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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSW&R Plan PC SummaryWashington County, Maryland March 15, 2021 Solid Waste and Recycling Plan 10-Year Update March 15, 2021 DraftSolid Waste & Recycling Plan Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Purpose •SW&R Plan outlines Washington County’s existing and future plans for solid waste management in compliance with State and Federal regulations. •Serve as a link to inform local citizens about the County’s plans for an essential public service. •Review for conformance with LU policies established by Comp Plan Partners •The Department of SW&R & the EMAC provided input on the development of this Plan. March 15, 2021 Chapter Outline Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning •Required Content: COMAR 26.03.03 (MDE) •Chapter 1 •Federal, state and local legal and institutional framework governing SWM in Washington County •Establishes the County’s goals and objectives •Chapter 2 •Demographic trends affecting County’s waste generation •Zoning regulations pertaining to solid waste facilities •Intent of the County’s current Comprehensive Plan March 15, 2021 Chapter Outline Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning •Chapter 3 •Current SWM system operating in the County •SW trends and projections •Chapter 4 •Assessment of the current SWM system •Alternatives to current collection, processing and disposal technologies •Chapter 5 •Plan of Action for next 10 years March 15, 2021 DraftSolid Waste & Recycling Plan Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Chapter 1 Legal and Institutional Framework Washington County SWM Hierarchy March 15, 2021 Funding Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Solid Waste Enterprise Fund •Enterprise Fund Accounting •Revenues and expenditures of the service are segregated into a separate fund with its own financial statements, rather than commingled with the revenues and expenses of all other governmental activities. March 15, 2021 Funding Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Expenditures •Operation, maintenance, replacement, closure and post-closure, monitoring and maintenance of solid waste management facilities •Education •Permitting •Licensing •Recycling and recovery programs •Transfer •Solid waste disposal •Financial assurances March 15, 2021 Funding Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Revenues •Tipping fees and other special generation fees •Sale of assets and materials •Interest •Permits •Issuance of bonds •License fees •Waste Diversion Programs (Recycling, Composting, Energy Recovery) •Grants and loans March 15, 2021 Waste Management Hierarchy Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning March 15, 2021 DraftSolid Waste & Recycling Plan Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Chapter 2 Demographic Trends, Zoning March 15, 2021 Trends and Projections Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning •Population and Industry/Employment trends affect waste generation rates •Population forecasts (State and Local) have exceeded actual County population growth 147,430 147,430 159,224 151,800 171,961 164,900 185,717 179,450 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 180,000 200,000 County MDP Washington County Projected Total Population 2010-2040 2010 (Actual)2020 2030 2040 March 15, 2021 Zoning Regulations Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning •Only permitted in RB District through establishment of floating zone Permitted Zoning Districts for Sanitary Landfills Section 4.9 Distance Requirements: “Any uses or buildings subject to compliance with this section shall be located at least two hundred (200)feet from any lot line in a RT,RS,RU,RM or RV District or any lot occupied by a dwelling,school,church,or institution for human care not located on the same lot as the said use or buildings,or any lot which is part of a duly recorded subdivision.” March 15, 2021 DraftSolid Waste & Recycling Plan Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Chapter 3 Characterization of Existing Waste Streams, Existing SWM Facilities March 15, 2021 Waste Stream Characterization Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning March 15, 2021 Waste Stream Characterization Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Washington County Percentage of Solid Waste by Category (2019) MSW Mixed (Residential, Commercial) - 45.44%Industrial - 6.80% C & D - 12.71%WWTP Sludge - 4.66% Special Medical Waste - .10%Recyclables - 30.18% Other (Dead Animals, Asbestos, Soil) - .12% •MSW Mixed: •60% Residential •40% Commercial Recyclables: 30% of total C&D largest in 2016 MDE Study March 15, 2021 Recycling Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning ➢Average Recycling Rate 2010-2018: 50.8% (35% mandatory) ➢Paper most common recyclable ➢Recycling rates have dropped due to international markets MRA Maryland Recycling Act (MRA) Materials Non-MRA Total Year Rate (%)WDR (%)Compost Glass Metals Paper Plastic Misc.Subtotal Recyclables Recycling 2010 42.25 43.25 1,095 1,262 1,261 53,579 2,889 2,864 62,950 37,810 100,760 2011 46.81 47.81 1,676 1,241 1,120 72,547 3,141 2,381 82,106 48,028 130,134 2012 55.11 55.11 1,993 1,024 1,330 69,742 1,441 1,747 77,277 53,881 131,158 2013 61.89 61.89 2,850 2,507 980 72,849 1,467 1,779 82,432 19,958 102,390 2014 60.59 60.59 1,458 3,163 1,049 75,917 1,512 1,923 85,022 29,303 114,325 2015 53.2 53.2 2,848 1,699 763 67,670 864 1,345 75,189 31,056 106,245 2016 52.51 52.51 2,309 983 602 64,237 2,577 240 70,948 27,254 98,202 2017 49.54 49.54 1,285 673 13,897 52,924 717 1,486 70,982 26,239 97,221 2018 35.33 35.33 2,150 1,006 402 39,399 687 2,340 45,984 25,843 71,827 March 15, 2021 PreliminaryWaste Stream Projections Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning ➢Methodology 2019 Tons multiplied by historic average rate of population growth March 15, 2021 Comprehensive Plan 2040Solid Waste Facilities Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning ➢Includes sanitary and rubble landfills, recycling, composting, transfer stations ➢Estimated Remaining Service Life: 50 years March 15, 2021 Transfer Stations Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning ➢Residential use only ➢Permit required ➢Accept trash, recyclables, cardboard, used oil and antifreeze. March 15, 2021 Closed or Inactive Facilities Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning ➢Multiple closed or inactive landfill sites have been repurposed for Solar Energy Generating Systems March 15, 2021 DraftSolid Waste & Recycling Plan Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Chapter 4 Assessment of Alternatives to Current SWM System March 15, 2021 Collection Systems Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Free Enterprise System (Subscription) •Existing