HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/26/1991 - Solid Waste Abatement Commission Jon
AGENDA
SOLID WASTE ABATEMENT COMMISSION
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
CONFERENCE ROOMS A & B
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1991
5:30 P.M.
* **
I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
III. STAFF REPORT
A. Gopher Smelting Proposal /Household
Hazardous Waste Drop -site
B. ' recyclables" update
C. Dakota County Yard Waste Program Update
IV. OLD BUSINESS
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. 1992 Program Activities
1. Goal Setting
2. Ordinance review
3. Other
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
VII. DISTRIBUTION
VIII. NEXT MEETING
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Subject to Approval
MINUTES OF THE SOLID WASTE ABATEMENT COMMISSION
Eagan, Minnesota
October 22, 1991
A regular meeting of the Eagan Solid Waste Abatement Commission was
held on Tuesday, October 22, 1991 at 5:30 p.m. Present were Chair Denny Seiz,
Floyd Hiar, Craig Seim, Ken Ische, Terry Davis and Terry Jacobs. Absent were
Larry Knutson and Earl Milbridge. Also present were Recycling Coordinator
Hageman and Jim Weinzettel, local refuse recycling hauler.
AGENDA
Upon motion by Seim, seconded by Hiar, all members voting in favor,
the agenda was approved as presented.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Hiar, seconded by Seim, all members voting in favor,
the minutes of the October 8, 1991 meeting were approved as presented.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SURVEY SUMMARY PRESENTATION REVIEW
Hageman began by acknowledging the key issues and activities
highlighted by members of the Eagan City Council as items to target during 1992.
The items included increased education on not only overall program procedures,
but specifically plastics recycling and safe disposal options for household
hazardous waste. In addition, Mayor Egan stated concern over the continued
yardwaste disposal service at the current Dakota County Yardwaste Compost
Facility. Discussion continued about education and plastics recycling. Hageman
referred to a memo detailing the rigid plastics collection for the future. Seim
added the market for plastic materials currently accepted in our program is
stable and able to handle current levels. At the present time, 70 percent of the
plastics generated at the home are being collected curbside. As the discussion
concluded regarding Council direction, Jacobs added to the item by asking for an
even clearer picture of specific direction from the Council. Davis also added
that he would like SWAC to become more proactive and be able to work with better
defined goals.
DAKOTA COUNTY SPECIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
Hageman introduced the item by giving a brief history of the long-
term funding decisions made by Dakota County and how the special assistance grant
program has been outlined to date. Hageman also reviewed staff concerns with the .
proposed grant guidelines as stated in the resolution for Commission review.
Upon motion by Hiar, seconded by Davis, all members voted in favor of approval
of the resolution and directed staff to forward the information to the Eagan City
Council for review.
Page 2 /EAGAN SWAC MEETING
October 22, 1991
REVIEW OF CITY CODES 6.37 AND 10.01
Discussion began by reviewing the capabilities of adding materials
to the program. Hageman reviewed the County's recent decision to remove the
mandate for rigid plastics. Hiar recommended adding magazines and catalogs to
the program 1/1/92. Currently, the City is unable to promote magazine recycling
other than at the Dakota County Recyclables Collection Center, although half of
the haulers servicing Eagan residents accept magazines to date. Recently, Dakota
County staff has acknowledged the capabilities to market magazines and catalogs
from the Recycling Collection Center and is now able to accept larger amounts
from district haulers. Staff was then directed to draft a resolution to redefine
targeted recyclables and City Code 6.37 to include magazines and catalogs. Davis
added that by targeting the new year, the City will allow for the hauling
community to comment on collection capabilities. Additional, specific concerns
with City Code 6.37 were forwarded to be included during the next scheduled
meeting on November 26, which will focus on 1992 goals and program operations.
Final comments regarding the 1992 program focused around mandatory collection and
the possibilities of comparing program goals with other municipalities. Hageman
concluded the item by encouraging SWAC members to communicate with her over the
next month specific goals for the 1992 program they are interested in staff
evaluating and also to prepare for the goals setting workshop and specific review
of the City Code 6.37 and 10.01.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Hiar, seconded by Ische, all members voting in favor,
the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
KH
Date Chairperson
Secretary
MEMO TO: CHAIR SEIZ AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE EAGAN SOLID WASTE
ABATEMENT COMMISSION
FROM: RECYCLING COORDINATOR HAGEMAN
DATE: NOVEMBER 20, 1991
SUBJECT: EAGAN SOLID WASTE ABATEMENT COMMISSION MEETING OF
NOVEMBER 26, 1991
A regular meeting of the Eagan Solid Waste Abatement Commission
will be held on Tuesday November 26, 1991 at 5:30 p.m., in the
Eagan Municipal Center Conference Rooms A & B. The City will
provide refreshments. Please contact Kris Hageman or Jane Helebrant
by Monday September 9, at 4:30 p.m. at 454 -8100 to indicate whether
you will attend.
I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The agenda, as presented or modified, requires adoption by the
Commission.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A copy of the minutes of the Solid Waste Abate ent mission
meeting of October 22, 1991 is enclosed on pages f to 4- 7 - These
minutes, subject to any change require approval by the Commission.
III. STAFF REPORT
A. Gopher Smelting & Refining Proposal /Household
Hazardous Waste Drop -site
Dakota County established a household hazardous waste program to
improve management of the large amounts of such materials generated
throughout the county each year. Currently, one permanent drop -
site located in the City of Lakeville is open the last Saturday of
each month. To aid in collection of HHW materials from residents,
the county plans to establish 2 -3 satellite drop -sites throughout
the county.
Gopher Smelting & Refining located in Eagan has proposed t,the
county to become one of the drop- sites. Enclosed on page is
a copy of a memo sent to the Assistant to the City Administrator
Hohenstein regarding Gopher's proposal.
B. "Targeted Reayclables" Update
At it's regular meeting of November 19, the Eagan City Council
approved the ordinance revision for the new definition of "targeted
recyclables" to include magazines and catalogs and also a
redefinition of glass. The mandate for adding the magaz and
catalogs in set for January 1, 1992. Enclosed on pages to/2--
you will find a copy of the amended ordinance.
* Please keep for reference regarding possible future changes
needed.
C. Dakota County Yard Waste Program Update
The November 19 meeting of the Dakota County Solid Waste Management
Advisory committee highlight discussion regarding the Dakota County
Yard Waste Program and the steps needed to effectively move toward
a privatized system. Representatives from the hauling community,
municipalities, and current yard waste program operators, as well
as committee members were present at the meeting. A few of the
many questions asked included: 1. will the private sector take over
if government chooses to get out of the business ?, 2. is this the
right time for the county to move out ?, 3. have alternative vendors
been sought out for service? 4. Transfer stations vs. processing
facility.
After a long discussion, the recommended (5,2 and 1) to:
1. Stand by the Long -term Funding Subcommittee decision to
privatize the system and,
2. Extend the county role until January 31, 1994 to allow one more
year of county involvement and manage Christmas trees during the
93/94 season and,
3. Actively pursue the privatization option with many vendors to
move the process along and,
4. Use extended period to design a RFP for operations to meet all
program needs.
D. Commission vacancies /Expiration of member Terms
In a recent memo from City Administrator Hedges, staff has been
reminded to review terms of membership in our respective
commissions and invite those members who have not served nine
consecutive years to reapply for appointment. While SWAC has not
been in existence for nine years it does allow an opportunity for
members to determine if they are able to continue serving the
commission for another year.
A notice has gone out to the community inviting applications for
various commissions and it will be necessary to determine how many
real or potential vacancies actually exist.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. 1992 Program Activities /Goal Setting
During 1992 the Recycling Program funding centers around program
f
part of program operations to meet our abatement goals, many other
program elements and waste management issues must also be
addressed.
The following information highlights issues to be reviewed and
program changes to be initiated over the next year and beyond.
