Table of Contents. Page (s): 1 Director s Report. 2 Department Organization. 3 Financial Information

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT 2017

2 Page (s): Table of Contents 1 Director s Report 2 Department Organization 3 Financial Information 4-15 Program Highlights - Disposal - Recycling - Recycling Collection - Waste Reduction - Old Landfills - Administration - Household Hazardous Waste The Mission of the Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management is to develop and implement a sustainable materials management strategy for Tompkins County. With a focus on the state s solid waste management hierarchy, this approach utilizes and prioritizes environmentally sound, cost-effective, socially responsible, and safe practices. This is accomplished through coordinated administrative, operational, and educational programs that maximize diversion with the 4R s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy) as a focal point.

3 DIRECTOR S REPORT During 2017, the Solid Waste Management Division became the Department of Recycling and Materials Management. This name change is consistent with our mission of diverting as much waste as possible and examining how the many components of garbage can be separated and managed based on the preferred hierarchy of reduce, reuse, recycling and ultimately disposal. The goal is to divert as much as 80% of the waste stream by The Department began work in 2017 on an updated 10-year Solid Waste Management and Diversion Plan. In 2017 our department welcomed two new employees- a full time communications specialist and a part-time administrative staff member. These additions have enhanced our customer service, and education and outreach activities. We were able to provide 23 waste reduction educational presentations and recycling tours to community groups, and attend 30 community events, as well as promote our programs through social media and our website. Five additional food scraps drop spots opened in the County for residential use, bringing the total number of locations to 13. This program has become very popular, resulting in increased tonnage of 40%. A drop off area was added at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center for residents to bring FOG (fats, oils and grease). This material is sent to Buffalo Biodiesel. Three new Public Space Recycling stations were installed outside the County Courthouse and the Human Services Building in Ithaca and in a park in Dryden. A new ten-year curbside recycling collection contract was awarded to Casella Recycling. Although recycling tonnage from residents and commercial entities increased slightly it is becoming evident that there is a trend toward less paper in the recycling stream due to digital capabilities. From a financial perspective, our recycling revenues were higher than anticipated and our expenses were less than budgeted, resulting in a budget surplus for In 2018, the new Solid Waste Management and Diversion Plan will be completed. It will set the course for the next decade progress toward 80% waste diversion. Barbara Eckstrom TCRMM Director 1

4 Tompkins County Recycling & Materials Management Organizational Chart 2017 Director Barbara Eckstrom Fiscal Coordinator Jackie Maloney Assistant Director Leo Riley Communication and Administrative Coordinator Geoff Dunn Senior Account Clerk/ Typist Mike Armstrong Jr. Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialists Nate Bates Nancy Webster Seth Dennis Solid Waste Enforcement Officer Paul Cowles Sr. Weigh Scale Operator Debra Barnard Senior Account Clerk/Typist Nancy Clark Account Clerk/Typist Ronniesha Butler Weigh Scale Operators Communications Specialist Marcie Harding (PT) Jeremy Betterley Virginia Higgins (PT) Total FTE: 14 2

5 FINANCIAL INFORMATION The goal of financing the Department of Recycling and Materials Management is to enable the development, maintenance, and sustainability of an integrated solid waste management system that facilitates recycling, composting, waste reduction and other diversion activities to the greatest extent possible. Where possible, the financing system is also designed to create incentives for diversion of materials from disposal. The Department is self-funded, and therefore no revenue is obtained from Tompkins County property taxes. The sources of revenue are: Disposal Fees: Waste is accepted at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC) from Tompkins County residents, businesses, and licensed haulers. A disposal fee is charged to do so. Solid Waste Annual Fee: The annual fee helps to defray the costs of the Department s programs and services, exclusive of waste disposal. The annual fee pays for the recycling programs and operations, curbside recycling collection, waste reduction programs, household hazardous waste, and maintaining closed landfills. Recycling Revenue: The Department receives revenue from the sale of recyclable materials. Grants: The Department actively seeks available grants to defray some of the cost of its waste diversion programs. Miscellaneous Revenue: Other forms of revenue include the sale of recycling and compost bins, fines, permits and licensing fees. The Department s budget is comprised of seven programs: disposal, recycling, recycling collection, waste reduction, old landfills, administration, and household hazardous waste. A clerk at the Recycling and Materials Management Office provides a disposal permit. 3

