Strategies for Waste Collection on a Shoestring Budget n Mark Nedrow, Program Coordinator, Yakima County Public Works Dept./Solid Waste Div., 7151 Roza Hill Drive, Yakima, WA 98901

Introduction n How we reduce the cost of operating our Yakima County’s Moderate Risk Waste Collection Program.

Money Saving Measures We Use n Buy in bulk n Making minor repairs to equipment ourselves. n Bulking vs loosepacking. n Reuse of drums from local sources. n Stretch wrap vs 6ml bags for drum protection.

Money Saving Measures We Use n Fabricating equipment we need with in-house staff. n Shipping frequency and quantity vs. shipping charges. n Working manager.

Examples of what we buy in quantity n Absorbent Pads n Floor Dry n 1A2 Drums - Recon Vs New n 1A1 Drums for used motor oil/antifreeze n Misc.. PPE (gloves, respirator filters) n Stretch Wrap n Fluorescent Lamp Crusher Filters

Cost Savings n Floor Dry - buy by the pallet n PPE, including respirator filters, eye protection, various types of gloves, etc. n Buy stretch wrap by the case. n Reconditioned drums vs. new drums.

The Other Side of Buying in Bulk n Limited funds. n Limited storage space.

Things We Fix/Do to Avoid Operation Costs n Make repairs to our can crushers, e.g. replacing cylinders/hydraulic hoses. n Service our air filtering systems. n Fabricating and installing parts in equipment (bushings/piercing tool for Aerosolve unit). n Welding broken pieces, doing metal lathe work.

Final Thoughts n Saving money, by buying in bulk, is not always possible, particularly if you have a limited budget or limited storage space. n Not everyone is mechanically inclined or have the ability to make repairs to their equipment. n Most of us have access to drums from local sources - just need to find them.

Final Thoughts n Everyone has the ability to save money in their facility operations. While some savings may be small, they are still saving money. n Our program received and processed 1.75 million pounds of hazardous waste at a total program cost of $437,885.97