NORTH CAROLINA STATE AGENCY

PURCHASES OF RECYCLED PRODUCTS

AND

REDUCTION OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL

Annual Report

July 1,1993 -June 30,1994

State of North Carolina James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor

Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources Jonathan 9. Howes, Secretary

hhc

DEHNR

Acknowledgments

Published by the Office of Waste Reduction

Gary Hunt, Director Mary Beth Powell, Manager, Solid Waste Reduction Program

Scott Mouw, Technical Assistance Supervisor Jeff Bowyer, Tim Pula, and Tracy Swagler, UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Student Interns

James Christenson, Data Entry Specialist

Principal author: Katherine Foote, State Agency Recycling Coordinator

Special thanks to:

Department of Administration: Bobby Rhinehardt, Division of Purchase and Contract, and Bernard Torain, Division of Facility Management

and to the staff members of the agencies contributing to this report for your diligent work on the report

and for all your efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Keep up the good work, it's a pleasure to work with all of you!

North Carolina Office of Waste Reduction Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources

P.O. Box 29569 Raleigh, NC 27626-9569

(919) 571-4100 or (800) 763-0163 FAX (919) 571-4135

OFFICE OF WASTE

The Office of Waste Reduction provides free, non-regulatory technical assistance and education on methods to eliminate, reduce, or recycle wastes before they become pollutants or require disposal.

Printed on recycled paper

1,Mx) copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $812 or $0.812 per copy.

First printing August 1995 OW-95-28

Table of Contents

Executive Summary .................................................................................................. v

Recommendations .................................................................................................. viii

Part 1 . Introduction

...

1.A . Reporting Requirements ........................................................................ 1

I.B. Agencies Reporting ............................................................................... 2

I.C. Roles of the Department of Administration and the Department of Environment. Health. and Natural Resources ....................................... 3

I.C.1. Department of Administration ..................................................... 3

I.C.2. Department of Environment. Health. and Natural Resources ..... 4

Part II . Purchases of Materials and Supplies with Recycled Content

1I.A. Requirements of Executive Order #8 .................................................... 5

1I.B. Legislative Requirements ...................................................................... 5

1I.C. Purchases of Paper and Paper Products with Recycled Content ......... 7

II.C.l. Direct Purchases by Agencies ................................................... 7

II.C.1.a. Progress On Meeting Goals ......................................... 7

II.C.1.b. Reporting Accuracy ...................................................... 9

ll.C.2. External Print Jobs on Recycled Paper .................................... 10

ll.C.2.a. Correction Enterprise Print Shops .............................. 10

ll.C.2.b. Other External Print Jobs ............................................ 11

Purchases of Other (Non-Paper) Products with Recycled Content ...... 11 1I.D.

i

1I.E. Increasing Purchases of Products with Recycled Content ................. 13

II.E.l. Barriers Cited ........................................................................... 13

ll.E.2. Addressing Price, Availability. and Quality ............................... 13

ll.E.3. Improving Agencies' Knowledge and Reporting of Recycled Products .................................................................... 14

Part 111 . Source Reduction. Recycling. Composting. and Disposal of Solid Waste

III.A. Requirements of Executive Order #8 ..................................................... 16

111.B. Legislative Requirements ....................................................................... 16

I1I.C. Education of State Employees and the. Public about Waste Reduction and Recycling ..................................................................... 17

1II.D. State Agency Source Reduction of Waste ............................................ 19

1II.E. State Agency Recycling, Composting, and Solid Waste Disposal ......... 21

III.E.l. Raleigh-area State Offices ....................................................... 21

III.E.1.a. Office Paper ................................................................ 22

III.E.1.b. Aluminum Cans .......................................................... 23

III.E.l . c. Corrugated Cardboard ................................................ 23

III.E.1.d. Newspaper .................................................................. 24

III.E.1.e. Telephone Books ........................................................ 24

III.E.1.f. Wooden Pallets .......... : ................................................. 25

III.E.1.g. Yard Waste and Food Waste ...................................... 26

III.E.l . h. Other Recyclable Materials ......................................... 26

ii

lll.E.2. State Agency Operations Outside Raleigh ............................... 27

lll.E.2.a. Department of Agriculture ........................................... 27

lll.E.2.b. Department of Correction ............................................ 30

lll.E.2.c. Department of Cultural Resources .............................. 30

lll.E.2.d. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources ...................................................... 32

lll.E.2.e. Department of Human Resources ............................... 36

lll.E.2.f. Department of Transportation ....................................... 36

lll.E.3. State University System ........................................................... 38

lll.E.4. Community Colleges ................................................................. 39

Appendices

A. Employees, Students, and Headquarters Locations of Individual Agencies-- Fiscal Year 1993-94 ......... ...... .......... ................ ... ...... .... .... ...... ... . .. .... ... ... ..... .. . A-I

Purchases of Paper and Paper Products by Individual Agencies-- Fiscal Year 1993-94 ........................................................................................ B-I

B.

C. Materials Recycled or Composted by Units of State University System- Fiscal Year 1993-94 ....................................................................................... C-I

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List of Figures

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Employees and Students at State Agencies--Fiscal Year 1993-94 .................... 2

State Agency Purchases of Paper and Paper Products--Fiscal Year 1993-94 ... 8

State Agency Purchases of Other Recycled Products (Non-Paper)-- Fiscal Year 1993-94 .......................................................................................... 12

O f k e Paper Recycled by State Agencies in Raleigh--July 1991-June 1994 .... 22

Telephone Books Recycled by State Agencies in Raleigh (tons)-- March 1992, 1993, and 1994 ............................................................................ 25

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Agriculture Facilities (35 Facilities)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 .......... 28

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Correction (1 35 Facilities)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 ........................ 29

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Cultural Resources (29 Facilities)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 ............ 31

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by North Carolina Zoological Park (NCDEHNR)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 .................. 33

Materials Recycled by North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDEHNR-32 Facilities)--Calendar Year 1993 ............................. 34

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Human Resources (17 Institutions)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 ......... 35

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Division of Highways (NCDOT-15 Divisions)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 .................. 37

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by State University System (18 Units)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 .................................. 40

State University System Recycling and Solid Waste Disposal Rates- Fiscal Year 1993-94 ........................................................................................... 41

Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Community College System (58 Units)--Fiscal Year 1993-94 ............................ 42

iv

Executive Summary

State agencies are directed by North Carolina law and Governor Hunt's Executive Order #8 to reduce their disposal of solid waste, and to purchase and use products made from recycled materials when feasible and practicable.

Reports on waste reduction and recycling are required by Executive Order from 26 departments and offices of North Carolina state government, 18 units of the state university system, and 58 community colleges. Reports on purchases of recycled products are required by statute from the same agencies and also 119 local public school administrative units. Fiscal Year 1993-94 was the first year the reports were required.

Purchases of Recycled Products

Purch-r products with recvcled c o m Paper and paper products containing some recycled content constituted 36% of total reported purchases of paper and paper products by state agencies in Fiscal Year 1993-94. By group, the percentages for departments and offices were 46%; universities, 38%; community colleges, 32%; and local school administrative units, 31%.

State agency purchases exceeded the statutory goal of 10% of purchases of paper and paper products having recycled content in Fiscal Year 1993-94, and a similar goal of 25% established by Governor Hunt's Executive Order #8.

State Agency Purchases of Paper and Paper Products - Fiscal Year 1993-94

Nowrecycled

V

purchases of other (non-pwr! products WB recvcled content: State agencies reported buying at least $2.4 million of non-paper items made from recycled materials in FY 1993-94.

erials -wav construction: In addition to the products with recycled content reported here, the Department of Transportation uses many recycled products in highway construction and maintenance, including: crumb rubber from used tires in asphalt joint sealer; recycled plastic traffic barricades and fence posts; rubber ballast collars made from used tires; and recycled glass beads used in highway paint produced by the Department of Correction.

. .

Recycling and Composting

1. Raleigh-area state offices

Office p w : In three years, state agencies in Raleigh have nearly doubled the amount of office paper recycled, achieving a 91% increase from Fiscal Year 1991-92 to Fiscal Year 1993-94. Tonnage increased from 575 tons in FY 1991-92 to 1,102 tons in Fiscal Year 1993-94.

ORice Paper Recycled by State AQencies in Raleigh July 1991 - JUW 1994

TeleDhone Books: State agencies in Raleigh participate in the annual Wake County telephone book recycling drive. Quantities of phone books collected at drop-off sites in the downtown state complex were 27 tons in 1992, 37 tons in 1993, and 40 tons in 1994. The 8% increase in 1994 over 1993 occurred while collections in Wake County as a whole decreased 14%. Phone books collected from the sites in the downtown state complex accounted for 15% of the entire county’s collection in 1994.

vi

Yard waste combosting: The Governor’s Executive Mansion installed a backyard composting system donated by the non-profit agency Sunshares in May 1993. Yard waste from the grounds and kitchen scraps are composted and the compost is used in the mansion’s gardens. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states whose Executive Residences have backyard composting.

Yard waste from other state building grounds in downtown Raleigh is composted by the Division of Facility Management. The finished compost is used in landscaping on state building grounds.

Other materials recycled by most state agencies in Raleigh include the following:

Aluminum cans Corrugated Cardboard Newspaper Wooden Pallets

Miscellaneous items are recycled at a limited number of sites, such as steel food cans, cooking grease, glass and plastic bottles, glossy paper, and others.

State Agency Operations Outside Raleigh

State agencies throughout the state perform a variety of functions in addition to those that are predominantly office-oriented. State parks, correctional facilities, historic sites, psychiatric hospitals, and highway construction and maintenance operations are examples of the diverse services provided by state agencies.

The combined reported total in Fiscal Year 1993-94 for non-office state agency operations, mainly outside Raleigh, was 10,408 tons of materials recycled or composted, and 23,245 tons disposed. Not all agencies were able to report quantitative data on the materials recycled or solid waste disposed.

State Universities and Community Colleges

During Fiscal Year 1993-94, the 16 state universities, UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham (18 total institutions), and the 58 community colleges, reported 7,945 tons of materials recycled or composted, and 32,034 tons disposed. State universities accounted for about 90% of these reported totals. Not all universities and community colleges were able to report quantitative data on the materials recycled or solid waste disposed.

vii

Recommendations

Based on the findings in this annual report, the following recommendations are proposed to improve the solid waste reduction efforts of North Carolina state agencies.

tion #I. Allow staiugencies to retain receipts from ttu? sale of

departments, institutions, and agencies, including state universities, currently are required to return to the General Fund any revenues generated from the sale of recyclable materials. It is recommended that the General Assembly change the statute governing sales of state surplus property (GS 143-64) to allow receipts from the sale of recycled materials to be retained by the state department, institution, or agency that recycles them, specifying that the receipts shall be used to help defray the costs of the agency’s waste reduction programs. Allowing agencies to retain these receipts would provide incentives to the agencies to maximize their recycling and other waste reduction programs, and to get the best possible price for their materials.

