i

P r . Bzart?ar.s Stevens F ' res ident o f Eco-Data., I n c . 97 Compc? Road l4estpot-t CT C%E?E?G

(Car,suI.tant t o improve urban serv ices 'and d e l i v e r y o f s o l i d waste s e r v i c e s . 1

(zi:)3 1 454-17QQ

"hdministering Collection and Disposal Contracts Through Competitive Bids"

Many c i t i e s a r e f i n d i n g t h a t i f they m i x and match t h e i r c o l l e c t i o n arrangements, i . e . m u n i c i p a l l y operated and commercia.1 l y opera.ted? they end LIP w i t h e f f i c i e n c y and c o n t r o l over- t h e s e r v i c e .

That. as ide , l e t s g e t to t h e t o p i c a t hand. I have been asked tct tal!:: c?bc;l..!t le!rt:ing c o n t r a c t s t.hrot!gt-1 c o m p e t i t i v e b i d . For C a 1 . i fot-nia t.hi.5:. a1c.c) appl . ies t o t h e 1.et.t ing o f f ranch ises , which h e r e iz:. per-hap:; t h e 5.1 i g . h t l y more popular w a y o f g i v i n g a.n e x c 1 ?rc.i.ve t.ert-i t o r y t u a pr i v ; z te f i r m And ~ of course, by ccv-+tr-act inq whst we mea.n i:; g i v i n g the e x c l u s i v e r i q h t t o a pi-i.va+,.e f i i - . m t c z cict ei . t . twr c o l 1,ectior-I, o r d i s p o s a l o r recyc 1 i n g o r c- =r_me clttier- compa1-lent o f t he sol i d waste management task:,

WE foci.nd at t h a t t.ime t h a t con t ra .c t ing w w s t he 1eaz.t expensive

Ic:lc:a.!zed i n Ca.1.ifor-nia and P J ~ a l su found then t h a t c o n t r a c t i n g w a c i 1~5::. expensive on sverage than mun ic ipa l s e r v i c e . Now, t h a , t ' s nc?t fir-~.te for- a l l c i t i e s , 50 a l l c i t i e s do n o t necessa.r i ly ha,ve t o march down t h e c o n t r a c t i n g pathway; bu t , y o u should 1::now t h a t w e d i d f i n d t h a t c o s t s d o n ' t vary t h a t much accord ing t o whether you l e t t h e c o n t r a c t c o m p e t i t i v e l y o r whether you l e t i t by n e g o t i a t i o n . I f a c o n t r a c t i s n e g o t i a t e d c a r e f u l l y t h e r e i s no reason w h y i t c a n ' t have t h e same c o s t advantages a5 a c om pe t i t i ve 1 y b i d con t r a.c t .

z% r I" Lmgemei-it. -. . We di.d another s tudy i n t.he mid-80's f o r l & O c i t i e s

O n t h e o t h e r hand, i f y o u can i n t e r e s t more than one f i r m i n p r o v i d i n g s e r v i c e s t o your c i t y , we usiial ly recommend t h a t c i t i e s cons ide r the c o m p e t i t i v e b i d o r c o m p e t i t i v e proposal method o f awarding a c o n t r a c t .

Some o f t h e f a c t o r s t h a t we recommend you cons ider when yocr are c o n s i d e r i n g t h e reques t f o r proposals o r t he reques t f o r b ids :

1. Meet wit .h y o u r c i t . y a t to r r i ey and o t h e r s t a f f people t o decidE: c3ri whether. t h i s . i.s going t o be a request f o r proposal o r .a reqi.ic..c;t. for. b i d . The request. f o r b i d l~.sual l v leaves you ver'y l i t t l e f lEt : . : . ib i i i t Y i n dec id inq who i.s ,going t o do t h e worl::, I t q o e ~ . s t r i . ~ : t . I . v by p r i c e . Wi th a request. f o r proposals , i t a l s o kenclc t o 90 b.,* p r i c e n i n e times. o ~ t t o f ten . b u t yoi-I. have a l i t t l e more f l e x i b i l i t y i n accept ing m o d i f i c a t i o n s t o your work scope. So the RFF' i s u s u a l l y t h e p r e f e r r e d a l t e r n a t i v e when t h a t i5 posjsi.ble g i ven yoar l o c a l ord inances and p r a c t i c e s .

3. We recommend you cons ide r how you a r e go ing t o i n s u r e t h a t t h e customer g e t s t h e k i n d o f s e r v i c e t h a t you want. Y o u may f e e l t h a t t h e r e should be a customer f i r s t 1::ind o f a t t i t u d e i n your- community. 'r'oi-t may want t h e c o n t r a c t o r t o p rov ide t h e s e r v i c e f i r s t and ask:: t he ques t i ons l a t e r . Now, t h i s i s t y p i c a l l y addressed i n these requests f o r p roposa.1~ and t h i s i r r a i::ind o f s t i c l : : and t h e r e a r e very few c a r r o t s p rov ided t o these c o n t r a c t o r s . There a r e u s u a l l y s t i c k s p resent -- I f you don' t p r o v i d e customer s e r v i c e f i r s t than you l o s e money. Y o u w i l l s u b t r a c t money from t h i s payment. T h i s is k i n d o f management by nega t i ve i ncen t i . ve sy5.tem f o r i n s u r i n g q u a l i t y , and i t would be n i c e t o dev i se p o s i t i v ~ ? i n c e n t i v e 'methods t h a . t a r e acceptable i n yoc.tr cumn~uni t y . F'et-haps p o s i t i v e i n c e n t i v e payments t o t h e c o n t r a c t o r f o r E;er-vicE? q u a l i t y t h a t goes beyond the s p e c i f iec!

a

4 . T h e other. t . h lng t o c o n s i d e r is w h e t h e r y ~ c i . a.rE gCsii-!Q t o contr -act f a r j~ . . r~l . one s e r - v i . c e a1 1 by i t s e l f j o r - whet.her--yc?u are go ing t c : c o n t r a c t f o r t h e ar r "ay of: s e r v i c e s t h a t are ~ ! s u a l l y related noLrJ t o s o l i d waste m a n a g e m e n t . A r e yocr g o i n g t o c o n t r a c t f o r r e f u s e c o l l e c t i o n , m e a n i n g t h a t p a r t t h a t g o e s d i r e c t l y t o t h e d.i.E.posa.1 s i t e ; ot- are yo^! a.l.=,n g o i n g t o c o n t r a c t f o r rec : .yc : . l ab les c o l l e c t i o r l a t t h e same t i . m e i n t h e same d o c u m e n t ?

