Waste stream journal, Vol. 1, no. 2 (Winter 1997)

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THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL A Waste Reduction Newsletter of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs

* * * VOL. I NO. 2
Recyclers Ratel
Ga.Among Top Ten States in Recycling
Recyclers Invest $1.98 Billion in State
4.7 Million Tons
From the Dalton Daily Citizen-News to the Moultrie Observer, headlines across the state recently proclaimed Georgia a leader among states. in recycling efforts. The papers were reporting on a DCA-sponsored survey of Georgia recycling companies, which calculated the state's recycling rate at 33 percent, one of the ten highest in the nation.
The rate has also been reported in industry publications such as Waste News and Recycling Times, and even in USA Today. (Okay, so USA Today wrote only one sentence, but it was in there.)
The publicity was a long time in coming, but it did not go unanswered by critics. The survey, conducted during 1996, was Georgia's first effort at calculating the amount of materials being recycled that otherwise would be disposed of in the state's landfills.
Beyond that, the survey found significant recyclingrelated employment and investment m the state. Recycling companies that responded reported capital investments in Georgia
cont. on page 6: 1&

WINTER 1997

**** IT'S ONUS

.Garbage Grants

T~lkin' Trash-

* * *

* * *

GEFAAwards

The Public Sector

The Private Sector ... $1.3 Million in

A pproximately60 percent of the overall waste stream in Georgia is generated by non-residential sources (i.e., commercial businesses, manufacturers and institutions), according to the preliminary results from a survey of landfill operators in the state. Last summer, DCA, EPD and P2AD visited each landfill to assist operators with the survey and to take longitude and latitude readings of the sites. The final report is expected in April.
* * *
You may know Baxley as Georgia's "nuclear city" and Cochran as the home of Middle Georgia College, but solid waste professionals now know them as two cities with really cool trucks. World Wastes, a solid waste management publication, recently named the two cities winners in their 1996 Design Contest. Cochran's residential garbage truck won the "Best Side Loader" category, andBaxley's commercial and residential refuse collection truck won "Best Public Vehicle."
* * *
The Georgia Building Authority (GBA) reports that

The recent acquisition of Waldorf Corporation makes Norcross-based Rock-Tenn Company the largest producer of 100 percent recycled paperboard in North America. With the $410 million acquisition, Rock-Tenn's capacity to produce 100 percent recycled paperboard, excluding containerboard and gypsum board, expands to almost one million tons per year.
* * *
Southeast Paper Recycling has signed a five-year contract to collect and process paper, primarily undeliverable junk mail, from more than 200 Atlanta-area branch offices of the US Postal Service. The Postal outlets have the potential to recycle more than 500 tons per month of waste paper, cut their annual $400,000 waste disposal costs in half, and increase revenue by more than $150,000 per year.
* * *
Two Georgia companies made presentations at the Southeastern Recycling In ve s tme-n t Forum in Charleston, S.C., in February. Great American Recycling Company, b.ased in Peachtree

cont. on page 7: 1&

cont. on page 7: 1&

In This Issue

Eleven Southeast Georgia counties collected 125,000 tires for recycling. Could your community do it, too? See page 2.
From ~igarette butts to zero waste, legislators propose changes in Georgia's response to solid waste issues. See page 4.
What kind of solid waste management training would you like? PLEASE tell us! See page 12.

SW Grants
15 Projects Funded
Requests Outnumber Remaining Funds
The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) Board of Directors awarded $1.2 million in recycling and waste reduction grants at its January 28 meeting. The 15 awards ranged from $7,900 to $200,000 and covered recycling, composting, volume-based rate setting and waste reduction education programs.
The funds were the first awarded from $2.5 million of Georgia Solid Waste Trust Fund monies set aside to help communities with recycling and waste reduction efforts. The remaining $1.3 million will be awarded later in the fiscal year. GEFA is still accepting applications but has already received requests for more than the amount of the remaining funds, according to James Thompson, a program manager for the Authority. In order to be considered, applications should be received before April 1.
"The awards process will be very competitive because we've already received a large volume of applications," said Thompson. "I encourage
cont. on page 9: 1&

THEWASTESTREAMJOURNALwINTER1997_ _ _ _ _ _~------------
Southeast KAB Scraps Tires
Estimated 125,000 Collected in November

The good tires were rolling

"It's exciting to

in 11 Georgia counties when have been so suc-

the Southeast Georgia Clean & cessful in getting ~hat

Beautiful (SGCB) sponsored a many tires out of the

regional scrap tire collection in region," said Karin

November, 1996. The com- Stenborg, SGCB

munities collected more than director. "What makes

125,000 tires for recycling, far this a real service to

exceeding sponsors' expecta- the community is, first

tions. They plan to collect even of all~ the state pays to

more tires when they repeat properly dispose of the

the program in the Spring.

tires. Then the local

SGCB, the largest Keep governments go

America Beautiful affiliate in to the trouble of

the US, coordinated the eight- handling the actual

day drop-off program for its tire collection in

member counties and their addition to their nor-

cities. Communities staffed m a 1 responsibilities."

the collection sites, provided Participating counties

labor for loading the tires, and included Bulloch, Candler,

advertised the event. A Scrap Wheeler, Montgomery, Evans,

Tire Management grant from Tattnall, Jenkins, Emanuel,

the Environmental Protection Toombs, Screven and Treutlen.

Division (EPD) paid the cost The combined population of

of contracting with a company the 11 counties totals only

to transport the tires to an about 173,000.

approved recycling facility.

