Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

Transcription

1 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan Trash the waste habit Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment

2 Acknowledgements 2012 Washington County Board of Commissioners Washington County, Minnesota District 1 - Dennis Hegberg, Chair District 2 - Bill Pulkrabek District 3 - Gary Kriesel District 4 - Autumn Lehrke District 5 - Lisa Weik, Vice-Chair Washington County Ad Hoc Waste Management Plan Committee Angela Bourdaghs Resident representative, Mahtomedi Greg Tennis Private waste management firm, Tennis Sanitation Mike Maroney Private waste management firm, Maroney s Sanitation Jennifer McLoughlin City representative, Woodbury Rozlyn Johnson Resident representative from Newport Peder Sandhei Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Autumn Lehrke Washington County Commissioner District 4 Prepared By: Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment The Washington County Waste Management Master Plan supplements the Regional Solid Waste Master Plan , which was adopted by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board on December 14, The Regional Solid Waste Master Plan is available at Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

3 4 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

4 Table of Contents Executive Summary...6 Chapter I: Introduction...8 Chapter II: County Policies...11 Chapter III: County Strategies...14 Communication and Education...15 Cost and Finance...16 Land Disposal...17 NonMSW Management...18 Organics Recovery (including Yard Waste)...19 Performance Measurement...20 Processing...23 Recycling...25 Regulation...27 Source Reduction and Reuse...28 Toxicity Reduction...29 Appendix A: Description of the Waste Management System...31 Appendix B: County Municipalities by MSW Collection Type...48 Appendix C: County Municipalities by Recycling Collection Type...49 Appendix D: Ordinances...50 Appendix E: Major Milestones and Other Significant Events/Activities in Washington County Waste Management History...52 Appendix F: Acronyms...78 Appendix G: Definitions...79 Appendix H: Minn. Stat Master Plan Requirements...88 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

5 Executive Summary Executive Summary The purpose of the Washington County Waste Management Master Plan (Plan) is to guide county waste management activities. This revised Plan replaces the Waste Management Master Plan. The Plan supplements the Regional Solid Waste Master Plan adopted by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) on December 14, The intent of the Regional Solid Waste Master Plan is to work collaboratively towards a common vision and shared goals as a region of the six metropolitan counties. The county s Plan identifies specific opportunities and challenges important to the county and includes strategies to address them. The Plan was developed with guidance from the Metropolitan Policy Plan (Policy Plan) adopted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in April The Policy Plan includes key themes, policies, goals, and strategies with numerical objectives. The eight key themes from the Policy Plan include: Accountability: Everyone is accountable for meeting waste objectives, not only government. Waste as a resource: There are cost savings, reduced pollution and energy/ greenhouse gases with managing waste as a resource. Solid waste management hierarchy: The hierarchy should guide decision making with emphasis on reduction and recycling. Generator responsibility: Responsibility for waste management occurs at all levels (personal, corporate, government). Government as a leader: Government at all levels needs to lead by example. Product Stewardship: Producers and users of products accept responsibility of design and end-of-life management for products. Private sector initiative: The private sector has a significant role to play in implementing the waste plans. Greenhouse gas reduction through managing waste higher on the hierarchy. The Metropolitan Policy Plan also sets new plan requirements which include: Regional Governance: The MPCA and SWMCB will evaluate current solid waste governance to determine if and what changes are needed. Greenhouse Gas Reductions: The MPCA encourages review of greenhouse gases associated with waste management activities. Waste Objectives: The MPCA set specific quantifiable objectives to reduce land disposal of waste through 2030 for Source Reduction, Recycling, Organics Recovery, Resource Recovery, and Landfilling. Resource Recovery: The Policy Plan proposes to maintain and fully use existing resource recovery facility capacity, without proposing new capacity of waste objectives are not met. This Plan is organized into three chapters. Chapter I Introduction: Consists of the introduction, plan preparation, and public participation. Chapter II County Policies: Includes the county s vision, mission, and waste management policies approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Chapter III County Strategies: Describes how the county will assist the region in achieving the regional waste management vision and 6 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

