District of Columbia

Department of Public Works

Hallie Clemm and Thomas HendersonMWCOG Recycling Committee Meeting

May 15, 2008

RESIDENTIAL WASTE SORT

Quick Background

District DPW collects waste and recycling from about 103,000 customers in buildings with three units or less.

Recycling collection is weekly, single stream with +90% of customers using 32-gallon carts.

Recycling program commodities are: ONP, OCC, Mixed Paper, Glass and Plastic Bottles, Aluminum and Steel Cans.

Quick Background

We collected a total of 133,000 tons in 2007. 24,380 tons of recyclables.

Our recycling diversion rate was 17.6%. Recycling diversion rate by Ward ranges

from 28.2% to 7.8%. The Ward with the highest recycling rate

still had 1.75 times more trash per household than the Ward with the lowest rate.

8

CapStat:

CapStat

Trash and Recycling by Ward

Source: DPW collection systems. Data from FY2007. Collection households per ward from DPW,

0K 10K 20K 30K

Trash Tons

0K 5K 10K

Recycling Tons

0% 20% 40%

Recycling Rate

0K 10K 20K 30K

Collection Households

0K 1K 2K 3K 4K

Trash: Lbs/Household

0 500 1000 1500

Recycling: Lbs/Hhold

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 5,645

14,553

18,735

13,362

20,678

20,548

5,673

9,375

480

1,898

4,471

2,864

3,847

8,062

1,508

1,350

7.8%

11.5%

19.3%

17.7%

15.7%

28.2%

21.0%

12.6%

DC Avg6,818

14,241

14,317

17,121

20,186

14,146

7,076

8,419

1,656

2,044

2,617

1,561

2,049

2,905

1,603

2,227

141

267

625

335

381

1,140

426

321

Key Statistic

DOES THE RECYCLING

DIVERSION RATE REALLY TELL THE

STORY?

Objectives of the Sort Study

• Determine how much of the waste stream is recyclable under current program;

• Determine what other materials are in the trash that could be recycled through an expanded program; and

• Look for ways to tailor the recycling message to enhance program.

Study Summary

89 loads, 56 trash and 33 recycling, were sorted from October 23 to November 8, 2007.

Trash and recycling loads were sorted from the same neighborhoods.

All 8 District Wards were involved. Work was done at the District’s two transfer

stations by DPW Staff. Front-end Loaders were used to separate a

sample which was then hand sorted and weighed.

Summary of Results

We are currently recycling about half of the program recyclables in the waste stream.

In addition to 23,380 tons of recycling collected, there was an additional 23,800 tons remaining in the trash.

Of our total waste stream, commodities in our current recycling program represent 36.2%.

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

T o n s

Newspaper

Corrugated

Cardboard

Other

Recyclable

Paper

Plastic

Bottles #1

Plastic

Bottles #2

Clear

Bottles

Green

Bottles

Brown

Bottles

Aluminum

Cans

Steel Cans

Chart 1a

Where are the Recyclable Commodities

in the Total Waste Stream?

Tons Equivalent for FY 2007 Recycle Stream Tons Equivalent in FY 2007 Trash Stream

Chart 2

Recycling Content Percentages

of What Is Being Thrown Away as Trash

Aluminum Cans2%

Brown Bottles1%

Green Bottles

2%

Other Containers5%

Steel Cans

4%

Plastic Bottles #2

5%

Plastic Bottles #1

7%

Clear Bottles

5%

Newspaper33%

Corrugated Cardboard

18%

Other Recyclable

Paper23%

Chart 1b

District of Columbia Waste AuditWhat's in the Trash that Gets Thrown Away

Waste Glass0.1%

Glass Bottles1.7%

Waste Plastics3.8%

Metals1.2%

Bulk Items1.3%

Textiles5.2%

Yard Waste10.2% Plastic Bottles #1

3.4%

Construction Debris0.7%

Other Items (Trash)56.7%

Waste Paper0.3%

Other Recyclable Paper4.9%

Corrugated Cardboard3.8%

Old Newspaper

7%

Summary of Results

While our recycling diversion rate is not high, our rate of recycling some key commodities is well above the national average.

This includes ONP and Plastic and Glass Bottles.

We lag in OCC, Mixed Paper, and Steel Cans.

Chart 3

District Wide Capture Rate Compare with the National Capture Ratefor Commodities Accepted in the Residential Recycling Program

73%

52%40%

47% 45%

75% 74%

51%55%63%

41%42%

25%27% 25% 25%

52%

23%

55%55%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

Old Newsp

aper

Corruga

ted

Cardb

oard

Other

Rec

yclab

le Pap

er

Plastic

Bot

tles #

1

Plastic

Bot

tles #

2

Clear

Bottle

s

Green

Bott

les

Brown

Bottle

s

Aluminu

m C

ans

Steel

Cans

District Wide Capture Rate National Capture Rate

Chart 10Green Glass Container Capture Rate by Ward

64%

93%

82%

64%

88%93%

46%50%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8WARD

National Capture Rate = 25%

Chart 11Brown Glass Container Capture Rate by Ward

76%81%

69%74%

71% 72%75%

100%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8WARD

National Capture Rate = 25%

Key Findings

To improve the recycling diversion rate, we will need to both capture more of the existing program recyclables and expand the definition of what is recyclable.

Message needs to reemphasize ONP, OCC, Mixed Paper, Plastic Bottles, and Steel Cans.

Need to find ways to recycle textiles and compost more yard waste.

Thanks to those who showed up and sorted!

For Further Information

Hallie Clemmhallie.clemm@dc.gov

202-671-0575

Tom Hendersonthomas.henderson@dc.gov

202-645-5141