waste reduction options - dann

Carolyn Dann

MassDEP Municipal Asst Coordinator

Methods, Caveats This is primary research in early stages!!

Information sources include DPW reports wherever possible (FY). Otherwise, sources are Recycling Data Sheets (CY)

Main weakness is # households served! Some have been carefully computed; others have not.

Please review your own data, request LA4 form from Assessor’s office and provide me with corrections as needed.

Prepared by Carolyn Dann4/06/2010 2

Definitions and Range of Options• Education and Outreach • WBE= Waste Ban Enforcement • WBE + MREC (Municipal Recycling Enforcement Coor.)• 3-bag or 4-bag limit• SSR (without wheeled carts)• SSR only (with carts) or RecycleBank only • Automated SW (64-g) • WRP, one bag limit, or 39-g barrel automated collection• PAYT (with stickers)• PAYT (bags, fee for all trash)• SSR + Automated SW collection (64-g carts)• SSR + PAYT or Automated SW collection (<40-g carts)


Waste Ban Enforcement• Definition:

– Hauler is required to leave behind any “visible recyclables” (hopefully with a sticker but not always).

– Requires DPW and Selectmen/City Council support

• Examples and impact on Tons of SW per household served – North Andover (2/2005, 1.35 -> 1.2, down 12%)– Andover (5/2005, 1.4 -> 1.3, down 7%)– Chelmsford (2/2006, 1.14 -> 1.0, down 12%– Tewksbury (9/2008, 1.48 -> 1.35, down 10%)– Billerica (10/2007, 1.54 -> 1.36, down 13%)– Lexington (9/2007, 0.82 -> 0.81, down 2%)

• Conclusion: Impact on SW = 5-13% if T/hh > 1.0• If T/hh < 1.0, then reduction less significant


MREC = Municipal Recycling Enforcement Coordinator• Either existing staff or DEP grant-funded staff

• FY09 Grants given to: Billerica, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Springfield, and Lynn

• May/June 2009 vs 2008 Results:

– Billerica – SW down 8%

– Chelmsford – SW down 7%

– Tewksbury – SW down 11%

– Waltham down 3% without a MREC or any changes

• Conclusion: 7-11% impact on tonnage depending on starting point.

• Note: This can be enough to pay for coordinator’s salaryPrepared by Carolyn Dann4/06/2010 5

3- or 4-Bag Limit• Definition: Households limited to 3 or 4 bags or barrels per

week curbside.

• Examples:

– Mansfield (FY07) reduced SW 15% from 1.3 to 1.1 T/hh

– Tyngsborough (FY07) reduced SW 5% from 1.06 to 1.0 T/hh

– Framingham (FY08) reduced SW 4% from 1.04 to 1.01 T/hh

• Conclusion: 3- or 4-bag limit drops SW to ~1.0T/hh

• Real enforcement is KEY!


Automated SW (64-g barrels)• Truck with mechanical arm, residents receive free barrel, pay for

2nd barrel or overflow bags

• Examples from first 7 months:

– Billerica reduced SW 23% from 1.26 T/hh to 1.02

– Burlington reduced SW 27% from 1.24 T/hh to 0.84 (+ weekly R)

– Tewksbury reduced SW from 1.34 T/hh to 1.0 T/hh (added condos)

– Tyngsborough reduced SW 13% from 0.93 to 0.86

– Lowell reduced SW 25% in first 12 mos, down from 1.46

• Conclusion #1: Starting Point Matters; Brings SW down to ~0.9 to 1.0 T/hh;

• Conclusion #2: Smaller barrels would bring SW down more.


