16. PUBLIC SECTOR RECYCLING
The separation and collection of public sector waste materials from the municipal waste stream for the purpose of recycling or reuse into usable or marketable materials for use other than landfill disposal or incineration.
16.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter of the Douglas County Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (DCCSWMP) outlines the regulatory framework overseeing public sector recycling, discusses the existing conditions and programs within the Regional Planning Area (RPA), establishes objectives to meet the existing and projected needs, identifies alternatives, and recommends actions for achieving the established objectives.
16.2 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
16.2.1 Federal Requirements
Federal regulations do not require the public sector to recycle, however the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized by Congress under Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Executive Order 13101 to implement a program to promote the use of materials recovered from solid waste. Under the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline Program, the EPA is required to designate products that are or can be made from recovered materials, and to recommend practices for buying these products. Once a product has been designated by the EPA, federal procurement agencies are required to purchase it.
16.2.2 State Requirements
The State of Washington has followed the federal lead in passing Chapter 43.19A RCW, which is intended to substantially increase the procurement of recycled content products by all local governmental agencies and public schools, and provide a model to encourage a comparable commitment by Washington state citizens and businesses in their purchasing practices. The program is administered by the Department of General Administration. Additionally, the law requires all governmental agencies, both state and local, to establish recycled product procurement programs.
16.2.3 Local Requirements
City of East Wenatchee
Resolution Number 95-02 establishes a recycled product procurement policy for the City of East Wenatchee. Under this policy, the City is encouraged to:
- purchase recycled products and recyclable products whenever practicable;
- evaluate each designated recycled product to determine the extent to which the product may be practicably used by the City and its contractors;
- issue contracts that recommend recycled material content wherever practicable and that request contractors to provide certification of this content and to report the amount used;
- meet annually with the Douglas County Solid Waste Program Office (DCSWPO) to report the progress of the policy implementation by the City;
- report total purchases of recycled products and non-recycled products by the City and its contractors annually to the DCSWPO.
Nothing contained within this policy shall preclude the City from requiring recycled material content as a bid specification or requiring the City or contractor to procure products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
City of Rock Island
Resolution Number 95-001A establishes a recycled product procurement policy for the City of Rock Island. Under this policy, the City shall:
- purchase recycled products and recyclable products whenever practicable;
- evaluate each designated recycled product to determine the extent to which the product may be practicably used by the City and its contractors;
- ensure that contracts issued by the City require recycled material content wherever practicable and that contractors provide certification of this content and report the amount used;
- meet annually with the DCSWPO to report the progress of the policy implementation by the City, including the results of product evaluations conducted by the City, types of recycled products purchased by the City and its contractors, and the status of the City's efforts to maximize recycled product procurement;
- report total purchases of recycled products and non-recycled products by the City and its contractors annually to the DCSWPO.
Nothing contained within this policy shall preclude the City from requiring recycled material content as a bid specification or requiring the City or contractor to procure products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
Town of Mansfield
Resolution Number 94-08 establishes a recycled product procurement policy for the Town of Mansfield. Under this policy, the Town shall:
- purchase recycled products and recyclable products whenever practicable;
- evaluate each designated recycled product to determine the extent to which the product may be practicably used by the Town and its contractors;
- ensure that contracts issued by the Town require recycled material content wherever practicable and that contractors provide certification of this content and report the amount used;
- meet annually with the DCSWPO to report the progress of the policy implementation by the Town, including the results of product evaluations conducted by the Town, types of recycled products purchased by the Town and its contractors, and the status of the Town's efforts to maximize recycled product procurement;
- report total purchases of recycled products and non-recycled products by the Town and its contractors annually to the DCSWPO.
Nothing contained within this policy shall preclude the Town from requiring recycled material content as a bid specification or requiring the Town or contractor to procure products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
Town of Waterville
Resolution Number 94-13 establishes a recycled product procurement policy for the Town of Waterville. Under this policy, the Town shall:
- purchase recycled products and recyclable products whenever practicable;
- evaluate each designated recycled product to determine the extent to which the product may be practicably used by the Town and its contractors;
- ensure that contracts issued by the Town require recycled material content wherever practicable and that contractors provide certification of this content and report the amount used;
- meet annually with the DCSWPO to report the progress of the policy implementation by the Town, including the results of product evaluations conducted by the Town, types of recycled products purchased by the Town and its contractors, and the status of the Town's efforts to maximize recycled product procurement;
- report total purchases of recycled products and non-recycled products by the Town and its contractors annually to the DCSWPO.