Staff has prioritized the main issues and coinciding activities to
be discussed. Also included in your packet on pages to you
will find a list of issues and activities submitted by commission
member Davis.
Goals and Issues to be Addressed
1. Mandates
During the past Legislative session, many amendments were made to
the Waste Management Act of 1980 that will affect the City of
Eagan. Other ideas for change are also included.
A. Mandatory refuse collection for all residential and
commercial dwellings 7/1/92.
B. Haulers may not charge a recycling customer more for
service than a non - recycling customer 8/1/91.
C. Mandatory Recycling
1) Residential
2) Commercial
D. Packaging Bans /Ordinance
2. Meeting Abatement Goal 16% +
Changes will be made over the next year to ready programs for the
35% goal in 1993. The reporting and documentation of weights will
be increasingly difficult. Addition of commercial activity and the
necessity to add these weights to our totals will be a challenge.
A. County will take over payment to haulers.
1) maintaining handle on city tonnages
B. Meeting 16% goal using 35% formula
C. Commercial reporting requirements
3. Additional Materials
A. Review Plastics
1) market development
2) adding resins
3) commercial use of recycled resins
B. Other Papers
C. Other Materials
4. Education /Outreach
Our funding guidelines have established minimums for program
promotional activities. Staff hopes to go beyond the minimums
established and expand current outreach.
4(
A. Overall program activities, how to's
B. Special focus pieces /events
C. Schools
D. Multi- family program
E. Commercial
F. Household Hazardous Waste + alternatives
5. Yard Waste
A. Reporting
B. Compost Site Location
C. Continuity with program
D. Promotion
6. Dakota County Special Assistants Grants Program
The application cycles established for the grant program are
February 1. 1992 and July 1, 1992. Program activities not
currently listed in our work plan for the year should be addressed
to pursue to grant funds for 1992.
A. Container Storage
B. Special Education
C. Commercial Activities
D. Other
7. Source Reduction
A. Residential Education
B. Commercial Applications
ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: Establish program activities
to meet mandated goals and expand program operations.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
VII. DISTRIBUTION
The following materials are enclosed in your packet.
1. On page 8 you will find a copy of a memo to Assistant to the
City Administrator regarding the Gopher Smelting & Refining HHW
proposal.
2. On pages to (/you will find a copy of Amended City Code
6.37 redefinin "targeted recyclables ".
3. On pages r, to 1 you will find a copy of the 1992 program
recommendatiorfs rom C mmission member Davis.
4. On page (7 you will find a copy of the Legislative Session
Review /Waste Management Act Amendments.
5. On pages ( Co T to 2Cyou will find a copy of the Summary for the
Or
Metropolitan Council's Solid Waste Development Guide /Policy Plan.
6. On page ic you will find a copy of an article from Eagan This
Week, November 13. Eagan Environmental Quality Survey.
7. On pages 17 to 2 you will find a copy of an artcicle from E
g � Nov/Dec, azine Nov Dec 1991. Plastic in the environment.
VIII. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Eagan Solid Waste Abatement Commission will
be Tuesday, December 17, 1991.
Ix. ADJOIIRNXZNT
7
MEMO TO: ASSISTANT TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR HOHENSTEIN
FROM: RECYCLING COORDINATOR HAGEMAN
DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 1991
SUBJECT: DAKOTA COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM/
GOPHER SMELTING PROPOSAL FOR SATELLITE DROP SITE
Dakota County has established a household hazardous waste program
to improve management of the large amounts of HHW generated in the
county each year. The program centers around a permanent drop -off
site located in Lakeville at the Aptus Corporation and s ope this
last saturday of each month to county residents.
options is an improvement over the one day collection days
organized in the past it has some problems meeting the needs of all
county residents. To further resolve collection problems and
increase safe disposal options, the county has adopted a plan to
establish 2 -3 satellite drop -sites throughout the county.
The satellite sites will serve but with increased hours and
only because of their locations
operations. It has come to my attention that Gopher Smelting of
Eagan has sent a proposal to Dakota County to become a satellite
drop -off site.
The satellite site accept
northe region of the county. residents It
well as serving residents
is my understanding that Gopher would then be responsible for site
management while Aptus (under contract with Dakota County) will be
responsible for packing and removal of materials for proper
disposal. Gopher site to able clude auto batteries, oil of materials
accepted at the oil
filters, etc. because of their current operations.
Proposal reviews are currently underway at the county. A startup
date for the satellite sites has not been established. Although
the proposals are in the preliminary stages, I feel our show of
support for the project is warranted. Gopher Smelting is working
to improve resident awareness and availability of proper disposal
for many household hazardous materials and is taking a lead in our
community to further such activities and expand their community
involvement.
If you have any questions regarding the program, please let me
know.
•
Rec cling oordinator
IA/
re C7 cey
ORDINANCE 31O. 2ND SERIES
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EAGAN, MINNESOTA, AMENDING EAGAN CITY
CODE CHAPTER 6 ENTITLED MOTHER BUSINESS REGULATION AND LICENSING
BY AMENDING SECTION 6.37 REGARDING GARBAGE, REFUSE AND RECYCLING
HAULERS: AND BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE EAGAN CITY CODE CHAPTER 1 AND
SECTION 6.99.
The City Council of the City of Eagan does ordain:
Section 1. Chapter 6 of the Eagan City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
SECTION 6.37. GARBAGE, REFUSE AND RECYCLING MAULERS
Subd. 1. Definitions. The following terms, as used in
this Section, shall have the meanings stated:
A. "Garbage" means all putrescible wastes, including
animal offal and carcasses of dead animals but excluding human
excreta, sewage and other water carried wastes.
B. "Other Refuse" means ashes,.non- recyclable glass,
crockery, cans, paper, boxes, rags and similar nonputrescible
wastes including sand, earth, brick, stone and concrete except when
on site construction is occurring and trees, tree branches and wood
except when stored as firewood.
C. " Recyclables" means materials which may be recycled
or reused through .recycling processes including targeted
recyclables.
D. "Targeted Recyclables" means metal food and
beverage containers, glass food and beverage containers, newsprint,
corrugated cardboard, plastics (as defined by Dakota County),
*magazines, *catalogs or other materials as defined by Council
resolution. *Effective January 1, 1992.
E. "Yard Waste" means leaves and grass clippings or
other materials as may be defined by Council resolution.
F. "Residential Dwelling" - Any single building
consisting of one through four dwelling units with individual
kitchen facilities for each.
G. "Multiple Residential Dwelling" - Any building used
for residential purposes consisting of more than four dwelling
units with individual kitchen facilities for each.
H. "Commercial Establishment" - Any premises where a
commercial or industrial enterprise of any kind is carried on, and
shall include restaurants, clubs, churches, and schools where food
is prepared or served.
•
. 1
• ■
I. °Special Pick -Up" means any collection of materials
other than garbage, other refuse, recyclables or yard
white goods, furniture, oversized materials and .
construction debris.
J. *Daily Hauling District" means a residential area
other refuse, recyclables and yard waste are
in which garbage, of collection of
which are defined collected on Co act on Aries and day
Y
6ubd. 2. License Required. It r is ecyclables unlawful for hire
person to haul garbage, other refuse or or to haul garbage,
without a license therefore from the City,
other refuse or recyclables from his own residence or business .
property other than as herein excepted.