"This project has

Eleven Southeast Georgia counties collected an estimated 125,000 tires in an eight-day collection last November.

effectively addressed the rural considerations of the tire problem. Availability of tire collection points, coupled with the number of farmers who took advantage of it, was phenomenal, and we can all be quite proud," said Vernon

Edenfield, Screven County solid waste director and SGCB board member.
Organizers are also proud of the many ways cities and counties worked together for the program's success, according to Stenborg. >>

Upcoming Workshops Offer SWM Training
Members of the Intergovernmental Solid Waste Coordinating Council are planning two workshops for local government solid waste professionals and a conference for business and government purchasers in 1997.
Recycling Program Development Training These workshops will offer training for recycling coordinators
at two different experience levels. Sessions for beginning
INTERGOVERNMENTAL SOLID WASTE COORDINATING COUNCIL
+ Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) + Georgia Building Authority (GBA) + Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) + Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) + Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) + Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) + Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)

coordinators will cover the basics of organizing and managing a community recycling program. A second track for more experienced coordinators will present innovative ideas and technologies for improving current programs.
Coordinators will have an opportunity to network with their peers at all experience levels. Attendees will also receive a comprehensive manual with the "how-to's" of community recycling, resources, case studies and information on community composting.
The Recycling Program Development Training sessions will be May 12-13 in Athens and June 10-11 in Tifton. DCA and the Georgia Recycling Coalition are the primary sponsors.
Collection Efficiency
Recycling and solid waste collection can be one of the most costly elemertts in a local government's solid waste management budget. To help local governments learn ways to "do more with less," the Intergovernmental Solid Waste Coordinating Council is working with the Georgia Chapter of the Solid Waste >>

2

-----~-~--------'------GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

For example, Emanuel County contracted for. the grant, while the City of Swainsboro's recycling center served as the collection point. Swainsboro also collected tires curbside, and the Swainsboro

"THIS PROJECT HAS EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED
THE RURAL CONSIDERATIONS
OF THE TIRE PROBLEM."

sold within the state.
In the Fall of 1996, the grants allowed residents of 31 counties to recycle an estimated 260,000 tires. Though total costs are not yet available, EPD Environ-

GHEP
EXPANDS
FOCUS
With a successful first year under its belt, the Georgia Hospitality Environmental Partnership (GHEP) is making preparations to extend its .reach to the Georgia coast.
Consisting of public and

WESTIN PEACHTREE PLAZA
RECYCLING RESULTS

10/95 - 2/97

TONS 272 102 39 34 16.9

Material commingled cardboard newspaper cooking oil mixed paper

Housing Authority Vernon Edenfield mental Specialist cleaned up tires _________ C h a r 1 e s

dumped in public

McDaniel

housing areas. The two estimates grant awards for last

governments split advertising Fall will total around $237,000.

costs. In Candler County, the

"It's a perfect use of the

private organizations concerned with waste reduction in Georgia's hospitality industry, the Partnership provides industry members educational materials and technical

14.2 pallets 10 telephone directories 1.9 white ledger 1.4 55 gallon drums

City of Metter gave the [scrap tire] money, to put it assistance on waste reduction 491.4 .TOTAL

event free advertising on the .back at the local level to get and recycling.

water bill.

rid of tires," said Stenborg.

Since its formation in June

While continuing to work

The Scrap Tire Manage-

For information on Scrap 1995, GHEP has focused its intheAtlantaarea,GHEPwill

ment grant program helps Tire Management grants for efforts on Atlanta hotels. build on its success and look

communities develop scrap recycling events or clean up of Downtown Atlanta's Westin to other areas of the state with

tire enforcement programs existing piles, call McDaniel Peachtree Plaza became the a high concentration of

and related education efforts at (404) 362-4513. To find out project's pilot property in hospitality outlets, such as

such as scrap tire recycling more or to apply for a October 1995. As of February Savannah or the Brunswick/

and prevention and clean up grant for scrap tire 28, 1997, the hotel had St. Simons area.

of scrap tire piles. These enforcement or education, call diverted 19.42% of its waste

DCA will serve as

grants are funded through a Christie Campbell at from the landfill. The re- GHEP's new base of opera-

$1 fee assessed on new tires (404) 679-3152. !

duction in waste hauls has tions, since the program

saved the hotel $910 per joined the Department this

Association of North America (SWANA) to sponsor two workshops on collection efficiency.
Through an interactive, one-day session and workbook, solid waste/recycling managers and local i:lecision makers will learn. proven approaches to improving the quality and costeffectiveness of collection service delivery. The sessions will include both Georgia examples and case studies taken from a nationwide project sponsored by SWANA, the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities.
Dates and locations of the workshops will be announced in the next issue of The Waste Stream Journal.

month. When combined

year. While the Partner-

withthesaleofrecycla- ~==~ ship still exists

bles, the hotel's
benefit is about {J

among the original members, DCA is

a $1,300 per month. ~
--------11
Members ofGHEP ~
sendcongratulations

now providing
program manage-
ment and implementation services.
Original mem-

and appreciation to Jo

hers include: US EPA-

Townsend. With her Region 4, Georgia Coopera-

experience in establishing a tive Extension Service,

"Buy Recycled" Procurement Exposition
In what is expected to be the Southeast's largest recycled products show for 1997, purchasing agents and recycling coordinators from private businesses and federal, state and local governments will get an up~close view of quality recycled products. Informational programs with nationally recognized speakers will show purchasers how to enhance their recycled product procurement programs.
The exposition will take place September 9-10, 1997, at the Inforum in Atlanta. Primary sponsors of this event are DCA, the Georgia Recycling Coalition, US EPA-Region 4, and the US General Services Administration. !

wastereductionprogramfor Florida's hospitality industry, Jo was a valuable resource
as she organized the work of the Partnership. After launching Georgia's program, she recently retired and returned to Florida.
Jowillbegreatlymissed,but her accomplishments are truly making a difference in our state.

