTA MONICA
RECYCLE!
Community Overview
Santa Monica is a city of 87,000 people, 83% of whom
live in multifamily housing. The city encompasses an area
of about 8-1/2 square miles along southern California's
coastline.
Background
Santa Monica's recycling efforts began in the early
1980s with California Waste Management Board grants.
After funding a feasibility study and preliminary design
for the recycling program, the state provided a second
grant for purchasing equipment, improving existing recy-
cling sites, and starting a public relations campaign.
Santa Monica uses four facilities to dispose of its
nonrecycled refuse. Most trash goes to a county-owned
landfill whose capacity is increasingly limited. Two other
disposal facilities are privately owned, and the fourth is a
municipally operated waste-to-energy facility.
State law requires all cities to reduce the amount of
refuse disposed at landfills by 50% of 1990 levels by the
year 2000. To meet this mandate, the city has implement-
ed a variety of waste reduction programs.
Program Description
Although Santa Monica provides curbside recycling
for its single-family and low-density multifamily house-
holds, the large number of residents living in high-density
multifamily dwellings required the city to make it conve-
nient for them to recycle.
As part of the solution, the city developed its "recy-
cling zone" concept. Recycling zones are sites that offer a
set of 2-cubic-yard bins for recyclable cans, glass and plas-
tic, newspapers, and mixed paper. Initially located in
public alleys throughout the city, recycling zones have
since been placed at city hall, the civic center, public
parks, beach parking lots, and several private housing
developments. The zone program began with 40 sites but
has expanded to more than 110 sites, serving the 35,000
high-density multifamily households.
The recycling zones are serviced by municipal crews.
A frontloader truck collects materials from approximately
60 bins per day. Zone materials, as well as curbside recy-
clables, are taken to the Santa Monica Community
Recycling Center, whose operations the city has privately
contracted. Materials are sorted, baled, and prepared for
shipment to end users. The recycling center also operates
a buy-back and drop-off center that is open to the general
public.
-------
Other noncurbside recycling efforts include the refuse
and recycling transfer station, which accepts scrap metal,
refrigerators, green waste, wood waste, and automobile
tires. The city has contracted with a labor agency that
employs homeless individuals to salvage materials from
the transfer station. Four parks join the transfer station in
collecting 6,000 trees for the annual Christmas Tree
Recycling Roundup. A household hazardous waste collec-
tion center accepts paint, thinners, solvents, pesticides,
motor oil, batteries, pool acids, household cleaners, and
similar types of waste from residents at no charge.
Unused paints are made available free to the public.
Other efforts to reduce refuse in Santa Monica include
a fee-for-volume billing system for refuse collection and
selling subsidized backyard composting bins. In addition,
a concrete and asphalt crushing operation annually
recycles more than 100,000 tons of municipal and private
contractor debris and sells it as base aggregate for con-
struction purposes.
What Makes Santa Monica's
Program Unique?
A unique feature of Santa Monica's program is that it
is pervasive. In a small area—not even 9 square miles—
over 100 recycling zones are available to the general pub-
lic. No resident in a multifamily dwelling is farther than
one-third of a mile from a recycling zone, and many are
less than two blocks. The city has also begun to provide
68-gallon carts in individual buildings, making recycling
even easier for those in multifamily residences.
This success is due in part to the city's layout. As an
old city, Santa Monica has many alleys, where most recy-
cling zones are located. According to a city official:
"Without all the alleys, we couldn't do it to the extent we
have." Recycling zones are not limited to alleys, however.
By putting them in the parking lots for city parks and
other public locations, Santa Monica further increases
citizen participation in recycling programs.
Obstacles Overcome
Since implementing its recycling program, Santa
Monica has had to contend with scavengers. The chal-
lenge is to make it easy for the public to deposit materials
while making it difficult for scavengers to remove them.
To help overcome the problem at recycling zones, the city
modified the bins several times to help deter scavenging.
(To deter scavenging in the curbside collection areas, the
city plans to allow residents to commingle their recy-
clables in a single container.)