6 Executive Summary goals with implementation of the county strategies identified in this Plan. The Plan builds upon a mature waste system where parts of the system are working well and some areas need additional attention. Specifically, this plan includes strategies to increase recycling and organics recovery and provide additional opportunities for toxicity reduction in order to achieve the Policy Plan waste objectives. Some of the areas of focus include: Support for cities and townships on residential recycling, Development of a school recycling grant program, Increased business outreach on the County Environmental Charge (CEC), recycling, and organics management, Evaluation of service levels for the household hazardous waste program, Increased county leadership in waste management for internal operations, Focus on multi-family housing recycling, Continued support and preference for waste processing, Sustained joint work with Ramsey County through the Resource Recovery Project to increase organics recovery from the business sector and schools, and Measuring the county s progress towards waste objectives. The table below lists the Policy Plan waste objectives in percentages for the MSW management system for Objectives were not set for Toxicity Reduction or NonMSW. Management Method 2010 Region Actual Source Reduction & Reuse N/A 1-2% 2-4% 3-5% 4-6% Recycling 40% 45-48% 47-51% 49-54% 54-60% Organics 4% 3-6% 4-8% 6-12% 9-15% Resource Recovery 28% 32-34% 32-33% 30-31% 28-24% Landfilled 28% 20% 17% 15% 9% Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

7 Chapter I: Introduction Chapter I: Introduction The metropolitan counties are required by the Minnesota Waste Management Act, Minnesota Statute , to revise their waste management plans, following the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency s (MPCA) adoption of the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan (Policy Plan). The MPCA adopted the Policy Plan on April 6, In agreement with the MPCA, the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) prepared the Regional Waste Management Master Plan containing regional strategies and adopted by the SWMCB on December 14, The intent of the Regional Solid Waste Master Plan is to work collaboratively towards a common vision and shared goals as a region of the six metropolitan counties. The individual SWMCB member counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington) prepared county strategies to implement each one s county waste management master plan. The Washington County Waste Management Master Plan (Plan) was adopted by the Washington County Board of Commissioners on March 27, 2012 and submitted to the MPCA. This is the third regional plan. Plan Preparation The Washington County Waste Management Master Plan replaces the Plan adopted by the Washington County Board of Commissioners in November This new plan guides waste management activities until 2017 while continuously striving to achieve quantifiable objectives to reduce land disposal of waste through This is the county s fifth waste management master plan since Plan revisions occur about every six years. The Plan is an important tool in protecting public health and the environment by establishing policies and strategies to reduce both the amount and the toxic character of waste which impacts occupational health risks, environmental risks related to the disposal of waste, and health risks related to environmental emissions. Development and implementation of the Plan includes continued partnership with regional counties through the joint powers agreement with the SWMCB and through the Resource Recovery Project Board (RRPB). These partnerships bring together entities with common goals to collaborate, saving financial and staff resources, and to focus efforts in achieving the state s waste objectives. The Plan also connects to existing county plans that address common goals. Figure 1 on page 8 shows the connections between the Washington County Waste Management Master Plan and other major county plans and efforts. The Plan was developed with guidance from the Metropolitan Policy Plan (Policy Plan) adopted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in April The Policy Plan includes key themes, policies, goals, and strategies with numerical objectives. The eight key themes from the Policy Plan include: Accountability: Everyone is accountable for meeting waste objectives, not only government. Waste as a resource: There are cost savings, reduced pollution and energy/greenhouse gases with managing waste as a resource. Solid waste management hierarchy: The hierarchy should guide decision making with emphasis on reduction and recycling. 8 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

8 Chapter I: Introduction Generator responsibility: Responsibility for waste management occurs at all levels (personal, corporate, government). Government as a leader: Government at all levels needs to lead by example. Product Stewardship: Producers and users of products accept responsibility of design and end-of-life management for products. Private sector initiative: The private sector has a significant role to play in implementing the waste plans. Greenhouse gas reductions through managing waste higher on the hierarchy. The Metropolitan Policy Plan also sets new plan requirements which include: Regional Governance: The MPCA and SWMCB will evaluate current solid waste governance to determine if and what changes are needed. Greenhouse Gas Reductions: The MPCA encourages review of greenhouse gases associated with waste management activities. Waste Objectives: The MPCA se t specific quantifiable objectives to reduce land disposal of waste through 2030 for Source Reduction, Recycling, Organics Recovery, Resource Recovery, and Landfilling. Resource Recovery: The Policy Plan proposes to maintain and fully use existing resource recovery facility capacity, without proposing new capacity of waste objectives are not met. gathered a significant amount of information from a variety of stakeholders. Over 550 stakeholders participated in the outreach effort. Over 400 residential households responded to a survey, and 125 businesses, property managers, and waste haulers, and 27 local government staff were surveyed or interviewed. The Ad Hoc Waste Management Planning Committee (WMPC) was also formed for the purpose of the Plan revision. The WMPC met twice in 2011 to provide input on how the county could use the findings from the community engagement activities. The Ad Hoc WMPC was comprised of representatives from cities, townships, the waste industry, the state, and a resident of Newport, which is home to the Resource Recovery Technologies, Inc. (RRT): Newport Resource Recovery Facility (RRF). The county held a separate meeting with city and township staff on January 24, 2012 to receive input on the Plan. The county web site also listed information on the plan development throughout the process, along with a draft copy available for review by the public including cities, townships, and solid waste haulers. A County Board workshop was held on March 13, 2012 with Board adoption of the Plan on March 27, Public Participation The Plan was prepared by staff from the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment, with direct input in a variety of ways through a community engagement process. The engagement effort Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

