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More about MRFs at SWAC meeting

posted 12/17/01
County Public Works DIrector Tom Huse and Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon have suggested the county would save money by using a materials recycling facility for recycling. Last month, bids were opened. At today's Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting -- noon to 2 p.m. in the Garden Room in KeyBank in Friday Harbor -- Shannon will report on the financial impact of changing the way county residents recycle.

Debate over future of recycling continues

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 10/16/01
The consequences of switching the county's recycling program to a MRF (materials recycling facility) were debated again yesterday at the monthly SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Committee) meeting. Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon believes costs will be cut dramatically by reducing labor costs. Commissioner Rhea Miller doubts it will reduce handling as much as has been espoused. Recycling Director Neil Hansen thinks local jobs would be displaced by mainland workers.

He questioned the wisdom of using a system which pays immigrant and minority workers minimum wage. At the MRF facility he toured, the workers were temporary employees and had no job security. He said the working conditions were "horrible."

Shannon said when communities switch to MRFs, "There is resistance in the beginning. Afterwards people love it. Recycling rates go up. People are happier and cycling rates (amount of time spent at the transfer station) goes down."

Last month the BOCC gave Shannon the go ahead to solicit proposals for the county's garbage and recycling business. Bids will be opened at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 27. In a response to a question by SWAC member Brent Snow, Shannon estimated bids will reduce garbage cost $3 to $6 per ton and will cut costs for recycling in half.

Miller presented a proposal which keeps local jobs and emphasizes the 3-Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). Expansion and development of San Juan Island's transfer site to include a reuse station like The Exchange on Orcas Island or "Neil's Mall" on Lopez Island is part of her plan.

She also suggested the county consider imposing a disposal district tax to pay off the long term debt which includes the cost of closing the Orcas Island landfill. "I don't believe the residents knew they were creating a nightmare when they deposited garbage on Orcas," she said. "We could all pitch in and pay for the debt."

Shannon said a survey the solid waste staff has taken of 500 residents on San Juan Island and Orcas Island showed a willingness to pay a small tax for recycling. Asked: Would you be willing to pay a small tax to support recycling? 81 percent of Orcas Island respondents said yes. 76 percent of San Juan Island residents said yes.

SWAC member Larry Talbott noted the hardship increases in property taxes place on long-time islanders who own large parcels of land.

Bids sought for MRFs

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 09/27/01
Wanting more than a SWAG (scientific wild ass guess), the BOCC gave the go ahead for bid solicitation for a contract using a materials recycling facility to handle county's recyclables. Public Works Director Tom Huse and Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon have recommended the county switch to a MRF system to reduce costs. The commissioners have been engaged in a heated debate about the direction the county's financially-strapped solid waste operations should take.

Before the BOCC made the decision Monday, Sept. 24 to allow the bid solicitation, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) had their first look at the four options under consideration. The options are:

• the status quo
• a MRF
• Bale and haul
• and a proposal by Commissioner Rhea Miller

Under the status quo most of the recyclables are taken to the transfer station on Lopez for baling before being taken to market. San Juan Sanitation is paid about $195,000 per year in roll off costs (transporting the materials to Lopez for baling).

Under the bale and haul proposal, the roll off costs would be reduced by installing balers on Orcas and San Juan Islands. This proposal involves capital expenses for purchasing and installing the balers. Preliminary estimates put the capital expense at about $900,000. The BOCC has instructed Huse to compile a more detailed cost estimate.

Using a material recovery facility would reduce the operational costs according to Huse and Shannon. Instead of being deposited into nine separate bins, recyclables would be dumped into one bin and hauled off to the MRF. The county would pay the MRF to take the recyclables. The county should know the cost of a MRF system after the bids are received. Miller wants Huse to be sure to include the costs of all changes required to the current facilities in order to accommodate the switch to a MRF.