Illegal dumping has been a problem at some of the
recycling zones. Some residents leave miscellaneous
items at the recycling bins, presumably because they
believe the items will be recycled. This requires the city
to monitor the sites closely and dispatch cleanup crews to
ensure that debris does not accumulate.
Program Contact
For further information about Santa Monica's recy-
cling program, contact Santa Monica Recycle at (310)
458-2223 or write to:
City of Santa Monica
Santa Monica Recycle
2500 Michigan Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
For further information about Santa Monica's house-
hold hazardous waste program, contact (310) 458-8227 or
write to:
City of Santa Monica
Environmental Programs
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
-------
Seattle, Washington
Type of Program
Two-zone recycling, curbside collection, and drop-off
centers utilizing private-sector collectors.
was laid for Seattle to begin its plan for recycling. In
addition, the city completed a comprehensive planning
initiative that included a 10-volume environmental impact
statement on waste reduction, recycling, and disposal
alternatives.
Community Overview
A city surrounded by the Cascade and Olympic moun-
tain ranges and Puget Sound, Seattle is home to about
530,000 people. Its port is also central to a large interna-
tional shipping industry.
Background
In 1988, the City Council established a goal of recy-
cling 40% of all commercial and residential waste
generated within the city by 1991. This goal increased to
50% by 1993 and 60% by 1998. Seattle's residential solid
waste is managed by a city utility and financed through an
enterprise fund. Rates are the source of revenue. For
years, Seattle managed all parts of the garbage system,
from collection contracts to transfer stations to long-haul
transfer to city-owned and -operated landfills. But by
1986, both of the city's landfills had to be closed because
they had explosive levels of methane gas migrating offsite
and were subsequently listed as Superfund sites. The city
had no choice but to contract with surrounding King
County for landfill disposal. Disposal rates rose from $11
a ton to $31.50 a ton. In addition, closure of the two old
landfills would cost $76 million. These skyrocketing costs
were the bane of the old-style solid waste management
system, but a boon to a system that incorporates waste
reduction, recycling, and composting. Thus, the ground
Program Description
Early in 1988, Seattle began residential curbside col-
lection, servicing 147,000 households—all single-unit
through four-unit residences in the City utilizing private-
sector collectors. Two different collection strategies are
being tested.
In the south, residents can recycle mixed paper, tin
and aluminum cans, glass jars and bottles, cardboard, plas-
tics, ferrous metals, and aluminum foil with the curbside
and alley program just by signing up. Participating house-
holds receive a sturdy plastic container on wheels that has
a lid and is suitable for outdoor storage. A free calendar
tells them which day to wheel their carts to the curb or
alley for emptying.
The program, serving 78,500 households, is run by
Recycle Seattle, a subsidiary of Rabanco, Inc., a large,
locally owned waste management company. Recyclables
are collected in old rear-loading trucks, then processed in
a new recycling facility. This 80,000-square-foot facility
processes both commercial waste with a high percentage
of recyclables and the commingled material collected
from curbside.
39
-------
North of the ship canal, Recycle America, a division
of Waste Management, Inc., serves 69,800 households.
Four stacking containers are provided: one for glass con-
tainers and aluminum and tin cans, a second for mixed
scrap paper, a third for newspaper, and a fourth for
number one and two plastics. Cardboard is set out next to
the containers. A compartmentalized recycling truck col-
lects the material. Recycle America separates the glass,
aluminum, and tin with a combination of hand and
mechanical sorting. Seattle paid $89.15 per ton in 1996.
The payment is based solely on markets for secondary
material. As markets improve, the City pays less; as
markets worsen, the City pays more. In 1995, when
markets were up, the City paid $50.22 per ton.
Seattle has an active household hazardous waste col-
lection program. There are two permanently staffed drop
sites open a total of 36 hours a week.
The city requires mandatory yard waste separation
from household trash. Yard waste represents 20% of the
generated residential waste stream. The city will pick it
up at the curb or alley for $4.25 a month and take it to a
composting facility. Grass clippings, leaves, branches,
brush, and sod are accepted. At transfer stations, the util-
ity accepts clean yard waste in a program called Clean
Green. The brush, grass, and leaves are transferred to a
private composting facility for processing.