001s should implement waste reduction measures Public schools are not required to implement waste reduction programs by either General Statute or Executive Order. It is recommended that all North Carolina public schools make an effort to implement at least minimal waste reduction programs, recognizing that such programs: contribute to achieving the state’s 40% waste reduction goal; set an example for school children, their parents, and the community at large; and can achieve net savings in school budgets through reduced purchasing costs, reduced waste disposal costs, and realization of revenues from the sale of recyclable materials.

There are many successful school waste reduction programs in North Carolina that can serve as a model for others. The Office of Waste Reduction has published a manual for schools that describes some of these programs and provides a “how-to” guide. The General Assembly should consider a one-time appropriation of funds to defray capital expenditures related to implementing recycling programs at public schools.

increase their &vts to imalement waste re-- Governor H-ve Ordet

Iv in educ-ovees the p p in reducina waste at the source . The first annual report shows that

state agencies vary widely in their efforts to implement the various waste reduction requirements contained in state law (GS 130A-14; GS 143-58; GS 143-169) and Governor Hunt‘s Executive Order #8. Two areas need particular attention:

tion of state emdovees -ste reduction recvclinq:

Section 1I.C shows that not all agencies have taken the actions required by Executive Order #8 to provide effective programs for educating agency

viii

employees and the public about recycling and source reduction programs. Steps that need to be taken include:

Agency heads (Secretary, Commissioner, Chancellor, President, etc.) need to show visible support for waste reduction efforts, though memoranda, statements at meetings, personal action, and so forth.

Agencies need to establish networks of assistant recycling coordinators among employees to communicate information about recycling and other waste reduction programs. The assistant coordinators need to meet regularly, and all employees need to receive regular communications about waste reduction.

Agencies that routinely host the public need to develop and implement effective programs for communicating with visitors, clients, students, etc. about recycling and other waste reduction practices at their facilities.

b. Greater emphasis on source " e a s u r e s to reduce solid waste: Section 1I.D shows that not all agencies have implemented practices required by Executive Order #8 to reduce waste at the source, for example, double-sided printing and copying. Furthermore, although many agencies claimed to have implemented certain source reduction practices, many also stated that they do not provide information to employees about how to reduce waste at the source. Several agencies that claimed to use double-sided copying as a source reduction method actually submitted a single-sided copy of their annual report to the Office of Waste Reduction.

Source reduction practices generally required changes in daily procedures by employees, changes that clearly will not occur solely because the head of the agency or the lead recycling coordinator issues a statement saying that the agency will engage in the practice. Therefore, in addition to educating employees about recycling programs, agencies need to provide adequate education about source reduction practices that are expected of employees, to ensure that these practices are truly implemented on a daily basis throughout the agency.

Reco-ndation #4. State aaencies should improve monitorina of waste Many state agencies do not track the quantity of solid

waste disposed of from their operations by landfilling or incineration. Agencies should regularly collect and analyze data on the quantity and composition of waste disposed of from their operations. Quantity data should be obtained by exact weight, or by estimation when actual weight is infeasible to monitor. Periodic waste stream assessments should be made to determine what specific materials are in the agency's waste stream.

. .

ix

Information on the quantity and composition of waste disposed will enable agencies to:

reduce costs of waste disposal by ensuring that the agency minimizes the frequency of pick-ups and/or the size of waste disposal containers;

determine what materials are being disposed of in relatively large quantities for which recycling or other waste reduction programs could be implemented; and

assess the progress of recycling and other waste reduction efforts, by tracking changes in the amount of waste disposed over time and by showing whether significant quantities of materials for which the agency has established recycling programs are still appearing in waste disposal containers.

RecommnsMion #5. State a w m i e s should develop and .mDlement food service waste reductionlrecvclina p r o g " Reports submitted by state agencies for Fiscal Year 1993-94 show that only a few of those that have food service operations at their facilities have addressed waste reduction and recycling opportunities in these operations. It is recommended that all agencies with food service operations assess their food service-related waste stream and implement programs to reduce this waste through a combination of source reduction, recycling, and composting programs.

The Office of Waste Reduction is preparing a technica! assistance manual for state agency waste reduction programs, which will included guidance for food service waste reduction programs. The Office of Waste Reduction will provide information to state agencies and others to assist them in implementing such programs.

X

Part 1. Introduction

LA. Reporting Requirements

State agencies are directed by law and Executive Order to reduce, through recycling and other means, the quantity of waste they dispose of in landfills or incinerators, and to purchase and use products made from recycled materials when feasible and practicable. They are also required to report annually on these efforts. This report fulfills the reporting requirement of Governor Hunt's Executive Order #8 and the reporting requirement of G.S. 143-58.2(f) for Fiscal Year 1993-94, the first year such reports are required.

On Earth Day, April 22, 1993, Governor Hunt signed Executive Order #8, titled: "State Government Recycling, Reduction of Solid Waste, and Purchase of Products With Recycled Content." The Order applies to state agencies explicitly including state departments and universities (and implicitly including community colleges) but does not apply to local school administrative units. In July 1992 Governor Martin had signed Executive Order #172, which contained many of the same provisions as Governor Hunt's Executive Order 778.

Each state agency covered by Executive Order #8 is required to report at least annually, beginning with Fiscal Year 1993-94, on: activities or programs implemented to reduce the amount of waste generated by the agency; amounts and types of recycled products purchased; and amounts and types of materials collected for recycling by the agency. The reports are to be submitted to the Office of Waste Reduction (OWR) by October 1 of each year. OWR is to compile the agency reports and provide an annual report to the Governor on progress by state agencies in source reduction of waste, recycled products procurement, and collection of recyclable materials.

The North Carolina General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 58 on July 1, 1993, establishing a procurement policy to promote state agency purchases of materials and supplies with recycled content. The law establishes goals for purchases of paper and paper products having recycled content. Beginning with Fiscal Year 1993-94, state departments, institutions, agencies, community colleges, and local school administrative units are required to report by October 1 of each year to OWR the amounts and types of materials and supplies with recycled content they purchased during the previous fiscal year and their progress toward reaching the goals. OWR is to submit a summary of these reports annually to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.

Throughout this report, "Fiscal Year" refers to the state's fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. For example, Fiscal Year 1993-94 refers to the period July 1, 1993 through June 30, 1994. Unless otherwise noted, information presented in this report refers to activities during Fiscal Year 1993-94.

1

I.B. Agencies Reporting

, ...I

Departments~and Offices . ,1 .:’;?‘’. . : , ’’ ..,>+., I ’ . ., . InX ,’! 66,921 ..

Reports on waste reduction and recycling are required by Executive Order from 26 departments and offices of North Carolina state government, 18 units of the state university system, and 58 community colleges. Reports on purchases of recycled products are required by statute from the same agencies and also 119 local public school administrative units. Fiscal Year 1993-94 was the first year the reports were required.

Figure 1 gives an overview of the relative sizes of the types of agencies covered by this report. It shows the number of full-time, permanent employees at the departments and offices, and the number of students at units of the state universities, community colleges, and local school administrative units. Appendix A lists the individual agencies, their employees or enrolled students, and their headquarters locations.

The word “agency” is used throughout this report to refer to state departments, institutions, universities, community colleges, and lo.cal school administrative units, except where otherwise indicated by the context.

Employees*

Figure 1. Employees and Students at State Agencies

Fiscal Year 1993-94

University System

Community Colleges

Local School Administrative Units

~

I Aaencies i Emolovees or Students

152,904 Enrolled Students**

337,891 Enrolled Students***

1,146,639 Enrolled Students’*’*

2

I.C. Roles of the Department of Administration and the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources

The Department of Administration and the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources have responsibilities assigned by law and Executive Order for assisting state agencies to reduce waste disposal and to purchase recycled-content products. This section describes the roles of agencies in these departments that provide such assistance to state agencies.

I.C.1. Department of Administration

Several divisions of the Department of Administration are involved in aspects of waste reduction and recycling activities and purchases of recycled products.

he Division of P-Lo oversees state purchasing. The division is charged with promoting the purchase of products made from recycled materials, as well as products that help to reduce waste by being reusable, refillable, repairable, more durable, or less toxic than traditional products. A P&C staff member has been designated to provide a central source of information on these products and to coordinate the division’s efforts to promote their purchase. Other staff members provide assistance according to the specific product or service team on which they work, such as office paper or laser printer toner cartridges.

The Division of Facilitv Mana and recyclable materials from state agencies in the downtown Raleigh state complex and at many other locations. Solid waste and recyclable materials are collected by DFM staff and by private firms under contracts administered by DFM.

TheStateSu rdus Provertv of the Division of Auxiliary Services

. . . 0

oversees collection of solid waste . . . ..

assists state agencies statewide to sell certain types of surplus materials rather than disposing of them in landfills or incinerators. These include both “reusable” materials that will be reused in their original form, such as furniture and motor vehicles, and “recyclable” materials that will be manufactured into new products.

Three recyclable materials--scrap metal, motor vehicle batteries, and used motor oil--are recycled through statewide contracts administered centrally by SSPA. Other recyclable materials are recycled by individual agencies with assistance from SSPA when requested. The SSPA also operates a facility in Raleigh that shreds and bales confidential office paper from state agencies and sells it to a recycler. The SSPA paper recycling facility is described further in section III.E.1.a.

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The State Construction Office oversees construction of state-owned buildings. The office encourages reduction of waste disposal on state demolition, renovation, and construction projects, and encourages the use of recycled-content building materials where feasible.

Jhe State P r o p e w oversees acquisition of real property through sale or lease by state agencies. The office supports the use of products and materials having recycled content in renovation and construction projects, and ensures that requests for proposals on state property include requests for adequate facilities for collection of solid waste and recyclable materials.

I.C.2. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources

The Office of Waste Reduction !OWN within the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources provides free, non-regulatory technical assistance and education on methods to eliminate, reduce, or recycle wastes before they become pollutants or require disposal. One OWR staff person is assigned primary responsibility for assisting state agencies with their efforts to reduce waste disposal and purchase recycled-content products, and is designated the “State Agency Recycling Coordinator.” Other OWR staff members work mainly with local governments, businesses, and other target audiences, but also work with state agencies on occasion.

To share information and answer questions on waste reduction, recycling, and purchases of recycled products, OWR sends periodic memoranda and other written information to state agencies, holds meetings of state agency recycling contact persons, and sends speakers to appropriate meetings such as those of state agency physical plant personnel, purchasing agents, or business managers. OWR staff members help individual agencies to develop waste reduction and recycling programs specific to their needs by answering questions over the phone, sending written information, and providing on-site consultations.

This annual report was prepared by OWR based on reports submitted by individual state agencies. OWR developed reporting guidelines and held workshops in August 1994 at seven locations statewide (two in Raleigh and one each in Wilmington, Charlotte, Sylva, Winston-Salem, and Washington) to assist agencies with report preparation. A staff member in the Division of Purchase and Contract assisted with conducting these workshops.