I f i t is t i m e t o c o n t r a c t f o r r e f u s e c o l l e c t i o n , a n d ycr\u are n o t 5i.ir.e w h e t h e r a r n o t y o u r c o m m u n i t y is r e a d y t o i m p l e m e n t a r e c y c 1 i r ; q pr-c?3r-am7 w h a t should you do? T h e s e are a1 1 q u e s t i o n s t h a t yc)u m c ) . s t ac ldrec-s e a r l y a n as you p r e p a r e your r e q u e s t f o r prnp{ .?sa I ::. n r Did dcic:ci.mer;t.

T i . i.::> pi :z+ .s i . t s I .e tc : pt-'c!',..'idf? f o r c o n t i n g e n c i e s . For e x a m p l e , i n Oklahoma C i t y l a s t summer , WE? l e t t h e i r co l lec t ion c o n t r a c t s a n d t h e r e t h e c i t y also b i d o n t h i s c o n t r a c t . MLtnic ipa l f o r c e s cumpeted a g a i n s t t h e p r i v a t e s ec to r . Ok lahoma C i t y h a p p e n s t o have t.hc l u x u r y o f h a v i n e t . h e t h r e e major r e f u s e col l e c t i o n f i r m % . w i t h i n t h e c i t y . T h e y g o t b i d s from t h e s e t h r e e l a r g e f i r m s a.nd t h e y a,lr,o g o t b i d s f r o m t h e c i t y e m p l o y e e s a n d f r o m o n e o u t o f town f i r m - - a sma l l e r local f i r m f r o m K a n s a s . T h e c i t y u n d e r ' b i d t h e p r i v a t e 5et tor f i r m s i n h a l f o f t h e c i t y . T h e y w e r e a b l e t o c r e . a t e a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e b y t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y h e l p e d p r o v i d e c o m p e t i t i o n a g a i n F t t h e p r i v a t e sector f i r m s . I n t h e i r p r - o c u r e m r n t t h e y a l s o a1 lowed f o r i m p l e m e n t i n g a r e c y c l i n g prcjgt-am down t h e road. T h e r e was, a. c l a u s e i n t h e i r p r o c u r e m e n t . d o c u m e n t t h a t said, " I f w i t h i n any t i m e d u r i n g t h e f i r 5 . t t w o year5 o f t h i s c o n t r s r t w e d e c i d e t o i m p l e m e n t . a c u r b s i d e

'(I 1 i r - t r i pr-ocir-ar;; . . ~.T.'c21.~l. wi 1 I p r o v i d e o n c e a week cal l e c t i o n o f I-~,;:I

t.o 1: t!i-.ee s:,c:iil.rc:e separat.ecj i t e m s a n t , h e same d a y aE. ref i-rc+e

c:o!!cctj.(:?f-i fat- fe.? f?c>i: tc:( exceed 2.1 p e r c e n t of t h e p r i c e t h e n bci:.iQ p a i d per t ~ ~ ~ ~ - ! ~ . ~ ! t i C : : i l . d . i t A l l . o f t h e f i r m s who b i d on t h i E c. c? n .!. r a c: !.: a I::I r- E? e (:!

TI.it? Ci,t.':-.. ~ : ! f S~~?.t . t lc: : a lso i n r . i . c i d e d a nci.mbet-. c1-f f l e : . : i b i l i t y i t e n i s

t c? d o t t i j. s. . #

i n t h e i r - r e c e n t c o n t r a c t b i d d i n g . F o r e x a m p l e , i f t h e y d e c i d e d t o i m p l e m e n t a n o t h e r r e c y c l i n g p r o g r a m ( t h e u n s t a t e d t y p e o f progra.m i n mind was:. a c o n p o s t i n g p r o g r a m o f h o u s e h o l d r e f u s e rattler t .han y a r d waEte ) , and i f t h e y w e r e t o i m p l e m e n t t h i s t y p e of pr-ogram, t h e p r i c e fur r e f u s e c o l l e c t i o n wou ld d e c r e a s e a.5 t h e vol!-!!w o f mater ia l i n c r e a s e d g o i n g i n t o t h i s o t h e r t y p e of r e c y c l i n g pr-ogram. W h e t h e r o r n o t you h a v e an a n c i l l a r y s e r v i c p such a5 r e c y c l i n g ot- y a r d was te c o l . l e c t i o n , y o u c a n p r o v i d e f o r i t t oday a5.j you p r e p a r e y o u r r e q u e s t f o r - p r o p o s a l z .

The r e a . s o n f o r t h i s is, i f ycx! ask f o r t oo many b i d s , a n d too many o p t i o n 4 - - - f : i r s t o f a ? 1 t h e p r i v a t e s ec to r i n d u s t r y t e n d s t o t h i n i : yai.~ are n o t serial-1,s. S e c o n d l y , you w i l l t y p i c a l l y e n d crp i n a n ia . jo r d i l e m m a d e c i d i n g who is t h e low b i d d e r a n d w h i c h

r;erv.i.cr:. you shou1.cl a w a r - d . T h e c o n s t i t u e n t s for - ea . ch of t h e b i .d r_ ie r~ . p r i l l a r i s e a t t t i i ! t . p o i n t a n d crssual ly create q u i t e a. confuse::! a w a r d ~ . cena r i c? . T o avoid t h i s c o n f u s i o n , you n e e d t.o d e c i i - ; ' e whert y'c1i.r wi l l col 1 e c : t t h e s e m a t e r i a l s , how o f t e n !weel.:l, .!j. e v e r y o t h e r - wee!:: ? --perhap:?. r e f ci.se w e e \ : I y , y a r d waste e v e r y o t h e r wet?\: . CIS?. s e m i - m c m t h l y . Tt iese are d e c i s i o n s you s h o u l d real l y mal: .E; LIP f r o n t a n d n o t really* allow t h e c a n t r a c t o F c , t o , p r o p o s e the. , ' w i l l . Y o ~ r should d l 5 0 d e c i d e - - a r e y o u g o i n g t o h a v e i t p i c k e d u p a t t h e c u r b or a t t h e b a c k y a r d . I t is a l s o p b v i o u s t h a t more f r e q u e r i t . c n l l e c t . i n r i a n d more c o n v e n i e n t c o l l e c t i o n , n a m e l y a t t h e ba.ci:: v a r d , is g o i n g t o co5.t more. Back: Y a r d c o l l e c t i o n p r o b a b l y casts 3!.:)-40 p e r c e n t more t h a n c u r t s i d e co l l e c t i o n . A d d i n g a n e x t r a c o l l e c t i o n per- Heel:: i r p r o b a b l y g o i n g t o cost a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t . m o r e . So, o t h e t - t h i . n g s b e i n g e q u a l a d d i n g a r e c y c l i n g c o l 1 e c : t i o n t o c7 r e g ~ u 1 a . r s c h e d u l e d o n c e a w e e k garba.qe col l e c t i o n w i l l . c o s t Y O L ~ about. 2 5 p e r c e n t more, i f i t i 5 d o n e by t h e same firm.