The utility also provides recycling drop boxes at its
two transfer stations, receiving all the traditional materials
from aluminum cans to cardboard to used motor oil to
white goods to some not-so-traditional materials such as
mattresses.
households had signed up in the north end; 48.7% had
signed up in the south end. The city-wide signup rate is
over 90%.
Obstacles Overcome
Successful implementation of such a large program in
such a short time required both extensive promotion and
responsive customer service representatives in the city's
solid waste utility. The utility manages all promotional
efforts but carries them out in conjunction with the two
contractors.
Two all-city mailings kicked off the program.
Customers were asked to sign up to receive a recycling
container. Public service announcements were also run on
television. Once the initial rush of signups was over, there
was a continuing effort to advertise and promote the pro-
gram to encourage more participation. The utility staffs
booths at street fairs, works crowds at festivals, and will
soon have bus placards around the city. The utility regu-
larly creates media events to get coverage.
After overcoming initial obstacles such as a city fire
code that did not allow plastic garbage containers and
insufficient staff to handle calls during the initial signup
period, Seattle is very pleased with the results of its
program.
Today, Seattle's residential recycling rate is nearly
50%, and it is writing a new comprehensive plan that will
guide efforts to reach the 60% goal. Recycling is a signifi-
cant part of Seattle's solid waste management system.
What Makes Seattle's
Program Unique?
Seattle's experiment with two different collection
systems for recyclables should provide some interesting
information and lessons for other cities. Both programs
are voluntary.
The two-zone program began in February 1988. By
August, 2,600 tons of material were being collected each
month, a significant amount of material for such a new
program. By the end of October, 72.1% of the eligible
Program Contact
For further information about Seattle's program,
contact:
Seattle Public Utilities
Resources Planning Division
710 2nd Avenue
llth Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
or visit the website at www.panci.seattlewa.us/util
-------
University City, Missouri
Type of Program
Leaf collection and composting yielding market
demand.
Community Overview
University City, located just outside of St. Louis, MO,
is a diverse cultural community widely known for its
abundance of deciduous trees. The city's population is
approximately 41,000.
Background
Throughout its history, University City has main-
tained a strong commitment to the environment. The city
is very proud of its proactive involvement in this arena.
Examples of the city's achievements date back to the early
1970s, when one of the country's first curbside newspaper
recycling programs was initiated. Shortly thereafter, the
city built its own transfer station in an effort to defer the
rising costs associated with landfilling material. At the
same time, studies showed that leaves represented an esti-
mated 15% of the waste stream. Armed with this infor-
mation, University City once again responded by estab-
lishing a comprehensive yard waste recycling program.
Since that time, the city's recycling program has evolved
to include its own Materials Recovery System, allowing
the city to better market a wide variety of materials, and a
biannual leaf collection program and compost facility.
Program Description
The University City leaf collection and composting
program, which was established in 1983, set out to
accomplish two very distinct goals:
• To decrease the amount of material entering the
landfill
• To raise the awareness of residents concerning
responsible yard waste management practices.
The collection of leaves is handled by city crews and a
private hauler. The program lasts for 9 weeks in the fall
and 3 weeks in the spring. Annually, 20,000 to 25,000
cubic yards of leaves are collected. The leaves are then
transported to a 1.5-acre tract of unimproved park land
and placed in windrows located adjacent to the city golf
course and many residential and business properties.
When the material has decomposed sufficiently, it is
made available to the city's residents and the city's own
operations. The material is also available to commercial
landscaping companies for a modest fee of $6 per cubic
yard.
What Makes University City's
Program Unique?
The city, with its rich history and focus on environ-
mental concerns, will continue this commitment well into
the 21st century. Always seeking to provide quality service
in the most convenient and cost-effective ways, the city's
recycling program continues to explore new avenues.
Currently, efforts are being made in the marketing of
the compost to aid in farming and as a control for land
erosion. The city's curbside recycling program, which
includes both single and multifamily households, is being
expanded to offer the same services to all of the city's
public schools.
