01-03-1985 Council Packet Special Meeting

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Waste Reduction Reduction Levels and Target Dates It is especially difficult to quantify the effect of most waste reduction efforts since the basic objective relies largely on changing waste generators' behavior. Little data is available about existing efforts or trends because participation and volumes of waste prevented are not readily measurable. Nonetheless, there may be substantial impact and important long-term benefits because of increased awareness of waste generators about their role as the first link in the overall waste management system. The greatest immcdiate potential for waste reduction is by mulching and back- yard composting. The other waste reduction techniques have much less certain potential because of lack of reliable data and the speculative nature of their implementation. Therefore, the objectives established in this plan for waste reduction are assumed to be solely due to mulching and backyard composting. Yard Waste Mulching and Backyard Composting Mulching and backyard composting can be considered as one waste reduction tech- nique because both activities require intensive and well -designed public educa- tion dealing with the same yard waste materials. Mulching, more appropriately called improved turf management, means more frequent mowing, cutting at higher levels and more conservative use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. Backyard composting involves proper pile construction and management to ensure adequate control of decomposing grass, leaves and Carden trimmings. To be successful, it is essential that proper information about yard waste reduction be provided to waste generators and be coordinated as an intergral part of the region's larger solid waste communication pro;iam. Yard waste mulching and backyard composting is given priority by the Council because of its potential to red-:ce costs of separate collection and processing through centralized composting. Also, the waste generators will benefit by direct use of the material. Therefore, only leaves, grass clippings and garden trimmings that cannot be mulched or composted are identified for separate collection as described under source separation. A permanent, region -wide publicity effort aimed at voluntary yard waste reduc- tion should begin in the spring of 1985. With well -designed and financed publicity programs from 1185 through 1987, voluntary participation in the mulch- ing and backyard composting strategy should reach 30 percent. That translates in about 44,000 tons of yard waste reduced per year, a two percent total waste stream impact for the region, as shown on Table 4-3. After the mandatory ordinances are adopted and publicized, participation in mulching and backyard composting should increase to 60 percent because it will be easier to mulch by more frequent lawn mowing than setting out bagged grass clippings for separate collection. The resulting total waste stream impact for the region should then be about 90,000 tons pe, year or six percent. The waste reduction objectives established assume that eligible yard wastes make up 14 percent of the residen- tial waste stream and three percent of the commercial waste stream. 17