Agenda - 01-20-1998 - 10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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r~ ~ wastes would remain primarily a private sector activity. In the short run, development of integrated waste reduction strategies for this sector could be simpler operationally, financially, technically and politically than in the mixed solid waste sector since only prevention and processing are involved, not collection. Current Construction Waste Prevention Practices To date, two types of waste prevention measures have been used locally to reduce construction and demolition waste. The measures may have been partly responsible for the decline in construction and demolition waste during 1995-96. 1. ~ Differential Landfill Fees An incentive tipping fee of $10 per ton for separated yard waste is also applied to unpainted, untreated solid sawn lumber, except shipping pallets. This compares to a $31 per ton fee for mixed solid waste or construction waste. ($33 after December 1) The landfill does not, however, prohibit the landfilling of construction wood as we do yard waste, thus, no~~double tip fee penalty is assessed for disposal of lumber. Observation of the yard waste pile over the past two years has shown little solid sawn lumber separated for delivery to this area Most is landfilled One conclusion is that contractors are responding primarily to the stick of higher penalty fees levied on yard waste rather than the carrot of lower fees for source separated materials. - We arc trying to extend application of the incentive fee to engineered wood products such as plywood and particle board, in addition to solid sawn lumber, to increase builders' incentives to separate wood wastes from general construction wastes. We have completed a test of mulching engineered wood products mixed with solid sawn lumber and yard waste to determine if it is environmentally safe to add these materials to our mulch product. The first and second trials in the pilots have been technically successful in that no toxic or hazardous substances were detected in the end product or in the stormwater runoff from the mulching site. Based on these results, we plan to request that the State Waste Management Division allow us to consider adding engineered wood. to the mulching operation. If we receive authorization, then we could apply a lower tipping fee for plywood, particle board and other engineered wood products, because they too would be diverted to mulch rather than simply landfilled. Although wq-do make income from sale of mulch, we now have a significant surplus of mulched wood due to the hurricane so market tests of an end product containing these varied wood products will be difficult to conduct this year. If the supply and demand for mulched wood equalize next year, we will face the challenge of marketing a product containing construction wood wastes. Alternative .markets including fuel wood and feedstock for particle board or similar building materials will be investigated .. If we gain approval of our mulch product that contains engineered wood wastes such as plywood and particle board, we believe we can gain broader acceptance of the wood separation program by