Transcript RESIDENTIAL WASTE SORT District of Columbia Department of Public Works Hallie Clemm and Thomas Henderson MWCOG Recycling Committee Meeting May 15, 2008

RESIDENTIAL WASTE SORT
District of Columbia
Department of Public Works
Hallie Clemm and Thomas Henderson
MWCOG Recycling Committee Meeting
May 15, 2008
Quick Background
 District DPW collects waste and recycling
from about 103,000 customers in buildings
with three units or less.
 Recycling collection is weekly, single
stream with +90% of customers using 32gallon carts.
 Recycling program commodities are: ONP,
OCC, Mixed Paper, Glass and Plastic
Bottles, Aluminum and Steel Cans.
Quick Background
 We collected a total of 133,000 tons in
2007. 24,380 tons of recyclables.
 Our recycling diversion rate was 17.6%.
 Recycling diversion rate by Ward ranges
from 28.2% to 7.8%.
 The Ward with the highest recycling rate
still had 1.75 times more trash per
household than the Ward with the lowest
rate.
CapStat:
Trash and Recycling by Ward
Key Statistic
Source: DPW collection systems. Data from FY2007. Collection households per ward from DPW,
8
CapStat
DOES THE
RECYCLING
DIVERSION RATE
REALLY TELL THE
STORY?
Objectives of the Sort Study
•
•
•
Determine how much of the waste
stream is recyclable under current
program;
Determine what other materials are in
the trash that could be recycled through
an expanded program; and
Look for ways to tailor the recycling
message to enhance program.
Study Summary
 89 loads, 56 trash and 33 recycling, were sorted
from October 23 to November 8, 2007.
 Trash and recycling loads were sorted from the
same neighborhoods.
 All 8 District Wards were involved.
 Work was done at the District’s two transfer
stations by DPW Staff.
 Front-end Loaders were used to separate a
sample which was then hand sorted and
weighed.
Summary of Results
 We are currently recycling about half of
the program recyclables in the waste
stream.
 In addition to 23,380 tons of recycling
collected, there was an additional 23,800
tons remaining in the trash.
 Of our total waste stream, commodities in
our current recycling program represent
36.2%.
Chart 1a
Where are the Recyclable Commodities
25000
in the Total Waste Stream?
20000
15000
10000
T
o
n
s
5000
0
Corrugated
Newspaper
Cardboard
Other
Recyclable
Plastic
Bottles #1
Plastic
Bottles #2
Clear
Green
Brown
Aluminum
Bottles
Bottles
Bottles
Cans
Paper
Steel Cans
Tons Equivalent for FY 2007 Recycle Stream
Tons Equivalent in FY 2007 Trash Stream
Chart 2
Recycling Content Percentages
of What Is Being Thrown Away as Trash
Plastic Bottles #1
7%
Plastic Bottles #2
5%
Other Recyclable
Clear Bottles
Paper
5%
23%
Steel Cans
Green Bottles
4%
2%
Brown Bottles
Other Containers
1%
5%
Aluminum Cans
2%
Corrugated Cardboard
18%
Newspaper
33%
Chart 1b
District of Columbia Waste Audit
What's in the Trash that Gets Thrown Away
Other Items (Trash)
56.7%
Old
Newspaper
7%
Construction Debris
0.7%
Corrugated Cardboard
3.8%
Yard Waste
10.2%
Textiles
5.2%
Bulk Items
1.3%
Metals
1.2%
Glass Bottles
1.7%
Waste Glass
0.1%
Plastic Bottles #1
3.4%
Waste Plastics
3.8%
Other Recyclable Paper
4.9%
Waste Paper
0.3%
Summary of Results
 While our recycling diversion rate is not
high, our rate of recycling some key
commodities is well above the national
average.
 This includes ONP and Plastic and Glass
Bottles.
 We lag in OCC, Mixed Paper, and Steel
Cans.
Chart 3
District Wide Capture Rate Compare with the National Capture Rate
for Commodities Accepted in the Residential Recycling Program
25%
um
n
in
um
C
National Capture Rate
an
s
Bo
ttl
an
s
es
25%
Al
25%
Br
ow
#2
es
Bo
ttl
Pl
as
t ic
Pl
as
t ic
Bo
ttl
es
#1
Pa
pe
r
ec
yc
la
bl
e
District Wide Capture Rate
41%
Bo
ttl
es
27%
23%
Ca
rd
bo
ar
d
45%
St
ee
lC
47%
40%
51% 52%
G
re
en
42%
O
th
er
R
74%
63%
55%
ar
Bo
ttl
es
55%
52%
Cl
e
55%
Co
rru
ga
te
d
O
ld
75%
73%
Ne
ws
pa
pe
r
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Chart 10
Green Glass Container Capture Rate by Ward
100%
93%
93%
88%
90%
82%
National Capture
Rate = 25%
80%
70%
64%
64%
60%
46%
50%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1
2
3
4
WARD
5
6
7
Chart 11
Brown Glass Container Capture Rate by Ward
8
100%
100%
National Capture
Rate = 25%
90%
81%
80%
76%
74%
69%
70%
71%
72%
5
6
75%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1
2
3
4
WARD
7
8
Key Findings
 To improve the recycling diversion rate, we
will need to both capture more of the
existing program recyclables and expand
the definition of what is recyclable.
 Message needs to reemphasize ONP,
OCC, Mixed Paper, Plastic Bottles, and
Steel Cans.
 Need to find ways to recycle textiles and
compost more yard waste.
Thanks to those who showed up and sorted!
For Further Information
Hallie Clemm
[email protected]
202-671-0575
Tom Henderson
[email protected]
202-645-5141