Welcome to the 2014 Solid Waste Convenience Center Workshop

Welcome to the 2014 Solid Waste Convenience Center Workshop

Today s Agenda: Morning Session: 10am-Noon Introductions Overview of SWCCs in NC Modernizing Recycling at SWCCs Special Wastes at SWCCs Education and Outreach at SWCCs Morning Wrap-up / Discussion Lunch: 12 1pm Afternoon Session: 1pm 3pm Community System Profile SWCC Design and Planning Staffing Strategies for SWCCs Funding SWCC Systems Afternoon Wrap-up / Discussion

Please Introduce Yourself! Name Who do your work for? What do you do?

Solid Waste Convenience Centers in North Carolina 2014 Solid Waste Convenience Center Workshop Rob Taylor NC Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service

What is a Solid Waste Convenience Center? Why do communities operate SWCCs?

Solid Waste Convenience Centers Staffed facilities, typically gated and fenced Provide both waste and recycling services Typically focus on providing services to unincorporated areas

A Look at SWCCs across NC 100 Counties in NC 96 counties operate at least 1 SWCC 4 counties with no SWCC system Average of 7 SWCCs per county County with most SWCCs is Robeson County w/ 20 staffed sites 11 counties with just one SWCC 24 counties with more than 10

Profile of Drop-Off Recycling in NC Municipal Operated Sites Un-Staffed 257 Staffed 23 Total 280 County Operated Sites Un-Staffed 72 Staffed 692* Total 764 *Solid Waste Convenience Centers

County Drop-off Recycling at SWCCs Recycling Program Styles Across NC in FY 2012-13 # Counties # SWCCs Single Stream 19 159 Single Stream +/- 24 174 Dual Stream 11 76 Source Separated 42 283 No SWCC 4 -- Total 100 692 Changing Fast

The Changing Role of Drop-off Recycling Across NC, Curbside recycling is becoming more prevalent and more effective Prior to 2009, NC Drop-off tonnage exceeded Curbside tonnage Fiscal Year Curbside Rcy (Tons) Drop-off Rcy (Tons) 2005-06 196,425 246,161 2006-07 215,707 242,021 2007-08 227,985 230,696 2008-09 256,936 199,859 2009-10 266,088 208,584 2010-11 284,578 202,404 2011-12 294,013 155,713 2012-13 307,135 133,630

Modernizing Drop-Off Recycling in North Carolina

Opportunity

What s The Future of Drop-off Recycling? Still the primary recycling option for areas w/o curbside collection (rural NC) Recycling option for businesses and multifamily residents (e.g. ABC Permit Holders) Provides overflow & back-up to curbside recycling system Recycling service for materials that don t fit well with curbside collection: special wastes (electronics, used oil, oil filters) bulky recyclables (scrap metal, pallets) plastic film

DENR Goal: To help drop-off programs become more efficient and effective by: Sharing solutions from across NC that grow recovery Promoting practices that decrease operational cost and increase recycling tonnage Helping communities add low or no-cost recycling services that divert more materials from waste stream Providing grants that support the creation and expansion of recycling infrastructure

Focus on Traditional Recyclables Traditional = cans and bottles, paper and plastics The material world is in flux: Light weighting Evolution of packaging types From glass to plastic From cans/jars/boxes towards pouches & cartons Decline of newspapers More plastics (cups, tubs, bulky rigids)

Background Collection and transportation are the most expensive aspects of recycling Commingling recyclable materials substantially reduces collection cost Advantages gained: Increased Participation Increased Recovery Enables use of Compaction Commingling Saves Money.

More than One Way to Commingle True Single Stream Single Stream + / - Dual Stream Any of the above with or without glass Each reduces operating cost over source separated programs Each increases user convenience

Commingling Requires MRF Materials Recovery Facility (MRFs) in NC Find the MRF nearest you and figure out how to work with them. May need Hub and Spoke depending on your location in the state.

Moving to Single Stream As of FY 2012-13, Single-Stream is the mostcommon type of collection style at SWCCs (43 systems either SS or SS +/-) Transition requires: Understanding of how SS will impact operational costs Explaining commingling to decision makers Developing new PR materials and educating staff What should you do? Visit a MRF (consider bringing decision makers) Talk to others who have made the change Plan then act 19

A Chance to Add Materials Talk to your MRF add all welcomed materials Potential New Items: Paper: add mixed paper if you haven t already Plastics: Cups and Tubs? Rigids? Cartons (aseptic containers and gable tops)

Making the Leap - Your Challenge: Look beyond revenue from materials sales Assess true full cost of current system Find: Operational Savings > Revenue Loss Discover the Business Case for Modernization Practices with Most Promise: Commingling Compaction

Why Bother: Cash and Convenience Program changes that increase user convenience and save money are smart bets! The happy coincidence (fringe benefits): Increase recovery Free up much-needed space at SWCC sites Make life easier for employees and managers Deliver return on investment

Benefits of Single-Stream for SWCCs Simplify citizen experience no need for sorting One stop recycling improves traffic flow at sites Fewer containers taking up less space

Space Savings: Before and After Before: a large number containers for the different types of recyclables After: one or two centralized containers for mixed recyclables

More Benefits of Single-Stream Eliminates need to pull partially full containers Speeds up dumping process Allows for alignment between waste and recycling collection style Allows for compaction to maximize hauling efficiency

Using Compactors for Recycling Increase tonnage capacity and decrease operational costs Complements transition to Single Stream Compactors deliver value and savings (fewer pulls)

Types of Compactors Stationary Self-contained Self-contained has smaller foot-print and smaller capacity Stationary hopper typical size range 2-3 cubic yards Payload range from 5-9 tons Avg. payload for 40 yard stationary ~ 6 tons (~300 lbs./yd 3 )

Average Costs (stationary system) Compactor Receiver Box (roll-off) Concrete pad Electric Installation Shipping Installation Compactor Receiver Box Shipping Concrete Electrical Installation $10,469 $5,953 $546 $3,609 $3,899 $2,241 Total system cost ~ $25,000

Benefits of Compaction Greater Payload Fewer Hauls Decreased footprint at site / better use of space Increased recycling participation when coupled with single stream Greater Payload Fewer Hauls Greater Efficiency High Return on Investment

Single Stream + Compactors = Results Drop-off Tonnage in 3 counties that have made the change: * = first year after full transition County FY 2011-12 FY 2012-13 FY 2013-14 Increase Franklin County 996 1,134* 1,257 26% Moore County 1,035 1,406* 1,809 75% Rutherford County 764 743 1,434* 88% Annual Recycling Collection Cost: Moore County, NC Before: $144,573 After: $53,775 Cost and tonnage data from Annual Reports submitted to NC DENR

More Results Operational Savings Rutherford County, NC BILLS CREEK SITE BEFORE: 3 TRIPS PER MONTH AT $180 PER TRIP AFTER: 1 TRIP PER MONTH AT $108 PER TRIP SAVINGS OF $2,592 IN 6 MONTHS DANIELTOWN SITE BEFORE: 12 TRIPS PER MONTH AT $108 PER TRIP AFTER: 2 TRIPS PER MONTH AT $72 PER TRIP SAVINGS OF $6,912 IN 6 MONTHS 31

Spring 2014 DEACS Survey 26 counties using at least 1 compactor for recycling Total of 105 compactors in use in those counties

DENR Grants for Compactors DEACS launching new dedicated grant program for recycling compactors Will start accepting applications on a year-round basis later this fall Watch your email and DEACS web sites for more info http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/deao/recycling/lg/financial-assistance

Thank You Rob Taylor Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service Phone: 919-707-8139 Email: rob.taylor@ncdenr.gov