Solid Waste Management: Waste Reduction
FY 2023 Program Summary & Performance Measures
MISSION
To encourage recycling and waste minimization through education and example, reduce the volume and toxicity of the waste stream, demonstrate professionalism and provide excellent customer service in the operation of recycling and Household Hazardous Waste services.
OVERVIEW
The Waste Reduction Division is responsible for developing and implementing waste reduction programs; enforcing waste management, recycling operating rules and regulations; overseeing the collection of refuse and recyclables; and disposal of toxic waste. The following are the principal activities:
- Recycling Convenience Centers: Manage facilities where household paper, containers and other materials are collected. Department employees collect and haul these items to regional recycling processors.
- Curbside Refuse and Recycling: Administer the franchised service to collect containers, paper and trash from households in unincorporated areas of the county.
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW): Operate HHW facility located on General Services Drive. County residents drop off material on scheduled days. Private company collects, packages, stores and transports HHW for proper recycling or disposal.
- Internal County Waste Reduction: Oversee the County facilities’ recycling programs and Recycling Policy, including environmentally preferred purchasing, recycling collections and equipment reuse.
- Schools Recycling Program: Coordinate the county commitment to collect recyclables at Cabarrus County Schools done in partnership with the City of Concord.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Approximately 3,100 residents will have participated in the HHW collection days during FY 2022 (24 annual events). FY 2022 will see a slight decline of residents dropping off household hazardous waste versus FY 2021. Most likely due to reopening of businesses from the covid period. The annual number of residents participating in the HHW collection days has increased by over 1,000 during the last five years.
- The Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Recycling Convenience Center has remained open with normal operating hours during the pandemic. Modified operating procedures to ensure social distancing.
- Collaborated with the municipalities to produce a series of short videos to inform Cabarrus County residents how to “recycle right” and reduce recycling contamination.
- Continue to divert glass bottles and jars received at recycling convenience centers to help reduce recycling expense. Approximately 14 tons of glass bottles and jars have been diverted which has resulted in a savings of $1,500.
- Hosting two (2) Safe Disposal Events (paper shred, prescription medication take back and TV / Electronic recycling) during FY 2021. Cabarrus County and City of Concord co-host the events.
CHALLENGES & TRENDS
- Continue to efficiently and economically serve the increasing number of residents who drop off recyclables and participate in the bi-monthly Household Hazardous Waste collection events.
- Communicate and educate residents to reduce the amount of contamination (i.e. trash, non-acceptable recyclable material) placed in recycling carts and roll offs. Contamination negatively affects recycling processing and market costs.
- Market prices for most recyclable material have started to increase. Recycling revenue is still negatively affecting the Mecklenburg County Material Recovery Facility. This means that any contamination still has a serious effect on their operations.
- The cost to recycle televisions is slowly decreasing primarily due to a decrease in the number of cathode ray tube type televisions dropped off. This type of television is very heavy and expensive to recycle due to the amount of lead in the glass.
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS & CHANGES
- This department’s budget has increased due to salary and benefit adjustments as well as inflationary adjustments.
Budget Summary
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
FY 2023 numbers are projections