new river resource authority

Solid Waste Management Plan

I. Solid Waste Management Plan:
Preparation of this plan is in accordance with the "Regulations For Solid Waste Management, Amendment 1" (9 VAC 20-130-10et,Seq.) of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The regulatory requirements of the plan require the existing solid waste management plan to be amended and submitted for review and approval. The amended Solid Waste Plan is to be developed in compliance with the regulations and submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality on or before July 1, 2004.

The Mandatory plan contents shall include:

An integrated waste management strategy; A discussion as to how the plan will be implemented; Objectives for solid waste management within the jurisdiction; Definition of incremental stages of progress toward the objectives and schedule for their implementation Description of funding and resources necessary, including consideration of fees dedicated to future facility development; Strategy for provision of necessary funds and resources; Strategy for public education and information on source reduction, reuse, and recycling; Consideration of public and private sector partnerships and private sector participation in execution of the plan. Existing private sector recycling operations should be incorporated in the plan and expansion of such operations should be encouraged. The State regulations require that a minimum recycling rate of 25% of the total municipal solid waste generated annually in the planning area be maintained. This plan describes how this rate will be maintained and exceeded by the participating local governments.

II. Introduction:

The New River Resource Authority (NRRA) is responsible for providing solid waste disposal services to the Authority's member jurisdictions, consisting of the City of Radford, Town of Dublin, County of Pulaski, Giles County and the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority. The mission of the Authority, formed in 1986, is to develop a long-term waste management operation that is environmentally safe and economically efficient service for the residential, commercial and industrial needs of the region. Appendix I includes general permit information. The New River Solid Waste Management Area disposal unit is located in northern Pulaski County, east of State Route 100. Occupying some 938 +/- acres on the south side of Cloyds Mountain of which 350 acres has received a Part A Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for use as a municipal solid waste disposal unit. The first four disposal areas A, B, C and D will consume 99+/- acres and are projected to receive some 8,421,602 tons of waste over the estimated life of 45 years. Upon the completion of the first four disposal areas the remaining disposal area will have some 250 +/- acres of the original Part A area for future operations to serve the region. In mid 1980's the sitting criteria employed by the selection committee for a disposal site did not include waste reduction as a factor in their evaluation. The primary focus was directed to finding and sitting a waste disposal facility having a life of 50 +/- years with minimal impact on the residents of the host community. With the expansion of the Authority's service area in 1997 and the amendments to the waste regulations mandating waste reduction requirements, the focus on disposal services has changed. The New River Resource is committed to the development and implementation of an integrated solid waste management system, supporting the established disposal and waste reduction operations available within the region. The merging of services offered by the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority recycle facility and the New River Resource Authority disposal unit will not survive without the commitment by the localities to support both programs. Presently members allow both recycle materials and waste generated by their operations to by pass the services provided by the two Authorities. Price shopping by the member jurisdictions and by-passing the disposal or recycling services offered erodes the economy of scale on which the two programs were founded. To eliminate this situation the member jurisdictions are evaluating how facilities, programs and operations may be merged to improve the waste disposal and reduction operations for the citizens, commercial and industrial users to protect the health safety and welfare of our region.

III. Solid Waste Hierarchy:

The hierarchy established by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the United States Environmental Protection Agency with the promulgation of their respective regulations has aided the Pulaski, Dublin, Radford and Giles members of the Authority in defining their local objectives. With the redrafting of the solid waste plan for this portion of the Authority's service area review of the solid waste hierarchy and these methods of solid waste management will be incorporated into the plan when appropriate.

Source Reduction by definition is the most difficult of the waste reduction methods to track in the waste systems operation. With the regulatory changes and revised development and operating practices, the operating cost for disposal units has risen. In response to rising costs the commercial, industrial and institutional customers revised their operating practices to reuse and/or recycle by-products reducing their waste and improving efficiency.  The  
Authority supports and encourages these efforts and will assist the commercial clients within the Pulaski, Dublin, Radford and Giles service area with the tracking and reporting of their source reduction efforts.