collection system in County (unincorporated areas) •Waste collected by private haulers who contract with individual clients (homeowners, HOA, apartment complex, businesses) •Haulers must secure a license from the County and operate according to the requirements of the Solid Waste Collection Licensing Ordinance. ➢Advantages -meet specialized needs of individual clients; minimal County involvement; encourage private enterprise ➢Disadvantages –less cost effective (overlapping routes by haulers); less control over waste flow in and out of County March 15, 2021 Collection Systems Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Contract Collection (Franchise) •County divided into collection districts with approximately equal residential populations. Municipalities could either consist of a separate collection district or could be included within an adjacent unincorporated area. One hauler is generally awarded the collection contract for each district based on competitive bidding. ➢Advantages -Cost effective (eliminate route redundancy); new regulations included in contracts, greater control waste flow ➢Disadvantages –Startup hurdles (fiscal, staffing); may reduce competition March 15, 2021 Collection Systems Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Hauler Licensing •Includes elements of both franchise and contract collection systems •Allows private haulers to remain in business if they meet regulatory conditions imposed by the County •County Licensing Ordinance in place since 1995 ➢Advantages -promotes competition that may reduce consumer collection costs; greater control of waste flow than franchise system, licensing requirements allow for new regulation ➢Disadvantages –overlapping routes still likely, regulation avoidance could create alternate disposal avenues outside the County’s systems to avoid the licensing requirements March 15, 2021 Collection Systems Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Government Collection (Public Operation) •Collection and hauling services would be provided by County employees using equipment it owns •Financing either through taxation or by direct billing reflecting true program costs ➢Advantages -greatest control over waste flow allows for increased source reduction, recycling, and standard quality of service; no profit requirement (only cover costs) ➢Disadvantages –eliminates competition; may be more expensive than private systems; large capital expenditures to implement/maintain system March 15, 2021 Alternative Collection and Billing Systems Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning “Pay-As-You-Throw” (Variable v. Base Rates) •Base Rate -haulers charge a flat monthly fee for waste collection regardless of how much, or how little, trash they generate. •Minimal economic incentive for residents to reduce waste disposal •Variable Rate -consumers charged based on amount of refuse placed at curb each week •As the amount of waste disposed increases or decreases, the cost to the individual either increases or decreases. •Waste disposal services treated like other utilities (households pay a for amount of service they use) March 15, 2021 Alternative Collection and Billing Systems Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning “Pay-As-You-Throw” (Variable v. Base Rates) •Advantages -significant increases in recycling and reductions in waste disposal (economic incentives); generate revenues needed to cover increasing solid waste costs; resident control over bills; equity (those who dispose more, pay more & vice versa) •Disadvantages –hurdles associated with developing, implementing and maintaining a complex administrative system March 15, 2021 LandfillsAlternative Solid Waste Management Technologies Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Landfill Gas Capture through Anaerobic Digestion Processes Advantages ⮚Reduced leachate disposal costs ⮚Prolong landfill life through increased waste decomposition and settlement ⮚Increased methane production over shorter time periods making methane recovery economical March 15, 2021 LandfillsAlternative Solid Waste Management Technologies Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Repurposing Inactive or Closed Landfills SEGS at Rubble Reclamation Landfill, Kemps Mill Road Landfill conversion to Parks and Open Space uses Pinesburg Softball Complex Wind turbines on closed landfills –example image March 15, 2021 RecyclingAlternative Solid Waste Management Technologies Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Municipal Solid Waste Composting Key Facts ⮚30% of all municipal solid waste generated in the U.S. compostable ⮚18% of total waste at 40W Landfill organic ⮚11.3% food waste ⮚Significant hurdles to expand County Yard Waste Composting Program ⮚High costs, product odors, technology issues, product quality and lack of markets for end products March 15, 2021 Energy RecoveryAlternative Solid Waste Management Technologies Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Waste-To -Energy Systems Advantages ⮚After combustion, the volume of material requiring land disposal is reduced by 85 to 90 percent Disadvantages ⮚Public opposition due to air pollution and ash disposal concerns ⮚High costs due to amount of time required for siting, permitting, and construction ⮚Net energy producers, but not as much as traditional power plant March 15, 2021 DraftSolid Waste & Recycling Plan Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Chapter 5 10-Year Action Plan March 15, 2021 Potential Action Items Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Environmental Management Advisory Committee Recommendations •Expand Washington County’s current recycling program •Additional sorting facility •Explore new markets/materials •Use of recycled materials in County public works or engineering projects •Expand Washington County’s current composting program •Research permitting requirements, facility upgrades, collection system, interest among local municipalities, citizen education to use system •Monitor development of markets for composable materials in state/region •Explore Pelletization options •Ex -Waste material converted into fuel pellets that would serve as an 8,000 BTU coal substitute March 15, 2021 Potential Action Items Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning Additional Action Items Being Considered •Anaerobic Digestion and landfill gas capture •Other Waste-to-Energy alternatives that may working in combination with Pelletization, Gasification, Anerobic Digestion and Composting March 15, 2021 Next Steps Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning 1.Further Input and Review from PC, SW Department and EMAC on draft plan 2.2nd Meeting with PC will occur in April following incorporation of comments from above groups 3.Draft to be sent to MDE for review and comment in April/May