Nothing contained within this policy shall preclude the Town from requiring recycled material content as a bid specification or requiring the Town or contractor to procure products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
Douglas County
Resolution C.E. 94-157 establishes a recycled product procurement policy for Douglas County. Under this policy, each county department shall:
- purchase recycled products and recyclable products whenever practicable;
- evaluate each designated recycled product to determine the extent to which the product may be practicably used by the department and its contractors;
- ensure that contracts issued by the department require recycled material content wherever practicable and that contractors provide certification of this content and report the amount used;
- meet annually with the DCSWPO to report the progress of the policy implementation by the department, including the results of product evaluations conducted by the department, types of recycled products purchased by the department and its contractors, and the status of the departmental efforts to maximize recycled product procurement;
- report total purchases of recycled products and non-recycled products by the department and its contractors annually to the DCSWPO.
Nothing contained within this policy shall preclude user departments from requiring recycled material content as a bid specification or requiring a department or contractor to procure products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time.
Eastmont School District
Policy Number 8810 established a recycled product procurement policy for the Eastmont School District. This policy establishes preferential purchasing criteria for recycled content products.
16.3 EXISTING CONDITIONS
16.3.1 Education
An education program has been in place since 1993 to inform public agencies of their responsibility to reduce waste, recycle and purchase recycled content products. The program utilizes primarily posters, fact sheets, brochures and direct personal communications. The DCSWPO has distributed posters, fact sheets and brochures throughout the RPA. The DCSWPO has also been asked by its participating jurisdictions, individual departments and numerous public agencies and schools to explain or clarify why they must recycle, where they can take their recycled materials and how to set up an in-office recycling program. In addition, the DCSWPO has a mobile display that can be set up in public buildings, libraries, schools and at public locations throughout the RPA. The display is designed to be unmanned. Recycling information is attached to the display as well as brochure pockets, which provide copies or fact sheets and brochures about recycling to the employees and public. The mobile display may be checked out by the participating jurisdictions, libraries, schools and public agencies. The DCSWPO also maintains a resource center that is available to governmental offices, agencies, schools and the general public. The resource center contains books and publications on recycling. In addition, a video library of pertinent videos is available to governmental offices, agencies, schools and teachers. Videos may be checked out by governmental offices, agencies, schools and teachers, for up to seven days.
Figure 16-1 Distribution of A Typical Office within the RPA in 1999
Note: Twenty-five public offices were polled for this survey. Many of them recycle more than one item. Percentages represent material / total materials recycled. In the case of "None" these offices do not have recycling programs established.
Source: Bill Tinney II
Table 16-1 Evaluation of Public Sector Alternatives
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Alternative |
Diversion Potential |
Technical Feasibility |
Cost-effectiveness |
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Public Organizations |
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In-House Recycling |
Moderate |
High |
High. Sets good example |
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for the public. |
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Education Programs |
High |
High |
Extremely high. The most |
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effective way to change |
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behavior long-term. |
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Citizen Action Group |
Medium |
Low |
High. Relies on volunteer |
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time. |
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Awards and Recognition |
Medium |
Medium |
Moderate. Gives incentive |
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Program |
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to businesses who |
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generate large amounts |
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of recyclables. |
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Waste Audits to |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium. Personal |
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Businesses |
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assistance is very effective. |
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Data Collection Program |
Not Applicable |
High |
Required by law. |
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Lobby for State and |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
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Federal Action |
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Legislative Alternatives |
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Residential Rate |
High |
Medium. May require |
High |
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Incentives |
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Reconstructing operating |
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Systems based on variable |
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Can size. |
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Commercial Waste |
Medium |
Low. Difficult to |
Medium |
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Generator Incentives |
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Administer. |
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Disposal Bans |
High |
Medium. Requires more |
Medium |
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oversight. |
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Advanced Disposal Fees |
High |
Medium. Businesses will |
Medium |
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oppose. |
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Market Development |
High |
Medium. Developing new |
High |
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markets is difficult. |
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Note: Based on general data from a variety of sources and best professional judgement. Very little actual |
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data has been produced and would be greatly depending on the region and extent of the program. |
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Source: Bill Tinney II |
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16.3.2 Technical Assistance
The DCSWPO has held product procurement workshops in conjunction with the State of Washington Department of General Administration, Office of State Procurement. These workshops primarily focus on the availability of recycled products through Central Stores, which is responsible for selling goods and services to state agencies, political subdivisions such as school districts, cities, towns, counties, and non-profit organizations. Additionally, the DCSWPO has performed waste audits for county departments and schools to identify what they are actually throwing away, what materials can be source separated and what cost savings could occur if an in-office recycle program was implemented.
