Waste Prevention and Recycling ChapterFebruary 2017

Policies Are Labeled by Chapter and Number

• Labeling consistent with

committee survey

results included in

November 2016

meeting

2

WPR - 4

Chapter

Policy

Number

Policy Legend

3

WPR TWaste Prevention

& Recycling

P Planning

CP Collection &

ProcessingF

D Disposal

Transfer

Finance

Policies v. Actions

• Policies provide broad direction and authorization for services and system priorities. Policies should not change through the life of the Comp Plan.

• Actions are targeted, specific, and time-based to implement policies and could include: programs, studies, infrastructure improvements, and regulations. Actions may be updated to adapt to changing conditions.

4

Waste Prevention and Recycling Chapter Overview

The purpose of the WPR chapter is to:

• Describe our regional goals

• Detail the progress and current status of WPR efforts

• Outline additional resource conservation, recycling, and

product stewardship opportunities

• Detail the methods used to track progress, along with ways

to improve the data and reporting requirements

5

WPR Policies Will Affect Collection Policies

Recycling strategies may

require changes to

minimum collection

service levels and

acceptable recyclable

materials

6

Overall Waste Prevention and Recycling Goal

Achieve Zero Waste of Resources – to eliminate the disposal of materials with economic value –by 2030 through a combination of efforts in the following order of priority: waste prevention and reuse; product stewardship, recycling, and composting; beneficial reuse.

7

Set achievable goals for

reducing waste generation and

disposal and increasing recycling

and reuse.

WPR 1

8

Current Recycling Rate Establishes

Baseline for Long-Term Goals

9

Single-Family

Residential

56%

(2015)

Multi-Family

Residential

15%

(2015)

Non-

Residential

67%

(2013)

Self-Haul

8%

(2015)

Zero Waste Means Diverting Material with

Economic Value Out of Landfills

10

Source: 2015 Waste Characterization Study and 2016 King County Solid Waste Tonnage Forecast

Readily recyclable

and compostable

Potentially recyclable

(anticipate future markets)

Limited recyclability

70% of what is currently

thrown away as trash

could be recycled

Discussion

1. Should the goal to achieve zero waste of resources have a time-frame (e.g,. 2030) or be an aspirational goal?

2. Should the Comp Plan have intermediate, time-based recycling goals?

3. Is there interest in setting recycling goals for individual jurisdictions?

11

Enhance, develop,

and implement waste

prevention and recycling

programs that will increase

waste diversion from disposal

using : infrastructure,

education & promotion,

incentives, and mandates.

WPR 2

12

Draft Policy Allows for Multiple Tools to

Advance Waste Diversion

13

Infrastructure

Changes to

Collection

Frequency

Resource

Recovery at

Transfer Stations

Education &

Promotion

Outreach

programs to

schools,

businesses, and

residents

Incentives

Imbed Organics

Collection Costs

Pay as You Throw

Garbage Rates

Grant Programs

Mandates

Mandatory Food

Separation

Recycling at

Transfer Stations

Enforcement

Diverting Food Waste from Landfills is

Key to Improving Recycling

29% 27% 26%

3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

Single-Family Multi-Family Non-Residential Self-Haul

Food Waste as a Percent of Disposed Waste by Sector

14

Transfer Stations Efforts Advance Recycling

• Recycling efforts diverted over 25,000 tons in 2016 compared to 9,500 tons in 2013

• Division to begin requiring self-haul customers at select transfer stations to separate some recyclables from garbage in 2018

15

Program Aims to Increase Construction and

Demolition (C&D) Recycling

• New system with designated facilities

• Mandatory recycling of select

materials

• Started January 1, 2016

• Goal of 85% recycled by 2025

• Will discuss further in March

16

A Case for Change

• 70% of landfilled materials could be recycled instead

• Maximizing diversion from disposal is key to extending life of Cedar Hills

• Infrastructure is in place to get resources to markets

• Prevention and recycling actions improve the environment

17

Overview of Option A:

Immediate Implementation of Roadmap to 70%Major Elements

County and City Actions

Require all single family, multi-family, and non-residential

customers to separate recyclables and food scraps from garbage

at the curb

Require self-haul customers to recycle all materials that can be

separated at transfer stations

18

Overview of Option B:

Jurisdictional Self-DeterminationMajor Elements

County and City Actions

Require the cities and county to set ambitious interim recycling goal(s)

Require the cities and county to select from a menu of actions to reach recycling

goal(s)

Incentivize jurisdictions to take substantial action with repercussions for those who

don’t

Develop a contingency plan if selected actions are not enough to achieve an overall 70

percent recycling rate19

Overview of Option C:

Regional Push Forward with County Leading

Major Elements

County and City Actions

Increase single family food scrap recycling through a 3-year educational cart

tagging program

Make recycling at multi-family complexes convenient by implementing best

practices

Increase food scrap collection from businesses, schools, and other institutions

Use existing and new grant funds to support effective efforts20

Overview of Option C:

Regional Push Forward w/ County Leading (cont.)

Major Elements

County Actions

Require single family curbside recycling and composting in the

unincorporated areas

Require self-haul recycling at transfer stations that offer recycling

services of targeted materials21

Discussion

1. Do you/ your agency support a policy that authorizes and/or changes infrastructure, education/outreach, incentives, and mandates to increase waste diversion?

2. During the last round of discussions on the WPR Chapter, the division heard that:

– Cities want to have a choice about what actions to take

– Many do not support mandates

– Want County to lead

Is that accurate?

22

Advocate for

product stewardship in the

design and management of

manufactured products

and greater responsibility

for manufacturers to divert

these products from the

waste stream.

WPR 3

23

County Supports Product Stewardship Programs

• King County Secure Medicine

Return Law

• NW Product Stewardship

Council

• Statewide Programs:

– E-Cycle Washington

– LightRecycle Washington

24

Potential Product Stewardship Efforts

• More products: mattresses,

tires, HHW, carpet

• Monitor packaging and

printed paper (Canada,

Europe)

• Work with Ecology on

statewide efforts

25

Work with regional partners to find the highest value end uses for recycled and composted materials and support market development.

WPR 4

26

Market Outlook Stable for Most Commingled

Curbside Recyclables

Markets are generally stable for all

materials except plastics, where

current markets are expanding,

and metals, where prices declined

27

Strong Organics Recycling Markets Outlook

Organics supply and

processing capacity is

increasing, and current

markets for organics

products are stable

28

Market Outlook Mixed for C & D Materials Recycling

C&D supply is generally

increasing while the outlook

for processing capacity is

either stable or declining

depending on material type.

The status of current markets

also vary by material type

29

Strive to ensure that materials diverted from the King County waste stream for recycling, composting, and reuse are handled and processed using methods that are protective of human health and the environment.

WPR 5

30

NW Region Report Recommends Ways

to Optimize Commingled Collection

• Reduce confusion to customers by harmonizing messaging across jurisdictions

• Prioritize the collection of materials that generate revenue and do not contaminate other recyclable materials

• Increase the transparency, require documentation that materials are recycled safely and at their highest value

31

Further reading:

• Optimizing the Commingled Recycling

Systems in Northwest Washington: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/commingled/nw.

html

32

King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street, Suite 701

Seattle, WA 98104-3855

206-477-4466

711 TTY Relay

your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste

33