A. It is unlawful for any person or business tor
scavenge or otherwise collect garbage, other refuse, recyclables
le
yard waste at the curb or from co ntain e rs
fromethenCity and an account
materials without a license therefore premises.
relationship with the owner of the p
gubd. 3. Exception. Nothing in this Section shall
prevent persons from hauling garbage, other refuse or recyclables
from their own residences or business all garbage p the e in
following rules are observed. 1)
containers that are water -tight on 2 l that es other refuse with tight - fitting covers on top, ) roof bodie and
and
recyclables are hauled in vehic Canvas with or o Weans or mat
eliminate
completely covered or the possibility of loss of cargo, 3)
so as to completely ed or unloaded only
that all garbage and other refuse
and -fill orlCountydesignated facility,
at 4) that recyclables may
the designated sanity b disposed of at a recycling facility, an
4)
organized recyclable drive or
e through composted privately or be disposed of
and 5) that yard waste may P o
at a composting facility or through a licensed refuse hauler or
recyclable hauler.
Subd. 4. Hauler License Requirements
_ A. Hauler licenses shall be granted only upon the
h
condition that the licensee have water-tight tea container v vehiicles solid
or, in the case of recycling hauler, appropriate
in good condition to prevent loss in- transit of liquid or . s
cargo, that the vehicle be kept d clean to s in any y t
odors as possible and riot allowed
than reasonably necessary to collect garbage, other refuse, yard
waste or recyclables.
1. There shall be three license categories
defined by
the type of account served: 1) Commercial/M
Dwelling, 2) Residential Dwelling Residential/Multiple
and 3)
Dwelling Recycling.
i 0
_ .
2. Commercial/Multiple Dwelling and
Residential Dwelling hauling licenses include Residential Recycling
licenses.
a. Residential Recycling licensees may only
collect recyclables as defined herein.
3. Residential Dwelling hauling licensees
shall make curbside recycling collection available to all
Residential Dwelling accounts. Commercial/Multiple Dwelling
hauling licensees shall make recycling collection available to all
multiple residential dwelling accounts no later than October 1,
1990. At a minimum, such service shall include all targeted
recyclables as defined herein.
4. Residential Dwelling hauling licensees
shall make weekly collection of separated garbage and other refuse,
yard waste and recyclables for all Residential Dwelling Accounts
within the daily hauling districts as defined by Council action.
a. It shall be unlawful for refuse vehicles
to operate on residential streets in such districts on any other
day, except to collect a missed pick -up, special pick -up or when an
observed holiday falls within that week.
5. At a minimum, commercial /multiple dwelling
hauling licensees shall make weekly collections of separated
garbage, other refuse and recyclables for all multiple residential
dwelling accounts no later than October 1, 1990.
B. Before a garbage and refuse hauler or recycling
license shall be issued, the applicant shall file with the City
Clerk- Treasurer evidence that he has provided public liability
insurance on all vehicles in at least the sum of $100,000.00 for
injury of one person, $300,000.00 for the injury of two or more
persons in the same accident, and $50,000.00 for property damages.
C. The .Council, in the interest of maintaining
healthful and sanitary conditions in the City, hereby reserves the
right to specify and assign certain areas to all licensees, and to
limit the number of licenses issued.
D. Each applicant shall file with the City Clerk -
Treasurer, before a garbage and refuse hauler or recycling license
is issued or renewed, a schedule of proposed rates to be charged by
him during the licensed period for which the application is made.
Every licensee shall provide prior notification of any change in
rates to be implemented during the licensed period.
1. Residential Dwelling hauling licensees
rates shall include a minimum of two levels of regular service,
priced on the basis of volume.
/
E. No hauler operating on a route in a residential
district shall operate a truck on any City street when the weight
of said vehicle exceeds sight tons per axle.
F. No hauler shall operate in a residential district
after 8:30 o'clock P.K. or before 6:30 A.K. of any day, and no
hauler shall operate in a residential district on Sunday.
G. Each vehicle for which a bauler's license is issued
shall exhibit such license in a prominent position on said vehicle.
H. All Residential Dwelling, Commercial/Multiple
Dwelling, and Recycling Hauling Licensees shall report to the City,
on the form provided for such purpose, the quantity of all
recyclables and yard waste abated from the landfills. Such
quantities shall be reported by tonnage, with the exception that
Failure re waste
certify accurate ate volumes in a timely yardage
manner maybe cause
Failure Y
for revocation of hauling license.
Section 2. Eagan City Code Chapter 1 entitled "General Provisions
and Definitions Applicable to the Entire City Code Including
'Penalty for Violation on and Section 6.99, entitled "Violation a
Misdemeanor" are hereby adopted in their entirety by reference as
though repeated verbatim.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon
its adoption and publication according to law.
ATTEST: CITY OF EAGAN
City Council
By: E. J. Vanoverbeke By: Thomas A. Egan
Its Clerk Its Mayor
•
Date Ordinance Adopted:
Date Ordinance Published in the Legal Newspaper:
• F
l /
EAGAN S.W.A.C. GOALS/ACTIVITIES
• Draft and recommend a mandatory residential recycling
ordinance to the City Council. The ordinance should apply to any
residential recycables collected curbside in the seven
metropolitan Twin Cities counties as of the effective date of the
ordinance.
Implementation Date; February 1992
• Draft and recommend a mandatory commercial "white paper"
recycling ordinance to the City Council. The ordinance should
target such occupancies as offices. schools, churches, etc.
IMPittataliailuallei June 1992
• identify specific commercial firms for reduction efforts in a
pilot program. Assist those firms in designing and implementing
programs to reduce their waste by no less than 15% in the first
year. 25 % in the second year. etc. Some firms may have already
begun such programs. The Eagan Recycling Coordinator could
facilitate the sharing of "success stories" between firms and
collect data. The City of Eagan's own reduction efforts
(as a part of WRAPP) should also provide valuable insight for
assisting those firms.
.implementation Date: September 1992
• Review and monitor the St. Paul reduction ordinance for
consideration toward implementation of a similar ordinance in
Eagan.
Implementation Date; Throughout 1992
• Review and monitor the expanded plastics recycling program in
Minneapolis with the intent of implementing same as soon as
possible in 1992_
Implementation Date: By year end 1992
• Consider making the composting site nett to City Hall a
per uanant facility for Eagan residents. This would remove the
cod 1,6014 SZ£8Z6Ei9 :011 131 8M1141 03dS 1fltid is;ai 9I' 80 T66- 2T -nON
current uncertainty and reinforce the city's commitment to yard
waste collection and composting.
Implement li nDate- By year end 1992
• Consider recommending to the City Council that the name of the
Solid Waste Abatement Commission be changed to the Solid Waste
Management and Abatement Commission.
Imole'pepipiigmagic By year end 1992
• The goals and activities of the 1992 Program Work Plan as
outlined for the Landfill Abatement Funding Application can
compliment the above Items.
Itnplmygteiiw i Date: As scheduled in 1992 Program Work Plan
T.Davis
Nov. 12, 1992
£0d 2,601# ST£8Z5ZZt9 :ON :131 afIQNn 33dS 1S : Q I Lb 80 Z6 - 2T-noN
1
1991 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REVIEW
WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT AMENDMENTS
Specific amendments were made to the Waste Management Act of 1980
in an attempt to increase waste reduction and recycling activities
throughout the state. Most of the changes affect both metropolitan
and greater Minnesota Cities and Counties. I have included in this
summary a list of the amendments which have impact on the City of
Eagan as we try to manage our solid waste stream in the most
environmentally sound manner.
The amendments are currently being reviewed by staff and members of
the Eagan Solid Waste Abatement Commission to determine necessary
municipal action to follow through with new state directions.
1. By July 31, 1993 metro counties recycling goal of 35% of the
total municipal solid waste stream and a goal of 45% of the total
solid waste stream not including yard waste by 1996.
2. "A licensing authority shall prohibit mixed municipal solid
waste collectors from imposing a greater charge on residents who
recycle than on residents who do not recycle ".
3. By July 1, 1992 cities with pop. of 5,000 or more shall ensure
that every business and residential household has solid waste
collection service.
There are options for compliance with this section. In
addition, a city may provide for exemptions if an environmentally
sound alternative is used for disposal.
