SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE March 23-24, 2010 What is a Waste Reduction Program?

What’s to come tonight!!! What is a Waste Reduction Program? Why a Waste Reduction Program? How does it work? How much will it save? What will it cost? Questions

Not much recycling going on here!

Much Better!!!!!

What is a Waste Reduction Program? A community wide effort to eliminate wastes whenever we can and use the remaining wastes as resources wherever possible and dispose of as little as possible… – Throw out less – Recycle more

2008 Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) Report  Assumes that Landfill closes on or about 12/31/2010  Plan implementable by January 1, 2011  Fee structure equitably reflects a household’s recycling and waste reduction efforts: RECYCLE MORE = PAY LESS THROW AWAY MORE = PAY MORE

Underlying Concept Run Solid Waste Program like the South Hadley Electric Light Department or Water Districts… – use more electricity or water, pay more – use less electricity or water, pay less More recycling = pay less Less recycling = pay more

RECOMMENDATIONS 2008 SWAC REPORT  Provide solid waste curbside collection at current level of services  Provide recycling and solid waste disposal at the Recycling Center.  Increase recycling rates  Initiate a Waste Reduction Program (WRP)  Modify the flat rate assessment to an equitable fee structure based on the amount of trash discarded

Reasons for using a Waste Reduction Program It is equitable: You only pay for what you throw out, not what your neighbor throws out It is economical: Increased recycling reduces the overall cost of collection and disposal It is environmentally sound: It reduces the amount of trash being landfilled or incinerated

Recycling in South Hadley

Where in MA Have WRP’s Worked? In 130 Massachusetts municipalities In 3 MA cities w/ curbside trash and recycling: Brockton, Worcester, Taunton In 36 MA suburbs w/ curbside trash and recycling: Amherst, Buckland, Concord, East Longmeadow, Natick, Montague, Greenfield, Gloucester, Topsfield, Boxford, Maynard, North Attleboro, Merrimac, Longmeadow, Shutesbury 70 other MA communities w/drop-off trash and recycling programs Many programs have 10+ years experience

2010 SWAC Recommendations Make NO changes to: Every other week curbside collection of trash and recycling – All waste in a barrel Unlimited recycling Recycling Center available to accept special wastes Leaf and yard waste drop-off available

2010 SWAC Recommendations NEW: Adopt the following Waste Reduction Program (WRP):  All trash disposed in a town approved bag placed in a barrel  Two bag size options  Bags available all over town  Bag fee = ??????  Change the per person flat fee to a per household fee.  Charge a small annual fee to support recycling center & lawn/yard waste drop-off

Funding Sources No Tax money Annual per household flat fee Bag sale revenue Landfill revenue Materials Recycling Facility reimbursements Recycling/Drop-off Center revenues Annual Recycling Center sticker fee

Remember THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM FEES

IMPORTANT No fees have been set –Y–You can’t set fees without knowing costs of disposal and income (if any) from landfill SOONER OR LATER….THE LANDFILL WILL CLOSE…it is just a matter of when SWAC recommendations focus primarily on the system…NOT ON WHAT THE SYSTEM FEES SHOULD BE

Examples of Fee Structures For Illustrative Purposes Only

Budget/Fees – landfill closed Example # 1 Total Budget  $1,516,000 Flat Fee  $830,000 Host Benefit  $0 Sticker Fee  $20,000 Bag Revenue  $576,000 RC/MRF Income  $90,000 Total Revenue  $1,516,000 Surplus  $0 ASSUMPTIONS No tax money Flat fee = $138.00/household Annual Recycling Center Sticker Fee = $10/vehicle Bag cost to resident = $1.50 6,000 households 2,000 stickers sold 1.5 bags per week per person

Example Per Household Costs (2012) - Landfill Closed USING CURRENT PER PERSON SYSTEM 1 person = $107 2 person = $214 3 person = $321 4 person = $428 5 person = $535 – $107/person flat fee Example # 1 1 person = $173 2 person = $212 3 person = $251 4 person = $290 5 person = $329 – $1.50/bag – $138/per household

Example Per Household Cost(2012) - Landfill Closed Example # 2 1 person = $161 2 person = $206 3 person = $252 4 person = $297 5 person = $343 – $1.75/bag – $115/household Example # 3 1 person = $148 2 person = $200 3 person = $252 4 person = $304 5 person = $356 – $2.00/bag – $96/household

REMEMBER The costs assume 1.5 bags per person per week on average If you use fewer bags you will pay less If you use more bags you will pay more

Potential Savings – Landfill Closed

Example Per Household Cost (2012) - Landfill OPEN ASSUMPTIONS $1.00 per bag Flat fee = $0.00 per household Annual Recycling Center Sticker Fee = $10 per vehicle 6,000 households 2,000 stickers sold 1.5 bags per week per person Example Fee Structure per Household 1 person = $ 39 2 person = $ 78 3 person = $117 4 person = $156 5 person = $195

Flexibility Selectboard will have great flexibility to adjust fees depending on – landfill closed – landfill open – new technologies – disposal costs or recycling income changes

Conclusions When will the landfill close = ???? Recommendations work with or without a landfill… only the fee numbers will change Financially sound and very equitable Should increase recycling as much as 25%

Committee Members Voting Members – John Higgins, Chair – Sharon Hart – Ted Boulais – Michael Fisher – Yem Lip – Ronald Michalski Advisory Members – Veronique “V” Blanchard Smith – SH DPW – Jim Reidy – SH DPW – Arlene Miller – MA DEP

Repeat 100 times before you go to sleep tonight More recycling = pay less Less recycling = pay more More recycling = pay less Less recycling = pay more More recycling = pay less Less recycling = pay more

QUESTIONS????