9 Chapter 1: Introduction Figure 1. Key connections between the Washington County Waste Management Master Plan and other major county plans and efforts Key County Environmental Connections Department Key Initiatives 2030 Comprehensive Plan Promote Healthy Behavior and Communities Children s Environmental Health Health/Environmental Communications Facilities Sustainable Building Less Toxic Cleaners Environmental Preferable Purchasing Land Use Sustainable Building Parks Sustainable Building Washington County Waste Management Master Plan Source Reduction and Reuse Toxicity Reduction Recycling Organics Recovery Processing Land Disposal Non-MSW Communications and Education Regulation Cost and Finance County Energy Plan Energy Policy Buildings Transportation Waste Water Hazardous Materials Management Turf Management Septic Management County Groundwater Plan Hazardous Materials Management Disaster Debris Management and Recycling Emergency Management Solid Waste Hauler Licensing Reciprocal Use Household Hazardous Waste Community Power Grants Regional Communications and Promotion Regional Solid Waste Master Plan 10 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

10 Chapter II: County Policies Chapter II: County Policies Washington County Mission Values Goals To provide quality public services in a cost-effective manner through innovation, leadership, and the cooperation of dedicated people. Fiscal Responsibility - to provide good stewardship of public funds Ethics and Integrity - to maintain the public trust Openness of the Process - to promote citizen participation Our Heritage and Natural Resources - to conserve and preserve them The Individual - to promote dignity and respect To promote the health, safety, and quality of life of citizens To provide accessible, high-quality services in a timely and respectful manner To address today s needs while proactively planning for the future To maintain public trust through responsible use of public resources, accountability, and openness of government Department of Public Health and Environment Mission Vision Shared Values Goals Our mission is to protect, promote, and improve the community s health and the environment. We will be exceptional leaders and partners as we engage and inspire others to achieve healthy communities and a sustainable environment. Collaboration - We always seek to work with others. Well-informed Decisions - We consider all aspects of the issue before we make decisions. Quality - We aim to meet high standards of performance. Innovation - We use creativity to make our services better. Integrity - We are professionals who are respected, accountable, and trusted. Promote healthy communities and eliminate health disparities. Assure the quality and accessibility of health services. Prevent the spread of infectious disease. Make environments safe and healthy. Assure a strong public health system. Prepare for, respond to, and assist communities in recovery from disasters. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

11 Chapter II: County Policies Waste Management Master Plan Polices These policies establish the role of the county and primary stakeholders for achieving the objectives in the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan and identify the priority of county efforts and funding in the waste management system. Stakeholders to the Policy Plan and County Plan include public entities (cities, townships, and schools), residents, business, and waste service providers. The policies help to ensure that waste management services are available and accessible to all residents, businesses, and institutions and emphasize prevention of future environmental and financial liabilities. 1. The county will provide environmentally responsible leadership through a variety of environmental programs by showing awareness of environmental consequences in its actions and by seeking to protect land, air, water and other natural resources and the public health. 2. The county s waste programs will strive to motivate behavior change by residents, business, and public entities to meet state waste objectives. 3. The county affirms the ongoing need for an integrated solid waste management system following the state s order of preference: a. waste reduction and reuse; b. waste recycling; c. composting of source-separated compostable materials, including, but not limited to yard waste and food waste; d. resource recovery through mixed municipal solid waste composting or incineration; and; e. land disposal which produces no measurable methane gas or which involves the retrieval of methane gas as a fuel for the production of energy to be used on-site or for sale; and f. land disposal which produces measurable methane and which does not involve the retrieval of methane gas as a fuel for the production of energy to be used on-site or for sale. 4. The county waste program is part of a comprehensive system which uses strategies of coordination, cooperation, and collaboration, as appropriate with other governmental entities and the private sector. 5. Education about sound environmental practices related to waste management is a key element of developing and maintaining a sustainable community. 6. Preference is given to the private sector undertaking waste management activities to the extent services are meeting the needs of the community. 7. Environmental programs impacting state waste objectives include, but are not limited to solid waste and hazardous waste management, groundwater protection and management, and energy management. 8. The county supports a product, stewardship approach that creates effective, flexible, producer-led reduction, reuse, and recycling programs to deal with a product s lifecycle impacts from design through end-of-life product management so that state and local governments do not have primary responsibility for financing such efforts. 12 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

