T E C H N I C A L M E M O R A N D U M

Transcription

1 T E C H N I C A L M E M O R A N D U M TO: FROM: Deb Bush, Solid Waste Program Supervisor Pinellas County Dept. of Environment & Infrastructure Division of Solid Waste Robin Mitchell, Project Manager DATE: September 3, 2015 SUBJ: 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study KCI Project No Kessler Consulting, Inc. (KCI) is pleased to submit this technical memorandum detailing the results of Pinellas County s (County) 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study (Study). Purpose The County s Division of Solid Waste (DSW) has a contract with Waste Management (WM) to collect recovered materials from the County s 13 drop-off centers located throughout the County. The contract provides for revenue share of the recovered materials based on an industry market index and the composition of the recovered materials as defined in the contract. Results of this Study can be used to update the composition breakdown in the contract, which in turn will help to ensure equitable revenue to the County. The County s drop-off recycling program collects paper and containers in a single stream system. In order to determine the composition of recyclable materials collected in the County s drop-off recycling program, KCI oversaw the sampling and sorting of materials collected from the four most utilized locations. Methodology The County currently operates 13 drop-off centers located throughout the County. KCI reviewed WM s scale house records and selected four drop-off locations for inclusion in this study. The four locations chosen represent approximately 57 percent of the materials collected in the County s drop-off program. Due to the nature of this Study and the limited number of locations, KCI pulled a representative sample consisting of at least one-third of the materials contained in each of the four drop-off containers delivered by WM during the sorting event. The table below, details the locations chosen, as well as the sampling and sorting schedule N. Nebraska Ave., Bldg. D, Tampa, FL Tel: Fax:

2 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 09/03/2015 Page 2 of 8 Drop-Off Location Percent of All Recyclables Collected* Date of Service by WM Date Sample Was Sorted Net Weight of Container (pounds) Weight of Sample (pounds) Percent of Container Sampled Curlew Road 17.9% Mon. Aug. 24 Tues. Aug. 25 2, % Bank of America 8.8%** Mon. Aug. 24 Tues. Aug. 25 2, % Lake Seminole 11.0%** Tues. Aug. 25 Wed. Aug 26 2, % John Chestnut 19.0% Tues. Aug. 25 Wed. Aug 26 2, % * Based on WM scale house data FY 2015-to date. ** Based on May and June scale house data, which reflects the closing of the Oakhurst location. As the drop-off containers arrived, the net weight of the recyclables in each container was recorded. KCI then directed the driver to tip the container in a clear area of the tip floor. Each load was then divided in half length-wise, by the bucket loader, by back-blading materials along the centerline. The remaining materials were then further reduced by back-blading materials from each end of the tipped pile. This resulting in a sample of approximately percent of the original pile. Once the sample was selected from the tipped materials, the sample was transferred to a customized table where the materials were sorted into 22 material categories, which included accepted and nonaccepted recyclables and other common contaminants. A list of these categories, with definitions, can be found in Attachment A. The weight of each of the sorted material categories was then recorded. The same procedure was followed for each of the four loads. The percentage by weight of each material category was calculated for each sample. Results of the four samples were then combined by calculating the weighted average for each material category. Results Table 1 presents the Study results for each of the four drop-off containers as well as the weighted average of the four samples. The table also distinguishes between materials accepted under the County s contract with WM and other rejects (materials not accepted under the contract). Figure 1 depicts the weighted average of the four samples combined. Table 2 compares the material percentages in the County s contract with WM with the results of this Study. As the table illustrates, the material composition in the contract is fairly close to the results of this Study; however, there was a shift in paper grades and container types, as well as an increase in contamination. The net result is a reduction in market value for the drop-off recycling stream. Results of the 2015 Study reveal: A slight drop in the percentage of fiber compared to the composition breakdown currently in the County s contract (69.8 percent to 67.2 percent), with the largest shift from newspaper to corrugated cardboard. This reflects national trends as newspapers continue to shrink in size and distribution and residential cardboard increases due to online shopping. An increase in the percentage of glass (from 13.5 percent to 14.4 percent) and plastics #3-#7 (from 2.0 percent to 2.4 percent) with decreases in most other plastic and metal containers.

