FY2004 Recycling Assistance
Grants Awarded
For the FY04 grant
year, eleven proposals were submitted, requesting a total of $140,146
in state funds. The amount available is $50,000. The Recycling Public
Advisory Council and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Control (which jointly select the projects to be funded) chose to provide
full funding to only two of the applicants. The Department has contacted
several other applicants to offer partial funding of their proposed
activities. An announcement of the grant awards has not yet been made,
pending revisions to project budgets and finalization of agreements
with all applicants.
Eligible entities for grant
funds are local governments, schools, and not-for-profit organizations.
Grantees are required to provide matching funds equaling 25% of the
total project cost.
- Recycling Cost Study
Completed
In the fall of
2003, DSM Environmental Services, Inc. completed a study of the costs
that would be involved in implementing curbside recycling (including
processing) in New Castle County. New Castle County is the most urban
of Delaware's three counties and the most populous, being home to
two-thirds of the state's population. Delaware currently has a statewide
drop-off recycling program but very few curbside programs. Some of
the significant findings of the study were:
- The current drop-off
program alone will never achieve the 30% diversion goal established
by Executive Order in 2000. A subscription curbside recycling
program could be expected to achieve about 15% participation and
a RSW recycling rate of 8%. An organized system providing curbside
recycling to all New Castle County households would potentially
capture three to four times the quantity of recyclables captured
by the statewide drop-off program and achieve a RSW recycling
rate of 13% to 19%.
- A MRF capable of processing
commingled recyclables would be essential to an effective curbside
recycling program.
- It would be cost effective
to convert the Delaware Solid Waste Authority's intermediate processing
facility in Wilmington into a MRF to accept all recyclables collected
in New Castle County.
- The recycling method
that would capture the most recyclables at the lowest per-ton
cost is organized weekly single-stream collection with MRF processing.
This method would achieve 19% RSW diversion at a cost of about
$136 per ton. This compares favorably to both the cost of the
drop-off program ($190 per ton) and the current cost of refuse
collection and disposal in unincorporated New Castle County ($180
per ton).
- To reach the goal
of 30% diversion, we must address yard waste as well as curbside
recycling. The study suggests that collection and composting of
leaves, combined with increased on-site management of grass, would
be the most cost-effective way of increasing yard waste diversion.
The full report is posted
on the Department
of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's web site under
the title, "New Castle County Recycling Study."
Yard Waste Generation
and Management Study
DSM Environmental
Services, Inc. will be conducting a yard waste study for the Delaware
Solid Waste Authority, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control, and the Delaware Recycling Public Advisory
Council.
The goal of the study will
be to estimate per household generation of leaf and yard waste,
and to determine if there is significant disposal of yard waste at facilities
or locations other then Delaware Solid Waste Authority facilities by
municipalities, landscapers and lawn maintenance firms.
- Based on estimated quantities
of yard waste generated, DSM Environmental Services, Inc will develop
costs estimates associated with composting the yard waste expected
to be received by the Delaware Solid Waste Authority. DSM Environmental
Services, Inc will develop generic cost estimates for various sized
facilities, and these estimates will include:
- Land requirements
- Site development costs
- Equipment costs
- O&M costs
- Management costs
- Marketing costs -
including any screening necessary to produce a marketable product.
Delaware E-Cycling News
The Delaware Solid
Waste Authority Electronic Goods Recycling program successfully completed
another year of service for Delaware residents and businesses. In 2003
they collected 19,313 units, weighing 2,026,400 pounds, of electronic
goods. Approximately 75% of the number is from businesses. The residential
portion is collected at permanent drop off trailers located through
out the state.
We
are delighted to welcome 