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P.O. Box 17177 Chapel Hill, NC 27516 -7177 (919) 968 -2885 FAX (919) 932 -2900 www.co.orange.nc.us /recyclins <br />"0; <br />Orange County Solid Waste Management <br />Orange County Landfill (919) 932 -2989 <br />Memorandum <br />A $ <br />To: Solid Waste Advisory Group <br />From: Orange County Solid Waste Staff <br />Subject: Results of 2016 -17 Waste Composition Study <br />Date: December 4, 2017 <br />Attachments: 2 <br />Orange Community Recycling (919) 968 -2788 <br />This memorandum includes a description of the most recent waste composition study conducted in <br />Orange County in 2016 -17. <br />Background <br />Approximately every five years since 1990, Orange County has conducted a waste composition study by <br />sector including single family residential; multi -unit housing and commercial; by jurisdiction including <br />each of the three towns; unincorporated County and UNC. This memorandum summarizes results of the <br />most recent study conducted in 2016 -17 and makes a few comparisons with past studies' data to <br />examine some trends. A composition study for the County is attached and includes trend analyses going <br />back to the 1995 study. The 1990 results were not comparable enough to include. A separate report is <br />included for UNC as they have a different breakdown among the types of buildings served. <br />Discussion <br />A total of one - hundred -one samples from all sectors including single family residential, multi -unit <br />housing (MUH) and commercial (non - residential) were taken over the two season sort in October 2016 <br />and April 2017. The samples were proportionally distributed by jurisdiction and sector based on the <br />estimated tonnages coming from each. The amount of curbside recyclable material (cans, bottles, paper <br />and some plastics) remaining in the waste was 21% by weight, other recyclables including plastic bags, <br />textiles, scrap metal, hazardous waste and electronics was 10% . Compostable waste including food, <br />low grade paper and some yard waste was 47 %. Thus less than 25% of waste was not recoverable using <br />current technologies and markets. (figure 3 -1, page 12). Results from UNC (att. 2) were similar, showing <br />21% readily recyclable on campus and another 6% recoverable in conventional markets. (table 4 -1 p.22) <br />with a possible 51% compostable, leaving less than 25% not recoverable using current means. <br />Previously, data from the 1995 waste composition study helped the County set its waste reduction goal <br />of 61% in 1997, based on the potential to reduce or divert 50% of recyclables and some (backyard) <br />compostables from the waste stream. Over time the studies have also enabled us to assess <br />effectiveness of policies such as the implementation of the initial ban on landfilling non - residential <br />cardboard in 1996 and the subsequent ban on residential cardboard in 2005. Both bans resulted in a <br />significant decline in cardboard landfilled as seen in the waste composition study conducted following <br />the ban, summarized in the table below. NOTE: The single family sector shows a two -part slightly slower <br />decline, as the residential ban was not fully implemented until the 2005 -2006 year was complete. This <br />single policy was calculated to have saved over a year of landfill space in Orange County and also <br />