3 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 09/03/2015 Page 3 of 8 Doubling of the percentage of unaccepted materials (contamination) from 3.0 percent in the contract to 6.1 percent. Some types of unaccepted materials could potentially be recycled (e.g., bulky rigid plastics, scrap metals, small appliances), but are considered contamination since they are not contractually accepted materials. KCI appreciates the opportunity to conduct this Recyclables Composition Study for Pinellas County and looks forward to assisting the County in future. Attachments

4 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 09/03/2015 Page 4 of 8 Table 1: Composition of the County s Drop-off Recycling Stream (percent by weight) Hauler/Location Curlew Road Bank of America John Chestnut Lake Seminole Material Categories sample # Weighted Average 1 Newspaper 34.2% 28.4% 19.9% 21.2% 26.2% 2 Corrugated Cardboard 18.1% 20.2% 17.9% 13.0% 17.3% 3 Residential Mixed Paper 21.7% 24.0% 27.2% 22.2% 23.7% 4 Aseptic Containers 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 0.2% 5A PET Bottles 3.4% 4.9% 4.3% 5.7% 4.5% 5B Non-Bottle PET 0.8% 0.2% 0.2% 0.9% 0.5% 6 Natural HDPE Bottles 0.9% 1.5% 1.3% 1.8% 1.3% 7A Colored HDPE Bottles 1.0% 1.2% 1.4% 1.8% 1.3% 7B Non-Bottle HDPE 0.1% 0.3% 0.7% 0.6% 0.4% 8 Mixed Plastic Containers 0.6% 1.5% 2.0% 1.9% 1.4% 12 Mixed Glass Containers & Jars 12.0% 11.7% 12.8% 21.8% 14.4% 13A Aluminum Cans 0.7% 1.7% 1.0% 1.7% 1.2% 14A Tin/Steel Cans 0.8% 0.9% 1.8% 1.7% 1.3% Total Accepted Recyclables 94.5% 96.7% 90.6% 94.4% 93.9% 9 Bulky Rigid Plastics 1.0% 0.3% 1.0% 1.6% 1.0% 10 Expanded Polystyrene 0.1% 0.0% 0.6% 0.1% 0.2% 11 Plastic Film 0.4% 1.0% 0.9% 1.0% 0.8% 13B Other Aluminum 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 14B Scrap Metals 0.1% 0.0% 0.3% 0.3% 0.2% 14C Small Appliances 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 0.1% 15 Contaminants 3.2% 0.8% 5.9% 1.8% 3.1% 16 Grit 0.4% 0.4% 0.2% 0.3% 0.3% 17 Liquids 0.4% 0.2% 0.5% 0.1% 0.3% Total Unaccepted Materials 5.5% 3.3% 9.4% 5.6% 6.1% Totals 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Load Weights 2,860 2,100 2,560 2,320 9,840 Source Fraction Note: May not appear to calculate correctly due to rounding.

5 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 09/03/2015 Page 5 of 8 Figure 1: Composition of the County s Drop-Off Recycling Stream (percent by weight) Tin/Steel Cans, 1.3% Unaccepted Materials, 6.1% Aluminum Cans, 1.2% Glass Containers & Jars, 14.4% Newspaper, 26.2% Mixed Plastic Containers, 1.4% Non-Bottle HDPE, 0.4% Colored HDPE Bottles, 1.3% Natural HDPE Bottles, 1.3% Non-Bottle PET, 0.5% PET Bottles, 4.5% Aseptic Containers, 0.2% Mixed Paper, 23.7% Corrugated Cardboard, 17.3% Note: Unaccepted Materials include the categories of Bulky Rigid Plastics, Expanded Polystyrene, Plastic Film, Other Aluminum, Scrap Metals, Small Appliances, Contaminants, Grit, and Liquids.

6 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 09/03/2015 Page 6 of 8 Table 2: Comparison of the 2015 RCS Results with Current Contract Material Index Description Market Index (1) $/ton Contract Composition Market Value 2015 RCS Results Market Value Newspaper PS 8 baled, FOB seller's dock $ % $ % $ Corrugated Cardboard PS 11 baled, FOB seller's dock $ % $ % $ Mixed Paper PS 1 baled, FOB seller's dock $ % $ % $ PET Containers $/ton, baled and picked up $ % $ % $ Natural HDPE $/ton, baled and picked up $ % $ % $ 9.56 Colored HDPE $/ton, baled and picked up $ % $ % $ 5.39 Tin/Steel Cans $/ton, sorted, densified & delivered $ % $ % $ 0.72 Aluminum Cans $/ton, sorted, baled & delivered $ 1, % $ % $ Mix Glass Containers $/ton, loose, delivered $ (17.50) 13.5% $ (2.36) 14.4% $ (2.52) Other Plastic Containers #3-#7 45% of the Plastics #1-#7 $/ton, baled and picked up $ % $ % $ 0.86 Aseptic Containers N/A $ - 0.2% $ - 0.2% $ - Contaminants N/A $ - 3.0% $ - 6.1% $ - Calculated Market Value 100.0% $ % $ Calculated Revenue Per Ton (2) $ $ Notes: (1) Market indices used are SecondaryFiberPricing.com and SecondaryMaterialsPricing.com. The index descriptions are solely for the purpose of identifying which material index is being used to calculate the MMV and is in no way intended to reflect how the Contractor packages, transports or markets the material. (2) Monthly Revenue Per Ton = (Monthly Market Value/Base Market Value) x (Bid Revenue $/ton). I.e., ($94.69/$118.65) x ($50.00/ton) = $39.90/ton for Contract Composition.

