Southern States Energy Board

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2 Southern States Energy Board SSEB is a non-profit, interstate compact organization established in Sixteen states and two territories comprise SSEB, and each jurisdiction is represented by the governor and a legislator from the House and Senate. SSEB enhances the quality of life in the South through innovations in energy and environmental programs. Southern States Waste Management Coalition The Southern States Waste Management Coalition (SSWMC) operates under the auspices of the Southern States Energy Board. The Coalition is an issue-focused, problem-solving, interactive decision-making body of gubernatorial appointees, public and private sector representatives. The Coalition forms consensus on policy recommendations for the Southern Governors Association to consider for adoption on a regional basis. Through this coordinated and cooperative effort, the Coalition can support the decision makers of the southern region in taking a balanced and responsible approach to policymaking on today s recycling and solid waste management issues. For more information, contact: Southern States Energy Board 3091 Governors Lake Drive Suite 400 Norcross, Georgia (404) Phone (404) Fax (404) BBS This booklet was printed on recycled paper and in soy ink

3 Southern States Waste Management Coalition Integrated Management of Municipal Solid Waste A Handbook for Local Officials

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5 Acknowledgment The Southern States Waste Management Coalition is pleased to present the Integrated Management of Municipal Solid Waste Handbook. The handbook is the result of an expression of need by the gubernatorial appointees serving on the Coalition. These state leaders felt a tool of this nature would enable them to better assist communities in their states with implementing integrated solid waste management programs. The Southern States Waste Management Colalition and the Southern States Energy Board acknowledge the outstanding commitment of the Working Group members from public, private and nonprofit sectors on this project. Without their dedication, insight and contribution of invaluable information, this handbook never would have come to fruition. In addition to the Working Group members, the Coalition wishes to extend special thanks to the local government officials who participated in the Peer Review Process. Local officials in the states of Louisiana, Georgia and North Carolina deserve our appreciation for their time and effort in making this a useful document for local decision makers. And finally, we wish to acknowledge the outstanding work and creativity of the staff members of the Southern States Energy Board and Roy F. Weston, Inc. These staffs are commended by the Coalition for the many hours and critical skills they have committed to this project. This document is funded through the Southern States Energy Board s annual state appropriations budget and contributions from the private sector. Thomas E. Whitten, Chairman Director, Division of Waste Minimization Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Paul R. Freshwater, Working Group Leader Regional Public Affairs Manager Procter and Gamble Kenneth J. Nemeth Executive Director Southern States Energy Board iii

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7 Contents Introduction... vii Section 1: Setting Up the System... 1 Integrated Solid Waste Management... 1 Getting Started... 3 Assessing the Existing System - Where Are We Now?... 3 Evaluating Needs and Setting Goals. Where Do 'We Want the System to Go?... 5 Evaluating Options. How Can We Get There?... 6 Choosing A System. How Will We Get There... 7 Building the System... 9 Reaching Agreement... 9 Assigning Responsibilities Paying for the System Maintaining the System Section 2: Other Information You Will Need Integrated Solid Waste Management Tools Source Reduction Recycling Composting and Mulching Combustion Landfilling Considerations Common to All Elements Costs, Financing. and Pricing Collection and Transportation Facility Siting Management of Special Wastes V

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9 Introduction This handbook outlines the important issues local officials often face when managing municipal solid waste systems. Over the last several years, most state governments have instituted new solid waste management goals and mandates. New requirements like waste reduction and recycling, expanded environmental monitoring systems at disposal facilities, and cost accounting have led to increasingly complex municipal solid waste management systems. "Taking out the garbage" is no longer a simple task. The handbook is divided into two sections. The first section, "Setting Up the System," answers the important questions solid waste managers must ask when developing an integrated solid waste management system. The second section, "Other Information You Will Need," refers the reader to an electronic database of solid waste information developed by the Southern States Waste Management Coalition called SWINFO. The documents in SWINFO provide detailed information on the various tools used in integrated solid waste management and provide the basis for this handbook. vii