Tt i i .~- .? . c3.f t m L i . r E ; e , leads t c : ~ t .he i s s u e o f hciw yo^! w i l l a w s r c i t h e c : c m t r - a c : t . 1Je recammend t h a t y o u leave 5 ~ m e f l e x i b i l i t y . I t i s amc:.zing haw compl. i c . a t , e d t h e s e p r a c u r e m e n t d o c u m e n t s g e t . I seldom c.ee o n e t h a t was; s u t l m i t t e d f l a w l e s s l y f o l l o w i n g a1 1 d i t - r r . . t i cmE. . No m a t t e r how h a r d the p r i v a t e f i r m o r m u n i c i p a l agenc:y m i g h t h a v e t r i e d , t h e r e is u s u a l l y some m i n o r o m i s s i o n o r ertc:Jt-' i n t h e p r a p c ~ r a l . s u b m i t t e d . I f yo~r make t h e b i d veri.' s t r i c t you may e n d u p r e j e c t i n g a l l s u b m i s s i o n s . W e recommend t h a t yocr develop y o u r proposa.1. i . n s u c h a m a n n e r a5 t o leave e n o u g h f l e x i b i l i t y t o o v e r l o o k : m i n o r i r r e g u l a r i t i e s or t o al low c o r r ' e r l t . i o n s . W e a l s o recommend t h a t y o u l e a v e y o u r s e l f e n o u g h t i m e f o r - t h e w h o l e p r o c e s s . U s u a l l y i f y o u s t a r t a y e a r a n d a h a l f b e f o r e y o u w o u l d l ike t h e t r ~ r c k s t o be o n t h e s t ree t o r i n y o u r l a n d f i l l s - - t h a t ' s a b o u t r i g h t . P a r t i c u l a r l y , i f t h i s is gcli.nq t o r e p r e s e n t new p r o g r a m s or a c h a n g e . I f t h e r e is g o i n g to b e j u s t a r e b i d o f y o u r p r e v i o u s c o n t r a c t maybe a y e a r m i g h t e n a b l e y0c.r t o do i t b u t t h a t is r e a l l y awfully t i g h t .

Si:.: m o n t h s t o d e v e l o p t h e r e q u e s t f o r p r o p o s a l or- b i d a n d t o c o n s i d e r t h e p o l i c y a l t e r n a t i v e s t o g e t a g r e e m e n t w i t h i n t h e c i t y an w h a t vo~r w a n t t o be d o i n g is p r o b a b l y a b o u t r i g h t : a n d t h e n

5

YOL! r~erc i about anothFr. si:.: months t o i s s u e t h e request f a r pr-op~csal o r b i d .r g i v e the p r i v a t e s e c t o r t ime t o respond, r e c e i v e t h e hid::,, eval .uate them, p resent t h e e v a l u a t i o n t o co;i,ncil , q ~ t co!..i.nc.il t o vo te , e t c . Then you have a b o u t 6 months l e f t for- t h e c o l l . ~ ~ c t i o n f i rm to prepare for- imp1,emqntation. I f t h e f i r m s do n o t have enw-iqh t ime f o r implementat ion, t h e f i r s t few months o f '

yo~.!r.' pt-cgram w i l l r lo t g o as smoothly as they o therw ise would have.

WE. recommend t h a t when vo~r do i s s u e y0~1.r reques t f o r proposal o r b i d t h a . t you? r - i g h t LIP f r o n t , i n d i c a t e how i t i s t h a t yoi-r a r e gu iny t.o determine t h e p r i c e t o the c i t y . I t i s one o f t h e most, i f n o t t h e m o s t importamt f a c t o r , i n awards o f s o l i d waste manayement c0nt rac t .s . I t may s o u n d s i l l y tha. t i t i s hard t o f i n d out who t h e low p r i c e d bidder- i s b u t very , ve ry o f t e n t h e r e ca.n be arg~iments about which f i r m o f f e r s t h e lowest p r i c e . L e t me g i v e yc!u an example o f t h i s . The c i t y o f Fo r twor th , Tekas was t a k i n g b i d s c m r e f u s e c o l l e c t i o n a number o f yearc. bacl:: and they azL:ed f o r - a h i d per- household frzr- once a week pick:up of r e f u s e cc3. ?er.t.i.on and then kt-ier asked hctw much t h e f i r m would cha.rge t o pi!r:I.:: C I , ~ Laqqed _. - refl-i.se i n f r o n t o f s m a l 1 commercial e : ~ .tat:.l i . :h r r ;enCEi Thpy want.ed t.o !::now the monthly charge t a t::c?mmer-c:iai. i z : ~ t a b l ishment.=,. The wa.y the c o n t r a c t was goincj t c be awarded wc.5:. b i r ~ ~ e d upc:!n housetinlds. We1 1 cine f i r m came i n a t I be! .iE.:-'ie i . k ~ 3 . 5 . S.4. 45 per haii.sehold per mor? t h . The other- f k r m cir.m~. in ai:. $4..5i'! per household per month. They were p r e t t y c l o s e b t . . ! t t h E ? uric t h a t came i n a t 84. Si:) was o f f e r i n g t o col. l e c t sm2.l 1 c r o n l m E . : r C - i s l r*~ac.t.e at 85.i30 per month arid t h e one t h a t was i n a t 9 4 . 4 5 ~ 3 . i : . o f f e r - i n q t o D i c k : i t up a t !6li3.W3. Wel i , i f t h e r e were a! o t o f smt.1 3 cnmmercia.1. es tab l i shments t,hen t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n p r- i c: F: be t w e e n 1: he $ 5 . r:)O and $; R (3 . 0,C) c omme r c i a 1 c o 1 1 ec t i o n m i q t1 t C;C~rirIcl t.he ewnt-d from t.t-1~ f i t - . m b i d d i n q $4.45 t o t h e f i r m b iddinc;

T h ~ i r - e w e r e major- p r e s m t a t i o n s made t o c i t y c o u n c i l , cc:!r)-fi..tE.5 O:~E , r?ewspaper campaigns , e t c . which a.1 1 cou ld have

bi?r:.?n ,~:.~o.icJc-?~:! i f t h e r-r-.que-;t for- b i d had s imp ly s a i d , "cons ider E L . ( T , ~ ~ 1 c:onmcrci.al est.ab1 ishments t c ) be considered equal t o h c l r ~ i . ~ e t i c ? I d ~ j " , or-, i f the reques t f o r b i d had s a i d i n advance, " w e e4.i 1 1. C C : I ~ ' I Z . ~ C : / E ~ ~ . , f u r proposal e v a l u a t i o n PLirposeE., t h & t t h e r e a r e

3 cmal 1 commer-cia.1 eE.tablishments.