Research has shown that, through responsible solid
waste management techniques, not only is valuable land-
fill space spared but a large cost to the city can be pre-
vented. University City estimates that the city saves
$110,000 annually by separating yard waste from the
waste stream and composting it.
Obstacles Overcome
Due to the size and location of the facility, decompo-
sition rates and odor control can be concerns for the city.
Close monitoring of factors such as the carbon/nitrogen
ratio, wind direction, and proper turning of the compost
piles has thus far eliminated any major problems.
Program Contact
For further information about University City's pro-
gram, contact Moses Head at (314) 862-6767, ext. 264,
or write to:
Moses Head
Environmental Coordinator
Department of Public Works
6801 Delmar Boulevard
University City, MO 63130
-------
1.
This shows a vacuum loader towed
behind a truck, picking up leaves
from the street gutter. The loader
blows leaves through a flexible
connection into a box mounted on
the towing vehicle.
2.
When the 17-cubic-yard box is filled, the truck
disconnects from the loader and hauls the
shredded leaves to a processing area on
unimproved park land. The truck then returns
to a route, where it is reconnected to the
original or another loader.
3.
An aerator/pulverizer mounted on a wheel
loader further shreds and piles leaves
in the processing area. The machine
uses 3-foot-diameter paddles on a
horizontal shaft 7'6" long.
Allan Dieckgraefe, Director of
University City's recycling
program, believes there's a
strong need for compost to
prevent the loss of topsoil.
"In this age of high tech,
it's comforting to know that
a low-tech process, such as
composting, can help
solve a critical problem."
4.
Windrows are created, 8 to 10 feet high and
20 to 35 feet at the base. The piles are turned
periodically to restore oxygen for bacterial
composting action
5.
This shows that after approximately 6 months
of processing there is a dark, rich, peat
moss-like material immediately below
the surface ready for use as a soil
amendment or stabilization.
42
-------
We lies ley, Massachusetts
Type of Program
Voluntary, source-separation, drop-off recycling
center.
Community Overview
Wellesley is a town of 27,000 people, located about
25 minutes from downtown Boston. It is primarily a
suburban residential community.
Background
Wellesley's recycling program was started in 1971 by
local environmentalists and the Department of Public
Works when the town incinerator failed to meet air emis-
sion standards. Unlike many of the earlier recycling cen-
ters around the nation, Wellesley's is still in business and
is thriving. Located at the town Recycling and Disposal
Center, the operation has grown from collecting materials
in 5 5-gallon drums to using 40-cubic-yard, open-top,
transfer-haul containers plus a dual ram baler. It is now
run by the town public works department and consists of
a recycling facility, transfer station, and yard waste
composting site.
Wellesley has never had municipal curbside garbage
collection. Its residents—at least 83% of them—take their
refuse to the Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF),
which is free only to residents. Wellesley hauls its refuse
to a private sanitary landfill 25 miles away that charges
more than $50 a ton in tipping fees.
Materials Collected and Sorted
at Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility
Paper - newspaper, cardboard and corrugated, brown
paper bags, mixed paper-magazines, advertising mail,
office paper
Glass - clear, green, brown
Cans - aluminum, steel, bimetal
Plastic - high-density polyethylene containers, PET
and #3-7
Oil - engine
Tires
Batteries - automotive, wet cells
Metals - iron, steel, aluminum, brass, copper
Wood - logs provided free for firewood, kindling free to
townspeople, wood chips for mulch or compost
Leaves, grass, and yard wastes - composted—available
to town residents
Returnable bottles and cans - all types—5 cent refund
goes to the town
Books - people can take and leave books free at the
"Book Exchange"
Clothing, small equipment, etc. - donated to Goodwill
Industries
Miscellaneous reusable items: "Take it or leave it"
area - usable furniture, equipment, and miscellaneous
articles are left by residents and taken free by other
residents
Program Description
Town residents bring both separated recyclables and
regular garbage to the town recycling and disposal facility.