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Part II. Purchases of Materials and Supplies with Recycled Content

1I.A. Requirements of Executive Order #8

Executive Order #8 assigns responsibilities to agencies for implementing programs to reduce and recycle solid waste generated by their operations and to purchase and use products having recycled content. The Order’s requirements for recycling and other means of reducing disposal of waste are described In Part 111 of this report. With respect to purchasing recycled-content products, Executive Order #8 declares:

“To help develop markets for recyclable material, to support local government recycling efforts mandated by G.S. 130A-309.09B, and to set an example for local government and the private sector, all state agencies shall purchase and use products made wholly or in part with recycled materials whenever feasible and practicable.”

The Order establishes goals for state agency purchases of recycled-content paper and paper products that are similar to, but more ambitious than, goals established by the General Assembly, described in Part H.B. The goals are stated in Executive Order #8 as follows:

“State agencies shall attempt to meet the following goals for the percent of the total dollar value of all paper and paper products purchased having recycled content:

Fiscal Year 1993-94: at least 25%; Fiscal Year 1994-95: at least 35%; Fiscal Year 1995-96: at least 45%; Fiscal Year 1996-97: at least 55%; Fiscal Year 1997-98: at least 65%.”

1I.B. Legislative Requirements

Senate Bill 58 of 1993 established in law a policy to promote procurement of recycled- content products, as follows:

”It is the policy of this State to encourage and promote the purchase of products with recycled content. All State departments, institutions, agencies, community colleges, and local school administrative units shall, to the extent economically practicable, purchase and use, or require the purchase and use of, products with recycled content.” (G.S. 143-58.2)

The law contains specific instructions to several agencies for carrying out this policy. For example, the Department of Administration and all agencies authorized to purchase

5

materials and supplies or to contract for services are directed to review and revise their bid procedures and specifications to eliminate those that explicitly discriminate against materials with recycled content, except where procedures and specifications are necessary to protect health, safety, and welfare.

Goals for the purchase of recycled-content paper and paper products as a percentage of total purchases of these products are also established in the law, as follows:

"In furtherance of the State policy, it is the goal of the State that each department, institution, agency, community college, and local school administrative unit purchase paper and paper products with recycled content according to the following schedule:

At least ten percent (1 0%) by June 30,1994; At least twenty percent (20%) by June 30, 1995; At least thirty-five percent (35%) by June 30,1996; and At least fifty percent (50%) by June 30, 1997; and the end of each subsequent fiscal year,

of the total amount spent for the purchase of paper and paper products during that fiscal year." (G.S. 143-58.3)

When a public document published by a state agency is printed on recycled paper, Senate Bill 58 requires the document to contain a printed statement or symbol indicating that the document was printed on recycled paper. (G.S. 143-170.l(a2))

In addition to the provisions applicable to all state agencies, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is directed by the statute to expand its use of recycled materials in highway construction projects, especially the use of rubber from tires in pavements, subbase materials, or other appropriate applications, and recycled plastic and other materials in guard rail posts, fence posts, and sign supports, and to report annually on these activities. That report, titled "Recycling and Solid Waste Management Report, Fiscal Year 1994," is available from the NCDOT Design Services Unit, telephone (919) 250-4128.

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1I.C. Purchases of Paper and Paper Products with Recycled Content

II.C.l. Direct Purchases by Agencies

II.C.1.a. Progress On Meeting Goals

Figure 2 shows that paper and paper products containing some recycled content constituted 36% of the total purchases of paper and paper products by state agencies as a whole in Fiscal Year 1993-94. As a group, the percentage for departments and offices was 46%; universities, 38%; community colleges, 32%; and local school administrative units, 31 %. Appendix B provides information for the individual agencies and schools in these groups.

State agency purchases as a whole greatly exceeded the statutory goal of 10% of purchases of paper and paper products to consist of products having recycled content in Fiscal Year 1993-94. They also exceeded Governor Hunt's goal of 25% for Fiscal Year 1993-94 as established in Executive Order #8.

Figure 2 and Appendix B break out purchases of paper and paper products into three major categories, and show the percentage of recycled-content product purchases for each category. The three categories are: office paper (e.g., copier paper, envelopes, 25% rag bond paper); towel and tissue products (e.g., paper napkins, paper towels, and bathroom tissue); and miscellaneous paper products (e.g., continuous feed computer paper, file folders, calendars, file cards, and others).

It should be noted that in this report paper items used by state agencies sometimes appear in other agencies' purchasing reports. For example, printed matter such as published documents or paper forms are often printed by the Department of Correction's print shop or duplicating center rather than by an individual agency's internal printing or duplicating operations. In this case, the paper purchased would be reported by the Department of Correction rather than by each individual agency. State agency printing is discussed further in Part ll.C.2.

Appendix 6 shows a wide range of reported agency percentages of recycled-products purchases. The discrepancies among agencies' reported purchases in many cases reflect inaccurate reporting, but also may result from real differences among agencies' actual purchases. Where real differences in recycled-content purchases occur, they may reflect either differences in the types of products purchased or the efforts of agencies to seek out and purchase recycled products, or both.

A primary example of differences in the types of products purchased occurs it1 purchases of tissue and towel products. As shown in Figure 2, tissue and towel products account for the greatest percentage of recycled-content products purchased.

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Figure 2. State Agency Purchases of Paper and Paper Products

Fiscal Year 1993-94

Mlscsllaneous Offlce Paper Tissue EL Towel Paper Agency Totals

"Oftlca Paper' includes bond copier paper. bond envelopes, bmwn envelopes, and rag bond paper. 'Towel 8nd Tlsrue' includes paper napkins, bathmom tissue, and paper fowls. "Miscallanaous Paper" includes card stocks, chipboard, wlandars, fla foldera, mnlinuous fonns, Nled pads, cormgated cardboard, instruclionai schwipapers. and other paper iiems not included in 'oftice papap or Yissue and lowel. '

Source: Agency reports to the office of Waste Redudion.

Appendix B presents purchases of paper and paper products For individual aQenCieS.

State Agency Purchases of Paper and Paper Products

8

The paper industry has used recycled paper in tissue and towel products for years, and as a result it is widely available at prices at or below those of comparable non-recycled- content products. Because of this, agencies that purchase little or no tissue and towel relative to other types of paper are likely to have purchased a lower percentage of recycled-content paper and paper products overall than those that purchase significant quantities of tissue and towel products.

Many agencies contract for their housekeeping services, and these contracts ocen require the contractor to provide towel and tissue products. Even where contractors use recycled-content tissue and towel products, agencies would not report this use in their own purchases.

Where real differences in recycled-content products purchased occurred because of differences in the efforts of agencies to purchase these products, they were based on actual or perceived differences in price, quality, or availability of recycled products, or on a lack of awareness of the state’s recycled products procurement policies established in 1993. Efforts to address these factors and increase state agency purchases of recycled products are described in Part 1I.E.

II.C.1.b. Reporting Accuracy

A number of agencies stated that their reports omitted a significant percentage of their total purchases because records were not readily available. These agencies are reported separately in Appendix B, and were not included in calculations of the percentages shown in Figure 2 of recycled-content paper and paper products purchased by groups of agencies and by state government as a whole.

Many agencies that did not explicitly state that theirreports omitted a major part of their purchases also may have significantly underreported their purchases of recycled- content or non-recycled content products, or both. The first year of preparing a report such as this is a learning experience. Many persons preparing the report expressed confusion or misunderstanding about aspects of purchasing recycled products or preparing the report. Common misconceptions included:

reporting only purchases of recycled-content paper and paper products, rather than reporting non-recycled products as well so that the percentage of recycled products could be calculated;

assuming that certain items on state contract, such as tissue and towel products, did not contain recycled content when in fact they do;

erroneously believing that items had to contain 100% recycled content to be reported as recycled products; and

9

misunderstanding the meaning of the recycling “chasing arrows” symbol on some product packages, assuming that it always means that the product contains recycled content.

Other factors that may have contributed to inaccurate or incomplete reporting include the following:

Many agencies do not have a centralized purchasing system and do not require central reporting of purchases. A common example of this situation occurs with many local school administrative units, which allocate funds to individual schools for purchasing their own paper and other supplies.

A number of agencies do not have computerized purchasing records, which hinders their ability to easily prepare a report on purchases.

In Fiscal Year 1993-94 not all commodity codes distinguished recycled from non- recycled products, so agencies that had not developed their own coding system to make this distinction would have difficulty obtaining accurate records.

Because this was the first year the report was required, many agencies were not aware of the state policy promoting purchases of recycled products, the goals for purchases of recycled paper and paper products, or the reporting requirement until late in the fiscal year. Consequently, they may not have kept records of their purchases during the year, and may have had difficulty reconstructing them.

Agencies were encouraged to provide their best estimates for the Fiscal Year 1993-94 report even if they could not readily obtain the data from their records.

ll.C.2. External Print Jobs on Recycled Paper

II.C.2.a. Correction Enterprise Print Shops

Correction Enterprises of the Department of Correction operates a duplicating center at Central Prison in Raleigh and a printing plant in Nash County, both of which are used by state departments, offices, community colleges, local school systems, and other state agencies. Paper purchases for items printed at these two facilities are included in purchases reported by the Department of Correction (Figure 2 and Appendix B). Approximately 90% of the materials printed at Central Prison’s duplicating center in Fiscal Year 1993-94 were printed on recycled paper. At least 50% of the materials printed at the Nash County print plant in Fiscal Year 1993-94 were printed on recycled paper.

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ll.C.2.b. Other External Print Jobs

In addition to printing done by Correction Enterprises and internal state agency print shops, some materials are printed by private firms for state agencies. Agencies were asked to report for Fiscal Year 1993-94 the total value of print jobs performed by printers external to state government in which they specified the use of recycled paper.

State departments and offices reported more than $1 million in external print jobs specifying the use of recycled paper. Universities together reported approximately $775,000 in such print jobs; community colleges together reported about $150,000; and local school administrative units reported nearly $80,000.

These figures cannot be compared with the figures for purchases of paper and paper products with recycled content, because print jobs usually are charged as a whole, including the cost of labor, ink, binding, and so forth, in addition to the cost of paper. Nevertheless, they do serve as an additional indicator of the efforts of state agencies to purchase and use recycled paper.

1I.D. Purchases of Other (Non-Paper) Products with Recycled Content

In addition to purchases of recycled-content paper and paper products, agencies were asked to report any other items they purchased during Fiscal Year 1993-94 that were made from recycled materials. They were required to report only the amount spent on these non-paper recycled products, not their purchase as a percentage of total purchases. Reported quantities are probably less than actual quantities purchased, because many agencies were not aware of the reporting requirement until late in the fiscal year or after its end, and thus did not keep records of their purchases of these items. Many agencies reported that they were not always aware of whether items they purchased contained recycled content.