Georgia Hospitality & Travel Association, Georgia
Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Metro Atlanta
Chamber of Commerce, City of Atlanta, EPD, P2AD, GEFA, and DC.A.
For more information on GHEP, call Jeff Darrow at (404) 679-1598. !

3

THEWASTESTREAMJOURNALWINTER1997_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____c_ _ _ _~

w 1997 SOLID ASTE LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE

GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BILL/ SPONSOR

DCA TITLE

PURPOSE

HOUSE HB57
BARNES
HB 142 FLOYD
HB 219 SMITH
HB 248 BURKHALTER

DISPOSAL OF ROOFING SHINGLES
CRISP COUNTY BILL
DEACTIVATION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES
CIGARETTE BUTTS DEFINED AS LITTER

HB 612 SHANAHAN

PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENT/ SW FEE COLLECTION ENFORCEMENT

HB 697 BRIDGES, EVERETT

NEW SUNSET DATE FOR
w SOLID ASTETRUST FUND

HB 835

NEW SUNSET DATE FOR

w PORTER, SHANAHAN, SOLID ASTE TRUST FUND

HANNER, JAMIESON

Makes it u.nlawful to dispose of roofing shingles containing asphalt, except in C&D or MSW landfills. Further requires EPD and P2AD to develop a plan for recycling these shingles and report the plan to the General Assembly by 12/31/97.
Exempts certain materials, machinery and equipment from state sales tax. Specifically targeted at Crisp County's recently funded solid waste processing and recovery facility, which will collect garbage from various counties within the state.
Allows for the deactivation of regional solid waste management authorities created under the 1990 Solid Waste Management Act. Several such authorities were created, primarily to site regional landfills, and then never used. This language was part of last year's HB 148, which passed but was later vetoed by the Governor.
Specifically identifies cigarette butts and other items as litter, making it a misdemeanor to leave a cigarette butt on public or private property. Punishment could include a fine of $100 to $1,000, community service work, and publishing the offender's name in the newspaper.
Requires a public hearing before a city, county or authority can sell or contract for private management of a landfill. Charges tax commissioners/collectors with enforcing collection of taxes, fees or assessments for solid waste services. (Both provisions were part of last year's HB 148.)
Changes sunset date for State.Solid Waste Trust Fund from June 30, 2000 to June 30, 1998. This fund was established in the 1990 Solid Waste Management Act and is supported by a fee of $1 for each new tire sold in Georgia. Trust Fund monies are used to eliminate scrap tire piles as well as support the State's solid waste reduction efforts.
Changes sunset date for State Solid Waste Trust Fund from June 30, 2000 to June 30, 2005. Also promotes the use of scrap tires as boiler fuel.

SENATE SR56
JAMES
SR 112 JAMES, GILLIS,
KEMP
SB 63 JAMES

CREATION OF RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE REDUCTION FUND

Amends Georgia Constitution to allow for creation of a recycling and solid waste reduction fund to support state's education and technical assistance efforts. Amendment would require voter approval on November 1998ballot. Funds would likely be generated through sale of prestige license plates (see SB 63).

CREATION OF SENATE RECYCLING Creates a Senate Recycling and Economic Development Study

AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Committee. Basically continues Senator Donzella James' study

STUDY COMMITTEE

committee for a third year and expands it from six to nine members.

RECYCLING LICENSE PLATE

a Creates special license plate to generate revenue for recycling and
solid waste reduction fund. The plate would carry a $25 annual fee.

SB 98 JAMES

w ZERO ASTE BILL

Establishes countywide, per capita waste reduction goals of 25% by 2002, 50% by 2007 and 100% by 2020. Sets 1997 as base year for calculation.

SB 191 JAMES

BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT LEGISLATION ("BOTTLE BILL")

Requires that all beverage containers (except milk) of one gallon or less have a deposit of 10 or more. The desired result is a reduction of waste and litter.

SB 255 JAMES, SCOTT, FORT

STATE PURCHASING BILL

Sets minimu.m recycled content standards and other specifications for state agency paper purchases and printing; requires annual progress reporting by state agencies and authorities to DOAS, and statewide report by DOAS to General Assembly and Governor.

SB 347 EGAN
4

PERMIT FEES

Requires fee payment to secure a permit for certain environmental services.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
OLD CARPET HITS THE ROAD

Recycled Carpet Fibers Used in Road Beds

Four billion pounds of carpet scraps-heavier than 5,0bO Boeing 747's-find a final resting place in US landfills each year. More than 60 percent of the world's carpet is made in Georgia, so our state carries much of the burden. In Dalton, the "carpet capital of the world," .the county landfill accepts 100 million pounds of carpet waste from area mills annually.
Four Georgia counties are cooperating with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Shaw Industries, Synthetic Industries, Georgia Tech and the Department of Transportation in an experiment to recycle some of the waste. As part of the Georgia Geofiber Project, road crews in Brooks, Candler, Habersham and Wilkinson counties are. incorporating shredded scrap carpet fibers into unpaved roads in an attempt to reduce maintenance costs.
According to Youjiang Wang, associate professor at Georgia Tech's School of Textile & Fiber Engineering, using carpet to rebuild roads could greatly impact the amount of carpet waste headed for disposal in landfills. If 20,000 miles of roads-just one half of one percent of major US roads-were rebuilt with carpet fibers, four billion pounds of carpet waste would be diverted from landfills.
"We are not there yet," said Wang, "but we feel there is really significant potential for using this product [to recycle carpet waste]."
Rolling Out the Carpet
To begin the "carpeting" process, Shaw Industries