Barrel Size Matters

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Springfield SW Tonnage 1994-2004, using 96-g Barrels

Auto and Semi-Auto

Manual Rubbish


Single-Stream Recycling (SSR) w/o Carts• Residents use own containers but can mix fiber and

containers (“zero sort”)

• Examples:

– Braintree: SW down 5% from 1.36 to 1.29

– N. Andover (weekly): SW down 6% from 1.13 to 1.06

– Westford (some carts): SW down 2% from 1.22 to 1.2

– Framingham: SW down 8% over 2 yrs with SSR and 3-bag limit from 1.04 to 0.97

– Quincy: SW down 7% from 0.87 to 0.82

– Weymouth: SW down 5% from 1.15 to 1.10

• Conclusion: SSR alone will reduce SW 5-7%Prepared by Carolyn Dann4/06/2010 9

Single-Stream Recycling With Carts Residents receive standardized cart, collected with

automated truck, “zero sort”

Examples:

Boston: SW down 15% over 3 years from 0.8 to 0.67

Conclusion: More impact when combined with SW limits, PAYT, or dedicated carts for SW.


RecycleBank Residents receive a recycling barrel and earn coupons

based on the weight of recyclables collected

On a individual household basis

On a route basis

On a community-wide average basis

Results – Info not yet available on City-wide basis


Waste Reduction Program, Basic Service PAYT, One “Free” Barrel Residents allowed first barrel (up to 36-g), have to buy

bag for extra trash at ~$2/bag

Examples:

Hamilton: SW down 32% from 0.96 to 0.71 T/hh in first 12 months

Wenham: SW down 25% from 0.98 to 0.73 T/hh

Longmeadow: SW down 24% from 0.91 to 0.69 T/hh

Conclusion: WRP reduces SW to 0.7-0.8 T/hh


Full PAYT Residents pay for every bag of trash or use a sticker on

each bag of trash

Examples: Natick: PAYT since FY04, FY08 SW was at 0.70

Malden – SW down 50% after 1 year from 1.21 to 0.58 T/hh

Gloucester – SW down 25% in first 9 mos, from 0.69 with sticker-PAYT to a projected 0.52 T/hh with bag-PAYT

Shrewsbury – down 39% from 1.10 to 0.68 T/hh

Worcester – PAYT for many years, CY07 was 0.48! (w/o BW)

Conclusion: Full PAYT reduces SW to 0.5-0.7 T/hh;

Bags significantly more effective than stickers.


SS-R+Automated SW Collection or PAYT• Residents receive 2 barrels: one for SW, one for recycling, “Zero sort”

• Examples:– Holden (96-g R, 64-g SW) : reduced from 1.14 in CY06 to 0.81 in FY08

– Ashland (SSR+PAYT): SW down 38% from 0.96 to 0.6

– Newton (Automated SW+Automated SS-R): Piloted Oct ‘08-Jan ‘09; Started City-wide in October ‘09. Early results: Oct + Nov ’07 = 4726

Oct +Nov ’08 = 4000, 15% less than pre-pilot.

Oct + Nov ’09 = 3379, 16% less than last year, (but Sept was 7% less). Comparing to ‘07, SW is 29% less.

T/hh was 0.93 and could get to 0.79 if SW drops 15% all year.

– North Attleborough (SSR&PAYT): SW down to 0.54 T/hh

• Conclusion: SS-R + Automation/PAYT can reduce SW to 0.6- 0.8

• Results will depend on size of SW barrel.


Mansfield’s Variety Approach3-Barrel Limit -> SW down 12%, from 1.3 to 1.1

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Started 3-barrel limit


FY08 Had Automated SW (64-g)SW Down Another 19% from 1.1 to 0.9

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April '07 Started Automated SW



Added SS-RecyclingSW Down Another 8%, from 0.9 to 0.8

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April '07 Started Automated SW


July '08 Started SS-Recycling


Preliminary Conclusions Starting point matters - Always ask about “before”!

More reduction predicted if >1.0 Ton/household

Program matters

5-10% reduction possible with EWBE, MREC, 3-4 bag/barrel limit, SS-R only

25-35% reduction with WRP, Automated SW*

35-50% reduction with PAYT, Automated SW&SSR*

*Barrel size matters!