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11 Integrated Solid Waste Management What is municipal solid waste? Each state has its own statutory definition of municipal solid waste (MSW). In general, MSW consists of material generated and discarded by people in their homes, at work, and during recreation and leisure activities, as well as nonhazardous materials discarded from industrial and institutional activities. In general, MSW does not include construction and demolition (C&D) debris or hazardous waste. What is integrated solid waste management? Integrated solid waste management is a way of handling MSW through a variety of interrelated activities. It may include source reduction, recycling, composting, combustion and landfilling. Integrated solid waste management involves three key steps: 1) Deciding how best to handle each portion of the municipal solid waste stream; 2) Implementing a system of interrelated handling methods; and 3) Maintaining and updating the system. Integrated solid waste management is an approach that considers all MSW handling methods, from source reduction to landfilling, and implements the activities which best meet the needs of the community. An integrated system also incorporates technical and political issues, including human health, safety and welfare, environmental protection, public acceptance, and efficient and economical management. 1

12 What are the advantages of integrated solid waste management? There are a number of reasons that communities are moving towards integrated systems to address MSW challenges: Multiple Needs - New goals and mandates have created many different demands on MSW management systems. All these demands cannot be met with a single management method. For example, a community cannot meet reduction goals or, in many cases, assure ten years of capacity (which many states are requiring) by simply disposing of all MSW in a landfill. Efficiency and Flexibility - Having an integrated MSW system allows a community to identify the most efficient method for handling each portion of its waste stream. Also, using more than one MSW management method allows a community to shift from one method to another as conditions change. For example, evolving legislation and court decisions on local government control over the flow of MSW could impact methods of managing it. Cost-Effectiveness - An integrated approach considers long-term costs and thus helps a community to choose the MSW management system that will cost the least over the long-term. For example, a community may choose to recycle a material, even if its disposal is less costly, to conserve landfill space and delay the need for a new disposal facility. Environmental Integrity - Developing an integrated MSW system increases the community s opportunity to recognize and address the environmental benefits and risks associated with each management option. Wider Scope - Developing an integrated system goes beyond the technical aspects of designing facilities and programs. An integrated approach also deals with management issues, such as how to pay for and administer the MSW management system. Local Control - Developing an integrated system, using the steps defined in this document, allows a community to consider and select the options that best meet its long-term needs. When the community takes the time to make well-thought-out decisions, rather than reacting under pressure, it maintains more control over how MSW will be managed. For example, a community may choose to initiate volume-based rates for waste disposal as a way to meet state reduction goals. 2

13 What is the fmst step in starting an integrated system? The first and most important step is to develop a plan of action. The plan of action is based on the needs of the community and the resources available. Some state and local governments have specific processes that they follow in developing a plan of action. However, there are four key questions that are commonly part of integrated MSW management planning. Assessing the Existing System - Where are we now? Evaluating Needs and Setting Goals - Where do we want the system to go? Evaluating Options - How can we get there? Choosing a System - How will we get there? Assessing the Existing System - Where Are We Now? How do we define where we are now? This initial part of the planning process is to assess the characteristics and current management of MSW in the community and region. Quantity of Waste - It is important to know how much MSW the system must deal with, now and in the future. In many areas, planners gather tonnage information from disposal facilities (e.g. from scale data) to determine how much each person disposes of each year. Where no scale data are available, communities can estimate waste disposal quantities based on averages from similar communities or by converting the cubic yardage of vehicles to tonnage based on standard conversion factors. 3

14 Composition of Waste - For integrated solid waste management, in which different materials are handled in different ways, a community must know the types of material in its waste stream. The composition of the waste stream varies widely depending on climate, type of industry, seasonal population, and other factors. The level of detail needed for waste composition data depends on how the community will use this information. Existing composition studies can be adjusted to reflect unique characteristics of a community s waste stream if the data are to be used for planning purposes. However, a community may need to do a sampling study for more precise data which may be necessary when choosing equipment or sizing a facility. Waste Trends - Seasonal and long-term changes in waste quantities and composition, such as those due to changing population or industrial activity, may be significant in some areas. Dramatic changes would affect the demands on the MSW management system. For example, if seasonal population varies due to an influx of tourists or students, additional collection vehicles may be needed at certain times of the year. Historic waste trends can be estimated by reviewing facility records, if available. Existing Management Methods, Costs and Resources - Analysis of existing management methods costs and resources can include an examination of collection systems for MSW and recyclables; waste reduction and recycling programs; markets for recyclable materials; mulching and composting programs; waste-to-energy and other combustion facilities; landfill facilities; public education programs; solid waste management costs and funding sources; customers of the solid waste management system; and regulatory influences. Regional Conditions and Opportunities for Partnerships - Regional partnerships for waste management may already exist,that the community can join, or conditions in the region may be right to initiate a cooperative system. Such a partnership may be more effective and cost-efficient for the participants. Communities often can use joint facilities and programs even if needs and goals differ from one community to another. 4