chopped post-consumer carpets into one~inch scraps, then combed them with wire brushes to separate fibers: County employees tilled the fibers into the soil to a depth of about six inches, at a rate of about 15 pounds per cubic yard of soil. They then reshaped and compacted the road surface. The resulting smooth surface is laced with multi-colored. filaments, much like a paper that looks "recycled."
Each county applied carpet fibers to 250 feet of unpaved road. Two types of engineered synthetic fibers produced by Synthetic Industries were applied to two additional .250-foot sections. A fourth stretch of road was left with no treatment as a control section.
The materials applied to the soil contain no contaminants that might lead to a negative environmental impact, according to Wayne Freed of Synthetic Industries.
"This is a key issue," said Freed. "IThe project partners] are not in the landfill business. We are in the business of finding positive uses of recycled materials to improve soils."
To Carpet or Not To Carpet?
Four months into the field trials, the experiment is yielding mixed results. In mountainous Habersham County, where the soil contains clay, the stretch of road treated with carpet fiber was still smooth after a month and more than five inches of rain. It withstood heavy rains within a day of hav!ng the fibers applied.

Shredded carpet fibers worked into a-dirt road In Wilkinson County.

In Candler and Wilkinson counties, where the soil is more sandy, the carpet fibers were less effective. "We appear to be working better in micatious clay soils, and preliminary results indicate fiber adds cohesive strength to soils," said David Donning, managing director of the Georgia Geofiber Project. Donning said the Project members will release more complete results in mid-March.
After evaluating the benefits of the different additives for varied soil types, the project partners will determine whether reinforcing unpaved roads with fibers actually saves taxpayer dollars through decreased maintenance requirements and/or

improved performance. The partners will recommend broad application of the procedure only ifit proves cost effective and adds value during the construction process.
Ifthe process proves viable with many different soil types, it could significantly impact Georgia's waste reduction efforts. "I think we'll find dozens of uses for carpet, and this is a good option," said Freed. "Half the roads in Georgia are unpaved, and it's probably the same in other southern states. That represents a good market for the product.":
Much of the infonnation for this article was taken from the January 1997 issue ofACCGs Georgia County Government.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL 17

'19-29 20-26

MAY

22 25
2-3 2
10
12-13 19-21

JUNE

20-22
10-11 23-26

Southeastern Regional Best Practices Workshop for Wood Waste, Charlotte, NC Green Fest, Athe.ns Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Clean Statewide Litter Cleanup Week Earth Day National Litter Bag Day
GCB Chairman's Institute, Jekyll Island Waste Reduction Advisory Council Meeting, Jekyll Island River Awareness Cleanup Day Recycling Program Development Training, Athens Conference on Recycling Fibrous Textile and Carpet Waste, Atlanta Waste Expo, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta
Recycling Program Development Training, Tifton GA SWANA Landfill Operators Certification Training Workshop, S.outhern Tech, Marietta

5

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL WINTER 1997-----1 SUMMARY-RECYCLING IN GEORGIA, 1995

Recycling Survey Finds Significant Investment and Employment
continued from page 1
totaling more than $1.98 billion. Additionally, these companies employed 13,339 workers in jobs directly related to recycling.
"We've been challenged on our methodology and inclusion of certain recyclables," said Paul Radford, director of DCA's Research and Information Division. "We looked at other states' survey methods.... We determined that the fairest way to count recycling would be to base it on how we count disposal. If anything, we were conservative."
How It Worked
Atlanta-based Resource Services conducted the survey on behalf of DCA in con" sultation with the Georgia Association of Recycling Industries (GARI) and the Southeastern Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).
Surveys were mailed to 740 recyclers, compiled from DCA's Recycling Markets Directoryfor Georgia, computer databases and telephone yellow pages directories. A certified public accounting

firm was hired to

Recycled 1% of Total paints, refrigerants,

tabulate and main-

Category (Tonsx 1000) Recycled concrete and poly-

tain confidentiality

Mixed Paper

134.95

urethane foam)

of the responses.

Old Newspaper

140.74

represented 15. 8

The one-page

High Grade Paper

486.78

percent of the

survey form was

Corrugated . 658.21

materials recycled.

d~signed to be sim-.

Total Paper 1420.69

29.96

To calculate the

ple and to obtain updated information regarding name, location, capital

Plastic Bottles Plastic - Other Total Plastic

6.78 106.90 113.67

2.40

recycling rate, the total tons recycled was divided by the total tons of muni-

investment,

Lead Acid Batteries

2.43

cipal solid waste

employment, and

Aluminum Cans

77.32

disposed of (9.82

amounts and types

Other Non-ferrous

237.75

million) plus the

of materials re-

Total Non-ferrous 317 .50

6.69 total tons recycled.

cycled in Georgia

Steel Cans

during 1995. To

White Goods

avoid double Other Ferrous (less autos)

counting, dealer/ processors were

Total Ferrous (less autos\

asked to report only the tons of

Glass

3.41 36.58 1902.35 1942.34
56.93

40.96 1 .20

"Recycling numbers were not extrapolated to account for recyclers who didn't respond to the survey," commented Resource

materials they

Rubber

77.42

1.63 Services Principal

shipped out of state, and end users were asked to report only

Textiles

64.40

Other(seegraph) I 749.53

1.36
I 15.80

Steve Levetan. "Georgia's largest recyclers reported

the tons they re-

Total Recycled I 4742.47

100.00 their figures, so

ceived from within

(less autos\

I

although the final

the state. Resource Total Tons Disposed I 9824.59 I

recycling rate does

Services reviewed
and c.orrected re-

Recycling Rate I 32.6%

(less autos)

I

spouses for anom-

(Georgia Recycling Rate Survey, 1995)

alies, such as obvious reporting

not represent all the recycling activity in the state, we are confident we are recycling at

in pounds or gallons rather than forms. The recycling least 33 percent of the materials

tons. These changes were numbers they reported were that would otherwise be thrown

verified by the accounting firm. adjusted to exclude auto away."