12 Chapter II: County Policies 9. The county and public entities will consider factors such as health, safety, and environment when making purchasing decisions and look for opportunities to include these considerations in purchasing decisions. 10. The county recognizes that it is the responsibility of everyone (residents, businesses, and public entities) in the county to achieve state objectives. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

13 Chapter III: County Strategies Chapter III: County Strategies The strategies on the following pages describe the actions needed to reach the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management System Objectives identified in the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

14 Chapter III: County Strategies Communication and Education Policies 1. The county will develop and provide county-wide communication and outreach on environmental programs, services, and related waste issues. 2. Local units of governments are responsible for the development and distribution of information on their own municipal waste programs and distribution of countywide messages on county environmental programs and services, and related waste issues to its community. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Partner with other entities to conduct education programs to schools and community groups to teach about waste management and related activities. 2. Develop and promote the use of education tools such as learning kits, and use interactive informational displays, peer training and other train the trainer opportunities to teach about waste management and related activities. 3. Coordinate with the county s groundwater plan to provide technical assistance and education on proper storage, and disposal of lawn chemicals, and provide information on less toxic/hazardous alternatives to minimize or eliminate toxic materials used in turf management, and other related issues. 4. Develop culturally specific and appropriate information and educational materials to meet the needs of the community and coordinate among department programs. 5. Explore and implement preferred methods of communication, including social media, based on needs of the community in order to reach additional audiences. 6. Develop a targeted communications plan to increase stakeholder knowledge of existing county programs and services including the County Environmental Charge (CEC), the county s small business hazardous waste collection program, the household hazardous waste program, and the County Environmental Center. 7. Work with Ramsey County through the Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery Project (RRP) to enhance education on waste issues for residents and businesses. 8. Increase the knowledge of staff from public entities by providing information and resources on waste management and related activities and partner in providing outreach and education to the community. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

15 Chapter III: County Strategies Cost and Finance Policies 1. Washington County will make effective use of public resources and allocate costs equitably to waste generators, while assuring maximum environmental protection. 2. Waste management costs should be visible, based on volume, and be paid directly by the generator. 3. Washington County will continue to use the County Environmental Charge (CEC) as a funding tool for environmental efforts and programs. 4. Washington County will continue to manage and use state funding as appropriate in programs relating to public education, reuse, recycling, and processing, including Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE), and Local Recycling Development Grant (LRDG). 5. The use of the solid waste fund/reserve balance will be pursuant to state law Minn. Stat subd. 9 and may be used for purposes only described in the Plan. The fund balance will be used for one-time start-up costs, not ongoing operational needs, unless the use of the funds provides a significant opportunity for meeting environmental goals. Projects funded shall have a specific and defined transitional period. 6. Washington County will fund waste regulation programs primarily by licensing fees. 7. Amendments to the Solid Waste Ordinance that change the CEC rates will include a 90- day notice period for generators and haulers before the rate change becomes effective, to provide the opportunity to adjust billing systems. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Develop a funding opportunity for schools to enhance performance in meeting Plan goals. 2. Continue to evaluate the amount of funds generated as a result of the County Environmental Charge (CEC). 3. Develop and implement an online grant application and reporting system and use other technologies to improve the municipal recycling grant system. 16 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

16 Chapter III: County Strategies Land Disposal Policies 1. The county will ensure that all MSW generated by county activities is processed, and require all public entities to process MSW generated as a result of their activities or waste arranged for on behalf of residents. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Ensure all waste collection contracts for waste generated from county operations require haulers to deliver all waste collected in the county to a processing facility. 2. Require public entities to meet the Minn. Stat. 115A.471 to ensure MSW is delivered to a processing facility. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

17 Chapter III: County Strategies NonMSW Management Policies 1. The county and public entities will be leaders in nonmsw management activities through continuously improving internal operations to ensure proper management of nonmsw. 2. The private sector is responsible for providing management facilities for nonmsw. 3. The county may provide technical and financial assistance to facilitate additional management opportunities for non MSW. 4. The county will use the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines, or other industry best practices for green building, in all future county building and major renovation projects in order to reduce energy costs, improve indoor air quality, and reduce or recycle waste created from construction activities. Strategies Washington County will: 1. With the region, evaluate application of the County Environmental Charge (CEC) for possible application to nonmsw. 2. Use the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines or other green building best practices and identify ways to improve implementation of practices. 3. Include alternative bid pricing requirements whenever hot mix asphalt or asphalt paving services are purchased for county operations to increase shingle recycling, and encourage public entities to do the same. 4. Identify opportunities to implement best practices to improve nonmsw management systems for county operations. 5. Assist in the management of nonmsw and related solid waste generated from emergency situations in accordance to the county s emergency operations plan. 18 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