Figure 3 shows reported purchases of non-paper items having recycled content. The first item, re-manufactured laser printer toner cartridges, is actually an example of a reused item rather than strictly a recycled-content item. As of October 1, 1993, these cartridges are the only type of laser printer toner cartridges carried on state contract. The cartridges are comparable in quality to new cartridges, but are significantly less expensive and reduce the quantity of cartridges disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Many agencies had begun purchasing remanufactured cartridges even before the state term contract began in 1993.

Some remanufactured fax and photocopier toner cartridges were added to the state term contract in Fiscal Year 1994-95. Many agencies are also purchasing re-loaded or re-inked printer and typewriter ribbons. Purchase and Contract is studying the feasibility of offering these ribbons under a state term contract.

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Figure 3. State Agency Purchases of Other Recycled Products (Non-Paper)

Fiscal Year 1993-94

Recycled Product

Source: Agency repolts to the Ofh? of Waste Reduction. I Recapped tires are another item that are technically remanufactured rather than made from recycled content. Figure 3 shows reported agency purchases of recapped tires, which are available through a state term contract.

A number of items made from recycled plastic, including three-ring binders, can liners, recycling and other containers, and carpet, are currently available on state term contracts. Figure 3 shows reported state agency purchases of these recycled plastic products, as well as purchases of plastic lumber and other items not covered by state term contracts. Reported agency purchases of other building materials made from recycled content, including reused building materials, are listed in Figure 3.

Reported agency purchases of compost and mulch products are shown in Figure 3. Compost and mulch products that agencies produced and used within their own operations are reported in Part 111 of this report. Compost and mulch products are considered recycled products in that they are a means of recovering valuable products from yard waste, food scraps, and other discarded organic matter.

The final category of purchases of non-paper recycled products shown in Figure 3 is labeled “other non-paper recycled products.” Items reported by agencies in this category include, among others: wiping rags; motor oil; printer and typewriter ribbons; computer diskettes; plastic cafeteria trays, letter trays, and pencil cups.

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In addition to the products with recycled content reported here, the Department of Transportation uses many recycled products in highway construction and maintenance, including: crumb rubber from used tires in asphalt joint sealer; recycled plastic traffic barricades and fence posts; rubber ballast collars made from used tires; and recycled glass beads used in highway paint produced by the Department of Correction. These items and others are described in a separate annual report published by the Department of Transportation.

1I.E. Increasing Purchases of Products with Recycled Content

State agencies have made a good start in their efforts to purchase and use products made with recycled content, as demonstrated in this report. A number of activities, many already underway, will help to increase the amount of recycled products purchased by state agencies. This section describes the major barriers to purchasing recycled products that were cited by agencies, and explains how these barriers are being overcome.

II.E.1. Barriers Cited

Agencies were asked to comment on any barriers they had encountered in purchasing recycled products. The most commonly cited barrier was the greater price of some recycled products. A few cited availability problems. Some cited real or perceived problems with the quality of recycled products.

Several agencies cited lack of knowledge until recently about the law or Executive Order promoting purchases of recycled products. Many of those who were aware of the law or the Order cited lack of knowledge about what recycled products were available through state term contracts and other sources, and about how to evaluate claims of recycled content.

ll.E.2. Addressing Price, Availability, and Quality

Prices for some recycled products are greater than those of their non-recycled counterparts, but this is not true for all recycled products. When recycled products offered are comparable in quality, availability, and price to non-recycled products, P&C carries only the recycled-content item on state term contracts, as directed by Executive Order #8. For example, 25% rag bond paper, and tissue and towel products, are offered only with recycled content on current state contracts, because the products offered are of an appropriate quality, are available in sufficient quantities, and were the lowest bid.

Many other recycled products on state term contract are offered at approximately the same or lower price than their non-recycled counterparts. In these cases P&C

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continues to carry both products if the availability of the recycled item may not be sufficient to meet the needs of all agencies purchasing from term contracts.

For recycled products that are offered only at significantly higher prices than their non- recycled counterparts, P&C carries both products on state term contracts to allow individual agencies to determine whether it is economically feasible for them to purchase the recycled items. P&C continues to seek vendors that offer recycled products at competitive prices.

Copier paper, a staple of state government purchases, is the major item cited whose price until recently has been significantly greater for the recycled-content item. Paper manufacturers have made significant investments recently in mills producing recycled paper, and prices are declining in relation to non-recycled copier paper.

As of June 1, 1995, the difference in price between most recycled and non-recycled content copier papers on state term contract narrowed to less than 5%. Prices for many recycled paper items are now identical to, or even less than, non-recycled content items. Agency purchasing personnel are encouraged to monitor the prices of recycled products continually, as the situation is changing rapidly.

Prices for both recycled and non-recycled content paper have increased significantly within the past year, and shortages of paper have been reported. State agencies have been required for several years by law and Executive Order to keep paper usage to a minimum as a way to reduce waste at the source. Recent price increases and decreased availability of paper provide additional incentives to agencies to implement methods of reducing paper waste at the source, such as: copying or printing on both sides of the paper; using electronic instead of paper communications; eliminating unnecessary fax cover sheets; and other strategies as discussed in Part I1I.D. of this report.

ll.E.3. Improving Agencies' Knowledge and Reporting of

'

Recycled Products

The Office of Waste Reduction and the Division of Purchase and Contract provide information and assistance to agencies on purchasing recycled products through state term contracts and other sources. All agencies have now been informed through the process of preparing their first annual report about the policies established and responsibilities assigned by law and Executive Order for purchasing recycled products. OWR and P&C will reinforce this knowledge during Fiscal Year 1994-95.

To provide information about purchasing recycled products and completing the annual reports, staff of OWR and P&C will make presentations at meetings of appropriate state agency personnel, such as the University Purchasing Personnel Association, the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasers, and meetings of Community

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College business managers and purchasing officers. OWR and P&C also will send memoranda and other written information periodically to state agency personnel responsible for purchasing and for preparing annual reports. P&C promotes purchases of recycled products through its regular communication channels such as its newsletter and contract updates.

A brochure highlighting the recycled products available on state term contracts was first published and distributed to state agencies in 1993. The brochure was updated in 1994 and 1995 to reflect additional recycled-content products added to state term contracts. This information is also presented on the microfiche and electronic contract information provided to term contract users.

The Office of Waste Reduction spearheads an ongoing “Buy-Recycled” campaign to promote purchases of recycled products by state and local government agencies, businesses, and the general public. Campaign activities in addition to those mentioned have included: a series of workshops in September 1994 for public and private purchasers; distribution of television, radio, and print public service announcements developed by the Environmental Defense Fund; and publication and distribution of an information bulletin titled, “Setting Up a Buy-Recycled Program,” and a brochure titled, “North Carolina Manufacturers of Recycled Products.”

To make it easier for agencies to track the recycled products they purchase through term contracts, P&C is revising its commodity coding system to distinguish all recycled- content products from their non-recycled counterparts. Contract formats are being revised to make it easier for agencies to determine which products have recycled content.

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Part 111. Source Reduction, Recycling, Composting, and Disposal of Solid Waste ,

1II.A. Requirements of Executive Order #8

Governor Hunt‘s Executive Order #8, described in Parts I and II, assigned several responsibilities to state agencies to reduce disposal of solid waste by source reduction, recycling, and composting. These responsibilities include:

reducing waste at its source, through measures such as printing or copying on two sides of paper, replacing paper communications with electronic communications, using durable rather than disposable items, and reducing unnecessary packaging;

ensuring that employees have access to containers for recycling, at a minimum, aluminum cans, high-grade office paper, and corrugated cardboard;

requiring that employees separate identified recyclable materials generated in the course of agency operations and place them in appropriate recycling containers;

implementing programs for collecting and recycling items at state agencies that routinely host the general public, which include but are not limited to: highway rest areas; state parks and recreation areas; employment security offices; and state historic sites; and

educating employees about recycling and waste reduction goals and procedures.

1II.B. Legislative Requirements

State agencies have been assigned by law a number of requirements for reducing the disposal of solid waste generated from their operations, beginning with the passage of the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Act in 1989. Among these responsibilities are the following:

“Each State agency, including the General Assembly, the General Court of Justice, and the University of North Carolina shall:

Environment, Health, and Natural Resources] and the Department of Administration for the collection of all recyclable aluminum and wastepaper materials generated in State offices throughout the State, including, at a minimum, high-grade office paper and corrugated paper.

(1) Establish a program in cooperation with the Department [of

... (4) Establish and implement, in cooperation with the Department [of

Environment, Health, and Natural Resources] and the Department of

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Administration, a solid waste reduction program for materials used in the course of agency operations. The program shall be designed and implemented to achieve maximum feasible reduction of solid waste generated as a result of agency operations.” (G.S. 30A-309.14(a))

The law contains requirements for source reduction of waste, although that term is not used explicitly with respect to state agency responsibilities. Specific duties assigned to state agencies include substituting mass distribution of written reports with distributing a brief notification of the availability of the report to potentially interested persons, distributing the report only to those who request it, and delivering copies to only those State libraries that are considered likely to receive requests for it. (G.S. 130A- 309.14(5))

Furthermore, the Department of Administration is charged (G.S. 130A-309.14(al)) with promoting the purchase and use of reusable, refillable, repairable, more durable, and less toxic supplies and products. It is to report annually on these efforts to the Environmental Review Commission. That report, titled “Report on the Review and Revision of Bid Procedures and the Purchase and Use of Reusable, Refillable, Repairable, more Durable, and less Toxic Supplies and Products,” is available from the Division of Purchase and Contract, telephone (919) 733-3581.

1II.C. Educating State Employees and the Public about Waste Reduction and Recycling

Educating state employees and others about waste reduction and recycling is crucial to the success of state agency programs. Simply installing containers for collecting recyclable materials is not enough, even if they are well marked. Employees, students, and visitors to a state park or other public facility all must be informed about how to recycle appropriately, and motivated to do so. Efforts to reduce waste at the source are even more closely tied to education, because they usually involve a behavioral or procedural change that reduces the generation of waste materials.

!&ste r e d U i o n / r e c v ! i o n for a a e w o v e e g : Effective waste reduction education for agency employees requires getting the word out through a variety of media--posters, memoranda, discussions at staff meetings, and so on. The most effective programs involve enthusiastic coordinators in each office who serve as a conduit of information between employees and staff administering recycling and waste reduction programs. Highly visible commitment of upper management is essential.

These requirements for success are supported by Governor Hunt‘s Executive Order #8. The Order shows the Governor’s commitment to waste reduction, and directs all state agencies to educate their employees about waste reduction goals and procedures and to establish and use a network of recycling coordinators as an integral part of their educational efforts.

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State departments and offices, universities, and community colleges were asked several questions about their waste reduction educational efforts in Fiscal Year 1993- 94. Their responses were as follows:

Visible support of upper management: Of the 26 departments and offices reporting, 20 said their agency’s head (e.g., Secretary, Commissioner, etc.) had communicated the importance of waste reduction and recycling to agency employees through one or more of the following methods: written memoranda, discussion at meetings, or speeches. Twelve of the 18 units of the university system said that their agency head (e.g., Chancellor) had done this, and 37 of the 58 community college presidents were reported to have done so.