4. Adequate space for recycling must be incorporated in new or
remodelled structures of 1,000 square feet or more, fewer than 4
housing units are exempt.
5. 1/1/91 metro governments and schools must have containers to
recycle at least three of the following: paper, glass, plastic and
metal.
6. Whenever practicable, a public entity shall use post consumer
recycled paper, undyed except pastels, no more than two colored
inks, soy based inks, reusable bindings (no glues), print on both
sides of the paper when commonly accepted publishing practices
allow.
7. A public entity (including cities) may not send reports etc
to individual legislators unless the legislators request them.
8. Banned appliances expanded to include residential furnaces,
microwaves and dehumidifiers.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information,
please let me know.
1
Recycling ing Coordi jator
SUMMARY
The seven - county Metropolitan Area has already made substantial progress in improving the way
it deals with its solid waste. But more needs to be done to protect the environment and
recapture usable resources. The Solid Waste Development Guide /Policy Plan is the Metropolitan
Council's plan for improving the way the region manages its solid waste to the year 2010.
• It puts greater responsibility on waste generators to recycle and reduce the amount of
waste they produce in the first place. The plan calls for expanding recycling - collection
service and establishing trash - collection fees based on the weight or volume of waste
produced.
• It strengthens economic incentives to process waste rather than dispose of it in landfills.
It proposes to increase landfill fees to reflect all the costs of using landfills, including costs
of managing them after they are closed.
• It calls for the metropolitan counties (which are primarily responsible for carrying out the
regional solid waste plan) to cooperatively provide for the development and operation of
waste facilities as one regional system so that all solid waste is handled in the most
appropriate and cost- effective way.
• It calls for counties to plan for the management of all the solid wastes produced in the
region (except industrial hazardous wastes), including wastes like hazardous household
chemicals and debris from building demolitions.
• It says that toxic materials should be removed from the waste "stream" and managed
separately from waste that is incinerated or processed in other ways.
• It sets a high recycling goal of 50 percent by the year 2000, thereby providing more
balance between recycling and waste processing. - r , !1
• It strives to reduce the region's dependence on landfills to a minimum. However, it says
some landfill capacity will be needed to handle the percentage of waste that can't be -.
processed or recycled in the future, as well as the rejects, residuals and ash from recycling
and resource recovery facilities. �.
• It shows a preference among waste management methods. Ranked first is waste reduction
(keeping materials from getting into the waste stream in the first place); second, materials
recovery (recycling); third, composting yard wastes and food wastes; fourth, resource
recovery (including RDF processing, mass burning or solid waste composting); and last,
landfilling or land disposal.
1
GOALS, ISSUES, POLICIES
The seven -county region produces nearly 4 million tons of solid waste annually. (Solid waste includes
the nonhazardous waste produced by homes and businesses, plus household hazardous waste like
paints and cleaning chemicals. It also includes waste like rubble from demolished buildings, industrial
slag, coal ash and junked cars.)
Solid waste generation in the region is estimated to have grown more than twice as fast as the
population in recent years. Between 1990 and 2010, the region is expected to produce 40 percent
more than it does now, in part because the region's population and number of jobs are increasing.
Dealing with the growing mass of waste has to begin with reducing the amount entering the waste
stream. An environmental protection fee should be added to tipping fees at all landfills in the state
to pay for all the costs of land disposal and for efforts to remove toxic materials from the waste
stream. Such a fee would also encourage waste generators to cut the amount of waste they produce
and encourage haulers to deliver wastes to processing facilities instead of landfills.
In addition to a growing volume of waste, few controls currently exist for managing hazardous waste
produced by households, like cleaning chemicals or paint solvents. These wastes can contaminate
landfills. As an incentive to substitute less toxic or nontoxic household products, a tax or fee should
be placed on hazardous materials. The revenues should be used to help deal with household
hazardous wastes properly.
Even though the quantity of solid waste can't be reduced to zero, the amount ultimately disposed of
can be kept to a minimum. Cities and counties should ensure, through ordinances or other measures,
that each household or business has a waste - collection service. (The 1991 legislature required that
cities and towns with populations over 5,000 ensure the provision of this service. [Minn. Stat., sec.
115A.941, subd. 47]) The purpose is to thwart a growing trend of illegal dumping by people who
want to avoid paying for waste - collection services. Also, cities and counties should make sure that
generators pay for such service according to the amount of waste they produce -- higher cost for more
waste, lower cost for less.
If the region expects to greatly increase the collection of recyclable materials, it may have to develop
additional ways of dealing with "commingled" materials. Commingled materials—for example, glass
and metal- -are collected in the same container for recycling. Ordinarily people have to sort recyclable
material -- whether glass, metal or newspaper -- before it's processed into new glass, metal or newsprint.
If different materials didn't have to be sorted from one another, more people might recycle, boosting
the amount of material that's recovered. Also, to reach higher recycling goals, several other materials
are expected to be added to the recycling stream and there are practical limits on how much sorting
people can do. That makes it even more important for the system to deal with commingled materials.
Reducing the amount of waste ultimately disposed of requires reusing waste materials as much as
possible, and recycling is a key factor. Cities and counties should expand programs for collecting
recyclable materials to include generators who do not have such service. Expanding markets for
recycled materials is necessary for recycling to work. The task of creating incentives and reducing
barriers to using these materials rests with the states and the federal government.
2
The Council intends to support market - development efforts to identify and expand markets for
recyclable and recycled materials. The Council will also consider recycled content and recyclability
when it purchases materials, and work to ensure that other metropolitan agencies and the counties
carry out similar procedures.
Under current law, a load of waste generated in a county is sent to facilities designated by that county
for processing, even though it might better be processed at a different kind of facility. Cooperative
arrangements among all facilities would enable a higher percentage of waste to be processed, further
reducing the amount of waste deposited in landfills. Recognizing this possibility, the counties have
already begun to work together to ensure that waste is processed to the greatest extent possible,
while making sure that facilities receive enough waste to sustain them economically. These efforts
should continue.
Even if the region achieves its highest expected levels of waste reduction and processing, including
recycling, it will continue to need landfills. The 1991 Minnesota Legislature suspended the process,
under way since the 1980s, for siting new landfills in the region. However, it required a new process
to site two new landfills --one for incinerator ash and another for mixed municipal waste. This new
siting process must be developed by the end of 1991. To supplement landfill capacity in the region,
the metropolitan counties could establish long -term contracts with landfills outside the region that
meet state standards for design, construction and operation of new landfills.
Waste management facilities should be developed and operated as an integrated regional system. The
seven metropolitan counties have recently established a regionwide administrative organization to
coordinate their waste management activities. They should also prepare and carry out a joint
operations plan as part of their efforts.
Waste generators should pay for the costs of waste management. Implementors of the regional waste
management system recognize their responsibility to make sure that the money spent provides the
most benefit. Waste management costs have rapidly increased in recent years: the amount paid by
households more than doubled between 1985 and 1990. And the region will experience significant
cost increases in the next decade because of new solid waste facilities being built.
The region should invest in the solid waste management system wisely and make the most efficient
use of solid waste facilities that are built. For the region, that means a diversified system that
matches the appropriate technology and capacity to each type of waste. It requires building and
operating a number of facilities using different technologies, such as composting, recycling and energy
recovery. And it means that counties should share the available capacity of their solid waste facilities
to prevent waste from going to landfills unnecessarily.
If waste facilities are developed and operated as a single regional system, the burden of financing
their operations may also have to be borne regionwide, instead of solely by a single county or group
of counties. The Council will work with the metro counties to determine how costs and financial
liabilities should be managed.
3
SYSTEM PLAN
All the region's waste cannot be managed by a single technology. The system will need to use a
variety of methods best suited to dealing with different kinds of waste -- recycling, incineration, refused -
derived fuel production, composting, landfilling or possibly other technologies that may be developed
in the future. The system plan is a description of what the region's waste management system could
include in order to ensure that the Council's and legislature's waste management goals are met. It
is not prescriptive. Other configurations that would provide for identified capacity needs are also
possible.
