Waste Prevention and Recycling ChapterFebruary 2017
Policies Are Labeled by Chapter and Number
• Labeling consistent with
committee survey
results included in
November 2016
meeting
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WPR - 4
Chapter
Policy
Number
Policy Legend
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WPR TWaste Prevention
& Recycling
P Planning
CP Collection &
ProcessingF
D Disposal
Transfer
Finance
Policies v. Actions
• Policies provide broad direction and authorization for services and system priorities. Policies should not change through the life of the Comp Plan.
• Actions are targeted, specific, and time-based to implement policies and could include: programs, studies, infrastructure improvements, and regulations. Actions may be updated to adapt to changing conditions.
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Waste Prevention and Recycling Chapter Overview
The purpose of the WPR chapter is to:
• Describe our regional goals
• Detail the progress and current status of WPR efforts
• Outline additional resource conservation, recycling, and
product stewardship opportunities
• Detail the methods used to track progress, along with ways
to improve the data and reporting requirements
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WPR Policies Will Affect Collection Policies
Recycling strategies may
require changes to
minimum collection
service levels and
acceptable recyclable
materials
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Overall Waste Prevention and Recycling Goal
Achieve Zero Waste of Resources – to eliminate the disposal of materials with economic value –by 2030 through a combination of efforts in the following order of priority: waste prevention and reuse; product stewardship, recycling, and composting; beneficial reuse.
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Set achievable goals for
reducing waste generation and
disposal and increasing recycling
and reuse.
WPR 1
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Current Recycling Rate Establishes
Baseline for Long-Term Goals
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Single-Family
Residential
56%
(2015)
Multi-Family
Residential
15%
(2015)
Non-
Residential
67%
(2013)
Self-Haul
8%
(2015)
Zero Waste Means Diverting Material with
Economic Value Out of Landfills
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Source: 2015 Waste Characterization Study and 2016 King County Solid Waste Tonnage Forecast
Readily recyclable
and compostable
Potentially recyclable
(anticipate future markets)
Limited recyclability
70% of what is currently
thrown away as trash
could be recycled
Discussion
1. Should the goal to achieve zero waste of resources have a time-frame (e.g,. 2030) or be an aspirational goal?
2. Should the Comp Plan have intermediate, time-based recycling goals?
3. Is there interest in setting recycling goals for individual jurisdictions?
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Enhance, develop,
and implement waste
prevention and recycling
programs that will increase
waste diversion from disposal
using : infrastructure,
education & promotion,
incentives, and mandates.
WPR 2
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Draft Policy Allows for Multiple Tools to
Advance Waste Diversion
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Infrastructure
Changes to
Collection
Frequency
Resource
Recovery at
Transfer Stations
Education &
Promotion
Outreach
programs to
schools,
businesses, and
residents
Incentives
Imbed Organics
Collection Costs
Pay as You Throw
Garbage Rates
Grant Programs
Mandates
Mandatory Food
Separation
Recycling at
Transfer Stations
Enforcement
Diverting Food Waste from Landfills is
Key to Improving Recycling
29% 27% 26%
3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Single-Family Multi-Family Non-Residential Self-Haul
Food Waste as a Percent of Disposed Waste by Sector
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Transfer Stations Efforts Advance Recycling
• Recycling efforts diverted over 25,000 tons in 2016 compared to 9,500 tons in 2013
• Division to begin requiring self-haul customers at select transfer stations to separate some recyclables from garbage in 2018
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Program Aims to Increase Construction and
Demolition (C&D) Recycling
• New system with designated facilities
• Mandatory recycling of select
materials
• Started January 1, 2016
• Goal of 85% recycled by 2025
• Will discuss further in March
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A Case for Change
• 70% of landfilled materials could be recycled instead
• Maximizing diversion from disposal is key to extending life of Cedar Hills
• Infrastructure is in place to get resources to markets
• Prevention and recycling actions improve the environment
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Overview of Option A:
Immediate Implementation of Roadmap to 70%Major Elements
County and City Actions
Require all single family, multi-family, and non-residential
customers to separate recyclables and food scraps from garbage
at the curb
Require self-haul customers to recycle all materials that can be
separated at transfer stations
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Overview of Option B:
Jurisdictional Self-DeterminationMajor Elements
County and City Actions
Require the cities and county to set ambitious interim recycling goal(s)
Require the cities and county to select from a menu of actions to reach recycling
goal(s)
Incentivize jurisdictions to take substantial action with repercussions for those who
don’t
Develop a contingency plan if selected actions are not enough to achieve an overall 70
percent recycling rate19
Overview of Option C:
Regional Push Forward with County Leading
Major Elements
County and City Actions
Increase single family food scrap recycling through a 3-year educational cart
tagging program
Make recycling at multi-family complexes convenient by implementing best
practices
Increase food scrap collection from businesses, schools, and other institutions
Use existing and new grant funds to support effective efforts20
Overview of Option C:
Regional Push Forward w/ County Leading (cont.)
Major Elements
County Actions
Require single family curbside recycling and composting in the
unincorporated areas
Require self-haul recycling at transfer stations that offer recycling
services of targeted materials21
Discussion
1. Do you/ your agency support a policy that authorizes and/or changes infrastructure, education/outreach, incentives, and mandates to increase waste diversion?
2. During the last round of discussions on the WPR Chapter, the division heard that:
– Cities want to have a choice about what actions to take
– Many do not support mandates
– Want County to lead
Is that accurate?
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Advocate for
product stewardship in the
design and management of
manufactured products
and greater responsibility
for manufacturers to divert
these products from the
waste stream.
WPR 3
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County Supports Product Stewardship Programs
• King County Secure Medicine
Return Law
• NW Product Stewardship
Council
• Statewide Programs:
– E-Cycle Washington
– LightRecycle Washington
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Potential Product Stewardship Efforts
• More products: mattresses,
tires, HHW, carpet
• Monitor packaging and
printed paper (Canada,
Europe)
• Work with Ecology on
statewide efforts
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Work with regional partners to find the highest value end uses for recycled and composted materials and support market development.
WPR 4
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Market Outlook Stable for Most Commingled
Curbside Recyclables
Markets are generally stable for all
materials except plastics, where
current markets are expanding,
and metals, where prices declined
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Strong Organics Recycling Markets Outlook
Organics supply and
processing capacity is
increasing, and current
markets for organics
products are stable
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Market Outlook Mixed for C & D Materials Recycling
C&D supply is generally
increasing while the outlook
for processing capacity is
either stable or declining
depending on material type.
The status of current markets
also vary by material type
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Strive to ensure that materials diverted from the King County waste stream for recycling, composting, and reuse are handled and processed using methods that are protective of human health and the environment.
WPR 5
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NW Region Report Recommends Ways
to Optimize Commingled Collection
• Reduce confusion to customers by harmonizing messaging across jurisdictions
• Prioritize the collection of materials that generate revenue and do not contaminate other recyclable materials
• Increase the transparency, require documentation that materials are recycled safely and at their highest value
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Further reading:
• Optimizing the Commingled Recycling
Systems in Northwest Washington: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/commingled/nw.
html
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King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street, Suite 701
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
206-477-4466
711 TTY Relay
your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste
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