Appendix IActions, Priorities, and
Program Descriptions
Appendix IActions, Priorities, and Program Descriptions
A.Actions and Priorities
1.Actions
The Policy Committee feels that the SWMD does a good job of providing recycling and waste reduction services to the public with the current infrastructure and resources available. The SWMD currently has a three million dollar fund balance, due to oil and gas industry drilling muds that were landfilled from 2012-2015. It is the desire of the Policy Committee to continue to provide the current programs established by the SWMD, but also to provide additional services and/or improve upon current programs and services and sustain them throughout the planning period. However, due to the rising costs of providing sufficient drop-off recycling sites for residents and the decrease in oil and gas drilling in the area, the SWMD’s annual expenses are exceeding annual revenue. The actions the Policy Committee wishes to take and the priority for which they can be provided are in conflict because of funding. The SWMD currently has the funding to implement all of these actions and priorities, but in doing so, may not be able to sustain all programs through 2032.
Proposed Actions are as follows:
●Purchase or build office/warehouse space in Carroll County to provide a drop-off location for residents to recycle difficult to manage materials such as electronics, scrap tires, household hazardous waste, appliances, etc. The Policy Committee feels that the need for such a facility is vital to the SWMD’s ability to continue to improve upon the diversion of these materials from landfills. One-day collection events are no longer sufficient in keeping materials out of landfills. We are no longer dealing with a patient society. The Internet and smart phones have given way to an “I want it now” mentality. Residents no longer want to hold onto an unwanted item until our one-day collection event. They want to get rid of it and go onto something else. Therefore, we are seeing more items dumped at our recycling sites and along back roads. The SWMD would need approximately $12,000-$36,000 a year to rent a facility until such time as a building could be purchased or built. The SWMD would need $300,000 to $400,000 to purchase/build such a facility. This number was determined from an appraisal completed on a building that was for sale and brought to the SWMD’s attention. A copy of an appraisal completed in December 2015 on that building, which was built in 2014, is attached to Appendix O. This appraisal also includes valuations of other buildings in the area. More detail is explained in Appendices H & O.
●Assist the Health Departments and law enforcement with setting up an environmental law enforcement program by hiring a “nuisance officer” through the Columbiana County Commissioner’s office.Establishing a “clean-up fund” in the hopes of replenishing the fund with fines and chargebacks for the clean-up of illegal dumps is our first goal for this program. Hiring a nuisance officer to investigate and move cases to prosecution is the second goal. The District could provide approximately $15,000 per year through 2021 towards this pilot program. Working with Columbiana County Commissioners, the Columbiana County Health Department and Ohio EPA, we would hope to make this a permanent program, which we could eventually duplicate in our other two counties;
●Devise a plan of action to assist municipalities to move forward with curbside recycling, whether it be giving guidance regarding grant opportunities or assistance with outreach and roll-out of programs. This would be outlined in more detail under Appendix L;
●Concentrate education, outreach, and technical assistance efforts on commercial and industrial businesses in order to increase the SWMD’s recycling rate. It was determined that the better the businesses knows the SWMD and the services it can provide as it relates to assisting with waste reduction and recycling, the better apt they would be to complete annual surveys and provide the SWMD with data about these efforts. We could encourage businesses to begin recycling programs by offering them a grant to pay their recycling services for the first six months of their program. This would allow them to see the savings in their waste bill and give them an incentive to continue the program. The SWMD will set aside $7,500 annually for this program through 2023, and offer it to those businesses that are reluctant to begin a program. We may only be able to provide this grant for a handful of companies each year until the $7,500 is exhausted and pursuant to criteria specified under Appendix L. However, in setting it up as a grant, we would stipulate that the business would have to continue the program for at least one year past the grant period or the grant money would have to be returned. We do not want them to try it for six months and quit. With our assistance, we want them to take the time to see what they can do with their waste reduction and recycling efforts. After 2023, the SWMD would re-evaluate the program.