Reuse is a waste reduction method presently employed by the Authority's operation to enhance the utilization of air space within the disposal unit. One segment of this operation removes brush; pallets from the disposal cell and process this material into a mulch that may be used in landscaping, for erosion control on slopes and during times of wet weather on the disposal cell as a surface for truck traffic. Tires are processed mixed with soil and used as alternate daily cover on the working face. Upon review approval by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality other waste or waste by-products suitable for use as alternative daily cover are incorporated into this program to reduce the cover soil in the disposal unit and increase the waste volume deposited.

Recycling the most commonly known method of waste reduction recognized by the general public. During the development of the Solid Waste Plan in June of 1991, the Authority reviewed the potential of developing a material recovery facility to sort, process and recycle
The Pulaski, Dublin and Radford waste stream. In the evaluation of this project both the citizen's committee known as the Resource Recovery Committee and the New River Resource Authority rejected pursuing this option due to cost and the limited quantity of material.

Residents of these localities are presently provided recycling services by several drop centers located throughout this portion of the service area.  In addition the localities encourage metal and white goods recycling at the drop centers and the landfill by providing a collection point at each operation. The scrap metal recycling program is a very successful program diverting on the average of ten tons of material from the disposal unit each month.

Resource Recovery (waste to energy) was the original driving force for the Authority and the ad hoc committee during the organization's formation in August 1986. The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy funded a feasibility study. The consulting engineer completed a report entitled "Solid Waste Alternatives" for a 120-ton per day modular incineration unit with  
generation. This report was received with a great deal of enthusiasm originally but failed due to the environmental and economic concerns of the localities.

Incineration of refuse as a waste stream reduction method without recovery of steam or the generation of electrical power was not considered as a viable approach to solving the localities' solid waste problem. Employing incineration as a reduction solution to the localities' solid waste problem would not reduce the disposal system's operating cost or minimize the environmental concerns of the citizens within the service area or the region.

Land filling is the primary management method employed for the disposal of municipal solid waste. The Authority recognized the need to provide this service to both the residential and commercial sectors of the region; it's investment in the New River Solid Waste  
Management Area disposal unit with a life of 75+/- years demonstrates this commitment. This facility is located in Pulaski County, permitted and operated in accordance with the Virginia Solid Waste Regulations, Permit Number 548. With the waste disposal capacity and life secure the Authority can now focus on expanding the disposal volume from within the region and increasing the waste reduction efforts to develop an integrated waste management system. Utilizing the economy of scale from an expanded service area will provide an economic base from which an integrated waste management system can be maintained to service the waste management needs of the region.

IV. Solid Waste Operations:

Solid waste types generated within the New River Resource Authority service area consists of the following.

Municipal Solid Waste;

Construction and demolition waste (C & D);

Wood waste such as brush and pallets;

White goods such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washers and dryers;

Industrial processing waste, and;

Special waste, such as used oil, sludge's and ash.

The identification and tracking of these waste types is necessary to ensure the rate structures adequately support the facilities and services mandated to properly manage these materials as outlined in this plan. Appendix II contains a summary of the material disposed of and handled by calendar year for the New River Solid Waste Management Area operation, Permit Number 548 from June 1997 to December 2003.  
Proper management of these wastes is necessary to protect and enhance the New River Resource Authority service area for the following reasons:

Sanitation - To protect and promote public health by handling and disposing of material properly to eliminate the breeding agents of infection or disease.

Aesthetics - To protect and enhance the natural beauty of the region by minimizing litter, improperly stored waste and odor.

·       Environmental Protection - To Environmental protection - minimize the impact of manufacturing process and the waste products produced by the facilities within the region that end up in the waste stream.

·       Conservation of Natural Resources - To minimize the use of natural resources in the production of materials by encouraging and promoting waste management techniques by diverting manufacturing by-products and post consumer materials out of the disposal waste stream and into recycling and reuse stream for the production of materials.

