Recycling of Solid Waste February 10, 2016 Russell Schreiber, P.E. Director of Public Works

Recycling Webster’s definition –To make something new from something that has been used before –To send materials to a place where they are made into something new –To use again Purpose –Protect environment –Conserve natural resources –Save landfill space –Reduce greenhouse gases

Muncipal Solid Waste *Statistics sited by U.S. EPA **Percent by weight 90% of waste stream has potential to be recycled

Organics Recycling Program Organic waste collection began in 1994 –Public wanted a recycling program –Landfill space was an issue Issue resolved, 200 years of life on landfill –Material could be collected and recycled locally –Optional once per week organic collection Collect ~2,000 tons per year of residential yard and organic waste Average 8,000 households (25% participation) Compost 10,000 tons wastewater sludge per year

Drop-Off Recycling Program -Newspaper / Glass: 14 locations including Fire Stations, United Supermarkets, Walmart (I-44), Tra nsfer Station, Sanitation Offices Recycle on average 175 tons of newspaper per year Reuse 53 tons of glass per year through pulverizing −Aluminum: Transfer Station and Sanitation offices Recycling about 1 to 2 tons per year −Scrap Metal: Landfill and Transfer Station Recycling an average of 375 tons per year

Single-Stream Recycling Became popular in the 1990s A system in which recyclables, including newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, tin, and glass are placed in a single bin or cart Recyclables are collected by a single truck and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted into various commodity streams for sale to markets

Comparison Single Stream vs City Programs City recycling programs accept 79% of waste stream Single Stream recycling programs accept 60% of waste stream City programs currently accept everything in single- stream except plastics Material% of Waste City Organic Recycling City Drop Off Single- Stream Recycling Food Scraps 12% Paper36% Yard Waste 12% Wood6% Metals8% Glass5% Plastic11% Rubber, etc. 7% Other3% TOTAL % 66%13%60%

Plastics *Statistics sited by U.S. EPA **Percent by weight #1Soft drink, water and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter and jam jars #2Milk, juice, detergent, shampoo bottles #3Cling films, PVC piping #4Frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard; cling films; flexible container lids #5Reusable microwaveable ware, kitchenware, yogurt containers; margarine tubs, microwaveable disposable take-away containers, disposable cups and plates #6Egg cartons, packing peanuts, disposable cups, plates, trays, cutlery, and disposable take-away containers #7Baby milk bottles, electronic casing Current market demand is for types #1 and #2 only, ~ 30% of plastics, 3.3% of total waste stream

Benefits of Single-Stream Recycling –More convenient –Increased participation –Increase in tonnage

Negatives of Single Stream Recycling –Decrease quality of materials Contamination of paper by glass, plastics, and food waste 25% to 40% of collected material landfilled due to contamination Currently no market for #3 through #7 plastics –High cost of processing MRF cost $80-85 a ton to process vs $30 a ton to landfill Materials must then be transported to end user –Recycle materials market very unstable –Must be funded by a fee to residents

Benefits of Organics & Drop-off Recycling –Material doesn’t have to be hauled 120 miles –Beneficial use of wastewater sludge –79% of waste stream can be recycled –TCEQ credits for composting, saves on landfill fee –Reduction in greenhouse gases –Source separated (MRF costs avoided)

Negatives of Organics & Drop-off Recycling –Excludes plastics –Not as convenient –Not viewed as recycling –Public awareness difficult to achieve

Summary –City’s current programs accepts 79% of the waste stream –Single stream accepts 60% of waste stream –Single stream accepts plastic –Single stream must be supported by rate increase –City’s current recycle program is supported by existing rate structure –City’s current recycle stream can be recycled locally –City’s existing program is much more environmentally friendly