Results
Of the 462 recyclers deemed valid for the purposes of the project, 180 returned

scrap, based on estimates provided by ISRI (see Q&A column on next page). The adjusted total recycled by Georgians in 1995 was

Where We Stand
Georgia's rate compares favorably with those most recently reported by more than 40 states to BioCycle and Waste

MATERIALS RECYCLED, % OF TOTAL RECYCLED

4,742,474 tons.

Age: Methodologies used by the

Even with the exclusion states in calculating recycling

Total Ferrous (less autos)

of auto scrap, the ferrous rates may vary. A total of 13 metals category represented states report a recycling rate of

Total Paper

41 percent of the total 30 percent or greater.

Other

recycled materials, the largest

"Because we didn't have a

portion. The second largest number to report in the past,

category, paper products, people assumed Georgia wasn't

Total Plastic
Rubber~
Textiles ~ Glass ~

I
(Georgia Recycling Rate Survey, 1995)

i

10

20

30

40

represented 30 percent of the materials. The "other" category (oil, contaminated soil, restaurant grease, biodegradable materials, wood waste, yard trimmings, pallets, antifreeze, solvents/

doing anything," said Radford. "It's. about time Georgians got the recognition they deserve." Radford said DCA hopes for increased industry participation when the survey is repeated to capture 1996 numbers. :

6

- - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - G E O R G I A DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Recycling Rate Q&A

We asked Recycling Resources Principal Steve Levetan some of the most commonly raised questions about Georgia's recycling rate. Here are his responses:

Q Q How does Georgia's methodology compare with those

used by other states and agencies?

_

Does construction and demolition debr.is contribute substantially to the recycling rate?

A Georgia's_ is similar to the system used by Tennessee and measures virtually the same materials as does Florida. Georgia counts materials either shipped out of state for recycling or going to an end user from within the state. Some states, such as Florida, count materials purchased or received by recycling programs or dealer processors, thereby counting materials later sorted and discarded as contaminants. Georgia's approach is more conservative.
QHow much of a difference would it have made if Ge_orgia had counted auto scrap in its recycling numbers?

A Construction and demolition debris (C&D) is included
in Georgia's "other" category. It is appropriate that this material be included, since the disposal of C&D and other inert materials is counted as MSW disposal in Georgia. The "other" category, which includes C&D, accounts for less than 16 percent of Georgia's recycling. If we were to delete this category, and then not count disposal in C&D and inert landfills, Georgia's recycling rate would actually increase from 32.6 to 33.8 percent.
QHow does this study advance recycling in Georgia?

A Auto scrap has long been suspected of greatly inflating recycling rates. However, since ferrous (steel) scrap from automobiles accounts for only about 10.4 percent of all the steel recycled in a year, and steel scrap is then a fraction of the total recycling in Georgia, adding in the estimated auto recycling would add only one percent to Georgia's overall recycling rate, increasing it from 32.6 to 33.6 percent.

A This study, for the first time, shows the size and scope of the recycling industry in Georgia. We can now identify the strengths and weaknesses of Georgia's recycling infrastructure and avoid duplicating existing adequate infrastructure while targeting those areas that are growing and in need of public or private assistance. :

Ta/kin' Trash, Public
continuedfrom page 1
state government agencies recycled 3,881 tons of recyclables through its program last year. GBA recycles five grades of paper (99 percent of materials recycled) and aluminum cans. Recyclables are collected from state agencies in 120 facilities within a 30 mile radius of the State Capitol, as well as from selected facilities in Athens, Milledgeville and Augusta.
* * *
State government also "closes the loop," spending 91 percent more on recycled content products in the 1996 fiscal year than in FY94, the first year these expenditures were calculated. More than half of the $13.3 million spent on recycled content products in 1996 was for office paper

products, according to the Department ofAdministrative Services (DOAS).
* * *
The purchase of recycled products is easier than ever for state agencies and local governments, with a new Recycled Products Catalog published by DOAS. The publication lists recycled products available through Surplus & Supply and State purchasing contracts. A new statewide contract adds recycled .park and facilities maintenance products to the list.
* * *
DCA's Waste Reduction Advisory Council held a twoday meeting in Americus on December 2 and 3 to brainstorm on needed revisions to the State Solid Waste Management Plan. The Council met again on February 27 in Atlanta to consider issues

including proposed state programs and purchase

legislation,. expansion of the recycled products at two Waste

statewide litter campaign, and in the Workplace workshops in

programmatic goals for com- January and February. Based

munities. The Council's next on workbooks developed by

meeting will be held in Keep America Beautiful, Inc.,

concert with the Georgia the workshops were tailored to

Clean and Beautiful Chair- address local needs and issues.

man's Institute on May 2 at To have a free Waste in the

Jekyll Island. :

Workplace workshop sched-

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __. uled in your community, call

Talkin' Trash, Private Lynn Cobb at (404) 679-4910.

continued from page 1
City, is a start-up company planning to recycle post consumer carpet. Microlife USA Inc., has municipal solid waste composting operations in Conyers and Minnesota. The companies attended the Forum to seek investors to assist in their expansion.
* * *
Rome-area businesses learned to conduct waste audits, set up recycling

* * *
No one said wood chipping came without its hazards. A mysterious chunk of metal that fell from the sky and through the roof of a Dunwoody home in February wouldn't seem so strange to solid waste professionals. The piece was from an industrialsized wood chipper operating nearby. No wonder the maintenance and insurance costs on those things are astronomical. :

7

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL WINTER1997_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

CASE STUDY

WASTE REDUCTION IN

ROME/FLOYD
In 1988, Rome/Floyd County residents overwhelmingly passed a referendum for a one-year, one cent special local option sales tax (SPLOST) that would fund a recycling program and two other community projects. The resulting buy-back center for recyclables had citizen support and buy-in before it even began. According to Marta Turner, director of the

COUNTY
center, this support has been the key factor in the center's success and the most important lesson other communities can learn from Rome/Floyd's experience.
"You've. got to have interest," said Turner. "Get the people to get together and make the government officials know they want a recycling program. The people have to be willing to put energy or money into it."