There are drop boxes there clearly marked for glass,
newspaper, corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, tin cans,
aluminum, batteries, nonferrous and ferrous metal, used
oil, plastic bottles, yard waste, firewood, and tires.
-------
There is also a reusable items corner for the exchange of
books, games, toys, appliances, furniture, and clothes. In
addition, there is an area for composting leaves, grass, and
other yard wastes. The RDF is a redemption center under
the Massachusetts Bottle Bill as well.
About 90% of Wellesley residents who use the RDF
also recycle. Newspaper, glass, cardboard, ferrous metal,
and aluminum are the primary metals recycled. In addi-
tion, cardboard, metals, glass, and returnable containers
are taken from the tipping floor of the transfer station,
which is used for residential bulky waste and commercial
refuse.
In 1997, more than 46% of the 19,757 tons of waste
processed at the RDF was recycled. Recycling net benefits
were about $251,648 for 1997. This includes sales of
recyclables, avoided hauling and landfill costs, and recy-
cling expenses.
What Makes Wellesley's
Program Unique?
The Wellesley drop-off center evolved from a town
incinerator site to a multipurpose recycling center. The
center is proud of its park and social gathering setting.
Picnic tables, well-maintained lawns, trees, flowers, and a
circular drive contribute to the site's popularity for Girl
Scout cookie sales as well as political events.
The center is also unique in its wide acceptance by
townspeople and its dedicated staff. Further, the Wellesley
recycling center sponsors a recycling education program
aimed at all Wellesley residents, including a curriculum
for third graders in Wellesley public and private schools.
"Recycle. Join the Team" is its theme. The center also
actively promotes other recycling in the community. For
instance, it helps spread the word about community-spon-
sored rummage sales.
At the recycling center, a wide range of services can be
found: a redemption center for bottles donated as a
source of revenue for the center, a yard waste composting
operation, and Goodwill depots. The book exchange is
also a popular gathering place for residents.
Net recycling benefits for
1988 were about $186,000.
Obstacles Overcome
The Wellesley recycling program works, and it has
always worked! Nonetheless, there are the complaints
that recycling takes too much time and that separate stor-
age bins take up too much space in the home. To over-
come these complaints, the center relies on its informa-
tion and education program. Not only does the public
works staff go to the schools, they provide community
presentations and promote recycling regularly.
Program Contact
For further information about Wellesley's program,
contact William Tim Bailey (617)235-7600 or write to:
W. T. Bailey
Director, Wellesley Department of Public Works
455 Worcester Street
P.O. Box 81364
Wellesley, MA 02181
-------
Wilton, New Hampshire
Type of Program
Multijurisdictional, mandatory material separation
at drop-off center.
Community Overview
Wilton and the towns of Greenfield, Greenville,
Lyndeborough, Mason, and Temple, New Hampshire,
built the Wilton Recycling Center in 1979. It serves
nearly 80% of the 10,876 residents of this rural area. The
center requires residents to drop off their separated trash
free of charge or pay for curbside pickup.
Background
A stone quarry in Wilton evolved from an old swim-
ming hole to an unpleasant dump. By 1976, the town
acknowledged that something needed to be done. With
its neighboring towns, Wilton cleaned up the dump and
created the Recycling Center on its site.
Opened in 1979, the Recycling Center cost about
$360,000 to construct. The 4-acre site is set up with
stations receiving a variety of recyclables. The facility
recycles 37% of the waste, burns 42% in an onsite
incinerator, and landfills the remaining 21%, including
combustion ash.
Program Description
The Recycling Center accepts all household wastes
except liquid wastes. Cans, glass, paper, plastic, and metal
are recycled as well as motor oil. Trash categorized for
incinerating, landfilling, and composting must be kept
separate. There is a charge to dispose of some items, such
as tires, demolition waste, appliances, and furniture.
Compost and wood chips prepared at the center are
offered for sale.
Workers at the "low-tech" center compress and bale
papers and cans. Glass is crushed, and plastic jugs are
ground up. Industries in the area purchase most of these
materials.
