1. An Overview of Waste Diversion Efforts in Athens, GA
Andrew Saunders
May 4, 2017
Southeastern Sustainability Director’s Network Annual Meeting

2. Big Picture – Time is Limited
Athens is the smallest county in Georgia (144 square miles)
Population ~120,000
Student Population ~40,000
Poverty Rate>40%
Share a MSW landfill with an adjacent county
Landfill space is LIMITED. At best we have 30 years of operational life left at the facility.
We were sued over the most recent expansion

3. Scarcity Motivates Conservation
Diversion Goals Approved ion 2010
40% by 2015
60% by 2018
75% by 2020
So far we are on track ~48% in 2016.

4. Diversion Goal Trends
Surrey, BC
Orlando, FL
Winter Park, FL
Washington, DC
Franklin, TN
Nashville, TN
Savannah, GA
Mecklenburg Co, NC
Denver, CO
Lakewood, CO
UGA
Goals range from 30% diversion to 100% diversion.
Time frames extend out to 2060, with most targeting 2030 or before.
ACC final diversion rate is consistent with our SE peers, and one of the most aggressive when evaluation time period.

5. Tools to Create a Culture of Conservation
Policy
Pay As You Throw/Differential Rates
Organizational Recycling Policy/Recycling Coordinators
Commercial Recycling Ordinance
Staffing/Funding
Diversion Staff
Waste Minimization Fee
Landfill Gas Recovery
Infrastructure
Recovered Materials Processing Facility
Materials Recovery Facility
Single Stream Operations
Compost Facility
CHaRM
Education
Sustainable Industries Roundtable
Waste Reduction Awards
Master Composter Program
Media Programs

6. Pay as You Throw
Charges people an increasing fee based on the volume/weight of the trash they dispose of
20 Gallon Can = $15.60/Month
32 Gallon Can = $17.60/Month
64 Gallon Can = $21.60/Month
96 Gallon Can = 28.60/Month
Special collections (bulky items) costs extra
Haulers are forbidden for charging for recycling
Originally implemented in 1994
Price differential increased in 2011

7. Athens-Clarke County recycling policy
Requires all departments to recycle
Requires all public facilities to offer recycling
Requires community events on public property to offer recycling
A deposit is paid
Collection bins are issued
Dedicates a recycling coordinator for each facility
Systematically engages with recycling coordinators
Implemented in 2007

8. Commercial Recycling Ordinance
3 core requirements
All commercial customers shall provide recycling containers
All commercial and multi-family customers shall provide recycling information for employees and tenants
All commercial customers shall keep a Commercial Recycling Plan on file to identify how waste can be minimized
Full-time staff person dedicated to this effort
Planning is time consuming
Approved in 2012

9. Waste Diversion Professional staffing
Department Director
Keep Beautiful Coordinator
Keep Beautiful Educator
Waste Reduction Administrator
Household Hazardous Waste
HHW Technicians
Commercial Recycling
Household Recycling

10. Waste Minimization Fee
Implements a fee to support diversion efforts
$0.60/Quarter for residential
$1.60/Quarter for commercial
Required of public and private haulers
Raises ~$100,000 annually
Added in 2011

11. Landfill gas recovery
Uses a recovery system to capture methane for energy production
43 gas extraction wells
On-site generator – 1.5 megawatts
Private/public partnership
Athens receives profit split after capital costs are recovered.
Power purchase agreement with local EMC
Became operational in 2012

12. Recovered Materials Processing Facility
Processing facility specifically for recyclable (presorted) materials
Operated as a public/private partnership (our equipment, their staff)
Opened in 1995
Converted to Single Stream in 2011
Accepts Plastics 1-7
Glass
Aluminum and metal food cans
Paper
Cartons
Cardboard

13. Materials Recovery Facility
Space at the landfill used to divert easily recoverable materials from trash
Cardboard
Large Plastics
Carpet
Scrap Metal
No full-time staffing
Inmates and scale house attendants
Underutilized at this point

14. Compost Facility Integrated with the landfill
Combines yard waste with biosolids
$500,000 improvement to meet EPA standards
Product retails for $12/yard
Some initial push back, but tests clean and resells in Atlanta
Long-term plans to convert to food waste composting
Fully opened in 2011

15. Center for Hard to recycle materials
Permits residential drop off for harder to recycle materials
Free for 5 gallon bucket load
Operates 2.5 days per week
Located at the old city incinerator
Opened in 2015
Products accepted:
Automotive fluids
Batteries
Bulbs
Carpet
Cleaners
Clothing
Electronics
Grease
Film Plastic
Styrofoam
Fire extinguishers
Paint
Tires
Metal

16. Teacher Reuse Store
Accepts “unwanted items” for teachers to repurpose into their classrooms
Office supplies
Art supplies
Office furniture
Equipment
Bottle Caps
Etc.
Previously opened 2x per year
Now open 2.5 days/week

17. Sustainable Industries roundtable
Coalition of regional businesses/industries
50+ regional members
Quarterly meeting/program
Quarterly newsletter
Listserv to facilitate the exchange of information
Initiated in 2010 as partnership between industry and government

18. Other Educational Efforts
Facilities & Events
Landfill Outdoor Classroom
Recycling Tours
Green Schools Program
Master Composter Program
Shred Events
America Recycles Day
Vulture Festival
Newsletters
PSA’s
Facebook/Social Media
Water Bill Inserts

19. Biggest Successes Biggest Challenges
Single stream
Composting
Franchising (non-exclusive)
Increased tipping fees
Pay as You Throw
Students – non-stop educational effort
Finances – the commodities market is variable
Contamination
Political Influence

20. Next Steps (possibly) Flow Regulation C&D Recycling
Food Waste Collections
Staffing at the MRF