1. San Antonio’s Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan
“A look at San Antonio’s approach to making solid waste managemeSan Antint sustainable”
Environmental Trade Fair & Conference
May 17, 2017 | Austin Convention Center
David W. McCary, CPM, Director
Solid Waste Management

2. San Antonio Past & Present

3. San Antonio Past & Present

4. San Antonio Past & Present
That meant 96% of what we touched went straight to the landfill where it’s dumped, buried, never reused, and never seen again.
In 2010, City Council said, things have to change. Our city has great potential to do better.
So we set goals to become a city where we stop sending materials to the landfill that can be recycled and reused.

5. Agenda A Sustainable Approach
Introduction to the Recycling Plan
San Antonio’s Sustainable Approach
Residential Goal 60% Recycling Rate 2025
All San Antonio Residents Have Access
Improve Recycling Opportunities for Businesses

6. Recycling & Resource Recovery Plan
Improve Recycling Opportunities for Businesses
Strategic Strategy Goals
60% Recycling -Diversion Rate by 2025
All Residents Have Convenient Access to Recycling Services

7. Recycling Goals Without A State Mandate
COSA Recycling Plan
Recycling Goals Without A State Mandate

8. Enterprise Fund Department
350,000 Residential Customers
550,000 Tons of Municipal Solid Waste
606 Collections Operational Staff
101 Heavy Truck Fleet Staff
Three Cart Collection Program
Blue Recycling Cart, “Recycle It Correctly”
Green Organic Cart, “Give it Back to Nature”
Brown Trash Cart , “Landfill, Never to Return”
Marketing, Outreach, Education & Inspections

9. Solid Waste & Environmental Fees
Your Solid Waste fee covers all services that SWMD provides like twice a year curbside brush and twice a year curbside bulky collection, weekly recycling and garbage collection, up to two free leaf collections a year, as well as various programs and collection centers such as the dial-a-trailer program, the permanent and monthly HHW sites, the four bulky waste collection centers, and the two brush centers.

10. Heavy Truck Fleet Maintenance
1,000 Heavy Fleet Equipment
700 Off Road Equipment
200 Light Vehicles
1,900 Total Vehicles Heavy Truck Fleet Equipment

11. Residential Waste Stream
Growing Pains
Recycling Correctly 11

12. Brown Garbage Cart Characterization
Organics
Material
50%
Yard debris and food scraps comprise up to 50% of what gets thrown away in the brown cart and buried in a landfill.

13. Move to Utility Pricing Solid Waste Fee Based on Cart Size
Water & Electricity Pricing Encourage Conservation
Fixed Trash Pricing Discourages Conservation
Variable Rate Trash Pricing Encourages Conservation

14. PAYT (Variable Rate Pricing) Impact to Recycling Rate
Organics 4-5%
Source Reduction 6%
National research indicates that variable rate pricing increases waste diversion by an average of 17 percentage points:
5-6% results from recyclable material that was previously placed in the garbage cart;
4-5% is organic material like yard and food waste
6% towards waste reduction like donations and purchasing products with less packaging;
And see the Cart Size Shrink, because the cart can be smaller
Skumatz, L. and Freeman, D.(2006). “Pay as you Throw (PAYT) in the US Update and Analysis”, prepared for US EPA and SERA from a total of 27,000 communities

15. Marketing, Outreach & Education Brown Cart Waste Reduction
Automated Truck Wraps

16. PAYT (Variable Rate Pricing) Customer Benefits
Greater Control Over Monthly Fee
More Opportunities to Recycle
Equity: Customers Pay For What They Use
Increased Capacity / Volume

17. PAYT Cart Size Selection “Your Cart, Your Choice”
City Recycling Rate 60% by 2025
Equity
Recycling Opportunities
Choices
Large
Medium
60% reason – more sustainable community, stakeholder & City Council met, residents wanted a more sustainable community.
Keep items out of the landfill, preserve resources
Small
Note: Recycling & Organics only available in 96 & 48 - Gallon

18. Implementation Plan Steps for PAYT Implementation

19. Green Organic Cart “Give it Back to Nature”
No Plastics of Any Kind Accepted 19

20. Organic Material’s End Product Compost Facility – New Earth20

21. Next Generation of Recyclers
Marketing, Education and Outreach
1,100 School Presentations
Neighborhood & Community Events
Earth and Recycles Day Events
Strong Presence at Fiesta Parade Events

