Town of Plymouth

Municipal Waste Diversion

2014 MassRecycle

Gregory Smith

Solid Waste Manager

508-830-4162x100

gsmith@townhall.plymouth.ma.us

Introduction

Background- why change the way trash is disposed?

3 waste disposal options

SMART Program

Slides- SMART/PAYT results

Curbside results

Plymouth’s recycling rate increase

Compliance issues

New enrollees for curbside program

Conclusion

Solid Waste ManagementBackground- Why change the way waste is disposed?

Town operated 3 transfer stations

Expiration of County Lease at one facility

Expiring low-cost SEMASS contract Jan 2015

$25.33/ton

Low recycling and high MSW disposal rates

Selectmen task DPW to evaluate options

Do nothing, close one or two transfer facilities,

consider curbside, evaluate PAYT

3 Waste Disposal Options

Developed 3 waste disposal options in conjunction with:

Public outreach

Held precinct meetings/met with other audiences to get feedback on alternatives as they developed

Evaluated past studies and reports (PAYT had been contemplated in Plymouth before)

Collaborated with MA DEP staff (MAC)

Evaluated other communities’ programs

Worcester, Middletown, RI and other towns

Learn lessons- what worked and what didn’t

3 Waste Disposal Options

Option 1-

Operate three transfer stations with PAYT Would require town to site, design and construct new transfer

station to replace one that was closing

Option 2-

Close all three transfer stations

Curbside/PAYT program beginning Jan 2014 Public adamant about keeping open one transfer station

Option 3-

Close two of three transfer stations Jan 2014

Initiate PAYT starting July 2013

Initiate curbside with PAYT starting Jan 2014

SMART/PAYT Program

SMART/PAYT Program implemented at all three

transfer stations on July 1, 2013

Curbside collection introduced on January 1, 2014

ABC, Inc. is contractor

Residents may opt for curbside, transfer station drop off,

or combination of both

Orange PAYT bags available at 22 retail locations

$6.25 for five 30-gallon bags

$6.25 for eight 15-gallon bags

Plymouth SMART-PAYT ResultsMSW & Recycling—First 8 months

During first 8 months of PAYT, MSW decreased by 43%

and recycling increased by 36%

Curbside Collection ResultsFirst 2 months

During first 2 months of curbside collection, MSW

decreased by 45% and recycling increased by 19%

Plymouth SMART-PAYT ResultsRecycling Rate

Recycling rate doubled, from 15% before PAYT to 30%

after implementation (Commonwealth Average is currently

30%).

Curbside Collection ResultsCompliance

Compliance issues had deceased 63 percent

since reporting began in mid-February 2014

but have risen 55 percent this past week

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nu

mb

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of

Vio

lati

on

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Feb

14-

28,

2014

Mar

7-13,

2014

Mar

21-28

Apr

7-11

Orange Bag Violations

New Enrollees for Curbside

Participation in Curbside program has increased from 4,950 on Jan 1st,

2014 to more than 5,290 participants by the beginning of April (a 6%

increase). Anticipate 6,000+ total participants by July 1, 2014.

4700

4800

4900

5000

5100

5200

5300

FY

2013

10-

Jan

22-

Jan

3-

Feb

13-

Feb

25-

Feb

7-

Mar

19-

Mar

31-

Mar

10-

Apr

22-

Apr

New Curbside Enrollees

Conclusion

PAYT has seen MSW reductions of 43% and recycling increases of 36% between July 2013 and February 2014

Town’s recycling rate doubled, from 15% before PAYT to 30% after implementation

5% increase in participating households since PAYT implemented

Between July 2013 and Feb 2014 the drop-off PAYT program has resulted in cost savings of $100,440

Anticipate 6,000+ enrollees before July 2014 for curbside collection program

Annual curbside collection fee will be approximately $170 for FY 2015- considerably less expensive than private subscription service in Plymouth