Recycling Programs That Work
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Transcript of Recycling Programs That Work
Recycling Programs That Work
Amy DonovanProgram Director
Franklin County Solid Waste Management District Greenfield, MA
Overview of presentation
About my organizationRecycling in Western MassAbout Commercial Composting (CC): the climate change and farm connectionCC programs that work: schools, transfer stations, businessesWaste Diversion: Fairs, Festivals, RacesHazardous Waste and EENext steps = more sustainable in 2012
Franklin County Solid Waste Management District
BernardstonBucklandCharlemontColrainConwayDeerfieldErvingGillHawleyHeathLeverett
LeydenMontagueNew Salem (CC since 2009)Northfield (CC since 2008)Orange (CC 2011 pilot)RoweShelburneSunderlandWarwickWendellWhately (CC since 2003)
22 member towns: 30 schools, 17 transfer stations, 4 municipal compost programs
Solid Waste District Highlights:
Recycling coordinator for Franklin CountyAnnual Household Hazardous Waste DayTwice annual Bulky Waste Day (+ e-waste)Sharps Disposal ProgramWhat Do I Do With…? 350 items listed www.franklincountywastedistrict.org
MassRecycle’s Recycler of the Year: Solid Waste District, Municipal Program, 1996 Jan Ameen, Executive Director, 2005 Amy Donovan, Program Director, 2011
www.massrecycle.org
Springfield Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)
Solid Waste District on MRF Advisory BoardBoard = annual Reduce, Reuse, Recycle GuideMRF pays 74 western Mass municipalities $15- $45/ton for recyclableswww.springfieldmrf.org
Commercial Composting
“Commercial Composting”= “Organics Recycling”=“On-Farm”=“Food Waste”…goes way beyond the backyard bin!
Commercial Composting accepts materials previously destined for trash = less trash
Generally accepts:All food including items not composted at home: Meat, chicken, fish, bones, dairy, fats, oils
(+ bread, veggies, fruits)All paper including non recyclable: Paper cups, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, waxed
cardboard, waxed paper, soiled pizza boxes, soiled paper, soiled paper bags, flour/ sugar bags, egg cartons
Wood: skewers, chopsticks, coffee stirrers, sporks“Compostable plastic:” PLA cups, certain bags
NO plastic, metal, glass, foil, etc.!
CC’s benefits to participating organizations and planet:
Save money on tipping fees: MSW (trash): $75/ ton Compostables: $45/ ton
Reduce trash p/u or dumpster size and save on trash disposal /hauling costsConsumers/ costumers appreciate green actionSupports local commercial composting facilities/ farms = local businessSaves space in landfillsCreates valuable soil out of wasteMitigates climate change!
Composting helps slow Climate Change
Climate Change is caused by greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Greenhouse Gases:Carbon Dioxide MethaneNitrous Oxide
(School slides)
The Climate Change Connection
When food waste (and paper) decay in a landfill, methane is released (due to anaerobic conditions).
Methane is a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Landfill Gas Recovery not always a solution.
Methane pipe at a landfill
Why doesn’t composting release methane? Because oxygen is part of the composting process (aerobic). There is no oxygen in a landfill.
More info:www.cool2012.com
Windrows
Bear Path Farm, Whately, MA
Martin’s Farm in Greenfield accepts compost from schools:Pioneer HS,Turners Falls HS Northfield ES, Bernardston ES, Deerfield ES,Erving ES, Sunderland ES, Amherst, more..
transfer stations:Northampton, Northfield,
markets: Big Y stores, Greenfield Stop & Shop,McCusker’s,Greenfields Market,
plus restaurants…
Windrow turner at Martin’s Farm, Greenfield, MA
Windrows at Martin’s Farm
Whately Transfer Station:first municipal program in the state
Northfield Transfer Station: 2 yd dumpster
Saves town $1,384/ year
School composting
Gill Elementary: food, milk cartons, paper in green compostable bag
Bag= “Comp-lete” from Fortune Plastics
2 yard compost dumpster
Schools
Free resources:MA DEP Green Team: free recycling/ composting equipment, activities, contests www.thegreenteam.org
ACE Climate Assembly: free assembly www.acespace.org
Shelburne Falls Compost Collaborative
Blue Rock Restaurant, Café MartinCafé Martin, Mocha Maya’s, Mo’s Fudge Factor, West End Pub
• Shared compost dumpster• Cost is shared according to each B’s volume• SFABA and FCSWMD manage program• Shredded paper: Mirick Insurance, Trailside Health
Organics Haulers
Triple T Trucking, Brattleboro: dumpsters Services Pioneer valley Pricing: $70/ 2 yd., $130/ 4 yd., p/u weekly Tips @ Martin’s Farm, Greenfield; Shadow Brook
Farm, Hampden (802) 254-5388, tripletrubbishremoval.com
Alternative Recycling: toters 413-587-4005, alternativerecycling.com
Allied Waste: dumpsters 413-592-9411
Waste Diversion/ Reduction: Fairs, Festivals, Races
Pictured: Recycling Volunteers at Conway Festival of the Hills
Solid Waste District’s Special Event Bin Loaner Program
Franklin County Fair
25,000 attendees, 4 day Fair2011 Fair: 29% diversion rate50% savings: disposal costs
Hazardous Waste and EE
Please help educate!
Mercury Thermostats & Mercury Thermostats & Thermometers:Thermometers:
… can be brought to the The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District office at 50 Miles St. in Greenfield and be properly disposed of for no charge.(413-772-2438)
…call your municipality to see if accepted.
Also, CFLs, batteries, cell phones, e-waste….
… should never be thrown in the trash. They contain mercury, which is toxic.
Next Steps: Increasing Sustainability in 2012
57 western Mass towns/ waste districts sell low cost compost bins! ($25-$50)Reduce, Reuse Recycle GuideRecycle rechargeable batteries, HHWOrganizations: ID waste destinations,plenty of bins/ signage, educate usersReduce disposablesEmerging (local) technologies- food wasteIf all else fails, ask me how to green your organization!
Questions?
Amy DonovanProgram DirectorFranklin County Solid Waste Management District 50 Miles Street Greenfield, MA 01301 Tel: (413) 772-2438 amy@franklincountywastedistrict.orgwww.franklincountywastedistrict.org/