18 Chapter III: County Strategies Organics Recovery (including Yard Waste) Policies 1. The county and public entities within the county will be leaders in internal organics management through continuously improving their own operations. 2. The county will work with public entities to assure that organics recovery opportunities are maximized using public education and information, planning and evaluation, regulation, financial incentives, technical assistance, and consultation.the county will use the Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) food waste management hierarchy as guidance in making policy decisions about organic waste. 3. The county may provide technical and financial assistance to businesses to facilitate organics recycling opportunities. 4. The county will work with service providers, public entities, and business generators to assure that organic management opportunities are maximized. 5. The county will share responsibility for the promotion of yard waste sites and backyard composting with municipalities (cities and townships). 6. Because of the varied yard waste generation rates and management choices available, county funds are not targeted for residential yard waste operations. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Partner with Ramsey County through the RRPB to develop and implement a comprehensive business and school organics program to maximize the diversion of organic waste and improve recycling and reduce waste. If additional needs exist beyond the RRPB, the county will provide additional technical and financial assistance waste to its businesses and schools. 2. Will research, including an analysis of business-based GIS data, to identify and target businesses for organics and recycling outreach efforts. This research will highlight low-performing sectors as well as areas where outreach efforts are likely to achieve the greatest impact on organics recovery. 3. Monitor residential organics recycling efforts and develop programs or provide assistance as feasible, such as piloting residential collection in large urban communities or include as a component of the proposed municipal performance scorecard. 4. If licensing of organics collectors is determined to be needed regionally, the county will implement licensing requirements. 5. Work with other entities such as municipalities, county conservation district, and watershed districts to promote the availability of products such as backyard composting bins and rain barrels. 6. Assess progress in meeting the state s waste objectives, and if significant progress has not been made in enhancing business organic waste management by 2017, the county will explore the use of regulatory opportunities. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

19 Chapter III: County Strategies Performance Measurement Policies 1. The county values performance measurement and program evaluation is essential in developing and providing environmental programs and related activities and also in assessing progress in meeting state waste objectives. 2. The county supports improvements in collecting solid waste data and will work with the region and the MPCA to implement recommendations from the SCORE Implementation Plan, April The county values continuous improvement and may modify strategies throughout the plan as improvements are needed. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Evaluate technology needs for measuring and reporting on performance measurement. 2. Research and develop a waste diversion rate at the residential level and consider partnering with a city or township to pilot. 3. Use its regulatory compliance programs to gather data to assist in regulation or solid waste system management. 4. Use the objectives in the Policy Plan as targets as it carries out the strategies in this master plan as these Policy Plan objectives are updated by the MPCA with improved data, and will work jointly with the SWMCB to achieve these targets recognizing that these are regional objectives. The county is accountable according to state statute for meeting goals established in the Policy Plan, and meeting these goals will take collaboration with the MPCA and the SWMCB. The chart below depicts the Policy Plan s percent* of total MSW objectives for Management Method 2010 Region Actual Source Reduction & Reuse N/A 1-2% 2-4% 3-5% 4-6% Recycling 40% 45-48% 47-51% 49-54% 54-60% Organics 4% 3-6% 4-8% 6-12% 9-15% Resource Recovery 28% 32-34% 32-33% 30-31% 28-24% Landfilled 28% 20% 17% 15% 9% * 2010 Regional Data Presentation to SWMCB June 22, Note: recycling does not reflect source reduction and yard waste credits. 20 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

20 Chapter III: County Strategies The county will continue to report on existing county report requirements such as the SCORE Report and other various annual reports, and will provide the additional measurements identified below to assess progress on county strategies. Key Plan Measurements Communication/Education Document education and outreach efforts and track specific output measures such as number of people reached through the county s efforts such as programs, printed material, and social media Regular survey of knowledge of County Environmental Charge (CEC), existing county waste programs, small business hazardous waste collection program, household hazardous waste program, Environmental Center, and related services Organics Recovery Number of schools and businesses contacted and/or provided technical assistance on source-separated organic material (SSOM) Number of schools participating in food to hogs or other organic management method Number of businesses participating in an organics recovery effort Tons of organics collected as reported through SCORE Report Recycling Amount of waste managed (recycled, disposed, reduced, recovered organics) from county operations and number of county employees participating Progress in cities and townships meeting proposed performance scorecard Tons of recyclables collected as reported through SCORE Report Toxicity Reduction Number of participants using county Environmental Center and remote events Pounds of household hazardous waste (HHW) collected through HHW program Pounds of electronics collected through HHW program Pounds of HHW utilized in Reuse Room County Reporting Requirements By state law, the county is required to submit progress updates to the MPCA through a variety of annual reports. These include: Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) Report/Survey: The county annually provides data on SCORE revenues and expenditures, amount of solid waste generated and recycled, and information on recycling and waste reduction programs. This report provides trends as wells as measures of the county s recycling efforts. Certification Report: The county is required to annually report the quantity of waste generated in the county that is not processed prior to transfer to a disposal facility, reasons waste not processed, strategy for ensuring processing of waste including a timeline to implement, and progress by the county in reducing amount of unprocessed waste. Local Recycling Development Grant (LRDG) Report: The county annually must report on expenditures and activities under the program and any proposed changes in its recycling implementation strategy or performance funding systems. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

