1. Polk County Innovative Grant Municipal Solid Waste Reduction and Reuse Measurement Guide
Reduce
Recycle
Reuse
Ana Wood
Polk County Solid Waste Director
2002 Pollution Prevention and Environmental
Essentials Conference
August 1, 2002

2. Presentation Overview
Background
Purpose of this project
Methodology
Selected Waste Reduction Programs
Preliminary results
Future Work
End Products

3. U.S. EPA’s Solid Waste Management Hierarchy
Background
U.S. EPA’s Solid Waste Management Hierarchy
Reduce & Reuse
Recycle & Compost
Combust
Landfill
Current Florida Goal System:
Recycling Goal only
No incentive for waste reduction!
Other states goal processes give credit for waste reduction.
This slide is used to express that while recycling is focused on, the preferred step in the waste management hierarchy, waste reduction, is overlooked. Currently, there are no incentives to reduce waste in Florida. This project is seen as the first step toward encouraging waste reduction.

4. Purpose of This Project
Document benefits of optimal waste reduction programs in Florida
Investigate possible options for incorporating waste reduction credits into State’s goal process

5. Methodology
Market research to determine the current level of reduction activities in the County
Implement programs to spur participation and determine the amount of waste reduced
Calculate county-wide waste reduction credits based on number of units participating and waste reduced per unit
This is the general methodology that is being used for all five waste streams.

6. Selection Criteria
Developed “Panel of Experts” from within and outside of Florida to spur creative ideas
Waste reduction techniques were selected by the following criteria:
Affects a major component of the waste stream
High potential for waste reduction
Able to measure results

7. Selected Waste Reduction Programs
Commercial office paper reduction
Home composting
Residential junk mail reduction
Business equipment reuse
Construction and demolition debris reuse

8. Timeline 2002 2003 A M J S O N D F Surveys Pilot Projects
Summarize Results
This is the project timeline. The surveys are already completed. We are currently in our second month of conducting the pilot projects.

9. Office Paper Survey Results
In the surveys, we wanted to determine if waste reduction methods were already in place. Duplex copying/printing is one of the ways to reduce the paper usage and waste in the office. Thus, we asked the offices if they have the technical capability to duplex and, if they do, whether they use that capability.
*Survey of 450 businesses

10. Office Paper Survey Results
Scrap paper reuse is also a way to reduce office paper waste.
*Survey of 450 businesses

11. Office Paper Survey Results
*Survey of 450 businesses

12. Residential Junk Mail Survey Results
In the junk mail survey, we wanted to determine if people want to stop the junk mail they receive and…
*Survey of 370 residents

13. Residential Junk Mail Survey Results
…if they have ever done anything to stop their junk mail. This slide lets us know how much effort has taken place in reducing junk mail waste without any promotional campaign.
*Percentage of the 232 respondents who want to stop their junk mail

14. Preliminary Junk Mail Pilot Study Results
Average of 41 lbs per household
This slide shows the amount of junk mail that is generated at each volunteer’s household per year. These figures were determined by first determining the total amount of junk mail generated at each household for one month. Volunteers sent their junk mail to us to be weighed for one month. Due to the fact that we have not received all of the mail for all of the volunteers, this graph only shows the results from 24 households. In total, there are 40 volunteers.

15. Home Composting Survey Results
This graph lets us know how much composting is happening without any promotional campaign. It also lets us know if an educational campaign about composting needs to be instituted. In this case, it does. Twenty-three percent of the survey respondents have not heard of home composting and/or do not know what compost is.
*Survey of 350 residents

16. Home Composting Survey Results
This slide shows that only 21% of those non-composters would consider composting. However, we believe that this number would be dramatically larger if the public had a greater understanding about what composting is and how to compost. Many people believe that it will cause a pest or odor problem, which it does not. Other people believe it would take too much work. If an attempt was made to educate the public, these common perceptions about composting would be changed.
Due to lack of understanding of what home composting entails
*Survey of 350 residents

17. Home Composting Survey Results
Many of these reasons are based on a lack of understanding of what composting entails!
Many people answer “Not Interested” during phone calls because they believe that every call is a sales call, even if the surveyor states that he/she is not selling anything at the beginning of the call. People who still do not understand what composting entails also will state that they are not interested. “Not Allowed” is used when the respondent stated that they do not think that his/her subdivision or the owner of the home (if they are renting) will allow them to compost.

18. Business Equipment Reuse
Business Equipment Reuse Center (BERC)
Palm Beach County SWA
Equipment is donated by businesses and provided to schools and non-profit groups
116 tons diverted since its inception
Project Team is currently
Monitoring the inventory
Tons of equipment that comes in to the facility
Tons of equipment that is given away
Studying why businesses do or do not take equipment to the reuse facility
Studying why non-profit groups do or do not get their equipment at the re-use facilities
This is the business equipment reuse facility that we are studying as a case study. Please see Susan Lancianese-Chapman’s presentation for more details.

19. C&D Debris Reuse Used Stuff, Sarasota, FL Privately owned facility
Accepts usable C&D debris and resells it
Project team is currently:
Monitoring inventory
Tons of material that comes into the facility
Tons of material that is sold
Studying why contractors will or will not donate/purchase from Used Stuff
Used Stuff is the facility that we are studying as a C&D debris resuse facility case study.

20. Future Work Completion of the pilot projects
Determining the amount of waste that is reduced through a waste reduction program
Summarize and Analyze Results
Create Reduction and Reuse Guide
Discuss options for waste reduction credits with FDEP

21. End Products Reduction and Reuse Guide
Summary of project results
“How To” for other communities interested in implementing waste reduction programs
White Paper to FDEP on recommendations to encourage implementation of waste reduction programs
Discussion of other state programs
Recommended alternative

22. How Will This Project Help You?
Takes the dialogue one step closer to action
Provides ideas and tools
Provides hard data for state agencies to make policy decisions

23. How You Can Help
Let us know about the successes/failures of your local waste reduction programs
Give us your ideas for a Florida waste reduction credit system

24. Questions?