Solid Waste in Florida The Tide is Changing

April 5, 2012

Don Ross, Project Manager

Kessler Consulting, Inc.

The old thoughts and attitudes about solid waste management in Florida are being washed away;

The Tide is Changing

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replaced by a surge of new ideas and the recognition that

we are actually managing resources.

The New Normal

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Local governments and solid waste operations throughout

Florida are forced to adapt to the “new normal.” What

does this mean?

• Tighter budgets (doing more with less)

• Less material to collect

•Economic downturn

•Increased recycling: residential & commercial

• Waste Resource management

•Cultivating public/private partnerships

•Innovative contracting

•Meet 75% recycling goal

The New Normal

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What changes are being made in Florida to adapt to the “new normal?”

• Automation

• Single Stream Recycling

• Once-per-week Garbage Collection Frequency

• Recycling Incentive Programs

• New Technologies

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Automated Collection – What is it?

• Standardized wheeled carts

• Collection vehicles with robotic arms

• Driver remains inside the vehicle at all times

• Collection process is controlled remotely

• Manual collection is eliminated

• Process takes less than 10 seconds per stop

“You’re not earning if you’re not turning!”

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Automated Collection – Benefits For the Operation • Improved safety

• Reduced employee injuries

and worker’s comp. claims

• Improved collection efficiency

• Single driver

• Increased productivity

• Preserves aging workforce

• Cleaner neighborhoods

• Reduced rodent problems

• Helps to limit overages

For the Residents • Convenient and easy

• Safer & more maneuverable

• Higher capacity containers

• Hinged lids contain odors

• Reduced rodent problems

• Cleaner neighborhoods

• Eliminates container costs

$-

$10,000.00

$20,000.00

$30,000.00

$40,000.00

$50,000.00

$60,000.00

$70,000.00

$80,000.00

Workers Comp (Residential)

Workers Comp (Division wide)

Log. (Workers Comp (Residential))

Automated System Conversion begins 2001

Source: City of Dunedin, FL

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Automated Collection – Safety • Rear load collection comes with inherent danger

• Automated collection provides the safest work environment for solid waste collectors

• Eliminate safety issues associated with manual pickups

75% Decrease in Cost

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Automation is Safer: Florida Examples • Brandon, FL – 2009: Solid waste worker was killed after being

struck from behind while manually loading refuse into the rear of the truck.

• Dunnellon, FL – 2009: Solid waste worker was killed after being struck from behind while manually loading refuse into the rear of the truck.

• Cape Coral, FL – 2010: Solid waste worker was killed after being struck from behind while manually loading refuse into the rear of the truck.

• Brevard County, FL – 2011: One solid waste worker was killed and another was critically injured after being struck from behind while both men manually loaded refuse into the rear of the truck.

What do these accidents have in common?

All of these workers were

performing manual collection.

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Automated Collection – Video

“The only way to pick up garbage.”

KCI Research throughout Florida

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• 79 largest Cities and Counties

• Populations of 48,000 or more

• Approximately 5.4 million households

Automated vs. Manual Service

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6,612,519

53%

5,814,095 47%

Total Residents Served in Study Area

2,755,483 44%

3,470,908 56%

Unincorporated County Residents

3,857,036 62%

2,343,187 38%

Automated

Manual

City Residents

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Single Stream Recycling – What is it?

Commingled collection of all recyclables (fiber and containers) in a non-compartmentalized collection vehicle, which then are processed as collected.

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Single Stream Recycling – Benefits

• Increased tonnage

• Increased participation

• Increased revenues

• Increased convenience for residents

• Standard single-compartment vehicles are used (fleet flexibility)

• Additional materials can be included

50-100% Increase in Tons 100% Increase in Set Outs

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Single Stream Recycling + RFID

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• Asset Management

• Data Tracking & Measurement

• Participation

• Productivity

• Efficiency Improvements

• Route Visualization & Intelligence

• Targeted Education/Outreach Efforts

Solid Waste is the 5th utility along with electricity, gas, water, and sewer.

RFID is the meter!

Processing Revolution

Multi-StreamSingle Stream

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• Two new single stream MRFs in Tampa Bay.

Republic Services – Lakeland, FL

Processing Capacity: 10,000 tons per month

Waste Management – Tampa, FL

Processing Capacity: 10,000 tons per month

A competition has begun for your tonnage.

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The Result?

More recycling = less garbage to collect!

Time to consider reducing pickup frequency to once per week....

1x > 2x

....the residents will make the decision for you.

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Once Weekly MSW Service – Benefits

• Reduces heavy truck traffic in neighborhoods

• Promotes recycling

• Reduces CO2 emissions

• Reduces operating expenditures

• Could enable service fee reduction to residents

• Increases diversion

• Easy to implement with strong recycling programs

• Less wear and tear on area roads

• Same routes and trucks

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Once vs. Twice per Week MSW

3,847,340 27%

10,180,916 73%

Total Residents Served in Study Area

2,096,837 27%

5,731,196 73%

Unincorporated County Residents

1,750,503

28%

4,449,720 72%

1x/wk

2x/wk

City Residents

Other Trends: Recycling Incentive Programs

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Coupon-Based:

• Utilizes RFID technology to track and reward individual recycling efforts.

• Rewards are offered by local and national business in the form of coupons.

• Value of rewards corresponds to quantity of materials recycled.

Utility Bill Credits:

• Utilizes RFID technology to track and reward individual recycling efforts.

• Rewards are offered in the form of credits on monthly utility bills.

• Value of utility bill credits corresponds to individual household recycling efforts.

Other Trends: Technology

Drivers: The Eyes on the Street!

Tools for Today

• Hopper Cameras

• Eyes-forward Collection Systems

• Data Collection

Tools for Tomorrow

• RFID Tracking

• Geographical Information Systems - ArcGIS

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Observation Reports

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• Collection/observation timestamp & cart serial number • Customizable reports • Pinpoint customers for targeted education • Exportable to Excel / Mail Merge, etc. • Can integrate with GIS on a parcel level

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Coming Attractions – Stay Tuned!

Organics Recycling

• Food Waste

• Institutional

• Commercial

• Residential

• Biosolids

• Other Organics

We must manage organics to get to 75%

4,599,305

14%

13,025,303

40%

4,918,546

15%

6,691,890 20%

3,767,602

11%

Statewide Tons (2009)

Other

Recycling

Organics

C&D

Special Waste

Thank you!

Don Ross Project Manager

Kessler Consulting, Inc.

dross@kesconsult.com