21 Chapter III: County Strategies SWMCB Master Plan Progress Report: Annually the county reports on progress on strategies from the county Waste Management Master Plan through SWMCB which includes a summary of key regional performance measures. Annual Master Plan Report: A report to support the new objectives in the Policy Plan and the county master plans and ensure consistency in reporting and tracking progress towards the objectives. 22 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

22 Chapter III: County Strategies Processing Policies 1. Consistent with the State hierarchy, the county affirms processing of waste, for the purpose of recovering energy and recyclable and other beneficially useful materials, as the preferred MSW and nonmsw management method over land disposal of waste that is not reduced, reused, or separately recycled or composted. This policy applies both to waste generated throughout the county and specifically to MSW generated or waste arrange for on behalf of residents by public entities. Pursuant to State law, public entities in the county will assure that MSW that they generate or arrange for on behalf of residents, is processed rather than being land disposed. 2. The county supports the processing of waste in a manner that encourages waste reduction, reuse, or recycling, including the separate management of organic waste. 3. The county supports a merchant approach for waste processing, in which the financial risk and benefit of owning and operating a waste processing facility rests with the private sector. 4. As part of the merchant approach, the county expects the following objectives to be met by waste processing facilities operated by the private sector that serve the County: a. Waste haulers that serve the county will have access to processing facilities. b. Contracted public waste will be accepted at the lowest price offered at processing facilities. c. Processing facilities will receive sufficient waste and tipping fee revenue to be sustained as a viable, competitive solid waste management business. d. Processing facilities will meet performance requirements established in law. 5. The county seeks to eventually eliminate any public subsidy, in the form of Processing Payments or Hauler Rebates, for waste processing. Recognizing that market forces are out of the county s control, some subsidy to assure continued waste processing may be needed. 6. In the event of a failure of the solid waste market to support a merchant approach or other county environmental goals or an imminent threat to the environment or public health, the county will consider one or both of the following: a. Seek to acquire the RRF in Newport, to maintain operation as a resource recovery facility; this includes consideration of public operation and the use of flowcontrol; and/or b. Pursuant to action taken following the Public Collection study in , move forward with design of a public collection system for residential and commercial solid waste to achieve environmental goals and protect public health and safety; and c. Intervene in the market and use public funds to encourage processing. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

23 Chapter III: County Strategies Strategies Washington County will: 1. Until the termination of the Processing Agreement for the RRF in Newport at the end of 2012, coordinate resource recovery activities through the Ramsey/Washington County RRP. 2. Continue to work cooperatively with Ramsey County on specific waste management issues through a joint powers agreement after 2012, to enhance the efficiency of waste management services and assist in achieving the regional goals in processing. 3. Until termination of the Processing Agreement for the RRF in Newport and during merchant operations, inform and work with municipalities and refuse haulers regarding methods to reduce delivery of unacceptable or non-processible materials to the facility. 4. Work cooperatively with the MPCA as the state enforces provisions found in Minn. Stat , which requires waste to be processed before land disposal. The county adopts the MPCA criterion for determining when MSW is unprocessible. That criterion is found in Appendix D of the Policy Plan, and reads TCMA mixed MSW is unprocessible when all reasonably available capacity within the TCMA processing system is fully utilized at 100 percent of its operating capacity. In determining reasonably available capacity, consideration will be given to the specific geographic area that typically supports each of the processing facilities that supports the TCMA. 5. Continue to identify and evaluate waste processing issues, such as monitoring merchant operations and exploring new processing opportunities. 6. Work with public entities and MPCA to ensure MSW is delivered to a processing facility, including evaluating the amount of MSW generated by public entities, and the volume delivered for processing. 24 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