0-10% reduction if 1.0 T/hh or less, with Automated SW w 64-g barrels


Next Steps Hear from Boston, Hamilton, Lowell, Malden, North

Attleborough

Test future results against the “preliminary conclusions”

Improve quality of data for # of Households served


Boston: Semi-automated Single-Stream Recycling Start Date: 7/1/09

Program details:

64-g barrel for each household 1 cart for buildings with 1 to 3 units

2 carts for buildings wit 4 and 5 units

3 carts for 6 units

7+ unit buildings owners are required by law to provide wheeled-carts (100,000 0f the total 300,000)

weekly recycling

Total households served = 300,000


Boston: Getting to “Change” No change to collection cost; hauler chose to extend

contract

Pilot program

DEP grant

Cart donations from cart vendors

5 pilots over 2 years showed significant increase in R tons

Residents’ positive response


Boston: Implementation LessonsDelivery Better Formula: 1 cart for single-family; 2 carts for 2 to 4-

unit residences; 3 carts for 5 and 6-unit residences

Record serial numbers

Publicity Mailings, ads, video, cart itself, cart lid graphic

Collection

Anticipate longer collection initially

For crowded streets, residents to put cart on street between parked cars to give recycling truck driver access to cart

Other options - old trash barrel with lid and sticker, old recycling bin, clear plastic bagPrepared by Carolyn Dann4/06/2010 22

Boston: Impact on SW“Before” (FY06 and FY07)SW =~0.8 tons SW per household

“After” (FY09) SW Total =0.72 T/hh/y in FY09

0.67 T/hh/y projected for FY10

15% reduction in SW and 56% increase in R comparing FY10 to FY07

166,336 165,475158,169

149,516143,847

134,740

12,052 11,898 11,058 12,581 13,753 17,202

FY05 FY06 FY07 = "before"

FY08 w SS pilot

FY09 w SS pilots

FY10 w SSR citywide

Boston's SW & R History300,000 households

SW Tons R Tons


Lowell: Automated SW Start Date: 3/2/09

‘Hybrid’ UBP Program details:

Annual fee of $125/year per household

68-gal wheeled-cart provided for SW for each household

Seniors eligible for 35-gal cart (for discounted price)

weekly dual-stream curbside recycling

serves single to 4-family, ‘owner-occupied’ 5- and 6-family & residential portion of ‘mixed-use’

25,000 households served

35-gal (PAYT) draw-string ‘overflow’ trash bagPrepared by Carolyn Dann4/06/2010 24

Lowell: Getting to “Change” Hauler offered to re-negotiate (1 yr early) if switched to

automation

4 Surrounding communities already committed

Manager publicized urgent need to stem financial losses in SW program

Preparatory steps… wrote new ordinances

Plenty of outreach

Included City Council in decisions, field trips to Nashua and Worcester


Lowell: Implementation LessonsWork on Assessor’s [eligibility/distribution] list

Start early: six to eight months necessary

Outreach!

Parades, football games, sandwich boards

Markets, festivals, flyers, electric sign boards

Website, hotline

Clearly designate one Dept. to handle inquiries.

Assign extra staff for 1 wk before & 2 after


Lowell: Impact on SW“Before” (3-08 to 2-09)

“After” (3-09 to 2-10)

SW Total = 40,000

1.6 tons per household

SW Total = 29,000

1.1 tons per household

27.5% reduction in SW

$715,000 saved in tip fees

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Lowell SW Tonnage12-m rolling totals

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New Barrel Program


Hamilton: Waste Reduction Prgm Start Date: 5/18/08

Program details:

Each household can use own <36-g barrel for trash “free”

Bi-weekly recycling

33-gallon overflow bag costs $1.75

Serves all housing units

Total households served = 2460

Same hauler for trash and recycling, no change in contract


Hamilton: Getting to “Change” League of Women Voters study in FY07 re PAYT

Waste Ban Enforcement in FY08

Support from Town Administrator and Selectmen

Town counsel saw a need for Town Meeting vote

Recycling Committee conducted outreach:

Public meeting

Cable, email, website, outreach to groups

Coordinated presentations at Town Meeting

Selectmen then affirmed by voting to set bag fee at $1.75


Hamilton: Implementation Lessons No DPW Director during transition

Constant contact with hauler

Businesses, churches – provided individualized help

Hotline - high touch approach, relief for DPW staff

Residents – free in-home coaching

Barrel stickers - provided for shared driveways and multi-families, all residents notified