16.3.4 Recycled Content Products
Most office supply companies within the Greater Wenatchee Area offer recycled content products. The majority of these products are of equal quality to virgin products and are reasonably priced and readily available. A limited number of larger wholesale paper product companies offer an in-office take-back program. Under this program, any city, town or governmental office/department that purchase their office paper from the company exclusively receives in-office recycling bins that are serviced by the company on an as-needed basis, normally at the time of delivery of new product.
Additionally, Central Stores, a division of the Office of State Procurement, offers many recycled content products. Central Stores provides on-line ordering, convenient billing, competitive pricing, at-your-door delivery and they have a generous return policy. All recycled content products offered through Central Stores must meet state quality standards and are high in post-consumer content. A number of governmental agencies, federal, state and local, within the RPA purchase materials from Central Stores, therefore its service to the RPA has proven to be reliable and timely.
A number of local school districts and governmental agencies purchase materials from the King County Director's Association (KCDA). As with Central Stores above, KCDA offers many recycled content products. KCDA provides on-line ordering, convenient billing and competitive pricing.
16.3.5 Government Office Recycling Programs
Municipal Programs
All of the cities and towns within the RPA have adopted recycled product procurement policies. Each city and town have implemented their recycled product procurement policy differently. The Town of Waterville has emphasized and implemented their procurement policy by purchasing numerous recycled content office products as well as other recycled content products throughout their operations. The City of East Wenatchee, on the other hand, has limited their purchasing of recycled content products to primarily office paper.
All of the cities and towns within the RPA have implemented in-office recycling programs. All are collecting aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, newspaper and mixed office paper. The City of East Wenatchee take their collected recyclables, other than the aluminum cans, to the Waste Management of Greater Wenatchee (WMGW) provided on-site drop-off boxes. The aluminum cans are taken to a local aluminum buy-back center. The Cities of Bridgeport and Rock Island, and the towns of Mansfield and Waterville take their collected recyclables to their Community Recycling Centers (CRC).
Douglas County Program
Douglas County has adopted a recycled product procurement policy. Each department within the county implements the recycled product procurement policy differently. Certain departments emphasize the purchasing of recycled content products while other departments purchase no recycled content products. Most departments have implemented in-office recycling programs, though again the degree of participation varies by department. At the County Courthouse in Waterville, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, newspaper and mixed office paper is collected. All of the collected recyclables are taken to the Town of Waterville's CRC. County departments/offices located in East Wenatchee collect aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, newspaper and mixed office paper. Some county departments and offices also collect magazines. The mixed office paper is taken to the WMGM provided drop off box located at the Douglas County Annex Building. Those county departments/offices collecting aluminum cans take them to the local aluminum buy-back center. And those county departments/offices collecting newspaper and magazines take them to the WMGW provided drop-off box located in the Bi-Mart parking lot.
Table 16-2 Materials Recycled by Participating Jurisdictions within the RPA in 1999
|
Generator |
Aluminum |
Cardboard |
Mixed Paper |
Newspaper |
Magazines |
Phonebooks |
|
City of East Wenatchee |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
--- |
Yes |
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City of Rock Island |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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City of Bridgeport |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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Town of Waterville |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Town of Mansfield |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Douglas County |
Yes |
--- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Source: Bill Tinney II |
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Other Governmental Programs
A small number of local governmental districts, agencies and offices have recycling programs, however these programs are limited in what recyclables they collect. Most of these recycling programs have been started by dedicated individuals within the organization and are sustained by a small core group of individuals who collect, process and recycle the materials collected themselves. Even in those offices which have limited recycling programs, the program is not recognized by upper management and is not actively supported. Therefore, unless the core group continues to support the recycling program it will more than likely be phased out as the individuals burn themselves out, are moved around within the organization or leave the organization.
Most local governmental districts, agencies and offices have no recycling program and are currently disposing of all their waste into the waste stream. A number of these governmental districts, agencies and offices have a convenient local recycling option available and could significantly reduce their waste disposal bill by diverting their recyclable materials from the traditional waste stream.
Table 16-3 Materials Recycled by Governmental Offices within the RPA in 1999
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Governmental Offices |
Aluminum |
Cardboard |
Mixed Paper |
Newspaper |
Magazines |
Other |
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Federal |
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Foster Creek South Douglas |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Soil Conservation* |
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Farm Services |
--- |
--- |
Yes |
--- |
--- |
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Post Offices |
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Bridgeport |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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Mansfield |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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Waterville |
--- |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
--- |
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