Joe Paro states, "Since I have been working
here I am dumbfounded by the amount
of material we have been able to
divert from the landfill."
The Wilton district spends about $70 a ton to dispose
of its waste. In 1996, the district sold $67,000 worth of
recycled material.
What Makes Wilton's
Program Unique?
Six towns agreed to share expenses as well as revenues,
based on population. They also passed ordinances in 1978
requiring the separation of waste prior to its being left at
the center. Most of the residents were already dropping
off their trash.
To make recycling easier for consumers, the center has
widely distributed a list of materials with information
about how to get them ready to take to the center. This
information also helps cut down on the need to monitor
the recyclers.
45
-------
Obstacles Overcome
Getting people to understand the importance of recy-
cling is a challenge. To help convince people about the
value of recycling, the center has developed an easy and
accurate system for compiling data that show what costs
are avoided through recycling. Persuading citizens to
comply with the mandatory source separation policy is a
further challenge.
Through a public education program including
brochures handed out to the public and group tours of
the center, the Wilton Recycling Center has met these
challenges. But education never stops. It is the key to
continuing success.
Program Contact
For further information about Wilton's program,
contact Joe Paro at (603) 654-6150 or write to:
Joe Paro
Wilton Recycling Center
Box 83
Wilton, NH 030865
46
-------
Notes
1 Glenn, Jim. The State of Garbage in America, Part 1. 5 Roy E Weston, Inc., 1994. Value Added to Recyclable
BioCycle. April 1998 (hereinafter BioCycle), pp. 32-34, 36. Materials in the Northeast. Prepared for the Northeast
7 n- n , ->-, Recycling Council, Brattleboro, VT.
z BioCycle. p. 32. ! b
3 R' C / 43 6Tellus Institute, 1992. Energy Implications of Integrated
y ' "' ' Solid Waste Management Systems. Prepared for New York
4A Builder's Field Guide and other information can be State Energy Research and Development Authority.
obtained by calling the HomeBase Hotline at the Boston, MA.
National Association of Home Builders Research Center
(1-800-898-2842).
47
-------
Information
For more information about recycling
and for additional copies of Recycling
Works!, call the EPA Solid Waste
Hotline at 1-800-424-9346. In the
Washington, DC, metropolitan area,
call 703-412-9810.
Following is a list of state recycling
offices:
Alabama
State Recycling Coordinator
Alabama Department of Economic
and Community Affairs
P.O. Box 5690
Montgomery, AL 36103-5690
(334)242-5336
(334) 242-0552 FAX
Alaska
Department of Environmental
Conservation
Pollution Prevention Program
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907) 269-7586
(907) 269-7600 FAX
www.state.ak.us
Arizona
Department of Env. Quality
Solid Waste Section - Recycling Unit
3033 North Central Avenue
3rd Floor Tower
Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602)207-4133
(602) 207-2383 FAX
www.adeq.state.az.us
Arkansas
Department of Pollution Control
and Ecology
Recycling Division
8001 National Drive
Little Rock, AR 72219
(501) 682-0812
(501) 682-0880 FAX
California
Department of Conservation
Recycling Division
80 IK Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 323-3836
(916) 327-2144 FAX
www.consrv.ca.gov/dor/recycle.html
Colorado
Office of Energy Conservation
1675 Broadway, Suite 1300
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 620-4292
(303) 620-4288 FAX
1-800-659-2656 TDD
Connecticut
Connecticut Recycling Program
Department of Environmental
Protection
709 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 424-3022
(860) 424-4081 FAX
www.dep.state.ct.us
Delaware
Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-4793
(302) 739-2296 FAX
www.state.del.us
District of Columbia
Department of Public Works
and Solid Waste Management
2750 Capital St. SE
Washington, DC 20032
(202) 645-0747
(202) 645-3131 FAX
Florida
Department of Environmental
Protection
2600 Blairstone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32201
(904) 488-0300
(850) 921-8061 FAX