Use of network of recycling coordinators: All 26 departments and offices reported having designated a lead recycling coordinator. Nineteen have established a network of assistant recycling coordinators within the agency, and 12 of these hold meetings periodically for the assistant coordinators to share information about waste reduction and recycling. Eighteen of the 26 reported that they regularly communicate about waste reduction and recycling with all agency employees.

All 18 units of the state university system reported having designated a lead recycling coordinator; nine have established a network of assistant recycling coordinators within the agency, and six of these hold meetings periodically for the assistant coordinators to share information about waste reduction and recycling. Eleven of the 18 reported that they regularly communicate about waste reduction and recycling with all agency employees.

Of the 58 community colleges, 42 reported having designated a lead recycling coordinator. Thirteen have established a network of assistant recycling coordinators within the agency, and ten of these hold meetings periodically for the assistant coordinators to share information about waste reduction and recycling. Eighteen of the 58 reported that they regularly communicate about waste reduction and recycling with all agency employees.

Waste reductio-cat i on for the D W : State agencies that routinely host the general public are directed by Executive Order #8 to implement appropriate recycling collection programs at these facilities. Educational programs for the public as well as employees at these locations are needed to ensure their success. The most effective way to educate the public will vary depending upon the type of facility and the materials recycled; for example, a community college campus would use a different mix of educational methods than would a highway rest area.

Agencies were asked to report whether they provided any waste reductionhecycling educational programs for members of the public (other than agency employees) that routinely visit or use its facilities, for example, state parks, highway rest areas,

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correctional facilities, and college campuses. Such programs may include either general information and encouragement about recycling and waste reduction, or specific information about how to recycle items at the facility.

Four of the 26 departments and offices reported having educational programs directed at the public visiting its facilities. It should be noted that some of the 26 departments and offices do not routinely host members of the public other than employees. Of the 18 units of the state university system, six reported educational programs directed at members of the public, while five of the 58 community colleges reported such programs. All units of the state university system and all community colleges should have educational programs for students and for other visitors to campus, such as attendees of conferences or sporting events.

1II.D. State Agency Source Reduction of Waste

Most people think of recycling when they think of reducing waste disposal. However, reducing waste at its source is preferred over recycling. Source reduction of waste means preventing the creation of waste materials that must be collected and disposed of by landfilling, incineration, or recycling. Reducing waste at its source reduces negative environmental impacts even more than does recycling, and almost always saves money.

State departments and offices, universities, and community colleges were asked several questions about their source reduction efforts in Fiscal Year 1993-94, including whether they used five specific source reduction methods, what additional methods they may use, and whether they provided information to their employees about how to reduce waste at the source.

s the number of a- the use of five methods of re-ste at the source;

1. Duplex printing or photocopying:

Reported by 25 of the 26 departments and offices, 16 of 18 units of the state university system, and 48 of the 58 community colleges.

2. Using backs of old printed matter for note pads, scratch paper, or draft copies:

Reported by 23 of the 26 departments and offices, 15 of 18 units of the state university system, and 46 of the 58 community colleges.

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3. Circulating or posting memos instead of distributing multiple copies:

Reported by 23 of the 26 departments and offices, 12 of 18 units of the state university system, and 35 of the 58 community colleges.

4. Replacing paper correspondence with electronic communications:

Reported by 20 of the 26 departments and offices, 11 of 18 units of the state university system, and 45 of the 58 community colleges.

5. Buying supplies in bulk to reduce individual packaging:

Reported by 19 of the 26 departments and offices, 12 of 18 units of the state university system, and 44 of the 58 community colleges.

6. Other source reduction methods noted by one or more agencies:

Using durable rather than disposable cups, plates, and utensils. Reusing manila file folders by turning them inside out, or erasing or putting a sticker over the old tab. Collecting foam packaging “peanuts” and reusing them within the agency, or donating them to another agency. Using shredded confidential paper in packaging. Distributing ”junk mail elimination” information, encouraging individuals to have their names removed from mailing lists to reduce unwanted mail. Cleaning and reusing plastic pails and bottles. Reducing sample size and extraction volume in laboratories, and introducing microanalytic techniques where available. Reuse excess cloth for cleaning rags, instead of disposable paper towels.

with emdovees about source reductinn: To ensure that source reduction methods are implemented throughout an agency, employees must be informed about expected methods and how to implement these methods. Agencies were asked, “Does your agency provide information to its employees about how to reduce waste at the source?” This question was answered “yes” by 16 of the 26 departments and offices, 10 of 18 units of the state university system, and 20 of the 58 community colleges.

. .

note on Cegorted source reduction methods imDlemeM: Single-sided copies of their reports were submitted by 7 of the 26 departments and offices, although all seven claimed that their agencies had implemented duplex printing or photocopying as a means of reducing waste at the source. Ten of the 58 community colleges submitted single-sided copies of their reports; six of the ten claimed that their agencies had implemented duplex printing or photocopying. None of the 18 units of the university system submitted single-sided copies of their reports.

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1II.E. State Agency Recycling, Composting, and Solid Waste Disposal

III.E.l. Raleigh-area State Offices

The 26 state departments and offices listed in Figure 1 have their headquarters offices in Raleigh; some of them do not have any operations outside Raleigh. These agencies occupy more than 150 state-owned and leased locations in Raleigh. Programs to recycle, compost, or otherwise reduce waste disposed at Raleigh locations are coordinated by the Department of Administration.

Ideally, state agency waste reduction efforts would be measured by comparing solid waste disposed of in landfills or incinerators from one year to another. However, comprehensive waste disposal data are not readily available because of the number of different arrangements for hauling waste to disposal facilities, and because many haulers do not provide exact weights for waste hauled from state agencies.

Until January 1, 1995, the City of Raleigh provided free, twice-weekly waste hauling from certain sizes of waste dumpsters at most businesses and state-owned and leased buildings in Raleigh. In addition to using the city’s waste hauling services, many state buildings contracted for additional pick-ups or for larger, compacting containers where needed. The city ended this service as of January 1,1995.

During Fiscal Year 1993-94, neither the city nor the contracted waste hauling firms were required to provide data on the quantity of waste collected at state agencies in Raleigh. Providing such data would be complicated by the fact that city and private haulers often collect from a combination of state and non-state buildings before filling a truck and delivering the load to a landfill.

Beginning January 1, 1995, the contracted waste hauling company will provide exact weights of solid waste collected from the large waste compactors at state buildings in Raleigh, because these containers are delivered directly to the landfill without adding waste from other sources. Although these data will not reflect all state agency activities in the Raleigh area, they will provide a sample that can serve as an indicator of state agency waste reduction efforts.

Data on the amount of materials recycled at state offices in Raleigh during Fiscal Year 1993-94 are more readily available than are solid waste disposal data, but still are not comprehensive. The following sections describe recycling programs at state offices in the Raleigh area, and include quantitative data where available.

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Figure 4. Office Paper Recycled by State Agencies in Raleigh July 1991 -June 1994

FY 1993-94 (1,102tons) Y 1992-93 (856 tons)

FY 1991-92 (575 Ions)

Percentage increase from FY 1991-92 to FY 1992-93 (one year): 49%

29%

92%

Percentage increase from FY 1992-93 to FY 1993-94 (one year):

Percentage increase from FY 1991-92 to FY 1993-94 (two years):

Source: Reported to the Oflice of Waste Reduction by office paper recycling contractor and State Surplus Property Agency.

III.E.1.a. Office Paper

Office paper recycling at state offices in Raleigh has grown significantly in the past few years. The Department of Administration contracted for collection of high-grade recyclable office paper from state agencies in Raleigh for the first time in Fiscal Year 1991-92. Prior to the formal recycling contract, many state offices had begun informal office paper recycling programs in response to the Solid Waste Management Act enacted in 1989. Office paper is collected from about 145 state-owned and leased buildings in Raleigh by the recycling contractor.

A significant quantity of waste office paper generated by state government operations is confidential material such as old tax records, employment records, medical records, and motor vehicle records. To ensure that these materials are recycled but remain confidential and meet state and federal requirements for their destruction, the State Surplus Property Agency (SSPA) runs a shredding and baling operation for confidential waste office paper from state agencies. Once the confidential paper has been

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shredded and packed into bales, it is sold to a paper recycler, Prior to opening the SSPA recycling center, the Department of Administration recycled 73 tons of confidential state records at a roofing felt manufacturing plant from October 1991 through August 1992.

As shown in Figure 4, over a two-year period state agencies in Raleigh nearly doubled the amount of office paper they recycled, achieving a 92% increase from Fiscal Year 1991-92 to Fiscal Year 1993-94. Figure 4 includes office paper recycled by state agencies in Raleigh through the contracted collection program, the SSPA recycling center, and the roofing felt manufacturer.

III.E.1.b. Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans are recycled at virtually all state agency locations in the capital area, either by the agencies themselves to fund projects such as charitable contributions, or by the contracted recycling firm. Records of the quantity of aluminum cans recycled by state agencies in Raleigh during Fiscal Year 1993-94 are not available because of the decentralized nature of the collections efforts, and because the recycling contractor was not required to report the amount of aluminum cans collected during that period.

Records will be provided under the new contract that took effect September 1, 1994, but will reflect only cans collected by the contracted recycling firm. Preliminary data for the period September - December 1994 show aluminum can collections by the contractor averaging approximately 1400 pounds per month. Average monthly collections during Fiscal Year 1993-94 were probably less than 1400 pounds, because participation in aluminum can recycling has increased since the statutory ban on disposal of aluminum cans in landfills and incinerators took effect July 1, 1994.

III.E.1.c. Corrugated Cardboard

Effective July 1, 1993, Wake County and the City of Raleigh enacted ordinances severely restricting the disposal of corrugated cardboard in their landfills. Since the ordinances took effect, state agencies in Raleigh have recycled the cardboard they generate either by placing it in separate “dumpsters” that are collected by a contractor, or by delivering it directly to a paper recycling firm or a local drop-off site. Some agencies in Raleigh that regularly dispose of significant quantities of corrugated cardboard had begun recycling it prior to the ordinances because of the cost savings they could realize and their commitment to recycling.

The Division of Facilitv Management (DFM) of the DeDartment of Administration administers a contraci for corrugated cardboard recycling dumpsters at state-owned buildings in the downtown Raleigh state complex. The contractor was not required to report the quantity collected, but estimates it collected approximately 200 tons in Fiscal Year 1993-94.

