December 2014


In This Issue:
  • Web Updates from the DEC Solid Waste Program
  • Year in Review: Universal Recycling progress
  • America Recycles Day 2014
  • Upcoming Events in 2015
  • Featured Topic: Architectural Waste Diversion
  • Spotlight: Department of Corrections & ANR Partner

 

 Web Updates from the DEC Solid Waste Program


Another busy year of implementing the Universal Recycling law comes to a close. Our last e-bulletin shared various resources newly posted to the web. As we constantly add, tweak, and adjust our web content it makes sense to share some of those updates with you here.
  
Recently Posted:

Visit us at recycle.vermont.gov   

Check out our new Twitter page!  Follow us on Twitter 

 

 


 
Year in Review: Progress on Implementing the
Universal Recycling Law

 
 
It has been over two years since the Universal Recycling law was adopted unanimously by the Vermont legislature. While a few implementation dates have passed in 2014, the bulk of the work is ahead of us. As we gear up for a busy start to 2015, we want to share some of the major accomplishments we have achieved over the past year.

Accomplishments in 2014:

- Adopted the State Materials Management Plan in June
- Launched the Materials Management Map (link is in "web updates" above)
- Implemented recycling collection at all transfer stations
- Implemented food scrap diversion for 2+ ton generators
- Presented at dozens of workshops, conferences, public & private sector meetings
- Convened two stakeholder groups
     
A summary of implementation dates are provided in the table. The relevant material type and sectors that they apply to are listed. The dates are phased in over time starting with the transfer stations, then applying to commercial haulers and ending with a landfill ban (disposal ban) on that material. For example, the requirement to collect recyclables applied to all transfer stations collecting trash beginning this past July. Commercial haulers will be required to collect recyclables if they collect trash beginning July 2015, which is also when the landfill ban on recyclables goes into effect. To learn more about the timing and requirements visit our Universal Recycling webpage.
 
         Table: Summary of implementation dates commencing July 1st of each respective year.  

Material

Facilities

Haulers

Disposal Ban

Recyclables

2014

2015

2015

Leaf & Yard Debris

2015

2016

2016

Food Scraps

2017

2017

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through Universal Recycling, all Vermonters will have the ability to greatly reduce the amount of materials they send to the landfill. Recycling, rather than landfilling, these materials conserves resources while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.Reducing the amount of materials discarded overall also saves hard earned money.   

 

 By July 1, 2015:

  • Recyclables (paper, plastics #1 & #2, glass, and aluminum foil and containers) are banned from the landfill
  • Commercial haulers must collect these banned recyclables, and cannot charge a separate fee for their collection
  • Transfer stations must offer collection of leaf and yard debris
  • Food scrap generators of 52 tons/year within 20 miles of a facility that is certified and able to accept the material must divert material from the landfill
  • State and municipally owned lands and buildings must pair a recycling collection bin with every trash bin, except in bathrooms
  • Variable rate pricing (charging per weight or volume for residential trash disposed) must be implemented by municipalities

Click Here for UR Timeline

 

  America Recycles Day - Nov. 15th logo

 

 

 

   

  

Upcoming Events for 2015:

  • Municipal Solid Waste Management Workshop Jan. 28: VLCT is hosting a training for municipal officials and other interested parties to learn about the requirements of the Universal Recycling law, ask questions, and find out what resources are available to implement it.
  • Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA- VT) Feb 14 & 15: ANR will co-present at this year's NOFA-VT Winter Conference with Chef Ismail Samad of The Gleanery and The Daily Table. The presentation will give a brief overview of the Universal Recycling law with a more targeted discussion on food waste reduction strategies for farmers and retailers.
  • Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) April 2: The annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) is a joint project of the Composting Association of Vermont and the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation. The event will be held at Vermont Technical College. Look for the agenda to be posted in the coming weeks.
     
  • Green Up Day
     May 2:
    "Green Up Day is about removing litter from the 15,793 miles of Vermont's local town roads
    and is an important day to everyone. Green Up Day helps our planet to be cleaner and helps our planet to go into a positive direction. If we just let clutter build up disease could start or animals could go extinct from eating the clutter. If we continue to have Green Up Day our world will begin to be less cluttered every year."
     
