Solid Waste Management." "Best Practices in Solid Waste Management." TCSA 2006 Fall Conference

Terms: What do they really mean? SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: Safely removing the items nobody wants anymore to a place where nobody has to see what they have gotten rid of. Best Management Practices: Evaluate the most effectiveness systems for your County INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Making disposal, recycling, reduction and reuse The most cost effective system for your county

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN OTHER WORDS: It’s kind of like your first car. It was neat for awhile, thank goodness someone else has to deal with it now.

SURPRISE!!! That someone is…….. YOU!!!

Your Solid Waste Mission: (In laymen’s terms) To protect the environment and the population from themselves in spite of themselves. The State’s Mission: (In laymen’s terms) To protect us from us in spite of us!

The Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 1. Twenty-five percent (25%) reduction goal 2. County-wide Collection Assurance 3. County-wide Disposal Assurance 4. Problem Waste Disposal Assurance 5. Recyclable Collection Assurance 6. Solid Waste Education Planning 7. Full Financial Disclosure and Accountability 8. Mandated Planning, Reporting, and Record Keeping

Planning for an “Integrated Solid Waste Management System” Define ISWMS: Practice of using several alternative waste management techniques to manage and dispose of specific components of the municipal solid waste stream. Waste management alternatives include source reduction, recycling, composting (Bio Waste), energy recovery and land filling.

What ISWM is NOT: Land filling everything Opening a transfer station Building a waste-to-energy plant Ignoring changing conditions

Residential Collection Integrated Solid Waste Management Programs have: Residential Collection Curbside Backdoor Convenience Centers

Collection Commercial Collection Dumpsters and/or roll off containers /compactors

DISPOSAL Operate a Landfill? Build a transfer station? Burn It?

RECYCLING What materials will be accepted? Cardboard/Paper Aluminum

Plastic Glass

RECYCLING What are market conditions? Constantly changing Complicated Find a good broker such as Recycling Market Cooperative for Tennessee (RMCT) RMCT works for counties to assure best prices for recyclables and is sponsored by TDEC.

RECYCLING Can I afford a $$$ losing program (How some people see it)? When you recycle something for the material, and you don’t have to pay to throw it away. CAN you afford not to have recycling.

BIO SEPARATION Yard waste/wood waste separation Mulch production (possible revenue generator?) Assist wastewater utility? Can be used as a fuel supplement

Managing Problem Wastes Household Hazardous Waste-Remember that can of drain cleaner you didn’t completely use? Infectious Waste-Med waste, “red bag” waste. What are the doctors doing? Used Tires- If you’ve been in office, enough said. If your new to office find out how they are paid for.

Problem Wastes (con’t) Waste Oil-What are your do-it-yourself’ers doing? NEW Electronics-Computers, TV’s, etc NEW

(Pretend you hear a drum roll) And the number ONE component of an Integrated Solid Waste Management Program (Pretend you hear a drum roll)

EDUCATION!

EDUCATE YOUR CITIZENS ABOUT: Mandated Goals

EDUCATE YOUR CITIZENS ABOUT: Waste Reduction Purchasing durable, long-lasting goods Seeking products and packaging that are as minimal and free of toxics Use re-designing products to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or materials that can be used again after original use.

EDUCATE YOUR CITIZENS ABOUT: Reuse Reusing items -- by repairing them Donating items to charity and community groups Selling items

EDUCATE YOUR CITIZENS ABOUT: Recycling Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources

EDUCATE YOUR CITIZENS ABOUT: Full costs of Solid Waste Management Be able to show the citizens the services they get for the price they pay

A Good Program Includes: Collection Disposal Bio Separation Recycling and Waste Reduction Proper Handling of Problem Wastes EDUCATION!