·       Economic Development - To enhance the economic viability of the region an integrated solid waste management system demonstrates the members' commitment to the protection of the environment. Providing diverse waste services to the residential, commercial and the industrial citizens of the region demonstrates the members' commitment to an efficient, economical and environmentally sound waste handling operation.

V. Municipal Collection Operations:

VI. An Integrated Solid Waste Management Approach:

The regulatory changes adopted in 2001 requiring the development and implementation of a Solid Waste Plan to manage the waste stream and maintain a minimum 25% recycle or waste reduction rate is unlike it's predecessor. This amended set of regulations links the permitting, development and operation of the municipal disposal units to its compliance. In accordance with the General Assembly's legislation the regulations promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality to insure this program is implemented for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the Commonwealth.

An integrated waste management system will require revisions to the existing collection system, waste reduction and the waste disposal operations serving the area. The addition of the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority in July 1997 and the Giles County Public Service Authority in July 1998 to the original membership expanded the Authority's disposal units services increasing the facilities use reducing the per ton disposal cost to the members. Joint use of the disposal operation however has yet to be incorporated into the collections and reduction programs operated by the members.

The information outline in the following sections regarding residential, commercial and the disposal operation present an overview of changes that will be required to implement an integrated solid waste management system. Implementing the changes outlined within this proposal to develop an integrated solid waste management system will require the cooperation of the members, their collection operations and time to implement.

A. Residential Operations Revisions

Intro to the plan:
The dispersed population within the service area presents a unique challenge to the development and implementation of an integrated solid waste management program. Operating multiple programs within the service area will increase cost and decrease participation as differing procedures and service boundaries are encountered. A successful integrated waste management program must target a wide range of materials for recycling, encourage participation, augment existing services, be accessible to the users and efficient to operate and maintain.

Part I of the the Residential plan:

The use of manned drop sites within the region as the primary collection method for recycling and waste handling points are better suited to the rural character of the area. Manned drop sites in a rural setting provides for the collection of a wider range of items to produce a better quality and quantity of materials than curbside recycling operations. Citizens using a manned drop site for refuse disposal are exposed to the program and encouraged to participate in the recycle operation by the attendants.  One on one contact provides the attendant an opportunity to educate citizens on the types of material collected and to inform the users of special waste or recycling services or events offered from time to time by the regional facilities.  The drop sites must be sized to provide adequate traffic flow for the users and the storage for recycling and disposal bins used by the operations so as not to create a nuisance to the adjacent property and highway. Uniform containers must be used at all sites and color coded to assist in the education of the citizen's and the placement of material in their proper bin.  
Implementing standard containers and color code system throughout the service area to identify collection bins for recycling supports the educational efforts of the program. This type of identification system allows Authority to develop and reproduce educational information efficiently for distribution to the users and will be beneficial as materials are incorporated or eliminated from the program.

Typical Recycle Material Collected is as follows:

Commingled Containers

Magazines & Catalogs

Corrugated Cardboard

Office Waste Paper

Newspapers

Telephone books (for limited periods)

*White goods and metal
                                 *Refrigerators, Air conditioners & Dehumidifiers

*Yard waste & Brush

*Items requiring processing & handling fees

Processing fees for items collected for recycling and reuse may from time to time be required to cover the handling and processing cost for items such as tires, air conditioners, refrigerators and electronics or similar types of appliances. Fees for these services are above those normally collected by the locality for the collection and disposal of household refuse.   Augmenting the existing collection services for the residents with the opportunity to dispose of household waste and bulk items at the neighborhood drop center will encourage its use. When residents are introduced to the waste programs available at the centers when disposing of material, they often participate in the recycle and waste reduction programs. As an enticement for the residents to use the services offered by the center the following types of items will be collected for disposal.