So, s e t o u t your scenar io i n advance f o r how you a r e going t o determine t h e t o t a l c o s t t o t h e c i t y . I t may o r may n o t be e x a c t l j ' what the f i r m w i l l be p a i d b u t t h e c i t y should be c l e a r in advance that: t h i s i s how you a r e go ing t o determine t h e t o t a l c o s t . Then you w i l l ' e l i m i n a t e t h i s confus ion about who i s t h e low b idde r .

There a r e a few I.::ind o f t r i c k s t h a t w e have learned over t h e year.=, t h a t h e l p t o make these formulas go more smoothly and t o e l i m i n a t e arguments. F i r s t , i f YOLI want a n c i l l a r y serv ices , t r y a.nd express t h e p r i c e s as a percentage o f your bas ic s e r v i c e s and here i t , i s h e l p f u l i f you have t h e c o s t percentage show t h a t you know what t h e p r i c e should be. L e t me g i v e you am example. Suppose t .hat )'C~LI want cu rbs ide col l e c t i o n s e r v i c e but. y o u would

6

a . I s o 1 i i : e to 3.lloc.i t h e w e a l t h y f o l k s i n Vo~1.r c o m m u n i t y t o pay m a r e and get barl:. y a r d s e r . v i c e . H o w much more E.hould you psy t h E c r ~ ! lec!:c?r- t u picC::up i n t h e b a c k ya rd . We1 1 , I m e n t i o n e d b e f o r e t h a t . h a C 1 . . ya rd CB! l e z t i n r i c o s t s b e t w e e n 30-40 p e r c e n t more tt-1a.n cc.cr-hside c o l l e r t i o n . So you wot.\lc! p r y b a b l y p u t i n yoc:.r- requcs l - . f c t - p r - i . 3 p C i s ; i l t h 3 . t t a c k y a r d c ~ l l e c t i o n is t o he p r o v i d e d a t a p r i c e eqcral t o 135 p e r c e n t o f t h e p r i c e f o r c u r b s i d e cai l e c t i o n . Then y o u w i l l n o t get s t u c i : : t r y i . n g t o g u e s s how many h o u s e h o l d s a r e g o i n g t o c h o o s e back y a r d c o l l e c t i o n a n d w h a t h a d t h e f i r m b i d f o r t h e baci:: y a r d co l . 1ec t i . c in e

A r i n t h e r - t r - i c l : : is t o p u t .in b a s e l i n e es t imates i n y o u r r e q u e s t f o r p r o p o s a l . or b i d . For e x a m p l e , o n e could say t h a t f o r p r o p o s a . 1 e v a . l u a t i o n p - t r p u t i e s t h e c i t y w i l 1 a s s u m e t h a t 1 5 W h o u s e h o l d c wi 1 I. chooG..e ba.i.:I::*ia.t-.d ccll l e c t i o n , o r t h a t 50% o f t h e h o u s e h o l d s w i 1 1 o p t for- r e c y c 1 i n g p r o g r a m s .

I r , w.1,~;~ [?&<:Pi ~ i . t u a t , i o n i.s d i f f e r e n t , a n d e a c h p r o c u r e m e n t w h i c h WFL' I.~a~+,e r-c?:?L'.iewed or- w r i , t . t e n has b e e n s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t f r o m 3.1 1 tht? C ? t . t . \ e r . 5 . U..i-\al 1y i t is n e c e s s a r y t o p u t i n some c r e a t i . v e t t 1 i I1 I: i n q tcs so I. ve I:. h e ciri i q uc-? p r-o b 1 e m s o f 2 p a r t i c ~c 1 a. r c omimit,n i t v . N t , a t E : i ' e r . t . h e c: . i t : l- \atinri , i t , i F s i n i p u r t a n t t o s t a r t t h e p r o c e s s fa . r enuiucjh i n a d v a n c e so t h a t success is a t l ea s t p o s s i b l e . I t i z . a l s o i m p a r t a n t t n k e e p t h e r e q u e s t f o r p r o p o s a l or b i d d o c u m e n t as s i m p l e a5 p o s j s i b l e . F i n a l l y , i t is i m p o r t a n t n o t t o a l i e n a t e thE: c o n t r a c t o r s d u r i n g t h e p r o c u r e m e n t p h a s e , as you w i l l b e wor i : . ing w i t h t h e s e l e c t e d v e n d o r f o r a n u m b e r o f y e a r s a n d a g o o d ,

wor-i:.ing r e l a t i o n s h i p is h e l p f u l f o r s u c c e s s f u l c o n t r a c t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I h o p e t h a t t h e s e t h o u g h t s w i l l b e h e l p f u l t o y o u , and I wcj~tld be more t h a n h a p p y t o a n s w e r a n y q u e s t i o n s t h a t y o c t m i g h t h a v e .

7

La ii. r a. I.::: i m i Y o s h i. i Pepc.ity P i r e c t o r E F A F:egicJn IX 215 F r e e m o n t Street Sar; F r - a n c i s c o , CA 9 4 1 0 5 ( 4.1 5 1 974-746i:j

EF'A L i b r a r y I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t e r ( 41 5 ) 974-8076

"EPA Agenda for Action on Recycling, Collection, and Disposal"

T h e F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r d e s c r i b e s t h e "Agenda f o r A c t i o n . " T h e EFA "Agenda f o r A c t i o n " is a N a t i o n a l s t r a t e g y d e s c r i b i n g t h e roles fc?r a . c t i o n by EFA, s t a t e a n d loca l g o v e r n m e n t s r e g a r d i n g s o l i d w a E. t e' . Last y e a r w e G m e r i c a n s g e n e r a t e d IbC, m i l l i o n t o n s o f t r a s h . T h i ~ i t s euii l.valentr tc a. c o n v o y o f t r u c k s r e a r c h i n g ha.1fws.y t o t h e moor;. A t t.I-1i.s r a . t e by t h e year 2i:)C)O we will b e g e n e r a t i o n 190 m i . l l i m - 1 tor is o f t r -ash. Fet- c a p i t a WE q e n e r a t e S 1/2 pou.nds p e r d?y or 10G pcur~dc:. p e r nlcmth. Th i .5 m e a n s t h a t iri o n e year t h e a . v e r a g e family o f foi-rr g e n e r a t e s 2 1/2 t o n s o f t r a s h .