24 Chapter III: County Strategies Recycling Policies 1. The county places a priority on maximizing recycling opportunities in all county operations. The county and public entities (cities, townships, and schools) will be leaders in internal recycling activities through continuously improving their own operations. 2. Local units of government are responsible for residential recycling programs including multi-family housing and for assuring the availability of recycling service for all residents. 3. The county supports municipalities partnering to coordinate or consolidate efforts to provide recycling opportunities and increase recycling participation and quantities collected. 4. The county will work with public entities to assure that recycling opportunities are maximized using public education and information, planning and evaluation, regulation, financial incentives, technical assistance, and consultation. 5. The county will provide technical and financial assistance to businesses, schools, and municipalities to facilitate recycling opportunities. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Evaluate and improve recycling and waste management systems for all countyowned building and grounds to increase recycling, reduce waste disposed, evaluate and implement options for organics management and improve toxicity reduction including:conducting waste and recycling audits every two years. a. Revising waste collection and disposal contracts in county operations to include frequency of collection, right-sizing of containers, volume and weight-based pricing. 2. Work with large community events to evaluate and improve waste and increase recycling management. 3. With input from municipalities, develop and implement the use of a performance scorecard to evaluate, set standards, and measure progress of municipalities toward achieving recycling goals. Development of a performance scorecard will also assess for example: a. Opportunities for recycling additional materials through curbside or drop-off. b. Opportunities and recycling availability in public places such as city parks, and athletic fields. c. Increasing recovery of materials from multi-family housing to include working with property management to identify ways to capture more recycling and identifying incentives with property managers to increase recycling and consider a pilot effort to test findings. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

25 Chapter III: County Strategies 4. Revise county municipal grant funding program to be consistent with a performance scorecard standards and expectations. 5. Review progress in municipalities meeting recycling goals and failure to meet state goals will result in identifying methods to fix gaps or as a last resort, the withholding of grant funds. 6. Develop and implement a plan to increase recycling within businesses which may include: a. Working with property managers directly and through management associations to identify incentives to increase participation and recycling amounts from businesses in leased spaces. b. Using the CEC as an incentive for recycling and promote the financial benefits of recycling. c. Working with licensed food, beverage, and lodging establishments to increase participation and recycling rates, and consider changes to the County Food Code Ordinance when it is revised. d. Assisting businesses in conducting waste audits. e. Promoting small business recycling drop-off opportunity at County Environmental Center. 7. Work on opportunities for recycling away from home such as at gas stations, and health clubs. 8. Work with the region to explore and consider other methods to increase incentives for residential recycling such as volume-based pricing standards, and frequency of garbage or recycling collection. 9. Support and work with SWMCB and MPCA to standardize measurement and tracking of residential and business recycling rates. 10.Assess progress in meeting the state s waste objectives, and if significant progress has not been made in enhancing recycling by 2017, the county will explore the use of regulatory opportunities. 26 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

26 Chapter III: County Strategies Regulation Policies 1. The county will regulate and enforce solid and hazardous waste activities under the authorization of Minnesota Statute. 2. The county will assure compliance with applicable laws, and provide information, technical assistance, and consultation. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Will work with the SWMCB to explore the expansion of regional hauler licensing to include non-msw collectors as well as recyclers and organics haulers. 2. Revise the Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulation Ordinances as necessary. 3. Work with the region to explore whether a model ordinance is needed to allow different collection frequencies of putrescible and non-putrescible wastes. 4. Assess training needs of licensed hazardous waste generators, provide targeted training programs, and provide general business assistance and outreach. 5. Coordinate with the county s groundwater program to evaluate and prioritize compliance activities for hazardous waste generators that are located in sensitive geologic areas or well head protection areas of public water supply systems. 6. Conduct county-wide assessment to identify longstanding problem areas and coordinate with municipalities on complaint and enforcement for issues including illegal dumping, scrapping, or other nuisance conditions. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

27 Chapter III: County Strategies Source Reduction and Reuse Policies 1. The county s primary waste reduction role is providing public education and information. 2. The county and public entities will be leaders in internal waste reduction activities through continuously improving their operations. 3. The state has the primary role in implementing and measuring waste reduction activities. 4. The county expects the private sector to incorporate waste reduction activities within their operations. 5. The county may provide technical and financial assistance to facilitate waste reduction opportunities. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Evaluate the implementation of the county s environmentally preferable purchasing resolution to assess effectiveness and consistency with MN Executive Order which includes increasing the purchase and use of environmentally preferable products and services, and identify ways to improve, which may include enhanced measurement methods. 2. Develop purchasing guidelines to support environmentally preferable purchasing in the production and printing of county publications. 3. Strive to achieve a 10% reduction from 2010 levels in the amount of waste disposed from county operations by 2017, through reducing waste, recycling, and diverting organics. 4. Centralize printing operations in all county departments to reduce the number of printing devices and increase utilization. 5. Centralize the purchase of all products and goods used in county operations. 6. Develop and distribute a learning tool kit on the subject of waste reduction and reuse. 7. Expand the listings in the county s online Residential Disposal Guide to include additional reuse opportunities. 8. Promote donation and reuse opportunities available to residents and businesses. 9. Participate in the development and implementation of strategies to reduce waste with the MPCA, recognizing the MPCA has the capacity to affect changes in waste behavior on a statewide basis. 28 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