Fast Facts:

RECYCLING BUY-BACK CENTER

1990 Floyd Co. Population

81,251

How It Works

Residents and businesses bring recyclables to the buy-back center, where they receive payment or credit for certain items. Residents who choose to take a credit may designate a charity they wish to receive the funds. The center also processes materials from the City's curbside program, the County's remote drop-off locations and several other local governments.

Operating Hours Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Materials Recycled

Aluminum, glass, #1 & #2 plastic containers, #6 plastic, newspaper, office paper, computer paper, mixed paper, corrugated boxes, steel cans, motor oil, magazines, and miscellaneous items (e.g., plastic and paper bags, telephone books, cereal box-type paperboard, hardback and paperback books, fluorescent lights, household and car batteries).

Amount Recycled 15 tons per day

Contact

Marta Turner 405 Watters Street Rome, Georgia 3016.2 (706) 291-5266

Using the SPLOST funds, Rome/Floyd County converted a 90 year-old building into a 9,000 square-foot recycling center in 1992. The City of Rome owned the site and donated the building, which is now a joint agency with both governments sharing costs and revenues.
The center, run by Turner and an assistant/cashier, is open to residents and businesses. Recyclables are also received from the City's curbside recycling program and from five drop-off convenience centers scattered throughout the county. By accepting recyclables from drop-off programs in Polk County and the cities of Aragon, Cave Spring and Summerville, the center supports regional recycling efforts as well. Two full-time and two part-time correctional officers and 16 inmates handle the processing 8.5 million pounds per year.
The center operates with a considerable amount of equipment, some purchased with the original SPLOST funds or recycling revenues and some supplied by or purchased through special arrangements with the facility's markets. For example, the center's paper broker supplied a new computerized, automated horizontal baler valued at $120,000. Inreturn, the center will take a $5 per ton reduction in the amount they receive for future paper sales. "On a personal level, the broker is ensuring his community has a jam-up recycling program," said Turner, "On a business level, we have the capacity of processing higher volumes, so we call him more often to say we have another truckload."

The equipment they own is used creatively. The vertical balers not only compact items but also store plastic bags, aluminum foil and polystyrene (one baler for each material). This saves on storage space and enables the center to accept more materials. The horizontal balers are used primarily for all grades of paper, from newspaper to corrugated cardboard, as well as plastic bottles.
According to Turner, the center's most outstanding features are the variety of materials accepted (see list below) and the fact that it is a buy-back center. Customers receive 25 cents per pound for aluminum products and one cent per pound for glass and plastic containers. Prices for paper items vary. In lieu of payment, 80 percent of residential customers request that revenues be given to a designated charity. The facility paid out $95,000 to the public for materials received in 1996.
"I felt our citizens needed more than an environmental incentive to participate," said Turner. "I visited a lot of recycling centers when we were planning ours. Those that had a cause were most successful, so our big thrust is to encourage people to make donations. For corporations, the buy-back gives them a way to offset the cost of getting the recyclables to the center."
Turner estimates that it costs $330,000 to run the facility each year. Average revenues for 1995 and 1996 were $300,000 per year, in addition to $94,000 in avoided tip fees per year. Rome/Floyd County plans to expand the facility, ideally to 15,000 square feet, but a time frame has not been established. :

8

----~---'---------'-----'------------GEORGIADEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Grants Fund Local Projects
continued from page 1

communities to think through their projects carefully and submit applications that thoroughly describe the project and its costs and benefits."
Single jurisdictions are eligible for up to $100,000, multi-jurisdictional applications (for two cities or

a city and a county) are eligible for up to $250,000, and regional applications (two or more counties) may receive up to $500,000.
For more information, please contact James Thompson or Paul Burks at (404) 656-0938. !

1996-97 GEFA Recyclingand Waste Reduction Grant Program Awards

$27,750 $7,900 $100,000 $76,500
$200,000 $200,000 $70,000 $100,000 $52,000
$100,000 $75,000
$100,000 $75,000
$30,000
$25,000

Brooks County Pesticide- container recycling
Camden County Yard trimmings management facility
Canton Recycling public information and education
Dooly County Pesticide container recycling (with adjoining counties)
Douglas/Coffee County Biosolids/yard trimmings/ag waste composting
Elbert County/Bowman Recycling convenience centers
Gordon County Volume-based rate system
Hart County Recycling convenience center improvement
Hartwell Feasibility study and equipment for recycling program
LaGrange Drop-off recycling centers
Polk County Elimination of green boxes, establishment of convenience centers
Rabun County Staffed recycling drop-off center
Roberta/Crawford County Recycling center expansion to serve surrounding jurisdictions
Sumter CountyIAmericus Construction waste and recycling education center
Villa Rica Solid waste reduction study

Peachy Clean Goes Statewide; Communities Pre-Certified by KAB

The GeorgiaAssociation of (GCB) staff coordinated
. Broadcasters has selected training on KAB 's Waste in

the Peachy Clean Team's Place and Waste: A Hidden

"Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Resource curricula for 332

Clean" media campaign to classroom teachers, educational

receive donated air time on hs specialists, administrators

member stations. The ad in and AmeriCorps volunteers.