iimei-i.canE. g e n e r a t e more wa,r=,te p e r c a p i t a t .han any o t h e r coL!n tr.y i n t h e wc: , r - ld . A p p r o x i m a . t e l y F3QX o f t h e t r a . s h i n t h e U n i t e d Ststc:9 is 1,andf j 1 l e d I n 5-7 y e a r s , a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e - t h i r d o f t h e Uni.tecl S t a t e s l a n d f i l Is w i l 1 be f u 1 1 . More c o m m u n i t i e s are senc:iirlg t h e i r t r a s h t n o t h e r r i t i ,es c o u n t i e E . . C o m m u n i t i e s neod I:(:) p i a n ahead. W e n e e d a, c o o r d i n a t e d N a t i o n a . 1 e f f o r t .

T h e "Agenrl+ f o r 6 c t i o n " is a n i n t e g r a t e d w a s t e ma.naQement p l a r ; d c v e 1 o p e d by EFA T h e p 1 an ha.=, f o u r e 1 emen ts :

1. Source Reduction ( T h i E s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d f i r s t t o

2 . Recycling T. Incineration 4. Landfills

t h e e x t e n t p o s s i b l e . )

No s i n g l e e l e m e n t c a n s t a n d a l o n e i n s o l v i n g o u r waste p r o b l e m s .

EPA tias a N a t i o n a l goal t o r e d u c e a n d r e c y c l e a t least 25% o f o u r wz..ste by 1992. C u r r e n t l y o u r waste is h a n d l e d a s f o l l o w s :

o 8 C ) X l a n d f i l l e d o 10% i n c i n e r a t e d o 1QX r e c y c l e d

By i n c r e a s i n g r e d u c t i o n a n d r e c y c l i n g a n d p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y i n c r e a s i n g i n c i n e r a t i o n o n l y SO p e r c e n t o f o u r w a s t e w o u l d r e q u i r e l a n d f i l l i n g .

S o u r c e R e d u c t i o n - R e d u c i n g q u a n t i t y a n d t o x i c i t y a n d ma/: : ing g o o d s m @ r e d u r a b l e so t h a t l o n g e r p e r i o d s o f t i m e e l a p s e b e f o r e t . hey are d i s c a r d E d . T h i s r e q u i r e s c h a n g e s i n m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r - a c t i c e s as w e l l a5 b u y i n g h a b i t s .

Recvclinq - M a k e s c o n s t r u c t i v e u s e o f mater ia l s o r d i n a r i l y l a n d f i l l e d o r i n c i n e r a t e d . F o u r major s t e p s are r e q u i r e d : 1) c o l l e c t i o n mater ia ls ; 2 ) S e p a r a t i n g ma te r i a l s ( a t s o u r c e or a t r e c y c l i n g f a c i l i t y ! ; 3 ) P r o c e s s i n g ma te r i a l s f o r t r a n s p o r t a , t i m n a n d r e u s e ; a n d 4) m a r k e t i n g t h e r e c o v e r e d mater ia l s f o r use.

T h e a v a i l a b i l i t y a n d c o n t i n u e d s t a b i l i t y o f marC::ets f o r r e c y c l e d mater ia ls is e s s e n t i a l f o r s u c c e s s f u l r e c y c l i n g . T h e ma te r i a l s a re n o t c o n s i d e r e d r e c y c l e d u n t i l a l l t h e s t e p s are c o m p l e t e a n d t h e mater ia l s is r e u s e d .

T i r e s . ? g l . a s s , a l u m i n u m , steel p l a s t i c lead f r o m b a t t e r i e s , y a r d w a ~ . t e , a n d paper- are t h e mate r - i a l s most o f t e n r e c y c l e d . M a r k ~ t s for-. matE.ria1s 1 . i i : : e ti.rer:. at-^! o f t e n EI p r o b l e m . P l a r k e t E . f o r mii!zer..i.a1:: 1 i k e pape r - are a v a i l a b 1 . e b u t t h e market: p r i c e c3.n f!.i-i.ct.t~at.e A g r e a t d e a l

~ ~ ~ F : ~ t - ( . : ! ~ , : ~ m ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ l ~ 4 1 percent c f OC.I~-' waste is made u p o f p a p e r p r o c ! i i . c t ~ . Fibout 1.7 m i l l i o n t o n s p e r y e a r is r e c y c l e d . We n e e d tr. d o nic.~i-'e s r p a . r a t i a n crf papE:r ann' n e e d t.o s t a b i 1 i z e t h f pa.per ma. !- I.: e t . Yar.d P J A E . ~ ~ ac.cclunt.._:; fclt- ab01-i.t 2ii p e r c e n t o f the wazte n a t i c s n a l I.),--th.i%. may v a r y f r a m c i t y t o c i t y . V e r y l i t t l e y a r d vJz:,t.f:: i.s c i . c r r e r i t . l y r e c y c l e d . C c m p o s t i n q ha=. t h e a d d e d b e n e f i t u f p r -o tF r r t . i r~g soil frnm eros ion . C o n p s t i n g c a n be c o n e i n o n e s t2acI::yar.d cir' t h r o u g h an o r g a n i z e d c o m m u n i t y p r o g r a m . F i r s t c o l l ~ ? ~ . : t leave%.,? q r - a z z a n d y a r d c l i p p i n g s t o be t r a n s p o r t E d t a comFiclst.ir1q f a c i l i . t i . e s . S e c o n d o v e r t i m e w a s t e d e c a y s i n t o a ma?:er- j .a l 1:ha.i: is h i g h i n o r g a n i c s . Can b e u s e d a s m u l c h t o p r e s e r v e z . .o i 1 m n i s t u r e a n d t o g u a r d a g a i n s t e r o s i o n o r c o m b i n e d w i t h nc i t r - j .e r1 t . r to e n r i c h t h e s o i l .

R e c y c l i n g d i v e r t s wastec f r o m l a n d f i l l s a n d i n c i n e r a t i o n a n d c o n s e r v e s n a t u r a l reso~trces a n d e n e r g y by p u t t i n g mater ia l s b a c k i n t o p r o d u c t i o n . R e c y c l i n g c a n g e n e r a t e r e v e n u e s f o r i n d i v i d u a l s a n d g r o u p s w h o c o l l e c t mater ia ls . R e c y c l i n g is o f t e n less e x p e n s i v e t h a n l a n d f i l l i n g o r i n c i n e r a t i o n .