Outreach by signs, email, cable, hotline, neighbors, news articles, mailed flyers to all


Hamilton: Impact on SW“Before” (4-07 to 3-08)

• SW Total = 2733

• 1.04 tons per household

“After” (4-08 to 3-09)• SW Total = 1856

• 0.71 Tons per household

• 32% reduction in SW -

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Hamilton Solid Waste Tonnage12-m rolling totals

Waste Ban

Enforcement

started 4-07

Waste Reduction

Program started 3-08


Malden: Pay As You Throw

Start Date: 10/6/08 Program details:

All trash must be in blue bag, one free bulky item / week 33-gallon bag costs $2.00 each 15-gallon bag costs $1.00 each

Weekly curbside and drop off recycling Serves all housing units with 6 units or fewer Total households served = 17,783 Population = 56,000 City contracts w/JRM Hauling for trash and recycling


Malden: Getting to “Change” For the Mayor of Malden, it was all about

balancing the City’s $130 million dollar budget and avoiding avoiding substantial program and personnel cuts.

In putting together his FY09 budget, Mayor Howard included a residential PAYT program citing an estimated $2.5 million dollars could be freed up - from disposal cost savings and revenue from the sale of PAYT bags.


Malden: Implementation Lessons The City over-estimated average # of large bags per

week per household, and introduced a small bag 3 months into the program, so projected bag revenues were down. On the plus side, the savings from cost avoidance for disposal was way up.

Were the City to do it all over again, they would have bag vendor manage all retailer invoicing / collections. Now, larger retailers remit payment to the City for bags. As a result, the City needs to keep their bag vendor appraised of delinquent retailers.


Malden: Lessons Continued Be flexible in the first few weeks of program.

The outcry from not involving the public from the beginning has been challenging, but would have certainly slowed, if not, jeopardized implementation.

Need larger recycling containers with even larger recycling decals (and change wording from co-mingled to containers or bottles and cans to make clearer).

Anticipate and make provision for language and cultural obstacles.


Malden: Impact on SW

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SW

R

“Before” (10-07 to 9-08)SW Total = 20,750

•1.17 tons per household

“After” (10-08 to 9-09)•SW Total = 10,428

•0.59 Tons per household

•50% reduction in SW


N.Attleborough: PAYT + SS-R Start Date: PAYT – September 1998

SSR – July 2008 Program details:

– Annual flat fee covers all fixed program expenses. All trash must be in a town bag or have appropriate tag.

33-gallon bags cost $1.50/ea · 15-gallon bags cost $1.00/ea

Bag tags cost $3.00/ea · Bulky tags cost $2.50/ea

Weekly recycling beginning in 1998

Changed to SS-R July 2008

Serves all residential dwellings with 4 units or less

Total households served in 2009 = 8,027

Population = 26,900 in 2009

Same hauler for trash and recycling


N. Attleborough: Getting to “Change” 1998 the landfill was capped and closed.

Committee negotiating the new contract was motivated to reduce trash and increase recycling.

New hauler contract included a clause – each year the total tonnage was less than 6,020, the town would receive a reduction in the annual bill. $5,500 for every 86 tons less than the 6,020.

Disposal costs combined with collection.


N.Attleborough: SS-R Implementation Lessons Begin distributing carts at least three weeks before

switching to new system.

Assign carts to addresses by number and record for future use.

Carts are included in contract price and owned by hauler.

Revenue share on recycling.

Investigate clear (see through) carts and/or lids.

Focus on education and outreach - attend school orientation nights, PTA and Town meetings with demonstration materials.


N. Attleborough: Impact on SW “Before PAYT” (FY98)

6,735 tons SW per year = 0.94 T/hh

“After PAYT” (FY99)


30% reduction in SW

“With PAYT, Before SSR” (FY08)


“After PAYT & SSR” (FY09)


21% additional reduction in SW

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N. Attleborough SW History

in Tons/HH served/Year