Since no one county or owner /operator can provide facilities for all these methods, waste facilities
of individual counties should be shared so they can operate as one system rather than as several
smaller, separate systems. That will help ensure that facilities operate efficiently and that each kind
of waste is recycled, processed and disposed of in the most environmentally appropriate and cost -
effective way.
The guide contains policies and text promoting waste reduction in the region. In addition, it says that
35 percent of the region's waste stream should be recycled by 1993, 45 percent by 1996 and 50
percent by the year 2000. Achieving these goals will provide more balance between waste processing
and recycling.
The Council will encourage development of waste incineration and refuse - derived fuel facilities
currently planned, but not approve additional incineration or RDF facilities before 1995. The
Council and the counties will use the time to evaluate the role of these facilities.
Under state law, the counties are required to plan for managing household hazardous wastes. They
are also dealing with "problem" wastes that can disrupt composting or incineration processes.
The guide specifies limits on how much waste can go to mixed -waste landfills. By the year 2000, the
amount would drop nearly 70 percent from 1990 levels, then edge upward to the year 2010.
A comprehensive network of facilities is needed to effectively manage the region's solid waste to
recover marketable materials and energy from it. It will become increasingly important to make sure
that management of the region's waste stream is coordinated so materials are recovered and not
landfilled. •
The system plan outlines a proposed schedule for developing facilities so that 100 percent of mixed
solid waste and special waste will be processed to recover materials or energy by the year 2000. The
facilities the Council has proposed for development between 1990 and 2000 are:
• Two facilities to compost mixed solid waste;
• One facility to compost rejects from refuse - derived fuel plants and other residual materials;
• One (currently planned) facility for incinerating waste; and
• One or more landfills with capacity totaling 8,726 acre -feet on line by 1994, and an additional
large one by 2000 (this schedule may be canceled if the metro counties agree on siting one
mixed -waste landfill and one for ash).
4
By the year 2000, 50 percent of the managed waste stream will be processed to recover recyclable
materials; 10 percent of mixed solid waste will be composted; more than a third will be burned; and
only about 20 percent will be landfilled. (This totals more than 100 percent due to dual management
requirements for some portions of the waste stream, such as wastes which are incinerated creating
tons of ash which require additional management.)
The capital cost of the region's major waste - management facilities is estimated to be about $595
million between 1986 and 2000. This figure doesn't include the cost of upgrading or expanding
existing facilities or the cost of numerous smaller, local facilities.
Debt service for these facilities will be more than $1.6 billion between 1986 and 2020. Annual debt -
service costs were about $16.45 million in 1988, and are expected to rise to about $28.8 million by
1992 and peak at about $81.5 million by 2001.
•
5
WASTE MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY
In developing solid waste management solutions, the Council will, to the extent practicable, give
preference to sustainable waste materials management programs in the following rank order:
1. Waste Reduction and Reuse
2. Materials Recovery
Including source and mechanical separation of recyclables.
3. Yard Waste and Food Waste Composting
4. Resource Recovery
Including refuse - derived fuel (RDF), MSW mass burn for energy production, or solid
waste composting.
5. Landfilling
Separate mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) and ash landfills; industrial and
demolition/construction landfills.
The Council will consider this hierarchy as it reviews county solid waste plans, landfill abatement
projects and landfill siting/expansion requests; administers abatement grants; and carries out all other
solid waste management responsibilities as required by state and federal law.
In implementing this hierarchy, the Council recognizes that, although disposal of waste in landfills is
the least desirable solution, land disposal will continue to be an essential waste management
technique.
Since protection of the environment is a paramount concern, in implementing programs based on this
hierarchy the counties will be required to consider the removal and/or treatment of problem materials
from the waste stream at every opportunity. Problem materials consist of material that is difficult to
dispose of due either to the effect it has on the operation of various types of processing equipment
(mechanically difficult to manage), or to the toxic environmental problems it causes when burned or
buried (the release of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant). These wastes would include
nonhazardous industrial wastes and household hazardous waste.
All waste cannot be managed by a single technology. Rather, waste management will require a
system offering recycling, incineration, RDF production, MSW composting, landflling, and possibly
additional technologies that may be developed in the future. Since no county can plan to have
facilities providing all of these present and potential future alternatives, nor is each county required
to have its own landfill, facilities must be shared in order for the region to achieve maximum landfill
abatement. In keeping with current legislation, unprocessed or non - processible waste will be
transferred to a landfill only after a county has certified that the waste cannot be handled by any
facility located within the county and that no other agency- permitted facility in the region has
6
sufficient capacity or ability to handle the waste. This legislative directive clearly requires the sharing
of solid waste facilities. As this shared and integrated system is implemented, the Council will expect
to see a progressively greater proportion of material removed from the waste stream by methods in
the upper levels of the hierarchy.
Each of the following Metropolitan Council goals includes a discussion of the current status, issues
and policies related to the goal, and a statement of how the Council intends to apply each policy.
7
Goal l
THE TOXICITY AND QUANTITY OF WASTE GENERATED MUST BE SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED THROUGH INFLUENCING GENERATORS TO PRODUCE LESS WASTE AND
SUBSTITUTE LESS TOXIC OR NONTOXIC PRODUCTS FOR TOXIC ONES.
Policies
1A. AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FEE SHOULD BE ADDED TO TIPPING FEES
AT ALL LAND DISPOSAL FACILITIES IN THE STATE. FUNDS ACCUMULATED
FROM THE FEE SHOULD PAY FOR ALL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
COSTS, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF TOXICS FROM THE WASTE STREAM,
AND ENCOURAGE GENERATORS TO PARTICIPATE IN FURTHER WASTE
REDUCTION EFFORTS.
1B. A TAX OR FEE SHOULD BE ASSESSED ON A LIST OF MATERIALS DE 1'ERMINED
BY THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY TO CAUSE A NEGATIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. MONIES ACCUMULATED SHOULD BE PLACED IN
A DEDICATED FUND USED TO REDUCE THE TOXICITY OF THE WASTE
STREAM.
1C. THE PRIMARY MESSAGES OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE WASTE REDUCTION AND TOXICITY
REDUCTION IN ADDITION TO RECYCLING.
Goal 2
ALL SOLID WASTE GENERATED IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA SHOULD BE
COLLECTED AND MARKETED IN A MANNER THAT PROVIDES THE GREATEST
POSSIBLE REUSE AND RECYCLING OF THE MATERIALS.
Policies
2A. THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WASTE
COLLECTION SHOULD:
ENSURE THAT EACH WASTE GENERATOR HAS A WASTE COLLECTION
SERVICE;
ENSURE THAT VOLUME- OR WEIGHT -BASED FEES ARE ESTABLISHED FOR
EACH WASTE GENERATOR; AND
ENCOURAGE MAXIMUM RECYCLING PARTICIPATION AND RECOVERY RATES
BY ENSURING THAT ALL GENERATORS HAVE RECYCLABLES- COLLECTION
SERVICE AVAILABLE.
2B. MARKETING EFFORTS SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON IDENTIFYING AND
EXPANDING END MARKETS TO PURCHASE RECYCLABLE AND RECYCLED
MATERIALS.
8
Goal 3
SOLID WASTE RESOURCE RECOVERY AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES MUST OPERATE
ECONOMICALLY AND EFFICIENTLY, MINIMIZING NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS AND LANDFILL DISPOSAL; AND MAXIMIZING THE RECOVERY OF ENERGY
AND RESOURCES FROM WASTE.
Policies
3A. WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES AND . PROGRAMS SHOULD ENSURE
FLEXIBILITY, INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS WHILE PROTECTING THE
ENVIRONMENT.