22. Multi-Family Waste Stream
Growing Pains
Convenient Access To Recycling 22

23. Convenience is the single most important indicator of success
Container Placement
Employee Input
Clear Signage, with Pictures
Consider piloting a few areas, maybe try different configurations, see what works and what doesn’t
As for a waste audit…we do them for free…I’ll talk about that later
Be sure garbage and recycling are next to each other, don’t make them walk 10’
Make sure you have clear signage on or next to the recycling containers…pictures are very good…folks don’t have to read, they know at a glance what goes in the container
Since we’re talking about signage, lets touch on outreach…it’s important for your customers…it’s also crucial internally.
Waste reduction…talk with your suppliers…reduce paper use where possible, and reuse.
Consider the materials you will accept
Consider the method of disposal
for customers
for custodial staff
Be aware of space restraints for outdoor containers
Be aware of the space needs of collection trucks
What other options are out there?

24. “Right-sizing” is when capacity and frequency match the waste stream
Don’t burn money…if you have extra space, you’re paying to throw away air because haulers charge based on container size (capacity) and frequency of collection.
Be sure you are covered for spikes in waste (Fiesta, Conventions, etc).

25. “Right-sizing” is when capacity and frequency match the waste stream
Because haulers receive revenue for recyclable commodities, they can offset the cost of collection
You may be able to save money by reducing garbage service and increasing recycling service…but it’s no guarantee

26. Commercial Waste Stream
Growing Pains
Improve Recycling Opportunities 27

27. Commercial Waste Stream
Annual Tons of Regional Waste Landfilled by Generator
Commercial sector generates over 635,000 tons of waste each year, almost 50% of all waste landfilled in San Antonio Region
Commercial Recycling does not contribute to the 60% recycling goal
City of San Antonio is currently focusing on 22% of the waste stream (residential)
*Includes Sludge, Industrial Waste, Contaminated Soil, Brush, and additional wastes
Source: TCEQ Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review-2010

28. SWMD Commercial Recycling Services
Improving Recycling Opportunities
MEASURE
ASSIST
RECOGNIZE
We conduct walkthroughs, waste audits, provide audit results and customized recommendations, and we’re working on a recognition program
We’re happy to partner with you on any issues and truly value your feedback
Tips to start a recycling plan
Garner support from staff. Ask your staff for feedback and include them as you design a recycling/composting program. This could result in greater employee participation, engagement, and improved morale.
Conduct a waste assessment. Look in your garbage containers and observe the amount and types of waste being thrown away. This information will help you understand and re-evaluate your ingredients/menu offerings.
Make recycling containers easily accessible. All containers should be conveniently located and clearly labeled to indicate if it is for organics, recyclables, or trash. containers should be located close to major areas where waste is generated .
Educate team members. All staff should understand your business’ recycling program; make sure your staff knows what goes where. We recommend using the recycling industry’s generally accepted color codes: black or brown for trash, blue for recycling, and green for organic material/food waste.
Continued education and monitoring. Appoint recycling team champions to regularly look into containers and provide feedback to other employees: this helps ensure things are being disposed of properly.

29. Commercial Recycling ASSIST MEASURE RECOGNIZE Develop Business Toolkit
Measure waste diversion rate
Collect &
Track Data
MEASURE
Establish measurement standards
ASSIST
Resource recovery options
Perform Waste Assessments
Customized Recycling Plan
No cost consulting services
Add logos
RECOGNIZE

30. Commercial Recycling Initiatives

31. Commercial Recycling Initiatives
Waste Characterization Audits
Developing Online Calculator
Recommendations report
Website Development
Implement Recognition Program
Certification Process
Tips to start a recycling plan
Garner support from staff. Ask your staff for feedback and include them as you design a recycling/composting program. This could result in greater employee participation, engagement, and improved morale.
Conduct a waste assessment. Look in your garbage containers and observe the amount and types of waste being thrown away. This information will help you understand and re-evaluate your ingredients/menu offerings.
Make recycling containers easily accessible. All containers should be conveniently located and clearly labeled to indicate if it is for organics, recyclables, or trash. containers should be located close to major areas where waste is generated .
Educate team members. All staff should understand your business’ recycling program; make sure your staff knows what goes where. We recommend using the recycling industry’s generally accepted color codes: black or brown for trash, blue for recycling, and green for organic material/food waste.
Continued education and monitoring. Appoint recycling team champions to regularly look into containers and provide feedback to other employees: this helps ensure things are being disposed of properly.

32. Thank You! Introduction to the Recycling Plan
San Antonio’s Sustainable Approach
Residential Goal 60% Recycling Rate 2025
All San Antonio Residents Have Access
Improve Recycling Opportunities for Businesses