which LeRoy Powell reminds These teachers have in turn

viewers they wouldn't litter "if taught an estimated 11,600

their mam.a was watchin'," students. State KAB affiliates

will air in donated and reached an additional 61,510

purchased time slots on 217 students through 551 school

radio stations and 25 television presentations.

stations across the state. (For more information on the media campaign, see page 2 of the Fall 1996 Waste Stream Journal.)
* * *

* * *
Watch your environmental . p's and q's in April, when the calendar is filled with KAB
Month activities, "Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Clean" Clean

More than 300 groups in Up Week, Earth Day (April

212 Georgia communities will 22) and National Litter Bag

participate in "Let's Keep Day (April 25). To order

Georgia Peachy Clean" Clean "Let's Keep Georgia Peachy

Up Week, April 19-26, 1997. Clean" litter bags for your

The second annual event, community, call the Georgia

sponsored by_ the Georgia Department of Transportation

Peachy Clean Team, will reach at (404) 656-5269.

100 more communities than last year's effort.
* * *

* * *
GCB 's Chairman's Institute, May 2-3 at the Jekyll Island

Georgians recycled Club, will offer board

350,000 trees in the seventh development and volunteer

annual statewide "Bring One management training for KAB

for the Chipper" Christmas executive directors and local

tree recycling program on board chairpersons. Attendees

January 4. Over 2,000 will also have opportunities to

volunteers staffed 330 sites in build relationships and share

more than 100 communities. ideas with their peers. Horace

* * *
Two communities recently completed a Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) pre-

Hudson, Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation President, will address the group.
* * *

certification workshop in

GCB and the state's 56

Albany. Beautiful Fayette and KAB affiliates will host Keep

Valdosta-Lowndes Clean and America Beautiful's 1997

Beautiful should complete Regional Forum for. South/

KAB certification this summer. Southeast, August 12-16 in

* * *
During the 1996 fiscal year, Georgia Clean and Beautiful

Savannah. For more information, contact Rhonda Koplin at (404) 679-3152. !

9

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL WINTER 1997_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Georgia Clean and Beautiful

Presents Annual Awards

Georgia Clean and Beautiful (GCB), a program of DCA, recognized 58 organizations and individuals for outstanding waste reduction and environmental improvement efforts at its 1997 awards luncheon in March.
For the first time, the student of the year received a $1,000 scholarship from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. Ashley Musselwhite, a freshman at Crisp County High School in Cordele, received the award for her volunteer efforts. Ashley organized a "Green Team" at her school, has taught mentally and physically challenged students about recycling, and regularly participates in community environmental events.
"We want to recognize and foster a sense of stewardship toward the environment," said Horace Hudson, Foundation president and extension coordinator for community development with the University of Georgia Extension Service. "We hope the scholarship will reward students for their good work

and encourage them to continue focusing on environmental issues as they go into college and their careers."
Special recognition was also given to the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta for its success as the pilot hotel for the Georgia Hospitality Environmental Partnership (see article, page 3).
Competition for the awards was at an all time high, with 20 percent more applications
submitted this year than for the 1996 program, according to Lynn Cobb, GCB coordinator. The largest increases were in the schools and youth groups categories. The awards were presented at GCB's 19th annual luncheon on March 13. The event was held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta and was largely paid for through corporate donations. Rachel McMullin, who performed at the Olympic closing ceremony, and LeRoy Powell, spokesperson for the statewide litter campaign, entertained the 450 guests. Marc Pickard, in-depth reporter for WXIATV in Atlanta, served as master of ceremonies. :

Did you know...

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, Inc. (formerly the Citizen's Education Fund for a Clean and Beautiful Georgia) was created in 1985 to provide financial support for worthwhile educational programs that enhance the environment and quality of life in Georgia. A designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Foundation uses tax deductible donations from private corporations and citizens to promote the public interest.
The Foundation works primarily through the DCA's Georgia Clean and Beautiful program (GCB), which is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful; Inc. (KAB), and the state's 58 local KAB affiliates. In addition to the student scholarship and awards luncheon, the Foundation supports the GCB Chairman's Institute, media campaigns, educational programs and special events.

1996 GEORGIA CLEAN & BEAUTIFUL AWARD WINNERS

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:

Man of the Year ................. Paul E. Thompson, Jr., Cedartown

Woman of the Year .................. Earnestine Ezekiel, Columbus

Public Works Employee ....... Richard Foote, Hall County, and

of the Year

Henry Strickland, Cobb County

Student of the Year ................... Ashley Musselwhite, Cordele

COMPOSTING A WARDS:
Community, Business and Industries .............. City of Smyrna Home Composting ............ DeKalb County Extension Service

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT A WARDS:

Civic Organizations ............ Tybee Beautification Association

Local Business/ ........... Heard County Chamber of Commerce Industry

Local Government ...............~ ...................... City of Covington

Schools ............................... J.M. Odum Elementary, Moultrie

State, Regional or National.. ........ Browning-Ferris Industries/

Business/Industry

Marietta Clean City Commission

State/Federal Government ... Georgia Department of Agriculture

Youth Groups .......... South Forsyth High School S.T.E.P Club

RECYCLING A WARDS: Business/Industry ................................ Rockwell Automation/
Allen-Bradley, Dublin Government Agencies ..... Georgia Department of Agriculture Schools ........................... Arcado Elementary School, Lilburn Non-profit Organizations .......... Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Buy Recycled ..................... Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings

INNOVATION A WARD: Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta

KAB SYSTEM A WARDS:
Roberta/Crawford Clean and Beautiful Commission Smyrna Clean and Beautiful Forsyth County Clean & Beautiful Albany/Doughert)' Clean Community Commission Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Cobb Clean Commission

10

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _GEORGIADEPARTMENTOFCOMMUNITY AFFAIRS