6 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS DISPOSAL I. Program Description In 2017 Tompkins County transported 19,702 tons of municipal solid waste from the Recycling & Solid Waste Center (RSWC) to three nearby landfills - Ontario County, Hyland Landfill (Angelica) and Chemung County. This program also includes enforcement of Chapter 140 of the County Code to prevent violations related to trash tag, hauler licensing, mandatory recycling and illegal dumping laws. II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to 4.5 full time employees as follows: -Weigh Scale Operator 1.0 -Senior Account Clerk Typist.5 -Fiscal Coordinator.5 -Solid Waste Enforcement Officer.5 -Senior Weigh Scale Operator 1.0 -Senior Account Clerk Typist.25 -TCRMM Director.25 -TCRMM Assistant Director.5 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program is $1,832,077 Actual amount spent $1,700,497 Net Savings $131,580 The main reason for the increased expense over the budgeted amount was an increase in tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) received at the Recycling & Solid Waste Center. Revenues from the increased tons covered the additional hauling and disposal costs. IV. Program Goals To provide safe and environmentally sound disposal practices for Tompkins County waste generators. Minimize illegal disposal violations in the County. V. Highlights 142 tons of MSW received at the RSWC in 2016 was diverted from the landfill through recycling. Three tons of materials and items were separated and delivered to Finger Lakes Reuse. The County issued 24 hauler licenses and 102 vehicle permits in There were 100 County Code complaints investigated: 90 for illegal dumping, 7 for trash tag violations, 1 for mandatory recycling and 2 uncovered load violations. 4

7 RECYCLING I. Program Description This program provides recycling opportunities for County residents, businesses and institutions. Through a contract with Casella Waste Systems Inc., the County received and processed 14,727 tons of recyclables at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC). The facility includes a convenient public drop-off that accepts single stream recyclables, food scraps, and additional materials for recycling. Tompkins County also partners with Natural Upcycling and Cayuga Compost to offer collection and processing of food scraps. Other aspects of the recycling program include the ReBusiness Partners, Borrow-A-Bin, and public education efforts. II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to 4.75 full time employees as follows: -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.75 -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.5 -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.75 -TCRMM Assistant Director.5 -Communication & Administrative Coordinator.5 -Communications Specialist.75 -Senior Account Clerk Typist.25 -TCRMM Director.25 -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.5 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program $1,671,593 Actual amount spent $1,619,994 Net Savings $ 51,599 To achieve a net savings, Department staff focused on reducing projected costs for the year, related to the food scraps and single stream recycling programs. IV. Program Goals Provide a local facility to process and market recyclable materials collected through the curbside and drop-off programs including educational information, direct assistance, and community support for recycling. Provide a program to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Support an overall goal of 80% waste diversion by Increase recycling of food scraps and other materials. 5

8 V. Highlights Launched Food Scraps Recycling Drop Spots at Cass Park, the County Department of Public Works on Bostwick Rd, Trumansburg Department of Public Works, Danby Town Hall, and Hancock Street in Ithaca, and maintained satellite operations at the Brooktondale Community Center, Dryden Town Highway Department, East Hill, Lansing Village Office, Cayuga Heights Village Hall and Cornell Cooperative Extension. The mobile drop spot was used at Brooktondale, Cass Park, and East Hill. Options for recycling at the RSWC included acceptance of residential and commercial single stream recyclables, and source-separated recyclables from commercial haulers. A drop-off shelter at the RSWC was completed in 2016 for the collection of food scraps and liquid fats, oils and grease (FOG) left over from cooking. The County contracted with Buffalo Biodiesel to remove approximately 932 gallons (3.49 tons) of FOG material. Accepted 14,727 tons of recyclables at the RSWC. Cayuga Compost collected and processed 1,959 tons of food scraps. o Approximately 323 tons of this material was collected from the drop spots. Continued a campaign to promote food scraps recycling and additional materials that can be brought to the Recycling and Solid Waste Center. The campaign included print and radio advertising, as well as coordination of a team of Outreach Assistants to provide information at 30 events throughout the county. Distributed 694 kitchen caddies and 800 transportation containers free of charge to participants of the food scraps drop-off program. Provided at least 23 educational presentations or tours to organizations throughout the County about waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Staff reached approximately 11,179 individuals through tours, events, tabling and presentations. The mobile drop spot at Hancock Street in Ithaca. An aerial photo of Cayuga Compost. 6

9 Further developments of the recycletompkins.org website included offsite purchases of solid waste permits, punch cards, and coupons. A short video was developed and distributed, demonstrating How to use the Recycling and Solid Waste Center and What Happens to My Food Scraps?. America Recycles Day activities included partnering with the Finger Lakes ReUse Center at satellite food scraps drops spots. The Borrow-A-Bin Program assisted 15 events by loaning recycling bins free of charge. Staff conducted 7 waste assessments for local businesses and organizations through the ReBusiness Partners Program. Staff received and responded to approximately 356 s through the Contact Us form on the website. TCRMM and Finger Lakes ReUse partnered to create a Donation Drop Spot event for America Recycles Day. 7