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/programs/
rbac/index.htm
Georgia
Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 679-4940
(404) 679-0572 FAX
www.dca.state.ga.us
Hawaii
Litter Campaign
Governor's Committee for
a Beautiful Hawaii
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808)538-3166
(808) 536-0547 FAX
Idaho
Division of Environmental Quality
Air and Hazardous Waste
1410 North Hilton
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 373-0502
(208) 373-0169 FAX
Illinois
Illinois EPA
Bureau of Land
P.O. Box 19276
102IN GrandAveE
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
(217)782-6761
www.epa.state.il.us/land/recycle/htm
-------
Indiana
Office of Solid and Hazardous
Waste Management
Department of Environmental
Management
100 North Senate Avenue
P.O. Box 6015
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
(317)232-8883
(317) 232-3403 FAX
www.ai.org/idem
Iowa
Department of Natural Resources
Waste Management Division
Wallace State Office Building
DesMoines, IA 50319
(515)281-8176
(515) 281-8895 FAX
www.state.ia.us/dnr
Kansas
Department of Health and
Environment
Bureau of Waste Management
Bldg 740 Forbes Field
Topeka, KS 66620
(913)296-1594
(913) 296-1592 FAX
www.state.ks.us/public/kdhe
Kentucky
Resource Conservation and Local
Assistance
Division of Waste Management
14 Reilly Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-6716
(502) 564-4049 FAX
www.state.ky.us/agency/nrepc
/waste/dewmhome.htm
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality
Office of Solid and Hazardous Waste
RO. Box 82178
Baton Rouge, LA 70884-2178
(504) 765-0261
(504) 765-0617 FAX
deq.state.la.us
Maine
Office of Energy
Department of Economic
and Community Development
State House Station #59
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-2656
(207) 287-8070 FAX
www.econdev.maine.com
Maryland
Solid Waste Administration
2500 Broening Highway
Building 40
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410)631-3343
(410) 631-4133 FAX
www.mde.state.md.us
Massachusetts
Division of Conservation
and Transportation
Department of Environmental
Protection
One Winter Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 292-5962
(617) 556-1049 FAX
www.state.ma.us/dep/bwp/dswm/
dswmhome.htm
Michigan
Waste Management Division
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 30241-4909
608 West Allegan
1st Floor Hannah
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 373-2730
(517) 373-4797 FAX
www.deq.state.mi.us
Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
(612) 296-6300
(612) 297-8697 FAX
www.pca.state.mn.us
Mississippi
Non-Hazardous Waste Section
Office of Pollution Control
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 10385
2 3 80 Highway 80 West
Jackson, MS 39209
(601) 961-5047
(601) 354-6612 FAX
Missouri
Department of Natural Resources
Hazardous Waste Program
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573)751-3176
(573) 751-9869 FAX
www.state.mo.us/dnr
Federal Express:
1738 East Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
-------
Montana
Solid Waste Program
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 2 00901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
(406) 444-4400
(406) 444-172 3 FAX
Federal Express:
1520 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Nebraska
Litter Reduction and Recycling
Programs
NE Department of Environmental
Quality
1200 N Street/PO. Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402)471-4210
(402) 471-2 909 FAX
Nevada
Nevada State Energy Office
1050 E. William, Suite 435
Carson City, NV 89710
(702) 687-5975
(702) 687-4914 FAX
dparson@state.nevada.us
New Hampshire
Waste Management Division
Department of Environmental Services
6 Hazen Drive / P.O. Box 95
Concord, NH 03301
(603)271-2900
(603) 271-2456 FAX
www.state.nh.us/des/descover.htm
New Jersey
Bureau of Recycling and Planning
Department of Environmental
Protection
P.O. Box 414
401 E. State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 984-3438
(609) 777-0769 FAX
www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/recycle
New Mexico
Environment Department
Solid Waste Bureau
Harold Runnels Bldg.