7 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 09/03/2015 Page 7 of 8 Attachment A Material Category Descriptions # Material Categories Description of Categories 1 Newspaper Newspaper (loose or tied) including other paper normally distributed inside newspaper such as ads, flyers, etc. Newspaper found inside plastic sleeve will be removed from plastic and sorted accordingly. 2 Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) Brown cardboard boxes with a wavy core (no plastic liners or packaging Styrofoam ). Does not include small pieces of OCC within shrink wrap plastic such as that from a case of bottled water. 3 Residential Mixed Paper Printed or unprinted paper including white, colored, coated and uncoated papers, manila and pastel colored file folders, magazines, telephone books, catalogs, paperboard, chipboard, brown paper bags, mail, shredded paper, paperback books, blueprints, gift bags, wrapping paper, and other printed material on glossy and non-glossy paper. Paper that is coated with plastic or foil or that has other items affixed to it are not included in this category. 4 Aseptic Containers Gable top milk cartons, juice boxes, and other similar containers. 5A PET Bottles (SPI #1) Polyethylene terephthalate Clear and colored plastic bottles coded PET #1 such as soda and water bottles. Does not include loose caps. Any liquids are emptied into Liquids category. 5B Non-Bottle PET Clear and colored plastic items labeled PET #1 such as clamshell containers, frozen food trays, disposable cups, and other items labeled PET #1. 6 Natural HDPE Bottles (SPI #2) High-density polyethylene 7A Colored HDPE Bottles (SPI #2) High-density polyethylene Clear/natural plastic bottles coded HDPE #2 such as milk jugs, vinegar bottles, and gallon water bottles. Does not include loose caps and lids. Any liquids are emptied into Liquids category. Pigmented plastic bottles coded HDPE #2 such as detergent, shampoo, and orange juice bottles. Does not include loose caps and lids. Any liquids are emptied into Liquids category. 7B Non-Bottle HDPE Wide-mouthed tubs and containers labeled HDPE #2 including lids. 8 Other Mixed Plastic Containers All plastic containers coded #3-#7 such as pill bottles, Arizona Iced Tea gallon jugs, etc. 9 Bulky Rigid Plastics Consists of non-container rigid plastic items such as plastic drums, crates, buckets, baskets, toys, refuse totes, lawn furniture, flower pots, laundry baskets, and other large plastic items. Does not include electronic toys. 10 Expanded Polystyrene Container and non-container expanded polystyrene such as clamshell containers, packaging peanuts, and other packaging. 11 Plastic Film Loose and bagged plastic bags, garbage bags, shrink wrap, re-sealable bags, etc.

8 2015 Recyclable Materials Composition Study 08/31/2015 Page 8 of 8 12 Mixed Glass Containers and Jars Clear, Green, and Amber glass bottles and jars as well as broken glass pieces larger than ½ square inch. 13A Aluminum Cans Aluminum soft drink, beer, and some food cans. 13B Other Aluminum Aluminum foil, pie plates, and clean catering trays. 14A Tin/Steel Cans Tin-plated steel cans, usually food containers and aerosol cans, including labels. Also includes steel caps. 14B Scrap Metals Non-container ferrous scrap metals such as pipes, coat hangers, pots and pans, and miscellaneous scrap metal. 14C Small Appliances Small household and kitchen appliances. 15 Contaminants Materials not included in the other categories, such as bagged garbage, fast food lids and straws, CDs, VHS tapes, composite materials, Christmas lights, hoses, electronics, recyclable items full of food (non-liquid). All loose caps will be sorted as contaminants. 16 Grit All items that fall through the ½ square inch mesh. 17 Liquids All liquids found within recyclable containers will be emptied into this category prior to being sorted into the appropriate container.