Integrated Resources & Solid Waste Management Plan Update - Dec 2009

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4.0 RECYCLING, BIOCONVERSION, AND MARKETS 4.5.4.1 Processing These programs require more sophisticated composting systems. Once food is added to the organics stream, composting must be done with some type of covered system with managed air flows to minimize odors and prevent unsanitary feeding by birds, rodents and other vermin. See Chapter 4.5.7 for more information about processing systems appropriate for food and other organics. Diversion Potential. Using results from the County's 2008 waste composition study, assuming 37,000 households would be served and a 50 percent capture rate of food and wet or food - soiled paper, it is estimated that 4,400 tons of food and other organics would be collected. When combined with recyclables and green waste, the combined system is estimated to result in additional diversion of 18,800 tons, or an amount equivalent to 23 percent of the 81,300 total tons of waste delivered to transfer stations in 2008. When the 4,800 tons currently being recycled at transfer stations are included, the program would result in an increase in diversion equivalent to 27 percent of total current waste delivered to recycling and transfer stations. Note that this is considerably lower than the 50 to 70 percent diversion rates reported by other three - stream programs. This is the result of the following two factors: • Residents who live in multi - family dwellings and in very rural single family dwelling would not be covered by the three- stream program, but do deliver materials to the recycling and transfer stations. The materials arriving at County transfer stations include materials rarely set out at the curb by single - family residents on a routine basis such as construction and demolition waste, metals other than containers, textiles, and special wastes. In order to make an equivalent comparison to other residential communities, we adjusted for these two factors. Including only the 37,000 participating households and typical curbside commodities, the three - stream system would result in the diversion of 68 percent of the wastes generated by those residents away from County landfills. Estimated Cost. Rates for three - stream collection service depend on the size of containers residents subscribe to. As examples, San Francisco and Seattle both charge approximately $25 per month for service with 32- gallon discard and organics carts: costs are higher if larger containers are desired. These costs include disposal, processing/ composting, administration, education, and other costs, including the cleanup and long -term monitoring of closed landfill sites. Based on data from the City of Seattle, it is estimated that costs for the collection portion (excluding processing or other system charges) of the residential monthly rate are perhaps one -third of total costs or about $7.50 per months 1. It is estimated that the cost of a three- stream collection service in Hawaii County, including and recyclables and organics processing and material marketing/ sales (but excluding disposal, administration, transfer stations, and other solid waste programs), would probably range between $50 and $60 per month for each participating household. 4 -20 December 2009