"Innovations" Case Studies: Solid Waste Assessments

Case Studies

• StopWaste Partnership
• Passaic County, New Jersey

StopWaste Partnership

The StopWaste Partnership of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA) and Recycling Board are examples of strong ongoing programs that use waste assessments with growing effectiveness and comprehensiveness. The partnership decided to focus on businesses and institutions because they generate approximately two-thirds of disposed waste in Alameda County.

Background

The ACWMA is a joint powers agency comprised of the following agencies:

The authority operates in conjunction with the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board that was created through the Measure D ballot initiative passed in 1990. The eleven-member board is comprised of six experts in the waste prevention field appointed by the county board of supervisors and five elected public officials appointed by the ACWMA.

The recycling board is funded by a surcharge on tonnage disposed at the Altamont and Vasco Road landfills, which were expected to generate $7.9 million during FY 1999-2000. Half of annual revenues are passed through to the member cities for their waste reduction programs.

The ACWMA is funded by a $1.50-per-ton surcharge at Alameda County landfills and mitigation fees of $4.52 and $4.53 per ton for waste imported from the City and County of San Francisco and other locations outside of Alameda County. Together with other miscellaneous income, revenues of $7.5 million were anticipated for FY 1999-2000. This is an indication that excellent resource use and conservation programs can be implemented and maintained by excellent staffing where there is an adequate support base.

Award Recognition

The excellence of this agency has been recognized many times. Of special note, the agency was the recipient of the Stopwaste Materials Efficiency Award issued by the California Resource Recovery Association in 1997 for the “most comprehensive public education and recycling program” in California. In 1998, the Recycling Board was awarded the Grand Prize Award of Excellence from the California Association of Local Economic Development.

StopWaste Partnership

Formally, the comprehensive environmental assessment program is a part of the agency’s business and public agency services. It has been described as a free non-regulatory technical assistance initiative. According to the StopWaste budget mission statement, the partnership “Provides comprehensive environmental performance assessment and improvement services focusing on source reduction, recycling, energy and water conservation, wastewater discharge reduction, and efficient use of materials. Services are generally targeted to companies and institutions in Alameda County with over 75 employees.”

In order to provide this technical assistance, agency staff has teamed with such organizations as PG&E, East Bay Municipal Utilities District, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and the Economic Development Alliance for Business.

Team skills include years of experience with operations in many types of businesses, as well as expertise in environmental issues of solid waste, energy, air, and water quality.

Costs and Benefits

Total costs for the StopWaste Partnership in FY 1998-99 was $648,800 and FY 1999-2000 is budgeted at $702,308, an increase of 8 percent.

• Added 15 new clients to the partnership.
• Developed framework for Web-based technology transfer component.
• Instituted measurement and tracking protocols.
• Diverted an estimated 12,000 tons of material.
• Developed first eight case studies for Web distribution.
• Conducted needs assessment for a wood chips exchange.

• Divert an additional 10,000 tons of solid waste from landfill disposal.
• Operationalize a web-based subscription service for clients, to include: best practices database, local case studies, benchmarking data, and self-assessment tools.
• Market the StopWaste Materials Efficiency Awards on an ongoing basis and receive minimum of five source reduction proposals.

At the end of the budget item report, the following set of assumptions was included to indicate the reality that any agency’s plans must rely, to some extent, on the participation of others:

• Target businesses and institutions will participate in the program.
• Target businesses and institutions will implement cost-effective recommendations.
• Team members such as PG&E, EBMUD, SAIC, and LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) will continue to participate in the program.
• Existing markets for recovered materials allow for the estimated diversion to occur.
• New technology can be incorporated into our existing infrastructure.

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Passaic County, New Jersey

Background

In April of 1987, the State of New Jersey passed the New Jersey Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act. The act required each district or county and municipality to develop a comprehensive plan for reduction of solid waste to meet a reduction goal of 25 percent.

These plans call for all New Jersey businesses and institutions to establish recycling programs. Subsequent to the implementation of this act, Passaic County increased its commitment to waste reduction in 1991 calling for a 60 percent reduction by 1995. This increase in waste reduction was in fact achieved by 1993.

The county aggressively encourages businesses to develop comprehensive waste management programs citing potential economic benefits, including:

• Cost avoidance.
• Cost savings.
• Sale revenues.

Citing “skyrocketing solid waste disposal costs,” the county indicates that its landfill disposal tipping fee is at $109 per ton. The county encourages businesses to consider the following materials for recycling:

• Newspaper.
• Corrugated cardboard.
• High-grade office paper.
• Mixed paper (magazines, junk mail and unsoiled scrap).
• Glass food and beverage containers.
• Tin and bi-metal cans.
• Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap.
• Plastic (containers and film).
• Tires.
• Automotive batteries.
• Used motor oil.
• C&D debris (for example, concrete, asphalt, brick, block, wood pallets, and used lumber).
• Yard waste (leaves, brush, and grass).
• Food waste (restaurant and tavern).

The county recommends that each business perform-or have performed for it-an evaluation (waste assessment) as a first step. The assessment should have the following elements:

• Appoint one person as a recycling coordinator.
• Determine how waste is presently collected, noting collection costs and how they are factored.
• Determine the equipment used to handle solid waste.
• Calculate the amount of solid waste and recyclables generated.
• Evaluate any existing recycling activities.
• Review any existing local ordinances for compliance.
• Make use of equipment and program options made available by recycling associations; county, State, and federal recycling offices; and private recycling companies.
• Check for and evaluate potential participation in existing municipal collection, drop-off, and/or commercial buyback center options.
• Consider partnering with neighboring businesses, especially if located in a mall, office complex, or industrial park.
• Set up a tracking and monitoring system prior to implementation.
• Consider both source reduction and buying recycled-content products as part of the assessment.

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Last updated: October 26, 2007