Sustainable Solid Waste Sustainable Solid Waste Solutions Solutions A Comprehensive Review of Sykesville’s A Comprehensive Review of Sykesville’s Solid Waste & Recycling Collection Solid Waste & Recycling Collection Operations Operations Presented by: Brad R. Dyjak, Intern In Collaboration with: Matthew Candland, Town Manager Ronald Esworthy, Director of Public Works
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Sustainable Solid Waste Sustainable Solid Waste
SolutionsSolutions
A Comprehensive Review of Sykesville’s A Comprehensive Review of Sykesville’s Solid Waste & Recycling Collection Solid Waste & Recycling Collection
“Sykesville’s Public Works Department “Sykesville’s Public Works Department
strives to collect solid waste in an efficient strives to collect solid waste in an efficient strives to collect solid waste in an efficient strives to collect solid waste in an efficient
and professional manner with the express and professional manner with the express
aim to minimize the impact on the aim to minimize the impact on the
While Sykesville has made great While Sykesville has made great strides in bolstering its recycling strides in bolstering its recycling strides in bolstering its recycling strides in bolstering its recycling efforts, we need to do more to… efforts, we need to do more to…
Reviewing instead of ReactingReviewing instead of Reacting
Therefore, it became necessary to Therefore, it became necessary to review the Town’s current plans for review the Town’s current plans for review the Town’s current plans for review the Town’s current plans for dealing with municipal solid waste dealing with municipal solid waste
•• Waste Management is contracted by Waste Management is contracted by County to transport majority of waste to County to transport majority of waste to VirginiaVirginia
•• Recyclables transported to sorting facility Recyclables transported to sorting facility in Howard Countyin Howard County
–– NO Tipping FeeNO Tipping Fee incurred by Townincurred by Town
•• As of last year, Single Stream Recycling As of last year, Single Stream Recycling
•• Town’s Solid Waste Collection operation is Town’s Solid Waste Collection operation is entirely funded through property tax which entirely funded through property tax which goes into General Fund for disbursal by goes into General Fund for disbursal by Council each yearCouncil each yearCouncil each yearCouncil each year
•• Most residents are unaware of the actual Most residents are unaware of the actual cost of collectioncost of collection
•• Town responsible for procurement Town responsible for procurement of bags, bins, or tagsof bags, bins, or tags
•• Distribution through Town House Distribution through Town House •• Distribution through Town House Distribution through Town House and various area merchantsand various area merchants
•• Sticker attached by DPW personnel Sticker attached by DPW personnel to any nonto any non--conforming bag or bin conforming bag or bin that is not collectedthat is not collected
Benefits of Variable Rate Benefits of Variable Rate
CollectionCollection
•• Residents will identify ways to Residents will identify ways to purchase recyclable materials or purchase recyclable materials or adaptively reuse itemsadaptively reuse items
•• Decrease in MSW tonnage produced = Decrease in MSW tonnage produced = Decrease in tipping fees incurredDecrease in tipping fees incurred
•• Equitable financing of service cost Equitable financing of service cost burdenburden
�� Tag system Tag system -- converted to bins in 2007converted to bins in 2007�� Tag system Tag system -- converted to bins in 2007converted to bins in 2007
�� Consistent reduction in MSW tonnage Consistent reduction in MSW tonnage producedproduced
�� Combined with aggressive, mandatory Combined with aggressive, mandatory recycling programrecycling program
�� Problem with some residents placing bags in Problem with some residents placing bags in commercial dumpsterscommercial dumpsters
�� Leader in recycling rateLeader in recycling rate & participation rate in & participation rate in regionregion
•• PennsylvaniaPennsylvania�� 211 municipalities participate in VRC211 municipalities participate in VRC
�� Encouraged and partially subsidized by Encouraged and partially subsidized by commonwealthcommonwealthcommonwealthcommonwealth
�� Initiated to combat the rising amounts of MSW Initiated to combat the rising amounts of MSW in landfills as PA is a net IMPORTER of wastein landfills as PA is a net IMPORTER of waste
�� Needed to give incentive to reduceNeeded to give incentive to reduce
�� Numerous variations of VRCNumerous variations of VRC
�� 55%55% also enforce also enforce mandatory recyclingmandatory recycling
�� 12% collect MSW in12% collect MSW in--househouse vs. contracted vs. contracted haulerhauler
�� While there has been a 55% increase in While there has been a 55% increase in population since 1992, population since 1992, 20% reduction in tons20% reduction in tons
�� Only one municipality has adopted a VRCOnly one municipality has adopted a VRC
�� Charles County has used a similar program by Charles County has used a similar program by requiring bags to be “tagged” if brought to requiring bags to be “tagged” if brought to requiring bags to be “tagged” if brought to requiring bags to be “tagged” if brought to landfilllandfill
�� Experiments w/ VRC in Montgomery County & Experiments w/ VRC in Montgomery County & Mt. AiryMt. Airy
�� Since most of MSW in Maryland is either Since most of MSW in Maryland is either burned in WTE Plants or hauled out of state, burned in WTE Plants or hauled out of state, there has been little impetus to adopt a VRCthere has been little impetus to adopt a VRC