28 Chapter III: County Strategies Toxicity Reduction Policies 1. The county will provide household hazardous waste (HHW) management services to residents in a cost-effective manner that minimizes risks to public health and the environment, and utilize the private sector as the primary service provider. 2. The county will ensure convenient and regular opportunities as indicated by customer drive time patterns and other program measurement tools available to assist residents in managing toxic materials or problem materials. 3. The county will ensure collection and management of problem materials and recyclables based on community need and other program measurement tools. 4. The county will continue to provide small business hazardous waste collection opportunities through its Very Small Quantity Generator Program. 5. The county will reduce the amount of hazardous materials managed by providing the opportunity for residents to obtain useable products collected through the county s household hazardous waste program for residential reuse. 6. The county and public entities within the county will be leaders in the internal reduction of toxic/hazardous waste through continuously improving their own operations. 7. The county expects the private sector to incorporate toxic/hazardous waste reduction activities within their own operations. 8. The county may provide technical and financial assistance to facilitate opportunities for improvement of management of toxic/hazardous wastes. Strategies Washington County will: 1. Evaluate and recommend household hazardous waste collection service needs specifically in the northern part of the county including possible fixed or satellite facilities, one-day collection events, and other potential collection methods. 2. Evaluate additional services and service delivery (i.e. hours) that could be provided at the County Environmental Center or other facilities using criteria established by the Department, including cost, policy, market aspects, operational feasibility, and resident need. 3. Evaluate and make recommendations concerning participation impacts from outreach efforts targeted at use of household hazardous waste collection services. 4. Coordinate with public entities, procedures for accepting household hazardous wastes generated from abandonment through the household hazardous waste program. 5. Host events to raise awareness of the County Environmental Center. 6. Monitor the integrated pest management (IPM) program in county operations and review turf management contracts and procedures, and make improvements as necessary to align with goals of the county s groundwater plan. 7. Reduce toxicity in county operations by reviewing potential toxic and hazardous products used and develop and maintain a matrix of less toxic alternatives, and implement existing policies and develop contracts to reduce toxicity. Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

29 Chapter III: County Strategies 8. Develop and implement, in coordination with the Sheriff s Department, a program for the collection of household pharmaceuticals. 9. Assist in the management of household/ business hazardous waste and related solid waste generated from emergency situations in accordance with the county s emergency operations plan. 30 Washington County Waste Management Master Plan

30 Appendix A Appendix A: Description of the Waste Management System A. Introduction Washington County is required by state law to produce a waste management master plan that details how it will implement the goals, policies and objectives outlined in the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan The following section describes the county s existing waste management system, programs, and activities to manage this system, and the financial management of these programs. General Description of the County Washington County, located on the eastern edge of Minnesota, is one of seven Twin Cities metropolitan area counties. The county has historically played a diverse role in the region, serving the Twin Cities with its commercial, industrial, natural, and agricultural resources. The city of Stillwater, along the St. Croix River, serves as the county seat. The county is comprised of 423 square miles, and the 2010 population estimate for the county was 238,136. This ranked the county as fifth out of the 87 Minnesota counties for population, housing 4.5 percent of the state s population and 8.4 percent of the Twin Cities metropolitan area s population. The county s population is expected to reach 318,053 by the year 2020 and 362,740 by the year According to the Washington County, Minnesota 2011 At-A-Glance prepared by the Washington County Office of Administration, the 2009 estimated median household income of county residents was $74,520, and the median age for both genders in the county was 38 years. In 2010, 121,982 county residents were employed. The average unemployment rate for the county in 2010 was 6.7 percent, below the state average of 7.1 percent, and the U.S. average of 9.63 percent. B. Waste Generation and Collection Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Waste Generation MSW (municipal solid waste) generation is calculated from records of waste deliveries to the Ramsey/Washington County RRF in Newport, and reports from other solid waste facilities serving the metropolitan area. The county projects an annual growth rate in the county s MSW stream of 1.5 percent through the year Figure 2: Projected MSW Growth for Washington County 255, , , , , , , , , ,000 (Tons) % Growth Figure 2 shows the predicted increase in MSW from Washington County. The MSW stream is projected to grow from 185,500 tons in 2010 to over 275,000 tons in Washington County Waste Management Master Plan