15 How can a community use information about waste quantity, composition, and trends? Communities use quantity and composition data to project future needs and assess the appropriateness of specific management options. For example, a community can use projections about waste quantities to help size a disposal facility or determine if a recyclables processing center can be operated economically. A community can use the information about the current system to identify what resources may be valuable as an integrated system is put into place. For example, a community may have space at a closing landfill facility that can be used for a transfer or composting operation. Communities also can use this information to assess whether current resources can meet existing federal, state, and local goals and where there may be gaps. For example, if the state has a reduction goal, but the local government has no recycling program, the community may conclude that the current system will not meet those goals. Evaluating Needs and Setting Goals - Where Do We Want the System to Go? What does a community need to consider in evaluating its management needs? A community must understand what it is trying to accomplish in establishing an integrated waste management system. Is the community facing an issue of inadequate landfill capacity for the future because of closing landfills? Does the community anticipate a population growth that will affect the amount of waste to be managed in the future? Does the community need to find adequate waste sources for an existing waste-to-energy facility in the community? Does the community need to find a way to deal with yard waste that can no longer be disposed of in landfills? Answers to these types of questions will help the community identify its long term waste management needs. Once needs are established, what is important to consider when setting goals? The goals set by the community should be economically realistic and technically achievable. The goals should be based on the long term waste management needs of the community determined by an objective assessment of cost, resources, technology, and impact on the waste stream. The community may want to assess programs in similar communities to evaluate their success in rneeting their goals. 5

16 Why are goals important to the planning process? Goals serve as the foundation of a management system, specifying the purpose, direction, needs and desired outcome of the system. Goals reflect the philosophies, values, ideals, and constraints of the community. Setting goals forces a community to reach agreement on the future MSW management system. The public should be involved in setting goals, since elements of an integrated MSW system, such as recycling, often require public participation to succeed. Evaluating Options - How Can We Get There? What types of MSW management options can a community consider? A community may consider programs and facilities for source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, energy recovery, combustion, and landfilling. A good starting point may be to look at how other communities have approached solid waste management. How does a community evaluate management options? Management options can be evaluated based on criteria that reflect the needs and goals of the community Typical evaluation criteria include: cost, cost-effectiveness, potential to divert waste from disposal, potential risks, technical capabilities, ability to fund, ability to maintain local control, potential of option as a regional opportunity, compatibility of the option with the current system, level of change to the existing system required, flexibility, and public acceptance. 6

17 Choosing A System - How Will We Get There? Once all options have been evaluated, what is the next step? The next step is to select the best options for the integrated system and to develop a specific strategy to build the system. This strategy identifies what is needed to get from the current to the selected system, including facilities, staff, schedules, and funding. The strategy should list specific actions needed to develop an integrated system that are still general enough to allow some flexibility. For example, facility permitting obstacles may prevent a community from developing its own landfill. Thus, a contingency item in the strategy might state an alternative of pursuing regional disposal opportunities. 7

18 What is involved in implementing an integrated solid waste management system? After a community has chosen its solid waste management strategy, it can begin to put the various elements in place. Some elements in the system may need no change. For these, the community needs only to ensure that the element meshes with the integrated system. For example, if a community wants its garbage collection to stay the same but the disposal location changes, it may need to restructure collection routes. Other elements, especially those that are entirely new to the system, may require substantial effort to implement and fit with the rest of the system. Depending on the type of program, there are a number of different steps involved in getting started. However, there are some key items that are common to the implementation of many integrated solid waste management programs: l Reaching agreement; l Assigning responsibilities; and l Paying for the system. Reaching Agreement Who needs to agree with the strategy for an integrated management system? As the integrated solid waste management system is developed, it is important to get agreement between: local government officials who make policy and administrators who implement the policies day-to-day, 9

