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/