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Waste Composition Experience

SCS is one of a select number of firms that have conducted solid waste composition studies on a local, regional, and national basis for many years. In 1973, SCS developed the first national methodology for conducting waste composition studies for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). This methodology was subsequently used as the basis for the ASTM Standard D5231-92 (1990, ’94, ’98) “Standard Test Method for Determination of the Composition of Unprocessed Municipal Solid Waste,” which is widely recognized today as the national standard. In 1990, SCS successfully completed a four-season generator-based study for the City of New York. This was one of the most comprehensive and complex waste composition studies ever undertaken in the history of the solid waste industry.

Conducting waste characterization studies at landfills involves strategic planning, preparation, and scheduling. The main objective is to not disrupt normal activities at the facility, while accomplishing the goals of the sampling plan. SCS has conducted more waste composition studies at landfills than any other consulting firm. These include the following:

• Broom County, NY
• Onondaga County, NY
• DuPage County, IL
• Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority, PA
• Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DE
• Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• State of California Statewide Study
• County of Orange, CA
• County of Santa Barbara, CA
• County of San Bernardino, CA
• City of Los Angeles, CA
• City of San Diego, CA
• Sonoma County, CA
• City of San Jose, CA
• San Mateo County, CA
• King County, WA
• City and County of Honolulu, HI
• State of Washington
• State of Oregon
  
  

Recent waste composition experience is described below:

Waste Composition Study for Anne Arundel County, Maryland
SCS completed the 2005 waste composition study for Anne Arundel County. This work was a follow-up to a previous 4-season waste composition study also conducted by SCS for the County in 1999. The 2005 work was accomplished during two 10-day study periods. During that time, field surveys were conducted with randomly selected waste trucks entering the Millersville Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility (MLFRRF). The mean waste composition was calculated using the results of 74 refuse samples, each consisting of at least 200 pounds of refuse.

For the 1999 study, waste samples from each target vehicle were separated by hand into over 50 individual waste component categories. To better serve the County’s planning needs, the 2005 study targeted recyclable components that coordinated with the County’s ongoing residential curbside recycling program. Concurrent with the sorting efforts for each season, SCS conducted a visual survey of residential trucks and trailers discarding community cleanup wastes as well as C&D/bulky wastes delivered directly to the working face of the landfill. In addition, SCS compared results from the 2005 study to results of the 1999 study.

Key Personnel: Stacey Demers

Waste Characterization Study, Orange County, North Carolina
Of the approximately 60,000 tons per year of solid waste handled at the Orange Regional Landfill, it is estimated that approximately 24,000 tons are residential, 30,000 tons are commercial and 6,000 tons are multi-family in origin. Solid waste is collected and hauled to the Orange Regional Landfill from the communities of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Orange County as well as by private commercial firms. Representative samples of urban and rural residential, and urban and rural commercial, and urban multi-family waste were taken from each jurisdiction. Samples were also taken from UNC hospitals.

SCS completed its fourth such waste composition study for Orange County in 2005. SCS performed similar waste composition studies for Orange County in 1990, 1995 and 2000. This grouping of studies included:

A comprehensive waste stream analysis of the residential and commercial sectors (by manual sorting), and of the construction/demolition and light industrial waste sectors (by visual sorting)

• A comparison of the new data to the preceding studies
• A characterization and training assignment which focused on assessing the recyclable and reusable component of C&D debris
• Separate waste compositions and associated statistical confidence intervals were derived for residential, commercial, and multi-family sectors.
  

Key Personnel: Stacey Demers

City of Lee’s Summit Missouri, Solid Waste Management Plan
As part of the development of the City’s solid waste management plan, SCS conducted a visual survey of C&D waste brought to the City’s landfill for disposal and analyzed options for future management of C&D wastes. Fifty loads of C&D waste were sorted into 14 material categories. The study determined that the primary components of the C&D waste stream received by the City’s landfill were recyclable wood (25.76%), composition shingles (13.07%), and new gypsum wallboard scrap (14.57%).

Key Personnel: Lisa McDaniel

Waste Composition Study for Montgomery County, Maryland
SCS is currently conducting this 2-season study to assess the composition of residential and commercial waste. The first sampling period was completed in November 2008 and consisted of 120 samples distributed among three separate single-family residential service areas, the multi-family residential sector, and the commercial sector. The study results include seasonal and annual composition estimates, both for the overall waste stream and for five individual waste streams sampled.

As part of the project, SCS is undertaking the following:

• Developing a Detailed Sampling Plan that coordinates the identification of appropriate vehicles for sampling as well as transporting the sample to the nearby recycling center for manual sorting.
• Scheduling and Collecting Waste Samples. County staff provided a schedule of vehicles that could be sampled. SCS interviewed drivers to assure appropriate waste would be sampled and that the correct number and types of vehicles were sampled each day.
• Capturing and Sorting Samples. Selected vehicles were directed to special area of the transfer station tipping floor, where the sampling crew supervisor directed staff to acquire a random sample from the discharged load. This sample was then delivered to six-person sorting crew, identified, and then sorted into 57 waste component categories.
• Analyzing Data and Preparing Report. Following the sampling, all composition data were entered into a customized database. Waste composition estimates were then calculated by aggregating sampling data utilizing a weighted average procedure.
  

Key Personnel: Stacey Demers

Recycling Program Development for the Pentagon - Arlington, Virginia
Washington Headquarters Service desires to obtain LEED certification and requested SCS to provide technical services to improve their recycling rate. The Pentagon currently recycles 30 percent of their 3,300 annual tons of solid waste. The goal of this task was to improve recycling in order to meet an internal recycling goal of 50 percent, exceeding the DoD goal of 40 percent. The work under this contract included a Waste Characterization Study and technical support to implement Recycling Program Improvements.
SCS subcontracted to Cascadia Consulting for the conduct of two 10-day sampling events at the Pentagon. SCS directed waste sorting protocol by identifying the five waste streams for characterization (offices, kitchen areas, dining areas, retail, and bulky waste), the number of samples for each waste stream, the sample categories, and the sample acquisition procedures.

SCS used the data compiled from the waste characterization effort to identify deficiencies, and offer suggestions for improvement. Additionally, SCS designed outreach materials (displays, posters, and tent cards), facilitated Green Team meetings, developed a recycling logo, and conducted a recycling slogan contest.

Waste Composition Study for the University of Maryland
In October 2008, SCS conducted a waste analysis for the University of Maryland for several types of facilities and operations. The purpose was to assess recycling progress since 2002, when SCS conducted the last waste stream analysis, and to prepare a strategy for additional recycling opportunities. SCS sampled waste from the following facility types:

• Residence Halls;
• Dining Halls and Food Service;
• Campus Recreation Center; and
• Stamp Student Union.

The waste analysis consisted of acquiring waste samples from representative dumpsters, sorting the waste into individual components, and weighing the sorted components for each sample. The proportion of recyclable material in the waste samples was extrapolated for the entire waste stream. This type of data was useful in determining current recycling capture rates, developing realistic marketing projections for recyclables, and developing more efficient collection strategies.

Waste Composition Study for the Tower Company LEED Certification, Maryland and District of Columbia
In September 2008, SCS assisted The Tower Company in meeting the necessary credits in association with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Existing Building Certification for two large office buildings located in Rockville, Maryland and the District of Columbia. An entire day’s waste generation was compiled and sorted into 30 components to assess recycling progress and potential at each building. The results were entered into a database and compiled to estimate each building’s waste generation.