United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-99-017g
October 1999
www.epa.gov/osw
Dover,
New Hampshire
52% Residential Waste Reduction
Overview
In 1990, the city of Dover opened a drop-off center for
recycling and a year later instituted a curbside recycling
program and pay-as-you-throw trash fees. Since then the city
has increased its waste recovery and reduced its production of
waste. Average per household waste generation decreased
from 6.2 pounds per day in 1990 to 4.7 pounds per day in
1996. In 1996 Dover diverted 52% of its residential waste
(35% through recycling and 17% through composting) up
from 3% in 1990. Dover residents receive weekly trash and
recycling collection and seasonal yard debris collection
services. The city operates a drop-off center where residents
can deliver recyclables and yard debris. Dover's successful
waste reduction program has reaped financial benefits as well;
average per household costs for solid waste management have
dropped from $122 in 1990 to $73 in 1996.
Keys to High Waste Reduction
The keys to Dover's waste reduction are convenient
curbside residential recycling service, the city's drop-off facility
for recyclables and yard debris, and a pay-as-you-throw trash
fee structure. The curbside recycling program collects 20
categories of materials on the same day as trash; all
participating households are given free containers for storage
and set-out of materials. Materials
collected include many paper grades,
clear and colored glass containers, # 1
and #2 plastic bottles, juice and milk
containers, and aluminum foil. The
city's drop-off center accepts five
recyclable materials in addition to all
those collected at curbside. The center
also provides a free, regular outlet for
brush and other yard debris, which is
only collected seasonally at curbside.
The pay-as-you-throw trash
program requires all municipal
DHALU
POPULATION: 25,042
(1990); 26,094
(1996); 27,000 (1997)
HOUSEHOLDS: 11,315 (1996);
5,641 single family
dwellings (4 units or less),
5,674 multi-family
dwellings
1990
1996
Tons Per Year
10,838
9,462
Percent Diverted
Recycled
Composted
3%
3%
0%
52%
35%
17%
Average Ibs./HH/day
6.18
4.71
Net Program Costs/HH $121.55 $72.53
Disposal Services $121.28 $43.78
Diversion Services $0.28 $28.75
Notes: 9,611 households served in 1990; 11,000 in 1996. Dover also
serves 210 small businesses in its residential waste programs.
1990 dollars adjusted to 1996 dollars using the GDP deflator.
Numbers may not add to total due to rounding.
This profile is part of the fact sheet Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How (EPA-530-F-99-017).
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waste customers to place their trash into
orange bags and tag oversized items. Untagged
trash or trash set out in unauthorized
containers is not collected. The trash fees
provide a direct financial incentive for trash
customers to divert materials through recycling
or composting and to reduce their total waste
generation.
Cost-Effectiveness
Dover's net residential solid waste
management costs dropped from $1.1 million
in 1990 to $798,000 in 1996 while adding
more than 1,000 customers. Taking inflation
into account, per household costs for solid
waste management have been reduced from
$122 in 1990 to $73 in 1996.
In 1996, trash collection cost $115 per
ton; and waste reduction averaged $60 per ton
RESIDENTIAL WASTE GENERATION
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
MATERIALS RECOVERED
CURBSIDE:
newspaper, magazines and catalogs, corrugated cardboard,
mixed paper (including paperboard, mail, office paper, glossy paper, and
phone books)
juice boxes and milk cartons
glass containers
cans
#1 and #2 plastic bottles
aluminum foil
leaves, and other soft yard trimmings (including grass clippings, garden
plants, and pine needles but excluding brush and woody debris)
large appliances and scrap metal (collected separately by appointment)
DROP-OFF:
All materials collected at curbside (except milk andjuice cartons) plus:
brush and holiday trees
tires
automotive and other
batteries
textiles
empty aerosol cans
oil filters
wood
construction and
demolition debris
1990
1996
Trash
Recycling
[Composting
Source: institute for Local Se!f-Re!iance, 1999.
(recycling cost $75 per ton and composting
cost $27 per ton). Per ton trash costs have
remained relatively constant since Dover
instituted its recycling and composting
programs and switched to a pay-as-you-throw
trash system; $111 in 1990 and $115 in 1996.
Overall budget savings have resulted from
significantly lower per ton costs for
waste reduction and reduced
generation both for the city as a
whole and per household.
Tips for Replication
Institute a user-fee based program.
Research the bags used in bag-and-tag
system. It is important to have bags of the
correct size, strength, and color.
Talk about waste reduction plans to all
groups who will listen.
Include low-income residents in the
program.
Establish a newsletter to remind and
update residents on program changes.
Track data.
Contact
Jeff Pratt
Solid Waste Coordinator
Dover Community Services Department
Municipal Building
288 Central Avenue
PHONE: 603-743-6094
FAX: 603-743-6096
WEB SITE: http://www.ci.dover.nh.us
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