3B. COUNTY MASTER PLANS MUST ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENT OF JOINT
WASTE PROCESSING AGREEMENTS AND COMMON PROGRAMS FOR
ADDRESSING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ISSUES.
3C. A FACILITY SITING PROCESS MUST BE ESTABLISHED THAT WILL ENSURE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEEDED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES.
3D. THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AVAILABLE CAPACITIES AT
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES ACCESSIBLE TO THE REGION WHEN
ESTIMATING THE NEED FOR THE SITING AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SOLID
WASTE PROCESSING OR DISPOSAL FACILITIES WITHIN THE SEVEN - COUNTY
METROPOLITAN REGION.
Goal 4
WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES MUST BE PLANNED, ESTABLISHED AND
OPERATED AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED REGIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM IN ORDER TO MANAGE ALL OF THE REGION'S SOLID WASTE IN AN
ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND ECONOMIC MANNER.
Policies
4A. THE COUNCIL WILL PLAN FOR AND OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTEGRATED REGIONAL SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
4B. THE METROPOLITAN COUNTIES SHOULD DEVELOP A REGIONAL SYSTEM
OPERATIONS PLAN THAT INTEGRATES THE OPERATIONS OF FACILITIES AND
PROGRAMS.
9
Goal 5
THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MUST MAKE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC
RESOURCES AND ALLOCATE COSTS EQUITABLY TO WASTE GENERATORS.
Policies
5A. IN GENERAL, MANAGEMENT OF THE WASTE STREAM SHOULD BE PAID FOR
BY GENERATORS AND FROM REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE SALE OF
ENERGY, RECYCLABLES AND COMPOST.
5B. THE MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES AND IDENTIFIED
PROBLEM MATERIALS, AND THE DETOXIFICATION OF THE WASTE STREAM
SHOULD BE FINANCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES 1A. AND 1B.
10
. - i � .. , •• \ •• 1'• ti •11 �. _- � �y . i k 1.: Tlia_ Lr alko aiii . .. j, ` .: W-b.:{►'jii6. • • , F . r7 :' • .... • • *ay .., • , a.-., • . • S urvey shows solid participation,
CA)PERf• support for c recycling program
CH ERO I(EE By TONY TASCHNER survey results. More than 90 per- are proposing to make recycling
cent of the households responding mandatory. Of the respondents to
Ninety -five percent of Eagan recycle aluminum cans (94 per- the Eagan survey. 65 percent said
re
SIRLOIN R0011
residents that responded to a city cent) and glass (90 percent) while they are in favor of mandatory
survey earlier this year say they 8B percent recycle newspaper. recycling legislation, though few
'auYs BEST Steak Restaurant -MPLS. ST. PAUL Magazine participate in the recycling pro- Residents of single - family homes (26 percent) said their recycling
Let us help plan your gram to some extent, and nearly were more likely to recycle habits would change much. Some
half of the respondents indicated plastic (74 percent) compared to said they would be more thorough
HOLIDAY PART 1 E S they would be willing to pay an households in multi - family units in recycling, would change their
O P E N 7 DAYS A WEEK additional monthly fee, if needed, (44 percent). Totals for other buying habits to reduce packag-
to help support the program. recyclable materials were as ing waste, or would try to become
UNDAY BRUNCH • LUNCH • DINNER "We are really pleased with the follows: steel /tin cans (63 per- more knowledgeable about avail -
responses as a whole," said Kris cent); cardboard (36 percent); able recycling programs.
:light Someone with a Holiday Gift Certificate! Hageman, Eagan's recycling co- motor oil (36 percent); aluminum Last year, Eagan residents
NOW AT TWO LOCATIONS! ordinator. "I think we made a foil (28 percent) ; and white office recycled about 24 percent of the
good effort to reach a wide cross - paper (16 percent). waste stream, 12 percent of which
Jar & Cliff Rd. um Hwy. 13 Et Smith Ave. section of our residents, from Hageman said they hope to add was yard waste. The city's
EAGAN WEST ST. PAUL single-family households to magazines and catalogs W the list abatement goal for 1992 — not in-
154 -6744 III 457 -2729 multi- family units." of curbside recyclables early eluding yard waste — is 16 per -
-nerly Durnings The waste management survey next year. Currently, about half cent, Hageman said.
was conducted by the city last of the licensed haulers operating While the city's abatement
spring. The survey was mailed to in Eagan pick up magazines and goals continue to increase, the
350 households in Eagan and 221 catalogs as part of their curbside funding available to operate the
N PLACE! ® � (63 percent) were returned. A recycling service. program has been reduced
majority of the respondents are Overall, the city's recycling significantly, according to
homeowners, in their 30s, and program got high marks from Hageman. This year, Eagan's
have lived in Eagan for an survey respondents. On a scale of recycling program received
TWINS SO DO YOU! average of seven years. 1 to 4, with 4 being excellent, the about $300,000 from the county for
This coupon gives you 8
10% DISCOUNT on TANNING PACKAGES Hageman said she was pleas- program received an overall administration, education pro-
a nti Y
fun
surprised by the 95 percent rating of 3.2. grams and capital expenditures. PICICe purchased Nov. 2 thru Nov. 9 participation rate figure. Based One of the respondents included Next y ear, however, the city will
on tonnage reports from the city's the following comment: "We are only get roughly 10 percent of
13 licensed waste haulers, eager to recycle. Personally, our that, or about $36,900. And the
EAGAN BURNSVILLE Hageman said they estimate curbside garbage has decreased outlook for the future does not
454 -5500
ihav 890 -5551 weekly participation to be about 50 percent from two years ago look much better, she said.
Hwy Y Because of the funding cut -
thaven ur. Yankee Square Hw 13 & Cliff Rd T60 he to 65 percent of all residents. babl (when the city's we continue pro- backs, Ha
—� The 95 percent [$gore is probably gram started) and we continue to Hageman said the city has g
representative of per month par- do better. The idea of a garbage talked about the idea of charging
ticipation, she said. incinerator angers us. We don't an added utility fee to residents to
)G OBEDIENCE CLASSES Recycling activity varies little feel it is a proper or effective way support the solid waste program.
from one age group to another, to deal with garbage." The idea of an added fee was.
t hough respondents under age 30 Despite impressive participa- put to survey respondents and
No cl Ni nearly half (46
^7 appear to be consistently less lion figures, Hageman said the y percent) said they
Na. 9 w.r t.Y.rl likely
— t1:00 S.M. would be willing to pay an addi-
torecycle, Hageman said. need for public education is fee Na• 11 0.1. 8.a .d • 6 :30 p.m. Five percent of the respondents always s increasin g tional amount. The fe recom-
because the mended by respondents t. The a ranged om-
. ..__. 9 :30 •.M. said they do not recycle at all, and solid waste abatement goals are from a low of 75 cents per month
pile. K... a --- half of those said it was because continually increasing. Accor-
t, he. 5 - Poppy Kla4.r srtea (1 ..al • -- 6:30 11.111. they produce too little waste to ding to state law, by 1993 cities to a high of $15.
justify recycling, acc ording to a be recycle 35 the responden ose
3SE i3 views ilwlfr RI. s sum mary . A f ew said they cent will of the was required te to s trea m , a nd per- by an Of a fee (24 percent some d to
� pair R.ii. , sat to M Split) were unaware of the recycling the year 2000, half (50 percent) of think that those who don't par -
n 1 X1.11. INN 454 -3458 programs available to them. the total waste stream must be
ticipate in the recycling program
Glass, aluminum cans and recycled. should be required to pay a fee,
1 Fool) (-)1 IT' I : 1� I " ": sr 9.5; f... s newspaper are the most popular To reach those goals, Hageman while others suggested it might
items recycled, according to said state and regional planners be cheaper to let the private gar-
bage haulers manage the pro -
gram. (Thirty percent of
FEED MEN respondents said they did not
know whether they would support
• an added fee.)