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Since September 1992, DFM also has collected corrugated cardboard from small buildings in the downtown Raleigh state government complex that are not served by a recycling dumpster, and delivered it to a local paper recycler. In Fiscal Year 1992-93, the amount delivered to this broker by DFM and other state agencies in Raleigh was 47 tons, and in Fiscal Year 1993-94, 71 tons were delivered. DFM made special efforts to ensure that large volumes of corrugated cardboard resulting from the delivery of furniture to the new Revenue and Education Buildings in late 1992 and early 1993 were recycled rather than landfilled.

Other large state agencies in Raleigh outside the downtown complex have their corrugated cardboard collected by recycling contractors. A few of these were able to provide estimates of the quantity collected in Fiscal Year 1993-94 by the contractors. These include the State Fairgrounds, 17 tons, and the State Information Processing System (SIPS), 14.5 tons.

III.E.1.d. Newspaper

Newspaper recycling bins provided by the Raleigh News and Observer Recycling Program have been in place for several years at a number of larger state buildings in Raleigh. The News and Observer did not report monthly collections at state buildings until recently, but it estimates it collected about 94 tons of newspaper from state agencies in Raleigh in Fiscal Year 1993-94. The News and Observer recycling program for newspapers is currently being expanded to additional state offices in Raleigh, and quantities collected will be reported monthly by building beginning in Fiscal Year 1994-95.

At many state offices in Raleigh not served by the News and Observer Recycling Program, individual state employees collect and recycle newspapers voluntarily, by taking them to local recycling drop-off centers or putting them in their home curbside recycling bins.

III.E.1.e. Telephone Books

State agencies located in Raleigh participate in the annual Wake County telephone book recycling drive, which takes place in February and March of each year to coincide with the distribution of new phone books by Southern Bell. The state provides sites for the county to place telephone book recycling containers on state property in downtown Raleigh and at the state fairgrounds. These containers, like others located throughout the county, are available to all residents and businesses for recycling their phone books.

Figure 5 shows the quantity of phone books recycled at containers placed in the state government complex in downtown Raleigh in 1992, 1993, and 1994. Quantities of phone books collected at these sites increased 8% in 1994 over 1993, while collections

24

in Wake County as a whole decreased 14% for the same period. Phone books recycled at downtown sites had increased 37% in 1993 over 1992, as compared to a 29% increase for that period in the county as a whole.

Phone books collected from the sites in the state complex accounted for 15% of the entire county’s collection in 1994. Most of the phone books collected at the state complex sites are assumed to come from state agencies, although the sites are open to the public. Many state agencies outside the downtown area take their phone books to other county collection sites during the annual drive.

Figure 5. Telephone Books Recycled by State Agencies in Raleigh (tons)

March 1992,1993, and 1994

I

1992 1993 19%

Source: Phone books collected at containers placed in do.wntown Raleigh stale complex during annual recycling drive. reported by Wake County Solid Waste Management Department to the office of Waste Reduction.

III.E.l .f. Wooden Pallets

Wooden pallets discarded in the state government complex in downtown Raleigh are taken by the Division of Facility Management to the Federa’ Surplus Property Agency. The agency stores them throughout the year and burns the whole pallets in a large wood-burning stove during the winter months to heat its warehouse.

Other agencies in Raleigh outside the downtown complex report that they use a variety of methods to reuse or recycle their wooden pallets. These include the Department of Agriculture’s Agronomic Laboratory, which reuses pallets in-house or donates them to North Carolina State University; and the Administrative Office of the Courts, which

25

repairs and reuses some pallets in its warehouse, donates usable excess pallets to a reuse operation, and splits those that cannot be repaired for use as kindling.

III.E.1.g. Yard Waste and Food Waste

In May 1993, the Governor's Executive Mansion installed a three-bin backyard composting system donated by the Durham non-profit agency Sunshares. Yard waste from the mansion grounds and kitchen scraps from the mansion are composted in the bins, and the finished compost is used in the mansion's gardens. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states whose Executive Residences have backyard composting.

Yard waste from other state building grounds in downtown Raleigh is composted by the Division of Facility Management. The finished compost is used in landscaping on state building grounds.

The State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, operated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, has set aside part of its grounds for collection of animal bedding and manure from the horse complex at the fairgrounds. The City of Raleigh also places leaves collected from city residents at this site. The material is available free of charge to individuals, agencies, and businesses for use as Compost and mulch.

III.E.1.h. Other Recyclable Materials

Other materials, such as glass and plastic beverage containers, steel food cans, plastic bags, and glossy paper like magazines and catalogs, are voluntarily recycled by individual employees who take them to local recycling drop-off centers or put them in their home curbside recycling bins. Recycling programs for all Raleigh-area state agencies for many of these materials will be developed as appropriate and economically feasible.

Many individual state agencies in Raleigh currently recycle materials that are unique or that their operations generate in large quantity. Some of these include: obsolete aluminum rabies tags recycled by the Division of Epidemiology (NCDEHNR); steel food cans recycled by the Department of Human Resources from the snack bar on the Dorothea Dix campus; obsolete glossy state travel guides recycled by the Division of Travel and Tourism (Department of Commerce); and used cooking grease, recycled by the Department of Agriculture from snack bars at the State Fairgrounds.

26

lll.E.2. State Agency Operations Outside Raleigh

As shown in Appendix A, more than twice as many employees of state departments and offices work outside Raleigh as in Raleigh. Many of these employees work in office settings throughout the state, usually in county office buildings or leased offices.

State employees in offices outside Raleigh are expected to participate in recycling programs at their work locations for office paper, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, and other materials. Data on the items recycled and their quantity are not readily available for most of the hundreds of state agency offices statewide.

Many other functions are performed by state agencies throughout the state in addition to those that are predominantly office-oriented. State parks, correctional facilities, historic sites, mental institutions, and highway construction and maintenance operations are examples of the diverse services provided by state agencies.

This section provides information about recycling and other waste reduction programs at some of the larger state departments that have facilities statewide performing functions in addition to office work. Note that the quantitative data presented are not comprehensive. However, the quantitative data together with the anecdotal descriptions provided do indicate the level of recycling, composting, and other waste reduction activities of diverse state agencies throughout the state.

Data collection will improve in future years of this report. Agencies are especially encouraged to gather data on the quantity of solid waste they dispose of by landfilling or incineration. Waste disposal data can be easier to track and are a more accurate reflection of waste reduction achievements than recycling data alone; furthermore, tracking waste disposal quantities can help agencies control waste management costs.

lll.E.2.a. Department of Agriculture

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) has offices and laboratories at several locations in Raleigh, mainly in the downtown state complex and the Blue Ridge Road area. The recycling efforts of most of these offices are included in the information presented in section III.E.l. Other NCDA operations in Raleigh include the State Fairgrounds and the Farmer’s Market.

In addition to its Raleigh-area administrative offices, NCDA facilities included 18 research stations, 10 food distribution or marketing centers, and 7 veterinary laboratories in Fiscal Year 1993-94. Figure 6 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal activities at these 35 NCDA facilities. NCDA also reported nearly 40,000 tons of animal manure composted and used as fertilizer, but because this material was not traditionally disposed of in landfills or incinerators it is not included in Figure 6 as a waste reduction activity.

27

Figure 6. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Agriculture Facilities (35 Facilities) *

Fiscal Year 1993-94 r Material

Paper Item$: Corrugated Cardboard O M u Paper Newsprint Telephone Books Magazlnes Other Paper

Metal item.: Aluminum Cans Steel Cans Scnp Metal

Glass (mostly bottles and ]an)

Plastlc (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Loadmld B a W m Motor Oil Textilesffabrlc Tlre.

Oganlc Materiala: Wooden Pallets Other Wood yard waste Food Scraps Cooking Grease Anlmal Manure Other Oganlu

I Total recycled or composted (pounds) I

Number of Facilities

Recycling or Composting

Material

25 28 20 22 19 1

25 21 18

18

18

22 22 18 21

21 20 19 1 I I 9 1

Reported amount recycled or composted (pounds) *

109,240 5.718

1.870

3,135

11,820

2,215

8,425 25,753

30 31.180

422.840 432,340

4,700 5

20

80,000 ....

1,160,603

* Does not Include SdminbtnUve OMCI In Ralelgh.

* Some facllkies reported partlrl data, or reporled that data w a n not svallabla, for matehls they recycled or wmposted. M h e n noted that nported mycllnglcomposUng dlts m m mugh 0Sthn.t.S.

... Some facllnles reported partial data, or reported that data wen not availabb, for solld waste disposed. M h e n noted that reported soild waste dbposal data were rough eStlmateS. - Department reported 39,692,328 pounds of animal manure used u fertilizer on flelda: not Included wlth other ncycllnglcomposting beuuse thh matsrlal was not tnditlonally di8posed of In Iandfllls.

Source: Reported by the North Carolina Depaltmenl of Agriculture to lhe O t f u of Wasle Reduction.

28

Figure 7. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Correction (135 Facilities) *

Fiscal Year 1993-94

*

"Iber Of

Facilities Recycling or Composting

Material

Material

Reported amount recycled or compo s te d (pounds)

Paper items: Corrugated Cardboard Office Paper Newsprint Telephone Books Magazines

Metal items: Aluminum Cans Steel Cam Scrap Metal

Glass (mostly bottles and jam)

Plastic (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Lead-rcid Batteries Motor Oil TexUlaslFabric Tire.

Organic Materials: Wooden Palleb Other Wood Yard Waste Food Scrap Cooklng Grease Animal Manure

773,229 493,895

2,327 825

1,250

72,014 27,740

978,247

466

3,999

3,560 26,436 1,700

25,500

252,000 26,640 43,060

2,693,250 167,794 400,000

59 69 9

43 3

106 9 5

2

7

4 5 1 1

4 4 9 23 34 1

I I I Total recycled or compopted (pounds) I

* Includes 67 correctional hciliUer and 38 Coneetlon Enterprire facilltdea. Dws not Include adminlatrativo offlces In Raleigh or Adult Prohtlon and Parol. Ofncea.

Some hcilitlea reported partlal dab. or reported that data were not wailable, for m.1.dala they recycled or compoated. M h e n noted that reported ncycilnglwmpoatlng data wen rough utlmatos.

... Some facilitler reported partial dab. or reported that data wore not avallablo, for solid waate disposed. m e n noted that reported aolid WaStO dlspoaal data were rough erUmatea.

SoLrce. Reponed by tne Nom Carolma Depaflment of Conechon lo lne Ofice of Waste Reauaion

29

lll.E.2.b. Department of Correction

Recycling activities at the administrative offices in Raleigh of the North Carolina Department of Correction (NCDC) are included in section III.E.l. The Division of Adult Probation and Parole has offices at approximately 170 locations throughout the state, which processed 103,389 probationers or parolees in Fiscal Year 1993-94. These offices participate in a variety of recycling programs, but data on these programs have not been centrally compiled.

Figure 7 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal at 135 facilities of the Division of Prisons and Correction Enterprises during Fiscal Year 1993-94. The Division of Prisons included 97 correctional facilities housing 23,447 inmates. Correction Enterprises had 38 facilities covering a variety of operations, such as printing and duplicating, upholstering, sewing, woodworking, canning, meat processing, and manufacturing license plates, signs, paint, and janitorial products.

