County Exceeds 40% Waste Recovery Goal

In 2009, for the first time, Jackson County surpassed its goal to achieve a waste recovery rate of at least 40%. Each year, Oregon DEQ compiles data from waste haulers, private recyclers and disposal sites in 35 wastesheds across the State, like Jackson County, that submit numbers for waste generation and recovery. DEQ calculates the percentage of total waste generated that is recovered through recycling, composting or energy recovery, and utilizes the report to also determine energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions. Jackson County?s total recovery rate was 41.6% in 2009. Jackson County disposed of 143,484 tons of garbage, and recovered 79,278 tons, or 35.6% of the wastestream. The additional 6% was applied as Recovery Credits which are earned by taking steps to educate the wasteshed (or County) on topics of waste prevention, reuse and composting which were accomplished through JCRP, SMARTWorks and Master Recyclers.There are a variety of uncontrollable factors that affect annual results?including the reporting of numerous public and private entities that contribute data to the State. In addition, the downturn in the economy can ironically improve recovery rate percentages?simply because a slower economy means that less total waste is being generated; when garbage generation is down, it becomes easier to achieve a higher recovery rate. Tonnage of garbage went down over 16,000 tons last year, while recycling went up nearly 3,000 tons.Positive results can also be contributed to the success of waste diversion and education efforts made by Jackson County Recycling Partnership, Jackson County SMARTWorks, area waste haulers and Master Recyclers, which make it possible for the County to earn the 6% recovery rates.Other interesting data from Jackson County in the 2009 report includes:Pounds per capita waste disposal: 1,386Pounds per capita waste recovery: 766Per capita decrease since 2004: 23%What is the Recovery Goal About?The 1991 Oregon Recycling Act (SB 66) strengthened and broadened recycling requirements and, for the first time, added activities to develop markets for recycled materials. The Act set a Statewide recovery goal of 50% by 2000 and interim recovery goals for individual wastesheds by 1995. In 2001, the Legislature extended the 50% Statewide recovery goal deadline to 2009.Why is Jackson County?s recovery goal lower than the Statewide goal?Because rural parts of Oregon, like Jackson County, are farther from recycling markets, recovery is generally more difficult to accomplish. In 2001, when the Oregon Legislature set a statewide goal of diverting 50% of solid waste, it set a minimum rate for Jackson County of 25%, but allowed wastesheds to set their own higher rates if desired. At that time, Jackson County chose to be aggressive and set its own goal of 40% for 2009.How is the County earning 6% Recovery Credits towards the 40% goal?Jackson County Recycling Partnership (JCRP) is a unique consortium of all governments and waste haulers within the County formed to address County-wide solid waste issues and to sponsor waste education programs for area citizens. JCRP works as a coalition to promote waste prevention, recycling, composting and hazardous waste reduction throughout Jackson County. Members of the JCRP consortium: Jackson County, municipalities within Jackson County, franchised waste haulers: Rogue Disposal & Recycling, Recology Ashland Sanitary Service, Southern Oregon Sanitation.How is JCRP Unique? DEQ has pointed to the JCRP as a model for other rural Counties. JCRP addresses solid waste issues with a unified, team-oriented approach, pooling financial resources and professional support to work for members of the consortium. For example, a County-wide Plastic Round-up is far more effective when it is organized County-wide than if an individual waste hauler or municipality organized their own. Jackson County SMARTWorks, a program of Jackson County, facilitates cost-effective waste reduction strategies at area businesses, schools and community events. SMARTWorks provides free professional guidance, conducts solid waste surveys, and offers logistical support to implement new recycling/waste management solutions for the commercial sector. For example, SMARTWorks has been working at Jackson County Fairgrounds since 2007 to implement a waste diversion program there, which has reduced the annual total of waste diverted by 780 cubic yards, saving the Expo over $10,700 per year.Jackson County Recycling Directory, a project of SMARTWorks, provides a list of recycling opportunities for homes and businesses to reduce waste and prevent pollution. From appliances, building materials, and electronics to paint, tires and yard waste, the Recycling Directory includes over 50 local recycling outlets beyond basic curbside collection service. The Directory has become a popular resource both online and in print for citizens to access information on where to direct their waste.Jackson County Master Recycler Program is housed at OSU Extension Service and funded by JCRP. The program educates citizen volunteers to serve as waste diversion ambassadors in Jackson County. Each Spring, 35-40 County residents, business and government representatives participate in a comprehensive training. To complete the program, Master Recycler volunteers are required to complete 40 service hours towards waste diversion and education projects in the County. Service hours include event recycling staff, school education programs, construction of recycling and composting bins, community outreach, tabling and much more. Special events like Jackson County Plastic Round-up ? at the 2009 Plastic Round-up, over 18 tons of hard-to-recycle plastics were diverted in just two days, providing a way for citizens to keep their plastic waste out of the landfill.
Community Event Recycling Program Coordinated by SMARTWorks & JCRP, and staffed by Master Recycler volunteers, events across the Jackson County now have access to recycling equipment to divert waste at their venue. In 2009, over 35 events took advantage of the program. Note ? in 2009 it was a loan program; in July 2010 it became a rental program.The full 2009 Material Recovery Report can be found online at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/recovery/materialrecovery.htmmobile phone mobile phone softwares cell phone softwares cell phone application