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Analysis of Enhanced Residential Recycling System for New Castle County

Analysis of Enhanced Residential Recycling System for New Castle County. Prepared for the Delaware Recycling Public Advisory Council. DSM’s Scope of Work. Refuse and Recycling Collection. Evaluate existing refuse and recyclables collection in NCC

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Analysis of Enhanced Residential Recycling System for New Castle County

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  1. Analysis of Enhanced Residential Recycling System for New Castle County Prepared for the Delaware Recycling Public Advisory Council DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  2. DSM’s Scope of Work DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  3. Refuse and Recycling Collection • Evaluate existing refuse and recyclables collection in NCC • Estimate costs and recyclables diversion for alternative recycling collection systems • Recommend most efficient method for curbside collection of recyclables DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  4. Materials Recovery Facility • Estimate costs and revenues of expanding the DSWA recycling processing facility • Recommend best course of action to provide processing capacity for the State of Delaware DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  5. Yard Waste Collection • Develop best estimate of yard waste disposal in NCC • Estimate collection costs and potential diversion of yard waste from landfill DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  6. ConclusionsCurrent Drop-OffRecycling Program • One of the most comprehensive in the U.S. • but only 20–30% of NCC households participate • Results in: • Collection of 14% of available recyclables • High average costs: $190/ton • High costs per participating household at $4.90 - $6.60 per month • Recycling rate of 6% DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  7. ConclusionsCurbside Recycling • Organized NCC curbside could increase the recovery rate of residential recyclables from 14% to 60% • This could boost the residential recycling rate to approximately 20% DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  8. Diversion by Recycling Option Baseline (14%) Organized Collection DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  9. ConclusionsRecyclables Processing • Space exists at DSWA Pigeon Point facility to add new equipment to process any residential recyclables collected curbside • Processing costs, net of revenue, are estimated to be $1 - $7/ton DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  10. ConclusionsRecycling System Costs • Adding organized curbside recycling to the existing refuse collection system would cost $1.80 to $2.60 per household per month • However, organized curbside recycling is less expensive than refuse collection and disposal in the unincorporated areas of NCC DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  11. ConclusionsYard Wastes • Yard waste collection could divert another 39,300 tons of residential waste from landfill • This would increase the recycling rate by 14%, after accounting for current leaf waste programs DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  12. ConclusionsYard Wastes System Costs • Per ton costs are higher than collecting this material as refuse • There are other reasons to collect leaves, including the impact on storm drains • Requiring households to mulch grass clippings would have the same impact as separate collection at no cost DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  13. RecommendationsResidential Recycling • To maximize recycling at the lowest cost: • Organize curbside collection of recyclables throughout NCC • Eliminate twice per week refuse collection in incorporated areas • Consider organized refuse collection in unincorporated areas of NCC • Construct single stream MRF DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  14. RecommendationsYard Wastes & Special Wastes • Expand leaf waste collection programs in unincorporated areas of NCC • Require grass clippings be left on lawns instead of disposed of in the refuse • Keep six Recycle Delaware drop-offs in NCC for special wastes recycling DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  15. A More Detailed Look At The Numbers DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  16. Current Refuse Collection System • Organized curbside collection in incorporated areas • Subscription curbside elsewhere (75% of population) DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  17. Estimated Refuse Collection and Disposal Costs • Incorporated Areas: • Average cost - $115/ton • Average cost per household - $14/month • Unincorporated Areas • Average cost - $180/ton • Average price per household - $19/month DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  18. Current Recycling System • 75 Recycle Delaware drop-offs in NCC • 20-30% participation • 2000 households have curbside collection • Electronics drop off at three NCC locations • Durable goods recycling at landfill • Yard waste collection in incorporated areas DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  19. How Much Residential Waste Is Recycled in NCC? • 10,800 tons of residential recyclables collected from NCC residents at drop-offs • 660 tons collected curbside • 1,400 tons special wastes (excluding oil) • 3,800 tons of yard wastes • Results in a current recycling rate of 6% for NCC DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  20. Reason For Low Recycling Rate • 95% of NCC households receive curbside collection of refuse • Drop-off recycling requires a special effort • Households with curbside collection of refuse need curbside collection of recyclables DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  21. What is Potential For Expanded Recycling In NCC? • 78,000 tons of the NCC residential waste stream is potentially recyclable • All of the current recycling programs capture 14% of this for a recycle rate of 6% • If 60% of those recyclables were recovered through curbside collection, the residential recycling rate would be 18% from this program alone DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  22. Who Would Participate In Curbside Recycling? • According to a 1999 RPAC survey: • 80% of Delaware residents would participate if there were no charge • 41% would participate if it cost $1/month • 23% would participate if it cost $3/month Source: A Course of Action to Increase Recycling in the State of Delaware, March 1, 2000 DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  23. Curbside Collection Options(in ascending order of recovery potential) • Offer subscription curbside recycling • Organize curbside recycling in the incorporated areas only • Organize curbside collection of recyclables throughout NCC • Organize curbside collection of refuse and recyclables throughout NCC DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  24. Subscription Service • 15,100 tons recovered • Estimated Recycling Rate: 8% • Estimated cost/ton: $206 • Fee per household: $5 - $6/month DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  25. Conclusion • According to the RPAC survey, most households would not sign up for curbside recycling at $5 - $6 per month • Therefore, simply requiring all refuse haulers to offer curbside collection of recyclables will not appreciably increase the recycling rate DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  26. Organized Collection in Incorporated Areas Only Replace twice weekly refuse collection with weekly refuse and weekly recycling • 19,500 tons recovered • Estimated Recycling Rate: 10% • Estimated Cost/Ton: $71 • Estimated Cost/Household/Month: $2.50 DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  27. Conclusion • Offering curbside collection in incorporated areas only is not enough to significantly increase recycling • Per household costs are on the high end of the range of acceptable costs • But per ton costs are low DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  28. Organized Curbside Recycling Collection Only • Existing mix of private and public refuse collection systems would remain in place • A governmental entity would contract for curbside collection of recyclables only countywide DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  29. Two Types of CollectionSystems Evaluated • Dual Stream • Households separate recyclables into two categories – mixed paper, and mixed bottles and cans • Single Stream • Households mix all recyclables together DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  30. Most Cost Effective Organized Collection Systems • Bi-Weekly, Dual Stream Collection: • 29,500 tons recovered • Estimated recycling rate: 13% • Estimated cost: $147/ton • Weekly, Single Stream Collection • 45,100 tons recovered • Estimated recycling rate: 19% • Estimated cost: $136/ton DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  31. Conclusion • High recycling rates require organized curbside collection • Adding curbside recycling collection to the existing refuse collection system would require a household fee of $1.80 - $2.60/month • This fee is on the high end of the acceptable range DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  32. Comparison With Refuse Costs Any recycling collection and processing system that costs less than refuse collection and disposal makes economic sense irrespective of potential environmental benefits DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  33. Comparison of System Costs • Refuse Collection and Disposal • Incorporated Areas: $115/ton • Unincorporated Areas: $180 • Recycling Collection and Processing • Single stream, weekly collection: $136/ton • Dual stream, bi-weekly collection: $147/ton DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  34. Conclusion • Organized collection of recyclables in unincorporated areas is less costly than refuse collection and disposal • Organized collection of recyclables is 20% more costly than refuse only collection in incorporated areas DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  35. Impact of Organizing Refuse Collection • Organized collection of refuse in Incorporated Areas of NCC: $14/household/month • Free market collection of refuse in Unincorporated Areas of NCC: $19/household/month • A difference of $4 - $5/household/month is consistent throughout the United States DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  36. Conclusion • Organized refuse and recycling collection in Unincorporated Areas could allow the addition of recycling in NCC at no additional cost per household DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  37. Alternatively • Adding organized, countywide curbside collection of recyclables will cost all households an additional $1.80-$2.60/month • But that is before any savings in lower refuse collection and disposal costs, which may or may not be passed on to the household DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  38. Recyclables Processing Costs • DSM and VanDyke Baler/Bollegraph estimated processing costs for two types of systems: • Dual Stream: separate processing of mixed containers and mixed paper • Single Stream: all materials received mixed together, separated at the facility DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  39. Processing Costs • Dual Stream • Capital Cost: $2.5 million • Annual Operating Costs: $1.7 million • Revenues: $1.9 million • Required Tipping Fee:$6/ton • Single Stream • Capital Cost: $3.3 – 3.9 million • Annual Operating Costs: $1.7 – 1.9 million • Revenues: $2.1 – 2.8 million • Required Tipping Fee: $1 – $7/ton DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  40. Conclusion • Existing buildings at the DSWA Pigeon Point facility are large enough to install new processing equipment • Processing costs, net of revenues are estimated to range from $1 - $7/ton • Markets exist for all of the materials if properly separated and baled DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  41. Yard Waste Generation • 2002 Franklin Associates report overestimates yard waste disposal by approximately 45 percent • Actual rates are much more likely to be represented by the 1997 DSWA waste characterization DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  42. DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  43. Yard Waste Collection System Analyzed • Vacuum collection of leaves in Incorporated Areas • Paper leaf bags in Unincorporated Areas • Drop-off of leaves and grass in Rural Areas • Collection of grass clippings in 30 gallon carts DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  44. Potential Recovery of Leaf and Grass Wastes • 6,800 tons of leaves • 32,400 tons of grass • Total diversion from landfill: 39,200 tons • Impact on recycling rate: 15% DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  45. Yard Wastes Collection and Processing Costs • Leaf Wastes: • Collection Cost: $290/ton • Processing Cost: $22/ton • Total: $312/ton, or $11/household/year • Grass Clippings: • Collection Cost: $172/ton • Processing Cost: $22/ton • Total: $194/ton, or $31/household/year DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  46. Is It Worth Collecting Yard Wastes? • Leaf Wastes • Costs higher than refuse collection and disposal • But other reasons to collect – impact on storm drains, leaves on public places need collection • Grass Clippings • Costs similar to refuse collection in unincorporated areas • But no cost to mulch grass clippings DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  47. Conclusion • Leaf waste collection and composting should be considered in the more densely populated unincorporated areas • Residents should be encouraged to mulch their grass clippings DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

  48. Summary • Meeting a residential recycling goal of 30% will take a combination of: • Organized curbside collection of residential recyclables countywide • Construction of a new processing facility • Increased collection of leaf wastes • A requirement to mulch grass clippings DSM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

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