1999 Trash Cutter Awards Program Case Studies

Lake County: Best Recycling Program

• Program Description
• Program Summary
• Costs
• Benefits
• Contact

Program Description

The county instituted an aggressive curbside recycling program through a 1998 contract extension negotiated with its two franchise haulers for the unincorporated area of the county. The haulers now provide curbside collection of glass, plastic, metal, newspaper, cardboard, drycell batteries, film plastic, Styrofoam, used oil, oil filters, and green and wood waste. In addition, the county required the haulers to assume responsibility for drop-off/buyback programs for green waste, tires, used oil and white metal that was previously handled by the county. Response to the program has been very positive and has resulted in substantially increased diversion from the county's Eastlake landfill .

Program Summary

Lake County Public Services Department's Solid Waste Division negotiated a contract which requires the haulers to collect the normal recyclable materials of glass, plastic, metal and newspaper. However, the contract reaches beyond these materials to initiate the curbside collection of cardboard, dry cell batteries, film plastic, Styrofoam, metal, used oil and oil filters, and green and wood waste. In addition to these curbside recycling programs, the county required the haulers to assume responsibility for drop-off/buyback programs for green waste, tires, used oil and (white) metal that was previously handled by the county. The haulers are also required to pay a substantial portion (up to $60,000) of the cost of the Hazmobile, a mobile household hazardous waste collection program, that provides 11 two-day events a year around the county for free disposal of residential hazardous materials. Finally, the haulers are required to support community cleanup events where tires, appliances, and other recyclables are diverted from the landfill into the recycling market. The contract accommodates an area that represents 70 percent of the county population.

Costs

Beginning in July 1998 collection of the additional recyclables began for franchise customers. Not only were the haulers required to not charge for the additional recycling service, they were also required to provide commercial and residential with free recycling bins. By October, green waste collection was added for customers with 90-gallon pick-up offered at no additional cost. Shortly afterwards, the curbside oil collection program was initiated and free containers for used oil were given to those who signed up for the special program. All of these programs are supported by an aggressive promotional campaign paid for by the haulers, the county and grant funds. Promotion includes TV, radio, and newsprint advertisements as well as a recycling guide that was distributed at the county fair, the buyback centers, to all of their customers and at various other business locations throughout the county.

Benefits

Response to the collection of additional materials has been positive and has resulted in substantially increased diversion for the county's Eastlake Sanitary Landfill. Diversion figures provided by the haulers indicate that for one hauler alone diversion jumped from 1,245,000 pounds in the fourth quarter of 1997 to 2,678,000 pounds in the fourth quarter of 1998, an increase of 115 percent. While part of this increase is attributable to the fact that the hauler took over responsibility for collecting metal and green waste, the hauler has indicated that their commercial recycling numbers have also doubled.

Cooperation of the haulers is evident in the voluntary improvement and expansion of their drop-off/buyback centers. One center which is located adjacent to the landfill substantially improved at a cost of over $100,000 and paid for by the hauler to make it more user-friendly and attractive. The other center is in the permitting stage to improve and enlarge the buyback center in the Lakeport area near the county's transfer station. For the residents' convenience, one of the haulers also provides drop-off bins at the transfer station for paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal can recyclables.

These successful programs are helping Lake County reach the 50 percent diversion requirement and to extend the life of the landfill. Educating the county residents continues on the benefits of recycling and to provide convenient ways for them to implement recycling. At the same time, Lake County enjoys one of the lowest tipping fees in the State and anticipates no increase in the foreseeable future. The successful partnership the county has with its haulers has been recognized by many other communities.

For Further Information Contact:

Lake County Public Services Dept.
333 Second Street
Lakeport, CA  95453
(707) 262-1760

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