In addition to its recycling efforts, Correction Enterprises has implemented extensive measures to reduce waste at the source by recovering and reusing materials within their processes that previously were disposed of as waste. These measures include:

Clean and reuse 40,000 paint drums (30 gallon) annually Reuse cleaning solvents at paint plant, and recover sludge to return to paint Reuse pigment dust from cleaning at paint plant Reuse 1,200 laundry chemical drums (55 gallon) annually Reuse process water in paint and soap operations Use scrap stainless steel and black iron for small projects Reuse wooden pallets in transportationharehouse operations Reuse scrap textile products as rags

lll.E.2.c. Department of Cultural Resources

Recycling activities at the administrative offices in Raleigh of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR), as well as at the North Carolina Museum of Art and the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, are included in Section III.E.l. NCDCR facilities in Raleigh hosted approximately 837,000 visitors during Fiscal Year 1993-94.

Outside Raleigh, NCDCR administers 23 Historic Sites, 3 Branch Museums, Tryon Palace, and an Eastern and a Western Office of Archives and History. Figure 8 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid disposal activities at the 39 facilities during Fiscal Year 1993-94. These facilities combined hosted approximately 925,000 visitors.

30

Figure 8. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Cultural Resources (29 Facilities) *

Paper items: Cormgated Cardboard Office Paper Newsprint Telephone B o o b Magazines

Metal Items: Aluminum Cans Steel Cans

Glass (mostly boltles and jam)

Plastic (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Motor Oil Tires

Organic Materials: Other Wood Yard Waste F w d Scraps Anlmal Manure

Fiscal Year 1993-94

Material

Number of Facllitles

Recycling or Composting Material **

5 5 3 5 I

5 1

4

2

2 3 I 1

leported amount recycled or composted (pounds) **

18,070 7,600

900 965 20

9,315 10

247

215

250 800

960 224,300

20 550

*Includes Historic Sltes (23), Branch Museums (J), Alchlves & Hlstoy Eastern & Western offices (2). and Tlyon Palace. Does not Include administrative offices or other facllitles In Falelgh.

.. Hbtorlc Sites reported total recycled or composted, but did not Indicate how many sltes recycled speclflc materials. Some sites reported partial data, or reported that data were not available for materials they recycled or composted.

...Some sites reported partial data, or reported that data were not avallable, for solld waste disposed. Others noted that reported solid waste disposal data were rough estimates.

Source: Reported by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources to !he Omce of Waste Reduction.

31

lll.E.2.d. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources

Recycling efforts of administrative offices in Raleigh of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (NCDEHNR), and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, are included in section III.E.1.

Field operations of NCDEHNR outside Raleigh include regional offices and other facilities of the Divisions of Adult Health; Coastal Management; Dental Health; Environmental Health; Environmental Management; Epidemiology; Forest Resources; Health Education; Laboratory Services; Land Resources; Marine Fisheries; Maternal and Child Health; the North Carolina Aquariums; the North Carolina Zoological Park; Parks and Recreation; Soil and Water Conservation; Solid Waste Management; and the Wildlife Resources Commission.

NCDEHNR regional or field offices and other facilities outside Raleigh participate in a variety of recycling programs, but data on most of these programs have not been centrally compiled. Data have been compiled on recycling efforts at the North Carolina Zoological Park, state parks and recreation areas, and the Division of Forest Resources’ field operations.

The N m 7001ogical Park [NC ZOQ): The NC Zoo in Asheboro has had extensive recycling, composting, and source reduction programs in place since 1989, achieving nearly 50% reduction in the amount of solid waste it disposes of annually. Figure 9 shows the quantity of recyclable materials collected, organic materials composted, and solid waste disposed of by the NC Zoo during Fiscal Year 1993-94.

Randolph County operates a recycling drop-off center on NC Zoo property for county residents. The drop-off center received nearly 40 tons of recyclable materials in Fiscal Year 1993-94 (newspaper, glass, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans). These materials are not included in Figure 9.

The NC Zoo composts most of its organic wastes, including manure, animal bedding, and horticultural material, and uses the finished compost in landscaping. Prior to the late 1980s, animal wastes from the NC Zoo were disposed of in the Randolph County landfill.

The NC Zoo is working with the Office of Waste Reduction to develop a safe method of composting most of the remainder of its manure and animal bedding, which comes from animals such as primates and may contain pathogens that might not be destroyed by existing composting methods. A small amount of manure from quarantined areas and diseased animals, and medical waste from the Zoo’s medical complex, would continue to be incinerated in a gas incinerator operated by the NC Zoo under a state permit.

32

Figure 9. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by North Carolina Zoological Park (NCDEHNR)

Recycled or Composted

Material

Fiscal Year 1993-94 I Reported amount

recycled or composted (pounds)

Material

I Paper items: Corrugated Cardboard

Office Paper Newsprint

Metal items: Aluminum Cans

Glasa (mostly bottler and jars)

Plastic (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Motor Oil

Y 40,944 Y 13,944 I Y 1,344

Organlc Materials: Animal Manure/ Horticultural Waste Wood Waste

1,134,804

I I I

2,628

5,520

324

4,200

1,065,000 1,200

Source: Reported by the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health. and Natural Resources to the oflica of Waste Reduction.

d recreation areas; In accordance with legislation enacted in June 1991, the Division of Parks and Recreation implemented a State Park Recycling Pilot Program at six state parks from October 1, 1991 until June 30, 1993. All other state parks were encouraged to participate in recycling to the extent possible during the pilot period; twenty-one additional parks began or continued recycling programs during that time.

In 1993, 26 of 32 parks reported recycling programs for at least one item. Figure 10 shows the quantity of recyclable materials collected at these parks in 1993.

,

n of Forest Resources IDFRI; DFR’s field operations outside Raleigh include 100 county offices, 13 district offices, 5 nurseries, 5 Educational State Forests, offices of the BRIDGE program, and Bladen Lake State Forest. DFR reported the following

33

recycling data for these programs combined in Fiscal Year 1993-94: 11,880 pounds of oftice paper; 2,322 tires; 756 motor vehicle batteries; and the following liquids, all reported in gallons: motor oil, 19,872; transmission fluid, 1,080; antifreeze, 1,068; cleaning fluid, 1,478; hydraulic fluid, 1, 531; and paint thinner, 21 1. Other materials (e.g., aluminum cans) are recycled at many locations, but data were not reported for these materials.

Figure I O . Materials Recycled by Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDEHNR - 32 facilities)

Calendar Year 1993

Material

~~

Corrugated Cardboard

Nemrprlnt

Aluminum Cam

GIau (bottles and Ian)

PIasUc (bottles)

Number of Facilities Recycling Materlal *

(some)

11

24

15

17

ieported amount recycled or composted (pounds) **

10,014

11,133

14.188

3,192

Ilotal ncycled or compooted (pounds) I I

1 I I I * Flve faellitlei reported no recycling programs for any materials.

*Some facllities reported partial data, or reported that data were not avallable, for materials they tucycled or composted. Others noted that reported recycllnglcomp~tlng data were rough estlmates.

Sourm: Repotted by the North Carolina Department of Environment, Heailh. and Natural Resources lo the Omcs of Waste Redudion.

34

Figure 11. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Department of Human Resources (17 Institutions) *

Fiscal Year 1993-94

Reported amount recycled or composted (pounds) *

992,112 91,109 45,099 10,750 23,150

0

30,004 138,111 76,220

1,998

10,862

13,240 9,780

22,490 1,452

7.030 93,320 73,920 16,220

1 Material

~

Paper items: Corrugated Cardboard Office Paper Newsprint Telephone Bwks Magazines Other Paper

Metal Items: Aluminum Cans Steel Cans Scrap Metal

Glass (mostly bottles and jars)

Plastlc (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Lead-acid Batteries Motor Oil Tire. Other Materials

Organic Materials: Other Wood Yard Waste F w d Scraps Cooking Grease

Number of Institutions

Recycling or Composting

Material

15 15 6 7 5 3

13 4 4

1

8

7 6 5 2

2 4 3 5

I I I I * includes only 17 instnuttons; othen did not submit reports. Does not Include administrative offices in Raleigh.

Some faciiitler reported parUai data, or reported that data were not available, for materials they recycled or compmted. M h e n noted that reported recycllnglcomporting data wen rough eattmates

... Some facilities reported partial data, or reported that data were not available, for solid waste dispored. Othen noted that reported solld waste dlsposai data wen rough estimates.

Source Reponed by the North Carolina Department of Human Resources to the Ofice of Waste ReduCtion

35

ll.E.2.e. Department of Human Resources

The North Carolina Department of Human Resources (NCDHR) has offices and other facilities at several locations in Raleigh, particularly the Dorothea Dix Hospital and administrative campus, the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, the Albemarle Building in the downtown state complex, and several leased buildings. The recycling efforts of these facilities are included in the information presented in section III.E.l.

In addition to its Raleigh-area administrative offices, NCDHR facilities throughout the state in Fiscal Year 1993-94 included: three schools for the deaf; four psychiatric hospitals; three alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers; two schools for the emotionally disturbed; five mental retardation centers; five training schools for youth services; six regional juvenile detention centers; six multipurpose juvenile homes; the North Carolina Special Care Center; the Governor Morehead School for the Blind; more than 90 vocational rehabilitation offices; and approximately 75 other NCDHR agencies in leased spaces.

Figure 11 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal activities at 17 NCDHR institutions.

lll.E.2.f. Department of Transportation '

Recycling efforts of administrative offices of the North Carolina Cepartment of Transportation (NCDOT) in Raleigh are included in section IILE.?. The Division of Motor Vehicles has offices at approximately 165 locations throughout the state. These offices participate in a variety of recycling programs, but data on these programs have not been centrally compiled.

The Division of Highways has 14 regional divisions. Figure 12 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal activities in these divisions and the Equipment and Inventory Control Unit during Fiscal Year 1993-94.

The Division of Highways operates 59 highway rest areas throughout the state. In accordance with legislation enacted in June 1991, NCDOT implemented a Rest Area Recycling Pilot Program at six highway rest areas beginning in November 1991. Since that time, NCDOT has proceeded to implement recycling programs at the remaining rest areas, with a target date of completion of December 31, 1994. During Fiscal Year 1993-94, NCDOT reported collecting the following at the six pilot rest area recycling programs: glass bottles and jars, 5,176 pounds; newspaper, 2,640 pounds; plastic beverage containers, 1,336 pounds; and aluminum cans, 2,102 pounds.