.; "It's something we may need to
M C . s seriously look at in the future,"
• Hageman said. "We wanted to
t T4J k ' s ` Whole \ find out what the community
r (bought about the idea. At this
if Corn point, it's just one option. There
5t) lb. 11.1 may be others."
Even though nearly half of the
: K i � $4.99 survey respondents were recap-
(' i m n e tive to the idea of an added tee,
t Hageman admits it would be
1 - ", difficult to ask residents for addi-
Jerry's s Special tional money for garbage
8 w e e k disposal, even if it were only a
Wild Bird - '" quarter
_ 2 _, ce . . .
1
. ...,..
,, , ....
/'"ONSUMERNEWS,
4
Plastics Plastics Evehere i
Recycling Efforts are Underway, But Its No Picnic
BY LESLIE PARDUE
{
7
,;,.•., _ A number 1" designates polyethylene
t -- "' _ - " 4 terephalate, or PET, most commonly Y used
• - _ _v--. to make soda and vegetable oil bottles.
*� �....- �� i , a .' + .y y Thanks to beverage deposit legislation in
_. • • x� ✓ • , - many states, PET has a market advantage
^ - r b , j. ; :: -r, .ti . ` � * :�'. over other kinds of plastic in the recycling • '.. x ti •.' '' ` w ' game and is currently the most extensively
! ,� ,fi: '' , , -; , . - : � ' _ , , rec Wellman Inc. the nation's ■ ~ .= ::�,* -' ' �_ R ' - r f 'z , '" , - .:� "- ',. . ' largest PET recycler, recycled some two-
`` ` ''"', . -' -. - N. ' 1. i r% thirds of the PET bottles collected in the lii • f'
f ' -- , : . ' y" ' - ' "j ;� -. ,,, s ! U.S. in 1989. Recycled PET is used in
`- - � "k Products as varied as scouring pads, auto
�,, g parts, fill for pillows, and, ironically,
;,s '` . -.. - ' °, .. ,a fir. o landfill liners.
, ` ' � `f „°• _' A number "2' designates
��► IA ".- ., . - -. � � high-density ,. x polyethylene (HDPE), used to make items
For years American consumers have buried themselves with plastic packaging. Now like milk jugs, shampoo bottles, margarine
some companies are finding ways to recycle it. containers and dull grocery bags. Account -
he image as the unmitigated year. Uri ing for about 30 percent of plastic pack -
T h e i of g thf e of plastic
is ic as the unmit a or about 12 billion pounds a ye Unlike aging, HDPE is recycled into containers
getting glass and aluminum, most plastic used for for non -food products such as detergent,
face -lift these days. With the notion of food packaging cannot be reprocessed into motor oil and recycling bins. Detergent
biodegradability now widely debunked, the same commodity; it is usually remanu- giants like Procter & Gamble and Lever
emphasis has shifted to recycling efforts. factured into items that are more difficult Brothers are announcing new packaging
With some 500 communities curbside to recycle subsequently — like carpeting, for their products which incorporates up
recycling some varieties of plastic, and insulation or plastic lumber. This is due in to 30 percent recycled HDPE. Chemical
508 plastic - related bills introduced by part to the risk of contamination of recy- giant Du Pont has formed a joint venture
state and Local governments last year, cled plastic made from items covered with with Waste Management, Inc., the nation's
leading industrial users are rushing to find food waste. largest garbage hauler, to recycle
ways to incorporate some percentage of Legislation requiring an embossed nu- HDPE. The venture, called the Plastic
recycled material into their packaging. merical code for identifying plastics by Recycling Alliance, has two plants operat-
Right now, the demand for recycled plastic the resins they contain is now on the ing, and plans three more by 1994.
is outstripping the supply, and is expected books in some 27 states. Though many Number 7 is reserved for polyvinyl
to rise even higher. So, has plastic re- products are still uncoded, those most chloride (PVC), used for food wraps and
molded its image in the public eye? Not commonly found on supermarket shelves containers for personal care products. PVC
entirely. fall into six categories: is troublesome for lastics recyclers ean b i -
Environmentalists point to the toxic cause of its low melting point and chemi-
byproducts of plastics manufacture, the cal makeup. In manufacturing mixed -resin
petrochemical nature of all plastics, and tI recycled products such as plastic lumber,
problems with Iandfilling, incinerat- for example, the plastics must be heated
ing, sorting and recycling plastics as key ackaging represents the lion's to the point where the mixture softens
reasons for the need to reduce our reliance share of all lastics rod
enough to be molded. Overheated PVC can
on it. Packaging represents the lion's share p produced—some
of all plastics produced —some 25 percent, 25 percent, or about 12 billion Thuss, , ree i releasing cycclled PVC C toxic has a hydrochloric acid.
a limited market,
ett,
pounds a year.''
48 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1991 2_7
......
-
r; ��� ^ . .:a The Hudson
a
River Valley's
o t
ii . 1 ` ,".,_ dirty secrets
To help recyclers, the a1
Afferent types of plastic g 1 °
are coded. These products, _ .•l 1 -Acs , R,� ' are our
marked from 3" to "5," 1 , I ! I
_�
are difficu to recycle. % ' business
_ - ' e ' 4•17'
:-- _ '-� .
_ /
I -� -- •••an
primarily as tile and drainage pipe. of PS in the past required the use of possibly
Low - density polyethylene (LDPE) is ozone- depleting chlorofluorocarbons
designated by the number "4." Used to (CFCs) in their manufacture. (The 15 yours.
make items such as food wrap, shiny manufacturers who used CFCs in their
. grocery bags and bread bags, LDPE ac- processes phased out their use in 1988.) '
counts for some 33 percent of all plastic Seven major producers of PS, including ecause we're an environ-
packaging, more than any other type. It is Dow, Mobil and Amoco, formed the Na- g mental magazine for New
also used to coat paperboard milk and tional Polystyrene Recycling Council in York's Hudson Valley, we
juice containers. Under pressure from 1989 to spearhead recycling of the trouble- cover the issues that others
consumers and faced with competition some resin. Used polystyrene will be
from the paper bag industry, some man- may not want to talk about.
ufacturers of LDPE have started in -store PCB's in the Hudson, illegal
��
;ery bag collection programs. Recycled toxic dumps throughout the
.PE is used chiefly to make garbage o plastic is recyclable unless region, and the politics of
b
ags. Number "5," polypropylene (PP), is there is a market for it. ff expanding jetports, to name a
found in jar lids, straws and syrup bottles, few. We also cover the things
accounting for about 10 percent of plastic that make the region an
packaging. It is hard to collect in marketa- cleaned and pelletized in five plants, with exciting place to live: from a
ble quantities for recycling, and has lim- a goal of pelletizing a quarter of the hospital for birds of prey to a
ited uses in its recycled form. nation's PS by 1995. In response to con- celebration of the Hudson
Number "6," polystyrene (PS), is seen sumer outcry, McDonald's Restaurants first
as a major culprit because its use in fast - announced a recycling program for its PS River Sloop Clearwater. With a
food hamburger "clamshells," styrofoam in 1989, then agreed recently to give up calendar of events and a lively
cups and packing "peanuts" litters the na- use of PS for burger clamshells (but not assortment of columns,
tional landscape. Accounting for 11 per- coffee cups). PS is ordinarily not recy- UPRIVER /DowNRlvER is the
cent of plastic packaging, PS takes up cled back into hamburger clamshells, but regional magazine with a
more than its fair share of landfill space instead into items such as trays and voice of its own.
because of its bulk. Moreover, some forms wastebaskets.
Because of the cost of labor involved in Just mail the enclosed card
_ _ s ortin g mixe varieties of plastic, some
recyclers use mixtures to make products and give us a try.
A .
s s uch as plastic lumber and flower pots.