2.Priorities
The SWMD has prioritized our actions, as follows:
● Recycling Facility - This is a priority for the Policy Committee and as such, the SWMD will work closely with the committee to determine the proper time to purchase and/or build such a facility. The SWMD currently has the funding it would need to procure such a facility, but in doing so may not have the ability to sustain all programs through the end of the planning period, which is 2032. The carryover revenue has been accumulating since 2013 because of the oil and gas drilling in our three counties. If the oil and gas drilling activity increases and the SWMD is able to meet expenses in the next couple of years and not utilize any of our current carryover, then the Policy Committee would begin the process of looking to purchase or build a suitable facility. The SWMD has had an appraisal completed for a building in the area that would meet the needs for such a facility. A copy of the appraisal is attached to Appendix O. Please also refer to Appendix H for more information. If a building would become available to rent that is determined to meet the needs of the SWMD for a recycling facility, the Policy Committee may consider renting a facility until such time as one could be purchased or built. This facility would be located in Carroll County and would serve as a drop-off location for residents to recycle difficult to manage materials such as electronics, scrap tires, household hazardous waste, appliances, etc.;
●Nuisance Officer - Assist the Health Departments and law enforcement with setting up an environmental law enforcement program by hiring a “nuisance officer” through the Columbiana County Commissioner’s office. This program would be a pilot for the other two counties. The SWMD could provide approximately $15,000 per year through 2021 towards this pilot program. This is a pilot program that we would hope to expand in our other two counties. However, only one county would be brought on at a time. Once the Recycling Facility is in place and expenditures are being met by current revenue, then the Policy Committee would review the success of the pilot program and determine if expending $15,000 toward an additional county program would be beneficial.;
●Curbside Promotion - Devise a plan of action to assist municipalities to move forward with curbside recycling, whether it be giving guidance regarding grant opportunities or assistance with outreach and roll-out of programs. This would be outlined in more detail in Appendix L and would require no cost, other than the Director and Outreach Specialist’s time. If expenditures are being met by current revenue, after the recycling facility is up and running and if an expansion of the Nuisance Officer program has been determined viable, the SWMD would set aside grant funds for municipalities to apply for that would assist them with their outreach and promotion of their curbside programs. The amount the SWMD could offer would depend upon available funding in that year, after our other priorities are met;
●Business Recycling Grant Program - Concentrate education, outreach, and technical assistance efforts on commercial and industrial businesses in order to increase the SWMD’s recycling rate. It was determined that the better the businesses knows the SWMD and the services it can provide as it relates to assisting with waste reduction and recycling, the better apt they would be to complete annual surveys and provide the SWMD with data about these efforts. The SWMD could provide approximately $7,500 per year through 2023 and re-evaluate the program at that time;
●Continue Community Clean-Up Program. This program has been a great collaboration effort between the SWMD and our townships and municipalities. Because there are no landfills in our District and only one transfer facility, it makes it difficult for residents to discard large unwanted items. This program has provided a great outlet for our residents, but it is also costly. The SWMD has committed to continue our contribution to this program through 2023. We will continue to analyze the program and collaborate with municipalities and townships so that other economical options are not overlooked and the program can continue indefinitely; and
●Continue Compostable Leaf Bag Program. The SWMD has budgeted for this program through 2026. It is our intent to not continue to pay for this entire program, but build this program to be a cost-share endeavor with multiple entities coming together to make it sustainable and successful. We will continue to analyze the program and collaborate with municipalities and businesses so that we can continue this program indefinitely.
B.Programs
Residential Recycling Infrastructure
Curbside Recycling Services
Non-Subscription Curbside Recycling
ID / Name / Start Date / End Date / Goal(s)NSC1 / Village of Carrollton / Existing / Ongoing / 1 and 2
NSC2 / City of East Liverpool / Existing / 2015 / 1 and 2
The Village of Carrollton in Carroll County established a volume-based garbage program for its residents in 2000 that includes the curbside collection of recyclable materials. In the reference year, curbside collection of recyclable materials was picked up weekly and included cardboard, paper, magazines, phone books, glass, cans and plastics. These services have been provided through a contract with Kimble Companies since the inception of the program. To our knowledge, Kimble has been the only company to ever provide a proposal anytime the program went out for bid.
The curbside program began as a Pay-As-You-Throw (“PAYT”) program, wherein residents paid a small, flat quarterly fee and then also required to pay by the bag for their trash. An eighteen (18) gallon open tote was provided for recyclables, which was free of charge. This type of program encourages recycling as a savings to residents. The more they recycle, the less they pay for garbage services.
In 2015, the Carrollton curbside program switched to a 65 gallon cart system for both recyclables and garbage. Garbage is picked up weekly and recycling is picked up every other week. Kimble went to the cart system for several reasons, i.e., ease of automated pick-up, drivers not having to get out of the vehicle, and the carts keep recyclables from blowing all over the neighborhoods. So far, data shows that this type of service has not diminished the amount of recyclables collected at the curb. The following is a history of materials recovered since the program’s beginning. While residential remains fairly steady, commercial cardboard collection is more sporadic and increased dramatically from 2014 to 2015.