Miller's proposal would expand and develop the San Juan Island transfer station site to a 3-R (reduce, reuse, recycle) site. Miller noted that Lopez Island has a 3-R site and though the island has 17 percent of the county's population it produces only 5 percent of the waste stream. "Our 3-R program is highly successful in diverting the waste from the waste stream."

Under her proposal, savings could be used to pay for capital costs for expanding the bale and haul operations. Her proposal also includes a hazardous waste collection program. Utilization of the county's disposal district taxation option is part of her proposal, but she stressed the proposal is not dependent on imposition of a tax.

Miller believes the county should impose a tax to pay off the solid waste department's short term and long term debt. The long term debt covers the cost of closing the landfills. The short term debt stems from operating losses in recent years. A 3 cent per thousand dollar assessed value would raise $100,000 per year. An 8 cent per thousand dollar assessed value would raise $250,000 per year. For a $250,000 home, a property owner would pay $8 per year under the lower amount and $20 per year for the higher amount.

County Commission Chair John Evans is strongly opposed to any tax to bail out the solid waste program. "I haven't made any secret about my feelings about a tax, " he said. "Invariably old time families who are land rich end up paying a substantial amount to support the solid waste program. That is unfair. Those who produce garbage should pay for that."

Evans wants the solid waste program to be operated in such a way as to pay off its debts and end up with a 5 percent net profit. A hazardous waste program must also be included he told Huse and Shannon.

Commissioner Darcie Nielsen wants firmer numbers before making a decision. She noted curbside recycling might be possible under a MRF and that such an option is desired by town and village residents.

Huse estimated it would be six weeks before he has the numbers for the MRF and for the bale and haul. He suggested SWAC set aside additional time to listen to Miller's proposal at their next meeting which is set for noon Oct. 15, 2001.

Are MRFs in the county's future?

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 08/30/01
Paying a material recovery facilities (MRF) to take the county's co-mingled recyclables instead of selling source-separated recyclables is an idea under consideration. While the county would have to pay the MRF to take the recycling, Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon believes the county would save money since labor costs would be reduced.

A MRF sorts co-mingled recyclables mechanically. It then sells the sorted materials. Glass is not accepted.

Under the present system county residents separate recyclables and drop them off at the solid waste transfer station. There is no charge to residents. The county, if there is a market for the recyclables, sells them. If there isn't a buyer the county pays the cost of disposal.

Because the county has a baler only on Lopez Island it pays San Juan Sanitation to move bins from Orcas and San Juan Islands to Lopez Island. Last year it cost $214,662.09 to move the recycling to Lopez. If balers and glass crushers were installed on the two largest islands, most of that transportation cost would be eliminated.

As part of the 2002 budget process, Shannon will present three scenarios: maintaining the status quo, switching to a MRF or baling and hauling after installing balers on Orcas and San Juan.

County Commissioner Rhea Miller objects strongly to moving away from a source-separated system. In a memo to her fellow commissioners and to Solid Waste staff she said:

Utilization of a MRF downgrades the quality of recycling in this county. The highest priority in recycling is source separated, preferably (done) free by the customer at the beginning of the waste stream. A MRF is a step down from this approach. According to the Solid Waste Management Plan on page two, source separated recycling is the highest priority. This would be a major change in policy. This is not a step forward, but a step backward.

Most municipalities using a MRF system mandate curbside recycling. Shannon does want to encourage curbside pickup because it lessens congestion at the cramped solid waste facilities, but he stressed the Solid Waste Department has no intention of asking for mandatory curbside pickup.

Costs for capital improvements for the MRF scenario are estimated to be $200,000. Capital improvement costs for balers would be $400,000 according to the Solid Waste Department report. Up to 75 percent of the capital costs could be covered by grants according to the report. Miller questioned the accuracy of the $400,000 estimate.

No decision has been made yet regarding the MRFs. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee meets once a month at noon on the third Monday of each month. The BOCC will make a decision as part of the budget process. Miller noted public hearings are required if there is to be a change in Solid Waste policy.