Incineration - S o u r c e r e d u c t i o n a n d r e c y c l i n g a l o n e w i l l n o t solve our s o l i d w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t p r o b l e m s . I n c i n e r a t i o n is a n o t h e r w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t o p t i o n . Some c o m m u n i t i e s n e e d t o c o n s i d e r t h i s . I n c i n e r a t i o n c a n h e l p r e d u c e t h e bulk o f some m u n i c i p a l wastes a n d g e n e r a t e e n e r g y . R e c y c l i n g c a n h e l p r e m o v e some o f t h e m a t e r i a l s t h a t d o n o t b u r n w e l l or t h a t c rea te s i r e m i s ~ i o n p r o b l e m s . A t t h e same t i m e , r e c y c l i n g r e t u r n s t h e s e w a s t e s t o p r o d u c t i v e u 5 e .

Landfills - L a n d f i l l s wi l l be n e c e s s a r y f o r some o f o u r wastes

a n d t h e ash p r o d u c e d f r o m i n c i n e r a t i o n . W h i l e w e m u s t r e d u c e our r e l i a n c e on l a n d f i l l s , l a n d f i l l d i s p o s a l w i l l r e m a i n a n e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y s o u n d managemen t p r a c t i c e i n s o m e c o m m u n i t i e 5 .

I n t . e c ~ r a t e d w a c . t e managemen t is t h e f r a m e w o r i : : f o r s e v e r a l n a t i . o n a 1 geal:; e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e " k g e n d a f o r A c t i o n " . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i n t e g r a t e d waste m a n a g e m e n t , t h e "Agenda f o r A c t i o n " e s t a b l i s h e s t h r e e major g o a l s :

P

1. T o e l i m i n a t e t h e g a p b e t w e e n w a s t e g e n e r a t i o n a n d t h e a v a i l a b l e c a p a c i t y i n l a n d f i l l s , i n c i n e r a t o r s , a n d s e c o n d a r y m a t e r i a l s market . T h e w i d e n i n g g a p b e t w e e n o u r g r o w i n g p i l e = o f d i s c a r d s a n d d w i n d l i n g f a c i l i t i e s t o p r o p e r l y manage t h e m c a l l s fo r n a t i o n a l s o l u t i o n s a n d a l o n g - t e r m c o m m i t m e n t by a l l .

2 . U s e s o u r c e r e d u c t i o n a n d r e c y c l i n g t o t h e e x t e n t p o s s i b l e i n crdet- . t C J r e d u c e t h e qc . t an t i . t y a n d t o x i c i t y o f waste t h a t m u s t be l a n d f i l 1.ed or i n c i n e r a t e d . A l t h o u g h r e c y c l i n g , w i t h s p e c i a l e m p h i i t i s c m c o m p a s t i . n g , w i 1 1 p l a y t h e major ro l 1 i n a c h i e v i n g 1:hi.c: yc7a.1. S o u r c e r e d ( - t c t i o n is a l s o i m p o r t a n t . S o u r c e r e d c i . c t i o n i ?nd t-ecyc: 1 i .ng h e l p p r e v e n t many o f t h e p r o b l e m s a s soc ia t ed w i t h mci.nic:ipa:L z m l i c l w a s t e . F r -ob lems s u c h a s t h e s i g h t i n g u f 1 .an~: l f i l . 1%. a n d i n c i n e r a t i o n f a c i l i t i , e s a n d p o t e n t i a l risi::s f o r p e o p l . ~ and t h e e n v i r c ~ n n e n t d u e t o i m p r o p e r - waste hand 1 i n g . Ever? t k nicl.;i..t e f f e c t i v e s o u r c e r e d u c t i o n a n d r e c ) . c l i n g e f f o r t E . can n o t t iandlt .? t h e t r ~ t a . 1 wastestream. T h e r e f o r e , wa.ste managemen t prac.tic:,e.;; s h o ~ t l c i bP made sa.fer.. bJe w i l l n e e d l a n d f i l l c . a n d .i.rir:riner-a~i:~v-E3 i n t o t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e . I m p r o v i n a the s a f e t y c n . i t h e s E . f a z i l i t i e s as w e l l a s r e c y c l i n g a n d r e c o v e r y f a . c i l i t i e s i.: t h e r e f a r c uf g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e . '

TI)E "Ggenda f o r Acti ,c!n" i E n o t j u s t f o r EFA. I t se ts f o r t h Q o a l s a.nc! r -o lez. f o r e v e r y o n e . F o r EFA t h e a g e n d a p r n v i d e c , s p e c i f i c 21c.t i;,?'. ti.^:^. tha.1: t h e a g e n c y p l a n s t o c a r r y o u t .

1. 1 n c r e a . r . e t h e waste managemen t a n d p l a n n i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t o 5 t P l t . e 5 , , l c ~ c a l c o m m u n i t i e s , w a s t e managemen t f a c i l i t i e s , i n d u s t r y ancl c i t i z e n s . A 1 t h o u g h mamy excel l e n t e d u c a t i o n a l a n d t e c h n i c a l m s . t . e r i a 1 5 exist., s y s t e m s fo t - s h a r i n g t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n a r e 1 a c i : : i n g . EPA w i l l c o m p i l e a b i b l i o g r a p h y o f a v a i l a b l e mater ia l s t o e n h a n c e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n s h a r i n g . EFA w i l l d e v e l o p a number o f e d u c a t i o n a l ma te r i a l s o n v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f s o u r c e r e d u c t i o n , r e c y c l i n g , a n d i n c i n e r a t i o n , a n d l a n d f i l l i n g . T h e s e materials w i l l p r o v i d e p e o p l e w i t h t h e "how-to" a n d b a c k g r o u n d i n f o r m a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o r e d u c e w a s t e a n d t o p r e v e n t managemen t a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s . One o f t h e t e c h n i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s EFA wil . 1 d e v e l o p is a " D e c i s i o n - M a k e r s G u i d e f o r L o c a l M a n a g e r s ; " . T h i s d o c u m e n t w i l l e x p l a i n t h e f a c t o r s t h a t d e c i s i o n - m a k e r s c a n c o n s i d e r i n c h o o s i n g among t h e w a s t e managemen t o p t i o n s .

