Agenda - 09-18-2001 - 8k - Laserfiche WebLink

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18 Attachment B Dry-Cell Battery Recycling The Department of Solid Waste Management requests approval of the new Recycling Materials Handler (RMH) position (grade 62) at a proposed $26,221 plus benefits, in order to fully implement a program aimed at reducing the amount of dry-cell batteries being disposed of in the Orange County Landfill. Diverting batteries will reduce the toxicity of the materials buried in the landfill. These duties would absorb a projected 20% of the staff time at a pro-rated cost of $7,416. Other program costs include the recycling contract, supplies and education materials at a cost of$18,635. The RMH will have other duties described separately for collection of computers and in-house office recyclables. It is estimated that each household generates approximately 2.2 pounds of dry-cell batteries each year. According to the EPA, "even though dry cell batteries represent less than I percent by weight of municipal solid waste, they account for 52 percent of all the cadmium and 88 percent of all the mercury found in the municipal solid waste stream." This proposed program will accept the following types of dry-cell (non-liquid bearing) batteries: Alkaline, Zinc Carbon, Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium, Lithium ion (Li-ion), Silver Oxide, Mercury, Zinc Air, and Sealed Lead Acid (Pb)batteries. As this program is envisioned, dry-cell batteries will be collected from the following locations: • Orange County Solid Waste Convenience Centers; • Participating local businesses (Note that we currently collect batteries from Carol Woods, Photoquick, Radio Shack at Eastgate Shopping Center, and Radio Shack at University Mall; and • Curbside with other curbside recyclables. To begin to satisfy citizen demand for this service, the Department of Solid Waste Management is currently in the process of establishing collection of dry-cell batteries from the Solid Waste Convenience Centers. While this service will be put in place without the requested Recycling Materials Handler, it will place a burden on existing resources. In order to handle the projected amounts of dry-cell batteries herein estimated, and especially to accommodate curbside collection of dry-cell batteries, the requested new position will be needed to transport, process, package, and prepare the batteries for shipment to market. Proposed RMH Duties: The requested RMH will perform the following duties associated with dry-cell battery recycling: • Regular collection of batteries from each SWCC drop-off collection point, from the curbside recycling contractor, and on-call collection of batteries from participating local businesses; 1 7