19 local government officials and the public, including residential and commercial users of the system, and local government officials and other key stakeholders, such as private operators. Agreement among all these parties is necessary to implement a successful integrated solid waste management system. But reaching agreement with any of these groups may involve different approaches. How can local officials and those who implement the programs reach agreement? In many communities, governments have more than one department involved in solid waste management activities (e.g. landfill operations, solid waste collection, recyclables processing, etc.). For each element in the integrated system, it is important that these departments communicate often to reach agreement on system development and system changes. In addition, managers of these departments need to make sure that elected officials who make policy and private operators contracted to provide waste management services are involved in key decisions, especially where costs and funding are concerned. Most communities have well-established processes for involving elected officials (i.e. resolutions, committee meetings, work sessions, or other activities). How can local officials and the public build consensus? In many communities, solid waste has become a controversial issue. Since the public is concerned about MSW management issues, decisions about MSW management must incorporate education of and input from citizens. This also allows an opportunity to focus input on technical and economic issues, rather than on emotional ones. There are several key ways to encourage involvement by citizens, neighboring communities, environmental groups, businesses and other parties affected by the implementation of an integrated solid waste management system: Formal public education programs, Continuing education programs, Citizens advisory groups, Non-profit and civic organizations, Public meetings, Community outreach programs, 10

20 Formal mediation processes, and Interviews and surveys. Based on information obtained through these and other tools, the local government can understand the needs of the public and develop and implement programs accordingly. Early public involvement in the planning process will encourage community acceptance of the program. Assigning Responsibilities Who should be responsible for integrated MSW management programs? As communities plan for and implement integrated MSW management programs, one of the most important steps is to decide who will develop and operate each element. An integrated system is likely to include multiple programs and facilities. For each of these, the responsibility to develop facilities or to operate the program may be assigned to the local government, a local or regional authority, the private sector, or any other entity involved in solid waste management. In other words, an integrated system may include several management :activities, as well as several different groups operating individual progams. For example, a community may collect solid waste with its own labor and vehicles, but hire a private firm to collect recyclables. Responsibility and accountability must be clearly established among the participants. How does a community define the role of the private sector? As the community designates responsibility for different programs in the solid waste management system, it may consider private sector involvement. Issues this raises include: Existing resources - Does the private sector already offer a particular service in the area upon which a program can be built? Private sector potential - Does the private sector have expertise and funds to implement specific programs or operate facilities more quickly and efficiently than the public sector? Local control - Will working with the private sector allow the local government to maintain adequate control over the integrated system? Public alternatives - What are the requirements for developing a publicly operated program as opposed to working with the private sector? 11

21 Cost - What are the short- and long-term (5-10 years) costs involved in working with the private sector? How do these costs compare to the costs of a public sector program? Public opinion - How does the public view the private sector s role in a particular solid waste management activity? Public accountability - What steps need to be taken to assure that the service needed is provided and that appropriate public oversight can be established? Liability - What is the liability assumed by the community under each of the public and private options, including short- and long-term health, environmental and financial liability, When should a community join with others in a regional coalition? In many cases, local governments can join together to more efficiently deliver solid waste management services and reduce costs. However, several factors are critical to the success of regional efforts including: Leadership and acceptance by all participants of this leadership. For example, one jurisdiction or a joint governing board must be given the authority to make decisions about a particular program, as well as to implement the program. Common needs, goals, and objectives among the participating local governments. For example, many local governments jointly contract with a market for recovered materials because no single local government can accumulate a sufficient amount of material to have leverage in the marketplace. Communication on an ongoing basis and more flexibility on the part of local governments than when acting alone. A benefit to all participants. For example, the cost per local government must eventually be lower than if the local government acted alone. A tailored approach to the needs of the participants and not simply a copy of what others have done. 12

22 Paying for the System As programs are implemented, what does a community need to understand about costs? Typically, a solid waste budget is based on the budget in the previous year. However, new mandates, goals, and regulations may lead to increasing costs. The first step in figuring out how to cover these costs is to clearly define what they are. Current Costs - Before implementing new programs, the community should understand the full costs of current solid waste management programs. With this information, the community can better understand how costs of an integrated system compare. Anticipated Costs - During the planning and development stages, the community may need to create and update projections of costs for each element of the integrated system. How can a community fund its costs? In the past, communities typically used general obligation bonds to pay for the capital costs of solid waste management and general revenues, or taxes, to pay for the operating costs. In recent years, as costs have increased and budgets have tightened, communities have expanded the sources of funds they use for financing these costs. Capital Funding Sources - In many systems, capital funds are needed for facilities and equipment. Options for capital financing include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, special purpose local option sales taxes, state or federal grants and loans, private financing, and other similar programs. Operating Funding Sources - As programs are implemented, they usually include two main types of annual costs: operating costs and costs associated with repayment of debt service incurred for capital purchases. Capital costs and part of the operating costs will be the same each month (fixed), while part of the operating costs will vary each month depending on the amount of waste handled. Communities can fund these types of costs in a number of ways, including the general tax base, special assessments, and charging for waste management on the basis of amount generated. 13