One o f t h e must i m p o r t a n t a c t i v i t i e s EFA w i l l u n d e r t a k e is t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n a t i o n a l c l e a r i n g h o u s e f o r c i t i z e n s , i n d u E . t r y , g o v e r n m e n t , a n d o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h e c l e a r i n g h o u s e w i l l b e a c o o p e r a t i v e e f f o r t t o g a t h e r a n d s h a r e materials o n many s u b j e c t s

r e l a t e d t o m u n i c i p a l wastes. A s a means o f p r o v i d i n g d i r e c t ass i .c tance tc! w a c t e m a . n a g e r s , EF'A is d e v e l o p i n g a p e e r m a t c h i r l q p r o g r a m . T h e pr-ogr3.m w i l l m a t c h t h e e x p e r t i s e a v a i l a b l e i n local rommii,r,i t.ies , t r a . d e g r o u p s , EFA r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s a n d c r n i v e r s i t i e s t o m e e t t h e n e e d o f i n d i v i d u a l w a s t e m a n a g e r & . For e x a m p l e , t h e program m i g h t p r o v i d e a c o m m u n i t y w i t h t h e e x p e r t i s e t o e v a l u a t e d i s p o s a l a n d managemen t o p t i o n s i n s e t t i n g u p a local r e c y c l i n g c e n t e r .

EFA is e n c o u r a g i n g a n d w i l l s u p p o r t s ta tes , t r i b e s a n d m u n i c i p a . l i t i e s i n d e v e l o p i n g l o n g - r a n g e p l a n s f o r m a n a g i n g waste i n order t o f o r e c a s t a n d p r e v e n t f u t u r e p r o b l e m s . EFA r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s w i l l r e v i e w p l a n s v o l u n t a r i l y s u b m i t t e d by s tates a n d t L r i b e E . a n d p r o v i d e t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e u p o n r e q u e s t . EFA w i l l h o l d r e g i o n a l wor-I::c,hops o n s t a t e p l a n n i n g . T h i s w i l l p r o v i d e a f o r u m f o r states. t o s h a r e t h e i r e x p e r t i s e a n d e x p e r i e n c e s i n wor-k inq w i . t t - t l oca l g o v e r n m e n t s t o f o s t e r i n t e g r a t e d waste mal - iagenent . I n Reqictri IY our E;an F ra .nc i s . cn o f f i c e , j c t . s t h o s t e d c?ve?t- the 1a.z.t t:wo d a y s our f i r - E . t r e g i o n a . 1 I.::ickc?ff w i t h t he states .in Oi.t,f t-€igi.ori---Hawai.i , N e v a d a , C a l i f o r n i a , A r i z o n a , a n d t h e o u t e r p a r i . f i c i s l a n d s . I t w 3 . s a v e r y good o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t hem tc? s. Pi .s r(:? t he i. r e :.: pe t- i e n c e .i

So~ . i . r -~e redc i .c t i a n is a l::ejf compcxient. f o r m e e t i n g n a t i o n a l and local g a a l c , . Tr3 h e l p m e e t o u r 25 p e r c e n t r e d u c ' t i o n a n d rei:ycl.ir;g gctal EF'F; i t c ! n d e r t a ~ : : i n g a nv.mktet- o f a c t i v i t i e s . Lead a n d ca.dmium are t ox ic m e t a l 5 t h a t have bean f o u n d i n l a n d f i l l s a,nd . i r i c i n e r a t , o r a.sh. EF'A w o u l d d e t e r m i n e w h i c h p r o d u c t s p i . f a r ty , a re t h e pr-im.3.t-y ~oi.i.rce o f lead a n d cadmium. E F A w o u l d a 150 d e t e r m i n e i f legislation is n e c e s s a r y t n r&st r i . c t o r r e q u i r e s u b s t i t u t e s f o r - the: use? of 1ea.d a n d cadmium p r o d u c t s . E F A is e n c o u r a g i n g t)u5.ines.z.t?5. a n d i n d u s t r y to r e d e s i g n p a c k a g i n g p r o d u c t s so t h a t they ha.ve le::^ impa t r t a n t h e wastestream when t h e y a re d i s c s . r d e d . T h r ager-ic.), wi 1 1. e n c c u r a g e m a n u f a c t u r e r s t o make goods w i t h 1 e55 v o l . c ! m ~ ? a n d t o x i c i t y , w i t h l o n g e r - l i v e s a n d w h i c h a r e r e c y c l a . b l e . EFA w i . 3 1 s t u d y i n c e n t i v e s f o r s t i m u l a t i n g i n d u s t r y t o a c h i e v e E-C.!C h qcla 15 . P l a s t i c s d o n o t d e g r a d e a n d are a h i g h l y v i s i b l e w a s t e c o m p o n e n t . P l a s t i c s now c o m p r i s e a b o u t 7 p e r c e n t o f t h e wastestream b u t are e x p e c t e d t o m a k e u p c lose r t o 1 0 p e r c e n t by t h e y e a r 2OOC). EFA is s t u d y i n g p l a s t i c s a n d w i l l p r e p a r e w i t h a r e p o r t t o c o n g r e s s i ts f i n d i n g s .

Waste h a n d l i n g f e e s i n some c o m m u n i t i e s are s c a l e d SO t h a t t h o s e who p r o d u c e less w a s t e p a y less. EPA is c o n d u c t i n g a s t u d y t o d e t e r m i n e t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f p r o g r a m s t h a t use f e e s t o c r e a t e i n c e n t i v e s f o r h o u s e h o l d s a n d b u s i n e s s e s t o r e d u c e t h e q u a n t i t y o f w a s t e s t h a t t h e y p r o d u c e .

F ina .1 l y , EFA w i l l c o n t i n u e t o s p o n s o r a n annLra.1 h o u s e h o l d h a z a r d o u s w a s t e c o n f e r e n c e t o p r o m o t e 50u . r ce r e d u c t i o n a n d p r o p e r c o l l e c t i o n i n h a n d l i n g o f t h e s e wastes.