•• Mount AiryMount Airy�� 2000 Study on VRC by Sanitation & Recycling 2000 Study on VRC by Sanitation & Recycling
CommissionCommission
�� Recommended against adopting VRCRecommended against adopting VRC
�� Since Mt. Airy contracts their MSW & recycling Since Mt. Airy contracts their MSW & recycling collection, VRC was deemed too difficult to implementcollection, VRC was deemed too difficult to implement
�� VRC was also considered too confusing to residents due VRC was also considered too confusing to residents due to recent changes in recycling and waste policyto recent changes in recycling and waste policy
�� Final recommendation was to enforce mandatory Final recommendation was to enforce mandatory recycling w/ transparent bags & to increase recycling recycling w/ transparent bags & to increase recycling educationeducation
1.1. Combine VRC w/ enhanced recycling Combine VRC w/ enhanced recycling efforts for maximum impactefforts for maximum impact
2.2. Allow plenty of time to educate and Allow plenty of time to educate and 2.2. Allow plenty of time to educate and Allow plenty of time to educate and involve residents in process (4involve residents in process (4--6 mos)6 mos)
3.3. Augment current recycling servicesAugment current recycling services
4.4. Continue elementary school recycling Continue elementary school recycling outreach programsoutreach programs
Diagnosis of Current Trends Diagnosis of Current Trends
Catalysts for ChangeCatalysts for Change
1.1. Town’s recycling rate, while not paltry, Town’s recycling rate, while not paltry, has stagnatedhas stagnated
2.2. Participation in curbside residential Participation in curbside residential recycling is at best, only 70%recycling is at best, only 70%
3.3. As the county investigates more efficient As the county investigates more efficient waste management, it is imperative that waste management, it is imperative that the Town take the lead on its own levelthe Town take the lead on its own level
Diagnosis of Current TrendsDiagnosis of Current Trends
4.4. Our current model places an undue burden on Our current model places an undue burden on those who consciously reduce their waste and those who consciously reduce their waste and produce less than their neighbors, whereby they produce less than their neighbors, whereby they essentially subsidize the disposal of a more essentially subsidize the disposal of a more wasteful neighborwasteful neighborwasteful neighborwasteful neighbor
5.5. There is little economic incentive or reward to There is little economic incentive or reward to increase recyclingincrease recycling
6.6. Fuel costs for transporting waste to landfill have Fuel costs for transporting waste to landfill have outpaced projections outpaced projections
Diagnosis of Current TrendsDiagnosis of Current Trends
7.7. While tipping fees have continually While tipping fees have continually increased, the Town’s revenue increased, the Town’s revenue dedicated to solid waste collection has dedicated to solid waste collection has not kept pace.not kept pace.not kept pace.not kept pace.
8.8. Tipping fees are anticipated to increase Tipping fees are anticipated to increase substantially by July 1st by substantially by July 1st by 23 %23 % to to $75p/t$75p/t and will most likely be raised and will most likely be raised again in the upcoming years.again in the upcoming years.
The Town has a unique opportunity to The Town has a unique opportunity to control these factors as it is the only control these factors as it is the only municipality in the County to operate municipality in the County to operate municipality in the County to operate municipality in the County to operate
its own collection system.its own collection system.
Therefore, with each of these factors Therefore, with each of these factors considered, the Town’s current considered, the Town’s current considered, the Town’s current considered, the Town’s current
system for solid waste and recycling system for solid waste and recycling collection is… collection is…
1.1. Adoption of a Variable Rate Collection System which Adoption of a Variable Rate Collection System which finances tipping fee costs, while property tax finances tipping fee costs, while property tax continues to fund labor & hauling costscontinues to fund labor & hauling costs
2.2. Increasing recycling services offered to residentsIncreasing recycling services offered to residents
3.3. Order larger capacity recycling bins to replace old bins Order larger capacity recycling bins to replace old bins as needed as needed
•• Allot set amt. of free bags for first yrAllot set amt. of free bags for first yr–– Permit a “Grace Period” for initial mos.Permit a “Grace Period” for initial mos.
•• Total startupTotal startup = = $33,000$33,000–– All to be recuperatedAll to be recuperated
Finding a sustainable solution to our solid Finding a sustainable solution to our solid Finding a sustainable solution to our solid Finding a sustainable solution to our solid
waste issues is certainly a challenge, and waste issues is certainly a challenge, and
adapting to a variable rate collection will adapting to a variable rate collection will
no doubt pose challenges as well. no doubt pose challenges as well.
However, this is an opportunity for the entire town However, this is an opportunity for the entire town
to collaborate to have lasting tangible impact.to collaborate to have lasting tangible impact.to collaborate to have lasting tangible impact.to collaborate to have lasting tangible impact.
Therefore, we encourage all residents to solicit Therefore, we encourage all residents to solicit
their input throughout the process to make this their input throughout the process to make this