NCDOT also maintains the grounds for the state's eight Welcome Centers, operated by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. NCDOT installed recycling bins at one of the Welcome Centers in Fiscal Year 1993-94. Welcome Center or NCDOT employees

36

Figure 12. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Division of Highways (NCDOT - 15 Divisions *)

Fiscal Year 1993-94

Paper Items: Corrugated Cardboard M c e Paper Newsprint Telephone Books Magazlnes Other Paper

Metal items: Aluminum Cans steel Cans Aluminum algnr h seral Steel scrap

GIB- (mostly bottles and jars)

Plastic (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Leaddcld Batterlea Motor 011 TextiledFabrlc Tlres Other

Organlc Materials: Wooden Pallets Other Wood Yard Waste Food Scrap. Other organics

Total recycled or compooted (pounds)

Number of Facilities

Recycling or Composting Material *

55+ . 41+

22+ 23+ 15 2

76+ 1

53 11

6+

15+

38 42 1

35 12

8 6 3 1 1

Reported amount recycled or composted 1 (pounds) -

79,380 58,233 3,277 1,371

420 510

11,386 6

519,930 2,630,195

4,035

6,800

155,090 609,747

400 279,412

600

36,900 3,731,920 2,426,660

35 19,250

10,577,557

I * Fourteen regional dlvisiona plus Equipment and Inventory Control UnlL

*As reported; total number of facilBea was not reported for comparison. - Some units reported partlal data, or reported that data wore not available, for materials they recycled or composted. Otkem noted that r e p o d mcycllnglcomportlnp data were rough estimates. - Some unlta reported pattlal data, or reported that data were not available, for solid waste disposed. Others noted that npolted solid waste dbposal data were rough estimates.

Source: Reported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to the office ofwaste Reduction

recycled some items generated by staff (not the public) at four additional centers. NCDOT is working to install recycling bins for the public as well as staff at all Welcome Centers in the near future.

The Ferry Division reported recycling office paper (200 pounds), telephone books (50 pounds), aluminum cans (500 pounds), and glass bottles and jars (600 pounds) during Fiscal Year 1993-94. Recycling collection containers were placed on vessels and at landings during that year, and a public education program for visitors about recycling at the ferries and in all coastal communities was developed with the assistance of the Office of Waste Reduction.

Additional information about NCDOT’s recycling and solid waste management programs, particularly its use of recycled materials in highway construction and maintenance projects, is available in a separate annual report from NCDOT, referenced in section 1I.B.

lll.E.3. State University System

This section presents information abou! the recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal programs of the 16 state universities as well as UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham (18 total institutions).

University campuses are in many ways similar to small towns, and must manage a large and diverse waste stream from offices, classrooms, residence halls, and food sewice operations, as well as unique facilities on some campuses such as laboratories, conference facilities, or sports arenas. Figure 13 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal activities at these units of the state university system during Fiscal Year 1993-94.

The first things that come to the average person’s mind when they think of “recycling” are materials such as aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, office paper, and newspaper. Several campuses have well-established programs for collecting these and other materials directly from students and staff, while others have only minimal programs of this type. On the other hand, recycling or composting of items such as corrugated cardboard, automotive batteries, motor oil, tires, yard waste, and cooking grease has been common practice at most campuses for many years. These activities generally occur “behind the scenes,” and do not involve most employees or students.

Figure 14 and Appendix C group university recycling and composting programs into two categories. The first group includes materials handled directly by students and employees throughout campus. These are designated “individual” materials, namely office paper, newspaper, and metal, glass, and plastic food and beverage containers.

38

The second group includes materials handled mainly by campus maintenance staff, designated “institutional” materials, such as corrugated cardboard, automotive wastes, yard waste, and all other materials not included in the “individual” materials group.

To facilitate comparisons among campuses, Figure 14 shows calculated per-student rates of “individual” and “institutional” materials recycled and solid waste disposed. Appendix C shows reported quantities of solid waste disposed and materials recycled or composted during Fiscal Year 1993-94 for each unit, which are the basis for Figure 14. Caution should be used in making comparisons based on these data, because not all campuses were able to report comprehensive, accurate quantitative data for all materials recycled or composted, or solid waste disposed.

111.E.4. Community Colleges

North Carolina’s 58 community colleges share many of the same characteristics as its universities with respect to recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal, the most notable difference being the lack of residential students at the community colleges. The community colleges vary widely in size, and several have more than one campus, some in separate counties or towns.

Figure 13 summarizes reported data on recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal activities at the 58 community colleges during Fiscal Year 1993-94.

39

Figure 13. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by State University System'(l8 Units)

Fiscal Year 1993-94

Material

Paper Items: Corrugated Cardboard Office Paper Newsprlnt Telephone Books Magazlnes

Metal items: Alumlnum Cans Steel Cans Scrap Metal

Glass (mostly bottles and Jan)

Plastlc (mostly bottles)

Other materials: Lead-acld Batterles Motor 011 Textlles/Fabrlc Tires Asphalt, Concrete, etc. Other Materials

Organlc Materials: Wooden Pallets Other Wood Yard Waste Food Scraps Cooking Grease Animal Manure

Total recycled or composted (pounds) I ~~

Number of Units Recycling or Compostlng

Material

15 16 16 9 7

17 4 7

14

11

. 14 13 1

11 2 4

6 7 14 2 6 1

recycled or composted

1,790,888 2.588.788

816.249 81,300

166,926

112,853 2,452

355,848

457.486

11.698

25,938 66,479

1,000 62.080

2,441,530 5,941

103,510 419,838

4242,436 307,440 46,195 27,560

14,236,433I

* Includes 16 state unlvereitles. the Nom Carollna School of Sclence and Mathematlcr, and UNC Hospitals.

Some unita reported partial data, or reported that data were not avall8ble. for materlala they recycled or composted. Others noted that reported recyclinplcompostlng data were rough estimates.

... Some units reported partlal data, or reported that data were not available, for solld waste disposed. Others noted that reported solid waste disposal data were rough estimates.

Source: Reported by units of the University of North Carolina System to the Office of Waste Reduction

40

Figure 14. State University System Recyclins and Solid Waste Disposal Rates -Fiscal Year 1993-94

41

Figure 15. Materials Recycled or Composted, and Solid Waste Disposed, by Community College System (58 Units)

Paper Items: Corrugated Cardboard Mtlco Paper Newaprint Telephone Books Magazines

Metal items: Alumlnum Can. St-1 Can6 Scrap Metal

Glaaa (bottlea and jan)

Plastic ( M e a )

Other matarlala: Lead-acld Batterlea Motor Oil TextllrlFabrlC Tlrea Other Materiala

Orginlc Material.: Wooden Pallets Other Wood Yard Waste Food Scraps Cooklng Grease

Fiscal Year 1993-94

L Material

recycled or composted (pounds)

Number of Unlts Recycling or Compostlng

Materlal

33 39 22 21 12

45 4 18

43

. 5

27 36 1

17 4

15 5 12 1

12

Reported amount recycled or composted (pounds)

347,942 480,849 52,699 10,054 11,702

55,469 2,572

216,069

6,455

2,070

9,005 67,710

0 13,240 5,707

89,000 22,250

2 3 3,4 0 0 6,000

20.489

1,653,490

Some u n b reported pattiai data, or reported that data were not avallable, for matarlala they recycled or compoated. Others noted that reported recycling/compwtlng data were rough estimates

" Some unib reported pattiai data, or reported that data were not available, for aolid waste dlapooad. O h n noted that reported io l ld waata dlaposal data were rouph estimates.

Source: Reported by Individual community wlkges to the Office of Waste Reduction

42

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Employees, Students, and Headquarters Locations of individual Fiscal Year 1993-94

I Agencies

* All am mridsntial hlgh Khml Ihldenll .. Indudes 241 midentla1 hlph Khml dudenti -UNC HospI1.11 has 4.200 amploywa: M N ~ S 2 4 . m l n p ~ l i o n ~ and 528.OW annually

A- 1

Appendix A: Employees, Students, and Headquarters Locations of individual Agencies Fiscal Year 1993-94 (continued)

POlktMl . - 2r 'I .w3'.' +.l,402' 2,346 (Bun+mDe I '' ' 3 9901 4 7201 8.710

, *' Beaubft:;~.'wf,18e.~ 2.316 y ' 3dO4

.

IBiaOen"' -,j: ' - 8881 8211 1,509 .4,109 ' . F l a l R e * . , . Hgncppm:...,:~~BII: 'i 2.402.

Br.nsw#ch Commmity Co.lepe 1 S ~ p p ~ , , JBfbnswick I 8801 11071 1.987

Cape Fear Communor, College Iw~m.ng~on [New Hanoved . . 3.5261 4.7511 8,277 Carterst Commvn'ny Collepe Morehead City -Carleret., . . . . 1.433, 1.753. 3.188

Caldwnll Communky Collmp Hudson , CpldWl~!:*,:Y,,:.2,864 . '.3.174 6,038

CelaHba Va ley Commmty Co ege lhichov lcalnwbs I 34681 4 8431 8.311 CenVal Caml.na Commbnlty College LW . 2.963 4.578 1,541 Central Pieamom Commmny Col ege (MecklenbLrg I 17.1271 12.6501 29,717 Chueland Communny COnege Shelby Cleveland ' . ! .. 1.584,' 1.752. 3,336

I % ~ ~ e

.... .,.. I ' . ... .._, - Randolph Commmlty College Randolph- ' ' 1,480' 3,105' 4,586 R cnmona Cammmty cot eo8 (Rmmood 1.035) 3.068( 4,103

Robeson Commbn rV Colege RoanoheChwan Communify Colbge Ahoshk Hemord ' .

A-2

Appendix A: Employees, Students, and Headquarten Locations of 11 Fiscal Year 1993-94 (continued)

Clinton City Wwls

A-3

idividi ial A

Appendix A. Employees, Students, and Headquarten Locations of Individual Agencies Fiscal Year 1993-04 (continued)

McDo*ell Co.nn, Schools IManon )McDowei 1 6,098 Mitchell County SChwls Bakenvilb Mnchell . ' 2,352 Montgomery CoJnty Scnoo s l T w IMonIpomery I 4.186 Mwre Codnty SCnWls Carmaps Mwfe 9,928

. , . . . SOURCE NC Dspac@"l of Public I n ( l l ~~ l i 0n . Slalislical Rasearch and Data Canter

A-4

APPENDIX 8: Purchases of Paper and Paper Products by lndlvldual Agencies - Flscal Year 1993-94 omo.~ap.r 1 T1s.u. and T w d I MI.C.II~II.OU. Paper j AI1 Pap, and P i p r Product# I

8-2

9-3

8-4

Appendix C. Materials Recycled or Composted by Units of State University System

Fiscal Year 1993-94

"W means the una recyCres the item but does not have quantitative data to repoR

* "lndii8ual" materials recycled indudes ofice paper, newsprint. telephone books, magazines, aluminum cans. steel cans, and glass and plastic containers.

.. "InstiiutionaI" materials recycled indudes all materials recyded or mmposted other than those induded under "individual" materials.

Please see also noteo in Figure 14.

c-I

Appendix C. Materials Recycled or Composted by Units of State University System

Fiscal Year 1993-94 (continued)

c-2