Typical Material accepted for  
Disposal is as follows:
                                                 Household waste

Furniture and bulk

Household items

*Tires

Providing conveniently located drop centers throughout the service area for the residents offering both recycling and waste disposal options is critical to the success of the program. Encouraging the centers use by the residents will increase their exposure to the waste reduction programs available as neighbors participate in the recycle operation when they visit the site.  The community's interaction is reinforced as the attendants assist the residents with the use of the center and explain how the site is set up and what may or may not be recycled or disposed of.   A manned drop center program would not only serve as primary recycle or disposal operation for the neighborhoods. They will also provide information on an array of waste topics such as tips on how to dispose of material, how to set up a backyard compost bin, local litter control events and regional electronic or household hazardous waste collection events.  It would also provide the residents with an informational and educational distribution point regarding the waste reduction and disposal operations available to them within the region.

(Operating cost for Drop Centers is located in Appendix IV)

Part II of the Residential plan:

Part III of the Residential plan:

Electronic Waste Collection Events
The New River Resource Authority and Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority have teamed up to conduct the first e-waste collection day within our region. This program is scheduled to become a biannual event to be held in the late spring and early fall of each year. This collection event was very educational to both the citizens and commercial / industrial residents of the service area. It brought to their attention the potential environmental problems associated with the disposal of electronic waste. This event also enlightened citizens of the pending U.S. EPA regulatory action that will prohibit the disposal of this type of waste from all sources. The proactive response by the two Authorities to address the collection of this material will provide the citizens and the operations an easy transition upon the implementation of the prohibition of these materials placement in the disposal unit. Expanding this program to service the region will require that the licensed contractor be secured to assist with the recycling of the material collected and stored by the facilities.

Part IV of the Residential plan:

Uniform Solid Waste Ordinances
The Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations promulgated by the Waste Management Board and implemented by the Department of Environmental Quality regarding the operating and handling requirements for waste have changed dramatically from the inception of the Authority.  The Authority, as the waste disposal unit serving the region, and the Solid Waste Planning agent for the Pulaski, Dublin, Radford and Giles members is confronted with issues regarding waste handling and recycling that were nonexistent when their solid waste operations and ordinances were implemented. The Authority recognizes that each member's solid waste system provides a wide range of services unique to their community. The Authority will work with the members to review the existing solid waste ordinances and collection systems to establish uniformity with regards to the disposal unit's operation and waste reduction programs in accordance with the Virginia Solid Waste Regulations and Solid Waste Plan.

Part V of the Residential plan:

Educational programs
Education is a major component to the successful implementation of a revised waste program. To assist with this phase of the peration, programs that serve the region, such as drop centers, will utilize  
standard color coding systems to allow for the development of generic  
brochures that can be used throughout the service area. In addition to the printed information the use of the municipal cable access channels and their internet web sites will provide links to the  
Authority's web site. The first line of information will be the manned drop sites and the site attendants. These individuals will be  
trained to assist the public in addition to providing handout  
materials to the users on the operation of the drop site, source reduction alternatives and up coming special collection waste  
events.  Educating the region's school children on the waste reduction and disposal operations within the service area is  
essential. Teachers are now required to cover this subject area as part of the standardized testing program.

With the revised drop center program and the expanded commodities  
collected, combined with the recycling facility in the region the students can better understand the process. As children often do they will insure that their parents are informed of the waste operation  
and recycle programs.  The hands on educational opportunities offered  
to the children within the service will be enhanced with the assistance of the Virginia Extension Division to the Authority with the development of supporting educational program for the use  
teachers.  The New River Resource Authority and Montgomery Regional  
Solid Waste will combine their resources to have a presence at many of the public events held during the year. Information regarding recycling, waste handling and special waste program events scheduled  
will be provided to the public. The Authority will continue working with the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority to expand the education and public information programs offered in region's events.

Other links:

Web site of the former Radford EIC at the city library.
List of other environmental organizations on the New River
Friends of the New River web site
Letter from Bill Kovarik to EIC members, June 18, 2004 concerning the dissolution of the Environmental Improvement Commission.