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Recycling Programs That Work

Recycling Programs That Work. Amy Donovan Program Director Franklin County Solid Waste Management District Greenfield, MA. Overview of presentation. About my organization Recycling in Western Mass About Commercial Composting (CC): the climate change and farm connection

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Recycling Programs That Work

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  1. Recycling Programs That Work Amy DonovanProgram DirectorFranklin County Solid Waste Management District Greenfield, MA

  2. Overview of presentation • About my organization • Recycling in Western Mass • About Commercial Composting (CC): the climate change and farm connection • CC programs that work: schools, transfer stations, businesses • Waste Diversion: Fairs, Festivals, Races • Hazardous Waste and EE • Next steps = more sustainable in 2012

  3. Franklin County Solid Waste Management District Bernardston Buckland Charlemont Colrain Conway Deerfield Erving Gill Hawley Heath Leverett Leyden Montague New Salem (CC since 2009) Northfield (CC since 2008) Orange (CC 2011 pilot) Rowe Shelburne Sunderland Warwick Wendell Whately (CC since 2003) 22 member towns: 30 schools, 17 transfer stations, 4 municipal compost programs

  4. Solid Waste District Highlights: • Recycling coordinator for Franklin County • Annual Household Hazardous Waste Day • Twice annual Bulky Waste Day (+ e-waste) • Sharps Disposal Program • What Do I Do With…? 350 items listed • www.franklincountywastedistrict.org • MassRecycle’s Recycler of the Year: • Solid Waste District, Municipal Program, 1996 • Jan Ameen, Executive Director, 2005 • Amy Donovan, Program Director, 2011 • www.massrecycle.org

  5. Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) Solid Waste District on MRF Advisory Board Board = annual Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Guide MRF pays 74 western Mass municipalities $15- $45/ton for recyclables www.springfieldmrf.org

  6. Commercial Composting “Commercial Composting”= “Organics Recycling”= “On-Farm”= “Food Waste” …goes way beyond the backyard bin!

  7. Commercial Composting accepts materials previously destined for trash = less trash Generally accepts: • All food including items not composted at home: • Meat, chicken, fish, bones, dairy, fats, oils • (+ bread, veggies, fruits) • All paper including non recyclable: • Paper cups, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, waxed cardboard, waxed paper, soiled pizza boxes, soiled paper, soiled paper bags, flour/ sugar bags, egg cartons • Wood: skewers, chopsticks, coffee stirrers, sporks • “Compostable plastic:” PLA cups, certain bags • NO plastic, metal, glass, foil, etc.!

  8. CC’s benefits to participating organizations and planet: • Save money on tipping fees: • MSW (trash): $75/ ton • Compostables: $45/ ton • Reduce trash p/u or dumpster size and save on trash disposal /hauling costs • Consumers/ costumers appreciate green action • Supports local commercial composting facilities/ farms = local business • Saves space in landfills • Creates valuable soil out of waste • Mitigates climate change!

  9. Composting helps slow Climate Change Climate Change is caused by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide (School slides)

  10. The Climate Change Connection • When food waste (and paper) decay in a landfill, methane is released (due to anaerobic conditions). • Methane is a greenhouse gas 23times more potent than carbon dioxide. • Landfill Gas Recovery not always a solution. Methane pipe at a landfill

  11. Why doesn’t composting release methane? Because oxygen is part of the composting process (aerobic). There is no oxygen in a landfill. More info: www.cool2012.com

  12. Bear Path Farm, Whately, MA Windrows

  13. Martin’s Farm in Greenfield accepts compost from schools: Pioneer HS, Turners Falls HS Northfield ES, Bernardston ES, Deerfield ES, Erving ES, Sunderland ES, Amherst, more.. transfer stations: Northampton, Northfield, markets: Big Y stores, Greenfield Stop & Shop, McCusker’s, Greenfields Market, plus restaurants… Windrow turner at Martin’s Farm, Greenfield, MA

  14. Windrows at Martin’s Farm

  15. Whately Transfer Station:first municipal program in the state

  16. Northfield Transfer Station: 2 yd dumpsterSaves town $1,384/ year

  17. School composting 2 yard compost dumpster Gill Elementary: food, milk cartons, paper in green compostable bag Bag= “Comp-lete” from Fortune Plastics

  18. Schools Free resources: • MA DEP Green Team: free recycling/ composting equipment, activities, contests • www.thegreenteam.org • ACE Climate Assembly: free assembly • www.acespace.org

  19. Shelburne Falls Compost CollaborativeBlue Rock Restaurant, Café Martin, Mocha Maya’s, Mo’s Fudge Factor, West End Pub Shared compost dumpster Cost is shared according to each B’s volume SFABA and FCSWMD manage program Shredded paper: Mirick Insurance, Trailside Health

  20. Organics Haulers • Triple T Trucking, Brattleboro: dumpsters • Services Pioneer valley • Pricing: $70/ 2 yd., $130/ 4 yd., p/u weekly • Tips @ Martin’s Farm, Greenfield; Shadow Brook Farm, Hampden • (802) 254-5388, tripletrubbishremoval.com • Alternative Recycling: toters • 413-587-4005, alternativerecycling.com • Allied Waste: dumpsters • 413-592-9411

  21. Waste Diversion/ Reduction: Fairs, Festivals, Races

  22. Solid Waste District’s Special Event Bin Loaner Program Pictured: Recycling Volunteers at Conway Festival of the Hills

  23. Franklin County Fair • 25,000 attendees, 4 day Fair • 2011 Fair: 29% diversion rate • 50% savings: disposal costs

  24. Hazardous Waste and EE Please help educate!

  25. Mercury Thermostats & Thermometers: … should never be thrown in the trash. They contain mercury, which is toxic. … can be brought to the The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District office at 50 Miles St. in Greenfield and be properly disposed of for no charge. (413-772-2438) …call your municipality to see if accepted. Also, CFLs, batteries, cell phones, e-waste….

  26. Next Steps: Increasing Sustainability in 2012 • 57 western Mass towns/ waste districts sell low cost compost bins! ($25-$50) • Reduce, Reuse Recycle Guide • Recycle rechargeable batteries, HHW • Organizations: ID waste destinations, plenty of bins/ signage, educate users • Reduce disposables • Emerging (local) technologies- food waste • If all else fails, ask me how to green your organization!

  27. Questions? Amy DonovanProgram DirectorFranklin County Solid Waste Management District 50 Miles Street Greenfield, MA 01301 Tel: (413) 772-2438 amy@franklincountywastedistrict.orgwww.franklincountywastedistrict.org/

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