Jr-1 o r - . d e ~ t u . a c h i e v e our n a t i o n a . 1 g o a l s , r e c y c l i n g w i l l b e v i t z l . EF& ha%. a number o f a c t i v i t i e 5 . p l a .nned t o e n c o u r a g e r e c y c l i n g a n d cve rco r r i i ng b a r r i e r s t u t h i s p r a c t i . c e . One o f t h e major i m p e d i n c n ts t c ~ r e c y c 1 i n g is t h e w i d e f l u c t u a t i o n o f mar1::ets f o r Secanclar y m a t e r i a l s . E F A wil l c o n d u c t . market d e v e l o p m e n t c . t u d i e c , t o i d e n t i f y w a y s t o e n h a n c e r e g i o n a l n a t i o n a . 1 a.nd i n t e r n a t i o n a l market5 f o r a v a r i e t y o f s e c o n d a r y mater ia ls . P r o c u r e m e n t of r e c y c l e d g o o d s is a n i m p o r t a n t way t o s t i m u l a t e mar1::ets. EPA w i l l e n c o u r a g e t h e F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t , s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s a n d c o r p o r a t i o n s t o p r o c u r e r e c y c l e d mater ia ls . EFA h a s i s s u e d g u i d e 1 i n r s f o r p r o c u r e m e n t o f r e c y c l e d p a p e r , r e - r e f i n e d o i 1 a n d r e t r e a d E d t i res . EPA is a l s o e s t a b l i s h i n g a h o t l i n e t o a s s i s t p e o p l e i n u s i n g the?;e g u i d e l i n e s . E F A is d e v e l o p i n g a c o m p o s t i n g q u i d e t o e n c o c r r a q e baci::yar-d a n d communi ty -wide c o m p o s t i n g . L.oca1 ccrmmi..\rii t i e s a re l o o k i n g f o r q u a l i f i e d r e c y c l i n g c o c l r - d i n a t o r - s to d e s i g n a n d o p e r a t e c o m m u n i t y r e c y c 1 i n g p r o g r a m s . EF'A w i 1. 1 d.evelc,p matet-is .1.~. t c t t . r a i . n t h e s e c o o r d i n a t o r s i n t h e latc=..::.i: appr -oache? ; t o put11 i c e d u c a t i o n a n d c o l l e c t i o n , p r o c e s r F r l q i?.nci r~a. t - I : :e t i .ng c?f r e c y c l a b 1 , e s . EFA a l s o p l a n s t o e s t a b l i s h a r i a t i c m a ? r - e c y c l i n g c o u n c i l , t h e counci l w i l 1 b e c o m p r i s f d of h i g h 1. e %\*e 1 g D L...'i:: r ' r i men t. r e p re s e n t a t: i ve 5 , sec o n d a I- y m a t e r i a 1 5 a n d w s E. t e mar-!Li ie(nEZ~l . ! : . i n d u s t r i e s , pub1 i c i n t e r e s t g r o u p s , s ta tes , l o c z l i t i . e s , and t - eg icma l mat-.I.::et c o o p e r a t i v e s . T h e c o u n c i l w i l 1 C;ta.y at:,r-:.?a!zI:. o f pol i.c:ies w h i c h wi l 1 e n h a . n c e o r hamper r e c y c l i n g ;~-nd a , o : . i i . l . c~r - nat.i.ona.!. p r o g r a m s i n o b t a i n i n g t h e r e c y c l i n g g ~ ~ l s .

Inc. . inerat .?.[7:? c3.1-1 t?c? 3. t*.iat?le wac_te managemen t a.1 t e r n a t i v e , i f de,:+ignec! o p e r - a t . e d :. a n c l c o n t r ~ ; I l e d t o p r o t e c t . p e o p l e a n d t h e . e:.iiiirc:>r-iinent. T o i r . ; c : t - e a s e thE:' v i a b i l i t y o f t h i s o p t i o n , EFFi is .;c.t.t..i.!-~g s t . a n d a r c l c fn t - a i r e m i s s i o n s f r o m i n c i n e r a t o r s a n d is h p l p i n g t c : d e \ d e l i j p new t e c h n o l o g i e s f o r m i n i m i z i n g a i r emi=.E.icmz. EF'fi i?; lcic!/::i.riq a.t wayc ta b e t t e r h a n d l e t h e ash t h a t is prodi i .ced by i n c i n e r a t o r s . CorigreEss i5. cc! t - r -ent ly c o n s i d e r i n g a number o f r e q u i r e m e n t s f a r t h e managenlent o f a s h . MLrnicipa.1 s o l i d w a s t e l a n d f i l 1:: i-re c c i . r r e n t l y u s e d tu d i s p o . + e o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f o u r qar.bage a n d w e 1 1 d e s i g n e d a n d o p e r a t e d s a n i t a r y l a n d f i l l s . w i l l c : o n t i n u e t n be e s s e n t i a l i r i t h e f u t u r e . One s t e p EPA is taC::i.nq to i n s u r e Ocit- l a n c i f i l I s a re s a f e is t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t r a i n i n g ma te r i a l s f o r l a n d f i l l o p e r a t o r s . K n o w l e d g e a b l e o p e r a t o r s a re e s s e n t i a l t o i n s u r e e f f i c i e n t a n d s a f e h a n d l i n g o f w a s t e . EFA i E - d e v e l o p i n g s t a n d a r d s f o r t h e d e s i g n a n d o p e r a t i o n o f m u n i c i p a l l a n d f i l l s t h a . t w i l l b r i n g a b o u t a s u b s t a n t i a l i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e w a y t h e s e l a n d f i l l s are r u n . N e a r l y e v e r y l a n d f i l l w i l l u p g r a d e i t s p r a c t i c e s t o p r o t e c t n e a r b y r e s i d e n t s a n d t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .

T h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e "Agenda f o r A c t i o n " w i l l i n v o l v e s e v e r a l e n t i t ies . T h e "Agenda f o r A c t i o n " s p e c i f i e s a c t i o n s f o r a l l sectors o f s o c i e t y . T h i s i n c l u d e s c i t i z e n s , r c a n u f a c t u r e r s , was te managemen t i n d u s t r i e s , l oca l g o v e r n m e n t s , s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s , a n d t h e F e d e r a l g n v e r n m e n t .

AE a n a t i o n w e h a v e c h o i c e s as t o how w e are g o i n g t o d e a l w i t h our w a s t e managemen t p r o b l e m . W e c a n c o n t i n u e t o crea.te more

garbage or w e c a n cut . b a c k . I n s t e a d o f s t o c k p i l i n g m i l l i c l n s o f t i r e s we n e e d t o i n v e s t i g a . t c ways t o r e c y c l e , reuse a n d o t h e r w i s e manage these and o the r w a ~ t f s B u t t h i s . r e q u i r e s . t h a t w e s s % i t m e i n d i v i d u a l l y f o r - e:.:=??mple r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r s e p a r a t i n g waste a.t OCI I homrs

We can c o n t i n u e t o b u r y our wastes d e p l e t i n g a v a i l a b l e d i s p o s a l f a c i l i t i e s o r we c a n loo!:: f o r o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o r e d u c e and r e c y c l e more o f o u r waste. I n s h o r t t he c h o i c e i5 i n our h a n d s . We cart t a k e ? r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and take steps t o d e a l w i t h t h i s d i l e m m a .