1190 St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87503
(505) 827-0197
(505) 827-2902 FAX
New York
Bureau of Waste Reduction and
Recycling
Department of Environmental
Conservation
50 Wolf Road, Room 212
Albany, NY 12233-7253
(518)457-7337
(518) 457-1283 FAX
www.dec.state.ny.us
North Carolina
North Carolina Department of
Environment, Health & Natural
Resources
Division of Waste Management
ATTN: Solid Waste Management
Branch
401 Oberlin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 733-0692
(919) 733-4810 FAX
www.wastenot-ehr.state.nc.us/swhome/
swhome.htm
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Health
Division of Waste Management
P.O. Box 5520
Bismarck, ND 58506-5520
(701)328-5166
(701) 328-5200 FAX
www.ehs.health.state.nd.us
Federal Express:
1200 Missouri Avenue, Room 302
Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural
Resources
1889 Fountain Square Court,
Building F2
Columbus, OH 43224-1331
(614) 265-7061
(614) 262-9387 FAX
www.dnr.state.oh.us.odnr/recycling
Oklahoma
Solid Waste Division
Department of Environmental Quality
1000 N.E. 10th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1212
(405) 745-7100
(405) 745-7133 FAX
www.state.ok.us/deq
Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality
811S.W Sixth
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 229-5913
(503) 229-6977 FAX
www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/cleanup/
clean.htm
Pennsylvania
Recycling and Market Section
Division of Waste Minimization
and Planning
Department of Environmental
Protection
P.O. Box 8472
400 Market Street, 14th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 787-7382
(717) 787-1904 FAX
www.dep.state.pa.us
-------
Rhode Island
Strategic Policy and Planning Office
Department of Environmental
Management
235 Promenade Street
Providence, PJ 02908
(401) 222-3434
(401) 222-2591 FAX
www.state.ri.us/dem
South Carolina
Department of Health and
Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 734-5300
(803) 734-5216 FAX
www.state.sc.us/dhec/recpg/htm
South Dakota
Energy Office
206 West Missouri Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-5027
(605) 773-6035 FAX
www.state.sd.us/state/executive/denr/
des/waste%20mgn/recycgn.htm
Tennessee
Department of Environment
and Conservation
Division of Solid Waste Management
401 Church Street, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 532-0780
(615) 532-0886 FAX
www.state.tn.us/environment/permits/
handbook/regs.htm
Texas
Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission
Division of Solid Waste Management
12100 Park 35 Circle
Autsin,TX 78753
(512)239-1000
(512) 239-6717 FAX
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
www.tnrcc.state.tx.us
Utah
Division of Solid and Hazardous
Waste
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 144880
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Federal Express Address:
288 North 1460 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
(801) 536-6170
(801) 536-6715 FAX
www.eq.state.ut.us
Vermont
Agency of National Resources
103 S. Main Street, North Building
WaterburyVT 05676
(802) 241-3770
(802) 241-3287 FAX
Virginia
Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality
629 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 698-4000
(804) 698-4500 FAX
www.deq.state.va.us
West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources
Conservation, Education, and Litter
Control
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E
Charleston, WV 25305
(304)558-3315
(304) 558-2768 FAX
Washington
Tom Fitzsimmons
Washington State Department
of Ecology
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
(360) 407-6000
Wisconsin
George E. Meyer
Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources
101 S. Webster
Madison, WI 53703
(608)266-2621
(608) 267-3579 FAX
www.dnr.state.wi.us
Wyoming
Solid Waste Management Program
Department of Environmental Quality
Herschler Building
122 W 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7752
(307) 777-5973 FAX
www.state.wy.us/state/gov/
state_gov/html
The Office of Solid Waste thanks
the recycling program managers
who contributed valuable time
and materials to this project.
-------
«e -g
S3
O Q)
O
9L
CD
C CO
2 o_
CD" ^
Q. c-
^ LU
o c
~" (/>
"D 5'
g. CD
< U)
Q) (/)
CD"
C
(/)
CD
?
3
D
O
I\J
g
O)
o
s
2-
CO
'en
CO
o
1
1
C/)
m
<
3'
^
^
^
5T
Tl
3
CD"
a
o
3
c^
CD
UJ
S2-
CD
Q)
3
Q.
m
cS
CD
3
O
*<
Zl
CD
(/)
T3
O
^
(/)
CD
m
------- |