23 What impact do funding choices have on MSW management? The source of funds that the community uses for MSW management affects how the public perceives the costs of solid waste management. When a community uses general revenues, or taxes, to pay for MSW management costs, the public does not associate the costs of solid waste management with the revenues collected. At a minimum, the public needs to be educated about the costs of MSW management. An even stronger message can be sent by charging the customer a fee for recycling, collection or disposal of MSW based on the amount of waste generated. Depending on how waste producers are charged, they may change what they do with their waste. 14

24 How does a community maintain the system once it has been put in place? The development of an integrated solid waste management system is an ongoing process. As programs are implemented, they usually require updating to ensure efficient operation. The community should monitor the performance of each individual element of the solid waste system and the relationship between elements to ensure that they are functioning as anticipated. There are several key components to maintaining an integrated solid waste management system: Staffing - The size and skill level of the staff will depend on the size and type of the system and the role the local government plays. Staffing needs may change as the program matures. For example, staff assigned to designing and building the program may be reassigned to educate and involve the public once the program is operating. Budgeting - One of the most important components to maintaining an integrated solid waste management system is budgeting. Communities should, on an annual basis, examine the full costs and revenues of the system as a whole, as well as by element, and make changes as necessary. Input - To make sure that the system operates efficiently, local governments can maintain both internal and external lines of communication. Input from the public, officials and other government staff on an ongoing basis will allow the system to operate more smoothly and will help determine if the system is meeting the goals that were set. 15

25 Monitoring and Evaluation - As the system is designed, communities can develop a monitoring and evaluation process to ensure efficient operation. AS the system is put in place, the community can gather appropriate data to evaluate how the system is working and meeting goals. For example, if one of the goals is waste diversion, the community can collect and review scale data to see if the tonnage disposed has declined. Updating - An important part of an efficient system is updating operations when necessary. With any integrated system, a certain amount of fine-tuning is required. Also, the community s needs may change over time and the system will need to change to accommodate new needs. For example, when the landfill used by a community is closed, the community will need to find an alternative. If the new landfill is further away, the community may want to consider a transfer operation to compact waste and minimize the number of trips. In many areas, the waste stream changes over time, markets for recovered materials fluctuate, and processing technologies continue to evolve. By the time a particular element of the system is implemented, changes may already be required to the programs, facilities, and procedures of that, or other, elements of the system. This natural evolution of the management system will increase the importance of ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and periodic updates. 16

26 Section 11: Other Information You Will Need Many documents have been published that address the management methods that may be part of an integrated MSW management system. Over 1,000 of these documents can be accessed, on-line or with a telephone call, through SWINFO, the Southern States Waste Management Coalition s database. Every source in the database has been categorized by content and how the data in the report was collected and used. In addition, the database contains an abstract and ordering information for each source. SWINFO is updated on a regular basis to include recent local, regional, and national publications about MSW management. This section of the handbook briefly describes solid waste management methods and refers the reader to specific documents in the database. Following each document is the specific SWINFO reference number for that document. For information on how to access SWINFO online, contact Kathryn A. Baskin or Craig C. Seeley at (404) Integrated Solid Waste Management Tools Integrated solid waste management is a process by which MSW is managed using a combination of different methods and programs. In such a system, managers treat different portions of the waste stream as distinct materials, each with an appropriate method for handling, such as landfilling, recycling or composting. At the same time, each component of the waste management system complements the others in such a way that every part of the system plays an important role in maintaining an efficient and effective management structure. Decision-Makers Guide to Solid Waste Management (665) Garbage Solutions (572) Ovewiew: Solid Waste Alternatives (692) Solid Waste Management Alternatives for Georgia Local Governments (543) Current lssues Facing County Government: Solid Waste Management (581) Data Summary of Municipal Solid Waste Management Alternatives Volume I: Report Text (402) 17