10 RECYCLING COLLECTION I. Program Description Through this program, the County provides bi-weekly countywide curbside collection of recyclable materials. TCRMM contracts with Casella Waste Systems Inc. through a competitive bid process. A new contract went into effect in October County staff monitors and tracks service requests from the public to ensure quality service from the contractor. Recycling bins are available for sale at the TCRMM offices, and R decals are provided free of charge to allow for flexibility in collection receptacles. Public education is an important component of this program. Approximately 42,450 homes have curbside recycling collection offered to them plus an estimated 3,000 small businesses utilize the service. II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to 1 full time employee as follows: -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.5 -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.25 -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.25 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program $ 1,105,361 Actual amount spent $ 1,134,564 Net Cost $ 29,203 An increase in the amount spent was due to the new curbside collection contract. IV. Program Goals: Provide convenient, cost-effective residential recycling opportunities through curbside collection and a public drop-off area at the RSWC. Monitor service calls and responses from Casella to maintain quality service for the curbside collection program, and minimize recycling collection complaints year over year. Enforce all applicable federal, state and local laws for mandatory recycling.. V. Highlights A Curbside Recycling Guidelines brochure was made available to all residents in Tompkins County. There was no bulk mailing of the Guidelines, but staff increased the number of depository locations around the County, and can be viewed on the Department s website. Throughout the course of 2017, TCRMM tracked 341 service calls regarding the curbside recycling collection service. This service-based contract was monitored closely throughout the year to maintain a high quality of service. 8

11 To enhance communication and response systems regarding service requests, staff continued working with Casella using a GPS remote tracking system that provides time-stamped data about truck routes traveled. Four new public space recycling stations were placed in 2017 which included the Tompkins County Human Services Building-Ithaca, Tompkins County Courthouse-Ithaca, Tompkins County Health Department on Brown Road and Montgomery Park in Dryden. Existing public space bins were monitored throughout the year at Stewart Park-Ithaca, Tompkins County Library-Ithaca and on Main Street in Trumansburg. The Lansing station in Myers Park was relocated to the Human Services Building. It is estimated 189 cubic yards of material were diverted through this program in A resident uses the public space recycling bin outside of the Human Services Building in Ithaca. 9

12 WASTE REDUCTION I. Program Description: Through this program, Tompkins County Recycling & Materials Management supports the community, local economy, and the environment by encouraging innovative waste reduction and reuse projects. Many of these initiatives are accomplished through public-private partnerships with local organizations: Cornell Cooperative Extension s (CCE) Compost Education Program, Finger Lakes ReUse s ecenter and Deconstruction Service, and the Sciencenter s ReInvention Station. In addition, TCRMM maintains a residential food waste prevention campaign, supports a Green Schools initiative, and offers education to share these projects with the public. Approximately 83,000 individuals were reached through this program, including residents, students, businesses, and other community members. II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to.75 full time employees as follows: -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.25 -Waste Reduction & Recycling Specialist.25 -Communications Specialist.25 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program $220,364 Actual amount spent $209,523 Net Savings $ 10,841 This savings was a result of an increased focus on minimizing budget expenditures to align expenses with projected declines in revenue. IV. Program Goals Reducing both the volume and toxicity of the waste stream by providing waste reduction, reuse and green purchasing programs and education to businesses, schools, municipalities and residents. Maintain an ongoing reuse program with Finger Lakes ReUse. To support the goal of achieving 2.1 lbs msw/ person/day by V. Highlights Through home composting efforts, it is estimated nearly 5,000 tons of food scraps and 7,350 tons of yard waste were diverted through backyard composting. Maintained a Reuse Diversion Plan for the RSWC with Finger Lakes ReUse and Casella. Continuation of support for Finger Lakes ReUse, which coordinates a Fixers Collective, Deconstruction Program, retail space, and ecenter. Over the course of 2017, approximately 450 tons were diverted through this initiative. 10

13 A food waste prevention campaign was continued through the following: o Offering of a school lesson plan module for presentations, which included an Eat First box activity o A social media campaign promoting tips and tools for food waste prevention Children at the Groton Free Community Night learn about composting from the Compost Education program. 11

