United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5306W) EPA-530-F-99-017e October 1999 www.epa.gov/osw Clifton, New Jersey 56% Municipal Solid Waste Reduction (44% Residential Solid Waste Reduction: 68% Institutional/Commercial Solid Waste Reduction) Overview In 1996, Clifton diverted 56% of its municipal solid waste from disposal (38% through recycling; 18% through composting). Clifton diverted 44% of city-collected material and an impressive 68% of materials generated by businesses and institutions not served by city waste management programs. The city collects eleven categories of recyclables in its curbside program and its drop-off recycling center accepts thirteen categories of material (nine of which are also collected curbside). Residents are required by local ordinance to recycle other categories of materials, such as textiles, but must do so through private recyclers. The city also offers its residents and small businesses curbside collection of yard debris. Private trash haulers and recyclers primarily serve the city's businesses and institutions, which are required to recycle 22 types of materials. Keys to High Waste Reduction Clifton's waste diversion success is driven by high waste disposal fees, state and local recycling mandates, strong local markets for recycling, composting yard debris, and an active recycling coordinator. Tip fees in New Jersey have traditionally been among the highest in the nation. Waste diversion offers many New Jersey businesses and communities a less expensive alternative to disposal. Clifton's residential recycling ordinance requires every household served by the city-operated waste management program to source- separate and recycle 18 categories of materials. Another ordinance requires Clifton businesses and institutions to recycle 22 materials. Recycling-based manufacturing is prevalent in New Jersey and Clifton is near many companies that use recyclables as raw DHALU POPULATION: 75,000 (1996) HOUSEHOLDS: 31 ,000 (1996) 25,500 single- family homes and duplexes, 5,500 in dwellings with 3 or more units BUSINESSES: 3,100 (1999) PROGRAM SUMMARY 1987 1996 Tons Per Year MSW 110,172 110,925 Tons Per Year RSW 49,310 54,211 Tons Per Year ICW 60,862 56,714 Percent MSW Diverted 15% 56% Percent RSW Diverted 12% 44% Percent ICW Diverted 18% 68% Average Ibs./HH/dayi 9.83 10.14 Net Program Costs/HH! $153.38 $177.73 Disposal Services $144.98 $147.64 Diversion Services $8.40 $30.08 Key: MSW = municipal solid waste RSW = residential solid waste ICW = institutional and commercial waste Notes: 1987 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator. Numbers may not add to total due to rounding. 1 Figures reflect public sector collection from 26,200 households and 1,300 businesses served in 1987; 28,000 households and1,300 businesses in 1996. Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999. This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017). ------- materials. Clifton diverts 18% of its total municipal solid waste (28% of its city-collected waste) through composting. Residents and small businesses divert materials through the city's seasonal curbside collection programs for leaves and other yard debris and its year-round brush collection program. Clifton's recycling coordinator has assisted local businesses in locating markets for materials, performed waste audits, and provided advice on ordinance compliance. The coordinator also gives talks to civic groups and schools on reuse, environmental purchasing, and recycling. Participants in the city's curbside recycling program must sort glass containers, cans, and paper products into seven streams for collection. Collection of sorted materials allows the city to market materials directly, avoiding the cost of processing and allowing the city to retain all revenue from sales. MATERIALS RECOVERED IN PUBLIC SECTOR PROGRAM CURBSIDE: newspapers, magazines mixed paper (phone books, paperboard, mail, paperback books, hardcover books without covers, office paper) glass containers cans white goods scrap metals leaves, brush, grass clippings, holiday trees, and other yard and garden debris corrugated cardboard (businesses only) DROP-OFF: All materials accepted in curbside program (except white goods and scrap metal) plus: corrugated cardboard (from residents) aluminum plates and trays #1 and #2 plastic bottles residents can deliver car batteries for recycling to the City Garage at no cost PUBLIC SECTOR WASTE GENERATION PER CUSTOMER PER DAY I 1987 1992 1996 Recycling Note: Residential waste generation per household is not available as Clifton serves businesses on its residential routes. Figures above thus reflect pounds of waste generated per customer ( residents and 1,300 businesses) per day. Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999. Cost- Effectiveness The city's solid waste management costs increased from $153 per household in 1987 to $178 per household in 1996. During this same time period, per ton tip fees for trash more than tripled in constant dollar value from $36 per ton to $112 per ton. If the tip fee in 1996 had only been $36 per ton and all other costs stayed the same, per household costs would have been $99. Therefore, the increase in per household costs can wholly be accounted for through the increase in trash tip fees. Tips for Replication Collect materials source-separated. Enforce mandatory programs in order to boost both the quantity and quality of participation. Contact Alfred DuBois Recycling Coordinator City of Clifton Dept. Of Public Works 307 East 7th Street Clifton, NJ 07013 PHONE: 973-470-2239 FAX: 973-340-7049 ------- |