The following individuals, organizations and agencies won second and third place awards:

Albany Dougherty Clean Community Commission
Alpharetta Environmental Serv'ices
Banks County Clean and Beautiful
Beaver Manufacturing, Mansfield
Bulloch County Board of Commissioners Environmental Management Department
Central Elementary High, Talbotton
Clayton Clean and Beautiful
Clubview Elementary School, Columbus
Covington -Newton County Clean and Beautiful
Covington Service Guild
DeKalb 4-H
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Dunwoody Nature Center
Georgia Adopt-a-Stream, Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Recycling Coalition

Herbert J. Dexter E-Club, Fort Benning
Jacob G. Smith Elementary School, Savannah
Keep Macon/Bibb Beautiful
Keep Savannah Beautiful
Nakanishi Manufacturing Corporation, Athens
Naval Air Station, Marietta
Rome/Floyd Clean Community Commission
Roswell High School SUADE Club
Royston Elementary School
Simpson Middle School, Marietta
SKF USA Inc.Recycle & Waste Reduction Task Team, Flowery Branch
Southeast Georgia Clean and Beautiful
Synthetic Industries, Chickamauga
Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry, Norcross
Tenneco Packaging Company, Covington

Crisp County High School freshman Ashley Musselwhite (center) ~on a $1,000 scholarship as Georgia Clean and Beautiful 's Student of the Year. ~
BF! and the Marietta Clean City Commission hosted "Green Games" for elementary school students.

<lilll Students at J.M. Odum Elementary School r;reated an outdoor classroom.

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL
is a quarterly publication of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Funding for this publication is provided by the Georgia Solid Waste Trust Fund.
We welcome any comments, criticisms or suggestions for future editions. News releases are welcome. We cannot guarantee we will publish all releases, but We do wish to report significant waste reduction news from the state and the region. Please send releases and correspondence to: Editor The Waste Stream Journal Georgia Department of Community Affairs 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4922 (404) 656-0572 (fax)

DCA Solid Waste Assistance.
Paul Radford, Director, Research and Information Division ............................................. (404) 679-4934
Leamon Scott, Director, Office of Waste Management...................................................... (404) 679-4816
Lynn Cobb, Georgia Clean and Beautiful Coordinator ...................................................... (404) 679-4910
Patty Mcintosh, Waste Reduction Manager ....................................................................... (404) 679-4853
Mark Bryant, Consultant .................................................................................................... (404) 679-4998 Solid Waste Management Technical Assistance (Full Cost Accounting, Ordinances, Variable Rates, etc;), Solid Waste Planning
Jeff Darrow, Program Manager, Georgia Hospitality Environmental Partnership ............ (404) 679-1598 Waste Reduction Assistance for Hospitality Industry
Renita Davis, Consultant ...:............................................,................................................... (404) 679-4922 Solid Waste Management Technical Assistance (Yard Trimmings Diversion), Solid Waste Public Information, Solid Waste Annual Report
John Ellis, Manager, Local Government Surveys, Office of Information Services ..........: (404) 679-4833 Solid Waste Management Survey and Full Cost Report
Rhonda Koplin, Consultant ................:............................................................................... (404) 679-3152 Education Training, Georgia Clean and Beautiful
Paula Longo, State Recycling Coordinator ........................................................................ (404) 679-3161 Solid Waste Management Technical Assistance (Recycling, Variable Rates, Buy Recycled, etc.)
Carol Morris, Consultant ......................................................................,...........................:. (404) 679-3150 Special Projects (Christmas Tree Recycling, Statewide Litter Reduction Campaign, Home Composting), Georgia Clean and Beautiful
Berenice Thomas, Secretary ............................................................................................... (404) 679-3142

11

THEWASTESTREAMJOURNALwrNTER1997_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

This Time, We Mean ft!

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Position _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Organization _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ When we ran a survey in our first issue of the Waste Stream City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State _ _ Zip _ _ _ _ __

Journal, you: must have thought In what areas of .solid waste management would you like to receive training from the it was a trial run, or surely more of you would have responded. Intergovernmental Solid Waste Coordinating Council?

Just to demonstrate our determination to give you the kind of service you really want, we're running the survey again. This is your chance to tell us what we should be doing, and we know you have an opinion, so please shareitwithusbyApril 10, 1997. (Thanks to those who have

D Buying Recycled Products D Financing Solid Waste Programs
o Full Cost Accounting
D Illegal Dumping
D Keep America Beautiful Affiliation D Moving Away from Green Boxes D Public Education D Regional Coordination

D Solid Waste Rules and Regulations D Teacher Workshops on Waste Reduction/
Litter/Recycling D Volume-Based Rate Setting
D Yard Trimmin~s Diversion-Promoting Home Compostmg
D Yard Trimmings Diversion-Government/ Commercial

already responded)

D Setting Up Community Recycling Programs

Return the survey to: Office D Setting Up Business Recycling Programs of Waste Management, Georgia ~----------------~

Department of Community Affairs, 60 Executive Park South,

What would you like to see in future newsletters?

N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30329-

2231 or fax to (404) 679-0572.

If you prefer, you may call us to

discuss the types of assistance you

need. Staff members and phone

numbers are listed on page 11.

Thank you!!

D Other - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Which of the following workshop format(s) would you most likely be able to attend? D morning (3-4 hours) D afternoon (3-4 hours) D full day (6-8 hours) D afternoon and following morning (6-8 hours) D other _____________

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2231

FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 04711

An Equal Opport'!.nity Employer

If you are disabled and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs at (404) 679-4915 or 1 (800) 736-1155 (TDD).
If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please call us or return this mailing label to have your name removed from our mailing list. Thanks!
12

@ Printed on Recycled Paper