Based on historical trends, this program collects an average of 28 tons of recyclables (residential and commercial/industrial) per month. Also “PAYT” is still being offered for seniors that wish to purchase bags because they have difficulty with the large carts. This is not a District sponsored program, but in light of the longevity of the program, the SWMD is confident that the program will continue through the planning period.
The City of East Liverpool began its curbside program in an effort to keep material out of the landfill, but to also save them money. As a municipally operated sanitation department, the City was already providing curbside trash pick-up for their residents. Prior to Waste Management’s East Liverpool landfill closing, the City was allowed to dump at the landfill at no charge, in accordance with their contract with Waste Management. When the landfill closed, the City negotiated ten additional years at Waste Management’s Mahoning Landfill. As the ten year mark was getting closer, offering curbside recycling to limit the tonnage going into the landfill was the next logical step for the City. In the reference year, the City recycled 195 tons of material. However, in 2015, with the drop in the commodities market, the City continued to collect the recyclables, but ended up landfilling most. They discontinued curbside recycling in 2016 completely, but are working towards getting the program back up and running in 2017. The SWMD will assist the City of East Liverpool with outreach, connect them to potential processors of the material, and assist them with any other guidance they may need.
Subscription Curbside Recycling
ID / Name / Start Date / End Date / Goal(s)SC1 / City of Salem / Unknown / Ongoing / 1 and 2
SC2 / Village of East Palestine / 2013 / Ongoing / 1 and 2
In 2014, Republic Waste Services offered curbside recycling in the City of Salem for a fee. None of six hauling companiesoperating in Salem openly promote curbside recycling. There is very little participation in the program as the services required are not mandatory and residents have to pay their haulers extra to get recycling services. Actual collection data is not available.
Recently, a City of Salem ordinance was discovered from 1994 wherein all haulers providing garbage service in the City must also provide curbside recycling. The City of Salem began looking into a curbside franchise service and was met with opposition. As it stands, the six haulers providing services in the City have agreed to offer curbside recycling services, but the majority will charge extra for the service. Valley Waste Services has openly acknowledged that they were sending notice to all their current customers that curbside recycling would be provided at no extra cost. In light of the most recent activity, we are confident that subscription curbside recycling will continue in the City of Salem. The Mayor and the Service Director want to see a franchise service offered in the City, but council is not convinced. If residents get word that Valley Waste will be offering free curbside, most of them may switch to Valley Waste as their hauler without the need to go through the bidding process and setting up a franchise system. This is not a District sponsored program, but the SWMD will work closely with Salem to assist them through this process. We will also obtain recycling information by surveying the haulers.
In the reference year, subscription curbside recycling was provided to residents in the Village of East Palestine. The SWMD did not offer information about this program in the 2014 Annual District Report, but weights of material were included with totals of mixed paper, glass, metal, and plastic. In the fall of 2012, the SWMD provided 14 gallon recycling containers as a grant to the Village of East Palestine. The Village wanted to go curbside, but didn’t want to set up a franchise program at the time. After surveying local haulers, one stepped forward with a great interest in giving back to their community and providing curbside recycling services at no cost to the residents, the Village, or the SWMD. By providing the container grant to the Village, they were able to work with the local hauling company, CSI Environmental Services, and collaborate to provide curbside recycling. The service was rolled out in 2013 with CSI working with GreenStar out of Pittsburgh to take the material. After GreenStar was bought out by Waste Management, it became more and more difficult for CSI to take the single stream material to them and the cost became too much. Working closely with JaSar in East Palestine, CSI worked out a deal for them to take the materials and keep everything local in the community. CSI provided information through our annual surveys until JaSar took over their processing. Those numbers are now included with JaSar’s survey information. This is not a District sponsored program, but the SWMD will more closely monitor this program throughout the planning period, as we expect the program to continue.
Drop-off Recycling Locations
The SWMD Drop-Off Recycling Program has been in place since 1994. Because of the rural nature of our three counties, this was deemed to be the best way to provide access to recycling. The drop-off sites listed are all sites available in the reference year. However, because we did not have weights available by drop-of site until 2015 and the recycling data provided in this Plan Update includes 2015, the sites listed also include one site added in 2015 in Perry Township, Columbiana County.