P.,-
^" 3 AFCO Industri manufactures a product
` - called Syntech Wood, a long- lasting substi-
r 1 tute for lumber useful for park benches
.1_ •-7; _ . an d fencing. But, due to its relatively high
•
t�� price, it is not practical for replacing wood UPRIVER/DOWN RIVER
= — in general construction. Park benches
f have become the media darlings of the THE ENVIRONMENTAL VOICE OF THE
p lastics industry, featured in promotions HUDSON VALLEY
Y • T A yars wbscnption (s12 (or 6 issues) is
■
"°°" °L ' Number `1 "PET bottles used jor soda and also available by aNing us at
c = ' vegetable oil, and "2" HDPE containers for (914) 339 - 2087.
detergent and milk bottles are the most .
VINO commonly recycled plastics.
E MAGAZINE 49
`f
i
CONSUMER NEWS crnt'd from pm. pg. — �
r
1 by Sunoco, BF Gooctiich Dow and W €le;.
y +m anies recycling and more communities begin to
c
p , prompting many to winder ollection, separation aril collect them. Says Jeanne Wirka, EAF's
just how many recycled plastic park contamination ci ihle :s place now - departed plastics expert, "Plastic 9
benches the claret can accommodate. Packaging is probably here to stay, but
A plastics industry group the Council practical limiis on plastics recycli
,i� f e will be a shift away from problematic
for Solid waste Solutions, is beginning even Ion single-;—in iii desigis, and toward single resins and I
i to look at the problem of reclaiming , ;, iar. that are easier to recycle." Neverthe- s
plastics from durable goods such as car, —° -- — _ w - i
h 3, xologically- minded consumers are 1
and appliances, which may coma;,.; ^r) or Count : rai:t a cording system . ve ins ; sted not only in plastics recycling, i
more different varieties. Sponsored 'sy thes3 prt ti +tiffs. But no ; ; .Wa s very f.'.ab1e z.', in rep: king their use of plastics
Exxon, Amoco, Du Pont and others, ;:i .i thee is s, market fo- it, and the ai o,,ather. With that in mind, here are
_ __ lack ; de td nor plastic Y ree; soreto tips:
from durable gott'; ;oupled with ;rte F,sject ty,T. packaged, single- serving
I h
• 4 : . I ,I•�.:a • c ;,i
of sc. . materials meal,, i : l ., pl�+sric c!':^;1ped produce and micro-
■ ■A • :,,., that, r+,(, dine liAi o , such items c=,..,- v r F flit; trays. ?:,,yin bulk and bring your
F tinue w �e o E1Iil' own begs to tha sure.
■ 1 in ;bey, all pit•mt•. •" are recyclable, • Reuse ;on ir.�;rs when possible
. rx r, .'v cr ;t. , Ye';y .Li ` h ave little Order bev, 4 ge ; ;;,uh as milk and soda R
: ,,. : c e .,c. Y: t are accor�.parti: �l by a from distributors that deliver door -to -door.
retluc hoed; i. *i tics = , R my at the It means that the containers will be re- {
H , , ±` , 4 • r , . ":ont end. Further , 017%, en:11 ,. .kl, F.el;ar filled— which ;s `;^ than re
�..xi ,- L• t� Jon m
nd con + ^_ ?.t.4 c , �l) , 41.s ^ cycling.
} we Buy prodil < _ , - hly those types of
Fried a of t 'r a . E =',. l -'' )p a,ct . z limits oki p!5.. =t..., Ei; Li ever: containers �,�at Zieing recycled in your
j , , z f. ; n 1 :m5 "tt's are .4 ' ores area. Gl ass :n d , - -Erninum are preferable
•
r � ° ''''''' ' I I issue, :.. a , ,i'le. esin issue," , as Lim to plastic n tern;; of the energy and
yL.LSTAINLr' , ,ITEL h Collat of ti . `.,'-#shin DC 1.,ised Ert 1
il-I_ ;1OS W , r';; / t pollution ra inv v d in their recycling.
i10 HAkMP PLATING l
vircr•�nental 1,ioti Foi.adation (FlAF). T ;
17 .!EVy ' aelLCHANICAL MOVEMENT / 1 `' s are so `.! ht sf t ;, bud y
tha = x
NC THE c /WAY BATTERIES I , r ' ' + i i5 u' M1!z v 41 y expen a € h.. 77.
, AL PAC "�'..±N .i I t .;. , . itei,ls <,oded ,,,5 any reel; 'all -a '� ' ` �_' °,y_ „'
1co%ifi:cvc1..i: P,v1. -!1 1 4 _,,tdfi!led— there';; no . . , a.,'''.k:b for `;tea ..” ;._?' `c.
• 4 I.,i / G SIZLS l as yet. " e , ., , ' ''a '
• FOR EMERY' TCH PURCHASE The difficulty of finding a plastic pack '
HELBR ',l'; ; DONATION TO age that meets environmental standards y ''. , %` ;
"FRIENV60 c 'L L ,:r1" 1 1E?s fnastrated many small .manufacturers. " ; " ,
� : 4.., ` S e' ands, a company t r" i' r- a. t' r r - x
'� =) I " e� ,) -, 4 •tors i ar SCI" i C Y » y *. ..,, F , .
, • a � w�; .. r son xK
,„4. : � v `r . � ;+ftC '. ` ?. s 4 ° .i � i f . E ,,,, , ,� <,_ � .ti i':.0' ,,. , , y #''' -4`
A 1 ". •
�' , y; f d.tUC "• sEAitNIuSS <a i riff) : ' . , ,1 for
G , \ g z ineir ,coo'.: ;,:, l'e comi,any originally Numbers appear z ,, >de the recycling
settled on an HDPE bottle with a PP lid as triangle on the bottom of plastic containers. •
` - s f * the best option, and the products bear
A.,:. s 'o re, r. b I messages identifying the resins by number Helpful Resources
' - 4 C - and encouraging consumers to recycle. • Wellman Inc. 1040 1 .3road Street i
' ` 00 ! Saf;;h; ands caught flak from the State of Shrewsbury, NJ 077'2/(2u)542 -7300. i
CHOOSE FROM FOUR STYLES! ! Calif . aia, which requ,.t ;hat items label- • Cou: cil for Solid Waste Solutions,
1o1 ". cyclable' recyl i ble within five 1275 K Street NW, Washing on, DC 20005/
tn?es of any a ntial consumer's home, (fi00) Ii,L
P 90.
• " o • ". ; :; prompting the company to than,; ' the ^ P i v gene Po aging Council, 1025
. Z s "' v "
label I to read 'recyclable in many Inca- Conneciacut ,' a: ,e " ; Washington, DC
• ' \•;.� '�+..� tions. The company is t. morirt,,; to a 20036/(202)89.2 - 6424.
..--:2-- PET bottle. ;ays CA; f?t-:;;idY' i)ennis • Environrne..ztal Action .Peundation,
STYLE
S- Gurka, "Vb'e'ue hide s vet /tough :erne with 5' 5 New !ialrlpshire Avenue N'N, Washing
• $85 +shipping and handling this••.it's like trying tot :4 your way in on, 'C 200Sb/00 )745 - 4870.
• $8 & VISA ing andd a jungle to .,gore out which plastic is best Screbrands, Inc., 431 Crown Pont Cir-
for the environment. The environmental cle, Grass Valley, CA 95945/(916)255 -0 '107.
RELMS SET community has to ;ive z?siness people 1
COLLEC r'`; 3N credit, and help small bu:'tesses find the
1811 COITMAN AVENUE best type of packaging for their pre iucts." LE 0. 7ARDi_i 5; is a freelance writer
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111 Future plastics recycling efforts rtmay be speckdizing in t- nvironmental and an-
1.800.637.3567 streamlined as more items are coded for imal protection tv; ics.
50 NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 1991
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