  •  Compost Awareness Week May 3 -9: International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry. It is celebrated each year in the first full week of May.
  • World Environment Day June 5World Environment Day (WED) is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Over the years it has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries
     
  • Solid Waste Implementation Plans (SWIPs) June 18: Solid waste management entities (SWMEs) tasked with meeting the requirements of the State Materials Management Plan (MMP) are required to have an ANR approved SWIP by June 18, 2015. All municipalities are required to submit to ANR a Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) that is in conformance with the MMP. A municipality that does not participate in an approved SWIP is not able to dispose of its solid waste within Vermont, certify any facilities existing in its municipality or receive solid waste management assistance funds. 
Featured Topic: Architectural Waste Diversion 
 
Beginning January 15, 2015 Act 175 goes into effect, requiring recycling of certain construction and demolition debris, described as "
architectural waste." This is type of waste is a subset of construction and demolition debris. 

 

Definition of "architectural waste" is: a specific subset of common construction and demolition (C&D) waste materials derived from building, remodeling, and deconstruction. Materials included under this definition extend to:

             - Drywall                         - Plywood 

- Asphalt shingles        - Oriented strand board (OSB) 

       - Scrap Metal                 - Clean wood

 

 slate-salvage


Will the law apply to my project(s)?

 There are three elements that determine if architectural waste materials will need to be diverted. While it is always good practice to recycle (or send for reuse when possible) your construction and demolition debris, the law applies in instances where all three of the following criteria are met:
  1. The project produces 40 cubic yards or more of architectural waste. This minimum amount of waste material is based on the typical volume of a single roll-off dumpster used on a construction or demolition project.
  2. The project site is within 20 miles of a certified solid waste facility that recycles architectural waste. Materials may also go to reuse centers but Act 175 only requires diversion when a recycler is within this 20 mile radius.
  3. The construction or demolition project is for a commercial building or a residential building with two or more units.

 

Where can I find a certified architectural waste recycling facility?

Currently there are two certified recycling facilities in Vermont able to accept all six of the architectural waste material types.

 

Myers C&D Recycling Facility

216 Red Can Drive, Colchester, VT 05446

 

All Cycle Transfer Station

220 Avenue B, Williston, VT 05495

(loads are limited to >1 ton)

 

Additional Resources

Visit the Strategies for Contractors & Homeowners page for more tools and information on waste planning strategies and options.  

Spotlight

Department of Corrections and Agency of Natural Resources Partner to Implement Universal Recycling 
 
The Northwest State Corrections Facility is fully compliant with Vermont's Universal Recycling law nearly one year ahead of schedule. The law, adopted in 2012, establishes a phased-in timeline for recyclables and organics to be banned from Vermont's landfill. Baseline recyclables and food scraps from the large generators (2+ tons/week) within 20 miles of a certified composting facility will be diverted starting July 1, 2015. The Northwest State Correctional Facility met compliance on September 17, 2014 and joins Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in diverting these materials.

"We applaud the impressive work of the Northwest State Correctional Facility," said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Markowitz. "The Facility provides a model for businesses and institutions currently navigating options for meeting the requirements of Universal Recycling. It's wonderful to see the Department of Corrections set the example."

The facility is equipped with containers and sorting systems to collect and separate all baseline recyclables (metal, glass, plastics #1 and #2, and paper/cardboard) and all food scraps for composting. The recyclables are hauled to Chittenden Solid Waste District's materials recovery facility and the food scraps are brought to Green Mountain Compost. The sorting systems are now being rolled out at each Vermont correctional facility.

"We're proud of the staff at the Northwest Correctional Facility," Department of Corrections Director of Facilities Mike Touchette remarked. "Our success is the result of significant collaboration between Corrections, the Agency, our local solid waste district, hauler and composter. It is remarkable what can be accomplished in a short amount of time through cross-cutting partnerships."

Vermont is the first state in the country to ban food scraps from being landfilled by businesses and residents. With this announcement, Vermont joins the Washington State Department of Corrections as second in the nation to initiate diversion of food scraps from its correctional facilities.

 



Waste Management & Prevention Division
Solid Waste Management Program