CITY OF SALEMMISSION POSSIBLE-

GETTING TO ZERO WASTE

Julie Rose

Business Manager

City of Salem

MassRecycle R3 conference

April 8, 2014

Goals

•Reduce City’s solid waste and increase

recycling for cost saving, health, job

creation and environmental reasons

• Increase diversion of non-curbside items

• Improve environmental footprint

• Increase communications with residents

•Community buy-in and involvement

Salem Demographics

• 8 square miles

• 41,000 residents

• 15,000 households

• 120 miles roadway

• 37 languages spoken in schools

• Hosts about 1 million visitors annually

• International

• 40% day trippers; 60% overnighters

• Over 40% property is rental

Background

• 2007 and 2012 competitively bid solid waste

• 2008-3 barrel limits, weekly recycling

• 2013-mandatory recycling

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Solid waste and recycling tonnage

Solid Waste

Recycling

Solid waste transportation and disposal

3.2

2.49 2.51 2.532.7

2.8

2.3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Cost in millions

Cost in millions

Background, continued

• Improved curbside recycling percent and set-out rates

• SalemRecycles

• GreenSalem.com

• Rigid Plastics (DEP)

• Books

Background, continued

• Textiles

• Public Recycling (AB and DEP)

• Mandatory Recycling (DEP)

What’s Left? COMPOSTING

Process

Applied for and Received DEP grants

• Technical Assistance

• Carts

Started survey prior to grant award

• Gathered data

• Evaluated interest

• Compiled Frequently Asked Questions

• Great input-

• ex. participants want to receive compost to use

Process, continued

• Pulled together composting strategy/selection team

• DPS Director

• City Engineer

• Mayor’s office

• Planning

• DEP

• Decisions-

• City-wide pick-up

• Voluntary

• Start with one route

• Stagger delivery and distribution to allow one-on-one education

Competitive Procurement

• Created questions and pre-interviewed potential bidders

• Received 5 bids

• Lowest bid was company who could haul and also

compost materials

Current Status

• Starting Weds. April 16

• Chose Weds. to ensure no changes due to holidays

• 575 households City-wide

• Using two trucks; transfer materials at DPS

• Carts distributed with SalemRecycles and volunteer effort

• Opportunity to interact with each resident

• Increased our volunteer base through this effort

• Positive energy and excitement about program

Questions