27 Source Reduction Source reduction (also known as waste prevention) refers to any activity that reduces the amount of waste generated. This includes using products, packaging and procedures that perform their intended task with less waste; reusing items one or more times before disposal, such as refilling detergent bottles from a lightweight pouch; or composting food or yard waste at home. Local governments can encourage source reduction by examining their own procedures and product procurement choices, educating the public and creating source reduction incentives. One such source reduction incentive is to charge waste pickup customers by the amount of waste they throw away. Many local governments have found this approach, also known as variable rate pricing, effective in reducing waste by as much as percent, while customers can save money by choosing products, packaging and procedures that create less waste and lower pickup fees. Waste Prevention Tool Kit for Local Governments (853) Agriculture and Natural Resources Composting Handbook (274) A Source Reduction and Recycling Guidance Document for North Carolina Communities (322) Variable Pricing for Solid Waste Collection Success: An Alternative to Flat Rates (294) Variable Rates in Solid Waste Handbook for Solid Waste Officials (500) Recycling Recycling refers to the collection, separation, processing, or use of materials that would otherwise become solid waste. The activities included under the term recycling are numerous, including the initial collection of materials; marketing those raw materials; producing products from those materials; and use of those products in the marketplace. Collection and Processing Evaluating Residential Refuse Collection Costs: A Workbook for Local Government (557) Comprehensive Curbside Recycling: Collection Costs and How to Control Them (573) Community Recycling: An lmplementer s Guide (988) Recycling Collection, Processing, and Marketing: Planning Considerations for Local Decision-Makers (332) The Biocycle Guide to Collecfing, Processing, and Marketing Recyclables (582) Processing Recyclables for Markets: A One-Stop Commodity Guidebook for Local Governments (1084) An lntroduction to Recycling Programs for Rural Communities (858) A Source Reduction and Recycling Guidance Document for North Carolina Communities (322) Handbook: Material Recovery Facilities for Municipal Solid Waste (579) Markets Florida Recycling Market System (FRMS) Electronic Bulletin Board (985) Recycling Enterprise Zone Workshop (938) 1992 Market Development Directory (635) Recycling Market Development in the South (640) Recycling Resources Directory (520) Southeast Waste Exchange (472) 18

28 Procurement Making Less Garbage: A Planning Guide for Communities (931) Procurement Recycling Guide (1005) Buy Recycled Training Manual (986) Buy Recycled - Urban Strategies and Policies lnitiating Programs (941) Composting and Mulching Composting is the biological decomposition of organic material by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) given adequate moisture and oxygen. Composting allows for the processing and use of materials that would otherwise be disposed. Composting programs usually target yard waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, and brush, but they also can include the processing of other organic municipal solid wastes such as paper and food scraps. Agriculture and Natural Resources Composting Handbook (274) Compost Facility Planning Guide (282) Composting Advantages and Disadvantages (289) The Biocycle Guide to Yard Waste Composting (554) The Biocycle Guide to In-Vessel Composting (556) Combustion Combustion involves the burning of municipal solid waste to reduce the quantity of waste that needs to be disposed of in landfills. Combustion facilities can be designed to burn materials with or without recovery of the energy produced through the burning process and often is used to produce steam which is then sold. Decision-Makers Guide to Solid Waste Management (665) Solid Waste Management Alternatives for Georgia Local Governments (543) Overview: Solid Waste Alternatives (692) Data Summary of Municipal Solid Waste Management Alternatives Volume I: Report Text (402) A Guide to Solid Waste Disposal Options (545) Landfilling The most common method of managing municipal solid waste is the use of landfills. Modern landfills use environmental control features such as comprehensive liner systems made of synthetic materials; leachate control and treatment systems; landfill gas control and recovery; groundwater monitoring systems; and a number of other features designed to allow for efficient operation and environmental protection define the modern landfill. Landfill disposal is an important element of the integrated solid waste management system in that no combination of other management tools completely eliminates the need for landfilling. 19

