Presentation of Contractor’s Report “California 2008

Statewide Waste Characterization Study”

CIWMB Strategic Policy Development Committee

September 9, 2009

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Presentation in 3 Parts

• Background• Results• Policy Implications

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Part 1 - Background

• What is waste characterization?• Why it is important?• How do we do it?• Board studies 1999-2009

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What is Waste Characterization?• Determine what’s disposed in landfills• Determine types and amounts of paper, food,

glass, metal, etc. in the waste stream• Profiles for each source of waste:

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Residential Sector =

Single Family Multifamily

Commercial Sector =

Businesses, Industries, Institutions

Government,

Self-hauled Sector =

Commercial Self-haulers(contractors, landscapers)

Residential Self-haulers(homeowners)

Why is it important?

For effective diversion programs and waste management strategies, need to know:

• Not only WHAT is in the waste stream, but WHERE it came from

• How the waste stream changes over time• Current information to support policy decisions

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How to do a Waste Characterization Study

• Take samples from garbage trucks or dumpsters

• Sort materials• Record weights• Survey incoming vehicles• Compile data

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CIWMB Studies 1999-20091999 – First statewide study, details on commercial sector by

business types2004 – Smaller study, composition & amounts by larger sectors

• most like 2008 study2006 – Four targeted studies

• commercial sector details for select business groups, including recycling data

• construction and demolition waste• detailed study of commercial self-haul• Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) residuals

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Overview – 2008 Study

• 40 disposal sites throughout the state• Data collected over 4 seasons in 2008• 751 waste samples sorted by hand• 6,896 vehicles surveyed for sector of origin• Data aggregation and statistical analysis to

develop statewide composition and quantities

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2008 Study – Special Data Collection

• Recyclable materials assessed for contamination

• Roofing materials tested for asbestos• More details on lumber and plastic

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Part 2 - Key Results

• Overall composition• Sector breakdown• Changes since 2004• Special data highlights

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Composition of California’s Overall Disposed Waste Stream by Major Category, 2008

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Top 10 Disposed Materials Overall, 2008

Material Type Percent Cumulative Percent

Food 15.5 15.5

Lumber 14.5 30.0

Remainder/Composite Inerts & Other* 5.5 35.5

Remainder/Composite Paper* 5.2 40.7

Uncoated Corrugated Cardboard 4.8 45.5

Remainder/Composite Organic* 4.3 49.8

Leaves & Grass 3.8 53.6

Bulky Items 3.5 57.1

Carpet 3.2 60.3

Rock, Soil, & Fines 3.2 63.5

* “Remainder/Composite” material types include miscellaneous materials that don’t fit other categories 19

Recoverable Materials in Overall DisposalRecyclable Materials•Cardboard•Most Paper•Recyclable Glass•Recyclable Metals•HDPE, PETE, Some Film Plastic•E-wasteCompostable Materials•Food•Leaves/Grass•Other Yard Waste•A Portion of Non-recyclable PaperRecoverable Inerts•Concrete•Asphalt Paving•Asphalt Roofing•Lumber•Gypsum Board•Rock, Soil, Fines 20

Contribution of Each Sector to Statewide Overall Disposal, 2008

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Changes in the Overall Waste Stream Since 2004

• Sector proportions about the same• Decreases in some categories:

– Paper decreased from 8.4 million tons to 6.9 million tons– Glass decreased from 0.9 million tons to 0.6 million tons– Metal decreased from 3.1 million tons to 1.8 million tons

• Plastic and organics about the same• Significant increase in “Inerts & Other” category

– Driven by increase in lumber from 10% to 15% of the waste stream (from 3.9 million tons to 5.8 million tons)

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Results of Special Data CollectionContamination Study – looked at condition and source of contamination for commonly recycled paper, metal, plastic

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Contaminated at Source

Contaminated During Collection

Clean

Most Recyclable Materials in Loads are Clean Enough for Recycling

Metal & Plastic Contamination

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Paper Contamination

Details on LumberMaterial Type Percent of Overall

WastePercent of Lumber

Dimensional Lumber 3.0 21

Engineered Wood (plywood, particle board, etc.)

2.7 19

Pallets & Crates 2.5 17

Other Wood Waste 6.4 44

TOTAL 14.5 100

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“Clean” wood types are commonly accepted for compost and mulch production and are 56% of lumber and 8% of all waste disposed

Asbestos in Roofing

• 5 material types sampled• 191 samples from loads throughout the state

analyzed using US EPA technique• Asbestos found in one sample – mastic*

– New California data relieves asbestos concern• Projects around U.S use material in road base• Caltrans: no specifications or demonstration

projects for use in road base

*Mastic is a paste-like material used as an adhesive or seal in roofing applications

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PETE Plastic Bottles

• PETE = polyethylene terephthalate (e.g., water bottles, soft drink bottles, #1 recycling label)

• PETE Containers are 0.5% of waste by weight• “PETE Containers” sorted in more detail• Water Bottles less than 1 liter in size are 26%

of all PETE Containers disposed

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Part 3 - Key Policy Implications

• Organics• Commercial Waste Recycling• Climate Change – measuring reductions

in greenhouse gas emissions

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Organics (excluding paper) - 11 Million Tons Disposed

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Implications for Organics

Diverting half of only these organics (Strategic Directive 6.1) would:– Increase statewide diversion from 59% to 74%– Use 6 million tons of resources for compost,

bioenergy, and biofuels– Impact facilities, technology, cross-media issues– Keep these methane producers out of landfills– Meet AB 32 goals and Strategic Directives

• Low-carbon Fuel, Renewable Portfolio Standards, anaerobic digestion

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Commercial Waste*

• Some businesses already divert a lot, some don’t• Largest part of waste stream• Most prevalent material types:

– Lumber – 16% (almost 3 million tons)– Food – 15% (almost 3 million tons)– Cardboard – 7% (about 1 million tons)

• Two thirds of commonly recyclable materials are clean enough for immediate recycling

* not including commercial self-haul or multifamily

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Composition of California’s Commercial Disposed Waste Stream by Major Category, 2008

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Common Recyclables Disposed in Commercial Waste*

34* Not including Organics or Inert Materials

Implications for Commercial Recycling

• Materials available:– 6 million tons food and lumber– 3 million tons common recyclables

• Mandatory commercial recycling:– Proposed legislation– AB 32 measure– Developing regulations

• Diverting 75% of commercial recyclables (other than organics) would increase diversion 2.3 million tons

• Recycling methods/facilities exist – need expansion35

Climate Change Measurement

Waste characterization data supports AB 32:– amounts and sources of feedstocks for

compost, mulch, biofuels– types and amounts of recyclables in

commercial waste– amounts and sources of feedstocks for

anaerobic digestion

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Climate Change Measurement (cont.)

• Use data on changes in disposal to estimate statewide emissions reductions

• Tons of specific materials diverted can be translated to MMTCO2e

• Easier/more accurate to measure disposal than diversion

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Summary – Big Picture

• Comprehensive information on disposed waste– Commercial is biggest sector– Organics (food) and Inerts/Other (lumber) are biggest

types, paper also significant• Many materials clean enough to be recycled• Huge potential - more diversion/GHG reductions

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Summary – Some Details

• Data on materials/sources can guide next steps• Special information answers specific questions

– low contamination rates for recyclables– asbestos in roofing almost non-existent– Most wood clean enough for compost/mulch

• Even more information in the report!

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Questions?