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).
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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
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