14 OLD LANDFILLS I. Program Description This program includes monitoring, maintenance, reporting and leachate removal at two (2) closed landfills - Hillview Road Landfill in South Danby/North Spencer and Caswell Road Landfill in the Town of Dryden. This program is regulated by NYSDEC. II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to.5 full time employees as follows: -TCRMM Director.25 -Solid Waste Enforcement Officer.25 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program $176,815 Actual amount spent $329,667 Net Loss $152,852 The primary reason for the increased spending was the wet weather through most of the spring of This caused a tremendous increase in the amout of leachate hauled and treated. IV. Program Goals Continually ensure the completion of routine, quarterly and annual reporting and inspections, regular maintenance and leachate removal required by NYS DEC closure permits. Routine inspections identify maintenance items that are then scheduled for repair or budgeted for in the following year depending on the magnitude of the problem. Weekly inspections are conducted to ensure contractual leachate hauling obligations are fulfilled. Train with Barton & Loguidice to conduct monitoring program. V. Highlights The Hillview and Caswell landfill sites have a total of 64 monitoring points, including 13 residential locations. There are also 23 manholes and 18 cleanouts along the perimeter collection systems and 88 gas vents. Of the 64 monitoring points, 13 were archived in 2013 in an agreement between the Hillview Road Advisory Committee and Tompkins County, and approved by the NYS DEC. This means these points will no longer be monitored on an annual basis but are still maintained. Department staff started conducting residential well sampling in Since then, County staff has conducted all environmental sampling at both landfills and residential locations. Both landfills have two underground leachate storage tanks each. Monitoring wells routinely require maintenance that include sanding, repainting, flagging and concrete apron replacement as required by NYS DEC. 12

15 Many of these locations are trimmed throughout the year because of the rapid growth of vegetation as well as for providing a setting for accurate sampling. Each landfill footprint consists of approximately 30 acres that requires mowing around the first week of July. The amount of leachate removed from Hillview in 2017 was 465,800 gallons. The amount of leachate removed from Caswell in 2017 was 2,043,350 gallons. Photos from the Hillview (left) and Caswell (right) landfills. 13

16 ADMINISTRATION I. Program Description Administrative staff assists external customers as well as internal department staff. Nearly 13,000 customers were assisted in 2017 with information about solid waste, recycling, trash disposal, household hazardous waste and waste reduction programs. II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to 2.25 full time employees as follows: -Senior Account Clerk Typist.5 -Communication/Administrative Coordinator.5 -Senior Account Clerk Typist.5 -Fiscal Coordinator.5 -TCRMM Director.25 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program $ 322,119 Actual amount spent $ 343,940 Net Loss $ 21,822 The added cost was primarily the result of reclassifying two positions to a higher labor grade. IV. Highlights The Administrative staff handled 9,120 customer inquiries over the phone and completed 3,510 transactions at the front desk (sales of permits, trash disposal coupons and punch cards, and recycling and compost bins) for a total of 12,630 customers served. The front desk also distributed 700 food scraps recycling toolkits at no charge to residents. The Department has accepted the sale of permits, punch cards and coupons online through its website since mid There were 308 online transactions in 2017 for a total of $16,405. One administrative staff member was reclassified to Senior Account Clerk Typist in A part time account clerk/typist was hired to assist with front end customer service, freeing up the Senior Account Clerk Typist to take on additional duties and responsibilities consistent with her job title. The Communication and Administrative Coordinator is the primary liaison with other County departments, including Administration, Information Technology Services and Facilities, as well as with the County Legislature and the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee. The Communications Specialist reports to the CAAC and is responsible for maintaining the Department s website and social media platforms. He also oversees the planning of community outreach events and assists with presentations to school groups and other organizations. 14

17 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE I. Program Description The HHW collection program directs the proper management of residential household hazardous waste and hazardous waste from qualified non-residential generators (i.e. businesses, institutions, community organizations). II. Human Resources Staff time allocated to this program is equivalent to.25 employees as follows: -Solid Waste Enforcement Officer.25 III. Annual Program Budget Annual 2017 budget for this program $ 148,215 Actual amount spent $ 121,435 Net Savings $ 26,780 Expenses were slightly lower due to a decrease in electric, maintenance and service contracts. IV. Program Goals Diversion of hazardous wastes from the disposal waste stream and the effective management of that waste. Compliance with NYSDEC permit required inspections, maintenance, waste management and reporting. V. Highlights There were a total of 1,167 participants at the six (6) Household Hazardous Waste drop off days conducted in There were 8 Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG S) and an additional 29 bringing in universal wastes such as fluorescent tubes. Attendance numbers are not recorded for residential generators of universal wastes. There was a total of 20,517 pounds of solid, and 11,048 gallons of liquid hazardous universal wastes diverted from the waste stream in An on-line registration form was implemented in 2012 to allow for a more efficient registration process for drop off days. The on-line registration process was continued in 2017 and has proven a valuable tool in providing an abundance of information. 15