1. Fitchburg’s PAYT Program Thursday, May 2, 2013
Rick Eilertson, P.E.,
Fitchburg Environmental Engineer
Chair, APWA WI Solid Waste Committee
Presentation at “Pay-As-You-Throw” Garbage Reduction Workshop
Fitchburg Library, May 2, 2013, 1:45 pm to 4pm

2. Presentation Highlights
27 Years of Success on the 3-R’s
Fitchburg’s Pay As You Throw (PAYT) Program
Organics Collection Pilot (OCP) Details
Home Composting?
Upcoming Events

3. 27 Years of Success in the 3-R’s
Recycling Committee formed
Recycling Ordinance
Curbside Recycling & Drop Off Centers started
Curbside Yard Waste collection starts
Apartment Recycling & Polystyrene Recycling start
1991 to Fitchburg wins EPA, U.S., and State Recycling Awards
Household Medical Waste (Sharps) Ordinance
Volume-based Collection / PAYT Program begins
Compost Bin Sales start
st Solid Waste Sort
Electronics Recycling Events start, Home Composting Workshops, Recycling Drop Off Site
City Cart System starts
Fitchburg Sharps Collection starts at Bergmann’s and Walgreens
2008 – Recycling Drop Off Site Enlarged
2009 – Block Polystyrene Bin at Recycling Drop Off Site, 2nd Solid Waste Sort
Organic Waste Survey
Organics Collection Report completed, MedDrop Box Installed
2012 – Organics Collection Pilot starts, 3rd Solid Waste Sort
2013 – Organics Collection Pilot Expanded

4. Recent Updates to the 3-R's

5. Fitchburg Collection Map

6. PAYT = VBF Fitchburg began Volume Based Fee (VBF) program in 1994.
32 gal limit for refuse
Larger refuse containers available through the hauler, at resident’s expense
Refuse Tags for extra bags – 5 tags provided each household yearly
2 to 3 recycling bins – unlimited quantity

7. Contract
In 2005, proposals were sought for both the old refuse/recycling bin system and the cart system for a 3 year contract ( ).
Bids included cost of carts – refuse and recycling
Carts owned by City at end of contract

8. CART DELIVERY
Flooded by Calls With Cart Delivery Problems

9. CURRENT SYSTEM vs. PREVIOUS SYSTEM
2007 BID COMPARISON COST
CURRENT SYSTEM vs. PREVIOUS SYSTEM
2007 Costs – Refuse Cart System $81.60/unit/yr
vs.
Previous System Costs $69.24/unit/yr
2007 Costs – Recycling Cart System* $43.32/unit/yr
Previous Recycling Bin System $54.36/unit/yr
*Recycling Cart System Price is for Bi-Weekly Collection vs. weekly collection of previous bin system

10. ACCEPTANCE OF NEW SYSTEM
After the first month of new system, the call volume dropped dramatically
Residents began to show acceptance with the new system
Residents who initially opposed the change began calling/ ing their approvals

11. LESSONS LEARNED Award bid earlier to allow time for cart delivery
Be sure to have enough carts ordered to cover possible upgrades
Allow more response time for return of postcards for cart selection
Check references on cart vendor or deliver with City crews

12. Total Fee on 2012 Tax Bill = $142/yr*
35 gal Refuse (52/yr) = ~$86/yr
gal Recycling (26/yr) = ~$28/yr
Brush (14/yr) = ~$24/yr
Yardwaste (4/yr) = ~$11/yr
Recycling Drop Off Site (365/yr) = $0/yr*
Total Fee on 2012 Tax Bill = $142/yr*
*Recycling Drop Off Site cost included in curbside fees. Separate line item “TRASH P/U” is charged on annual Real Estate Property Tax Bill.

13. (Refuse & Recycling Carts collected from 40 homes)
What’s in our Carts?
2009 Solid Waste Sort
(Refuse & Recycling Carts collected from 40 homes)
Recycling Findings (% by weight)
Actual Recycling Rate = 33%
Potential Recycling Rate = 48%
Recommendations: Recycling Cart Stickers, Advertise Recycling Guide

14. What’s in our Carts? Refuse Carts Refuse Findings (% by weight)
Food waste = 27%
Soiled paper = 15%
Total Compostable Organics = 42%
Goal: Divert Organics from Landfill

15. (Refuse, Recycling & Organics Carts collected from 40 homes)
What’s in our Carts?
2012 Solid Waste Sort
(Refuse, Recycling & Organics Carts collected from 40 homes)
Recycling Findings (% by weight)
Actual Recycling Rate = 41%
Potential Recycling Rate = 53%
Recommendations: Continue enhancements to Recycling Guide

16. What’s in our Carts? Refuse Carts (2012) Refuse Findings (% by weight)
Food waste = 21%
Soiled paper = 14%
Pet Waste = 8%
Total Compostable Organics = 43%
Diapers = 18%
Recommendations: Continue enhancements to Organics Pilot

17. Why Collect Organics? Reduces waste disposal costs1.
Reduces waste disposal costs
Saves landfill space
Keeps nutrients in "The Loop" 2. 3.

18. Food Waste Disposers = $$$
& =
1. Uses Electricity at Home & WWTP ($)
2. Uses Water ($)
3. Can clog home and public sanitary sewer pipes ($)
4. WWTF needs to dispose of solids ($)

19. Organics Collection 2012 Pilot Details
~300 Households Invited

20. Organics Collection Pilot Details

21. Organics Collection Pilot Details
What Can go in the Carts
What Can’t go in the Carts
Fruit and Vegetable scraps
Grains (eg. bread, bagels, tortillas, etc)
Meats, Fats, Bones
Coffee grounds & filters
Soiled Paper Items (eg. Soiled napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes)
Pet waste (currently can include kitty litter)
Non-Compostable Plastic bags
Dirty diapers (this may change during the course of the Pilot)
Other household refuse or recyclables

22. Organics Collection Pilot Details
Where do I put the supplies?
How do I use the supplies?
Calling the Superkids Hotline

23. Organics Collection Pilot Details
Recycling Week -
Okay
Recycling Week - Preferred
Refuse Week - Okay

24. Tonnage Collected (April – Dec. 2012)
2012 Collection Pilot Tonnage
Tonnage Collected (April – Dec. 2012)
Organics = Tons
Refuse = Tons
Based on 2012 Waste Sort Percentages, Here’s what the numbers could have been if everyone sorted perfectly
Organics = 105 Tons
Recyclables = Tons
Refuse = Tons

25. Added 75 more households on April 2, 2013
Organics Collection in 2013
Added 75 more households on April 2, 2013

26. Concerns Expressed in the Survey
2012 Collection Pilot Survey Summary
Concerns Expressed in the Survey
Availability of compostable bags
Odors and cleaning of cart
Pests and animals
Lack of space for organics cart and kitchen pail

27. Suggestions 2012 Collection Pilot Survey Summary
Advertise locations for compostable bags
Pick up every week; especially during the summer
More marketing/education: newsletter articles, , information packet, website, social media
Promote home composting

28. Next Steps: Outreach on Compostable bag options

29. Next Steps: Home Composting

30. Upcoming Events
May 4 - Home Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale, Dane County (9am-1pm), Fitchburg (9-11am)
May 9 – APWA WI Presentation on Statewide Solid Waste Survey Results

31. Questions?
Contact Information:
Rick Eilertson ( )