29 Landfill Siting (291) A Guide to Solid Waste Disposal Options (545) Subtitle D Final Rule Summary (630) Subtitle D Reference Guide (703) Negotiating Solid Waste Disposal Contracts (298) Considerations Common to All Elements In any integrated solid waste management system, there are several items that must be considered in the implementation of each specific element. The most important of these common functions are costs, financing and pricing, collection and transportation, facility siting, and management of special wastes. In designing particular waste management programs, each of these common functions must be considered in order to ensure successful operations. Costs, Financing, and Pricing As the costs of MSW management increase, local governments are more carefully defining the costs of MSW management facilities and programs, often incorporating indirect and future costs. In addition, local governments are being more creative about how they fund capital and operating costs of MSW management. Some communities are structuring fees for MSW services to provide economic incentives that discourage generation or disposal of waste materials. For example, a variable rate fee structure, based on household waste generation, generally encourages source reduction, recycling, and diversion and can be implemented at the local level providing revenue for program activities. The following SWINFO sources address the cost of solid waste management methods, ways to calculate costs, potential funding sources, and fee structures. Decision-Makers' Guide to Solid Waste Management (665) Comprehensive Curbside Recycling: Collection Costs and How to Control Them (573) Items for Consideration in Designing Waste Reduction Programs (690) Evaluating Residential Refuse Collection Costs: A Workbook for Local Government (557) Variable Pricing for Solid Waste Collection Success: An Alternative to Flat Rates (294) Collection and Transportation Transportation is a necessary function of all solid waste management activities, since solid waste, recyclables, yard waste, and other materials must somehow be collected and transported in order to be managed. There are several methods for collecting and transporting waste, the choice of which depends on the types of waste, the source of waste, and the individual management method used. 20

30 Variable Rates in Solid Waste Handbook for Solid Waste Offcials (500) Common Elements in Successful Rural Solid Waste Collection Programs (287) Convenience Centers (341) Transfer Stations: A New Element in Alabama Solid Waste Management (293) Transfer Stations (533) Facility Siting For each of the elements of the integrated solid waste management system, the siting of facilities is an important, and usually complex process. For many facilities, such as landfills and waste-to-energy plants, the siting process is subject to specific regulatory criteria and requirements. For virtually all facilities involved in the solid waste management process, public opinion and political issues must be addressed as sites are selected and facilities are developed. This is true of all solid waste management facilities including landfills, waste-to-energy facilities, composting facilities, material recovery facilities, transfer stations, and other locations where materials are handled. Current Issues Facing County Government: Solid Waste Management (581) A Guide to Recycling (546) Landfill Siting (291) Handbook on Materials Recovery Facilities for Municipal Solid Waste (579) Agriculture and Natural Resources Composting Handbook (274) Convenience Centers (341) Transfer Stations: A New Element in Alabama Solid Waste Management (293) Management of Special Wastes Certain types of material in the solid waste stream must be handled differently due to the potential environmental risk or operational difficulty when handled with the rest of the solid waste. State and local governments all have their own list of materials that require special management, but most commonly these materials include household hazardous waste, used oil, lead-acid batteries, and tires. Garbage Solutions (572) Household Hazardous Waste Management: Issues and Options (296) Household Hazardous Waste: Steps to Safe Management (880) A Guidebook for Implementing Curbside and Drop-off Used Motor Oil Collection Programs (326) How to Set Up A Local Program to Recycle Used Oil (1085) A Guide to Recycling (546) A Sourcebook for Wood Waste Recovery and Recycling in the Southeast (1007) Construction and Demolition Reduction and Recycling: A Regional Approach (101 1) Guide to Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling and Disposal in the Triangle (1012) 21

31 Southern States Energy Board Integrated Management of Municipal Solid Waste A Handbook for Local Officials EVALUATION FORM What information in the Handbook was most useful to you? What additional information would assist you in making decisions about integrated solid waste management? What modifications would you suggest for the Handbook? Optional: Name: Title: Address: City, State, Zip Phone: Need Additional Copies? Please send me copies of Integrated Management of Municipal Solid Waste: A Handbook for Local Officials at $15.00* per copy. Total: $ Make checks payable to Southern States Energy Board * Local government officials should contact their appropriate state agency for a free copy.

32 Southern States Energy Board 3091 Governors Lake Drive Suite 400 Norcross, Georgia (404) Phone (404) Fax (404) BBS This booklet was printed on recycled paper and in soy ink