SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL & RECYCLINGPLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

23 September 2020

ISSUE OVERVIEW – UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

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THE PROBLEM: SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING IN MA

ECONOMICS.

• Increasing growth demands on limited landfill and combustion facilities

• Dramatic changes in waste & materials management since 2010 in Massachusetts

• Global recycling market changes have impacted and put stresses on local capacity and budgets

ENVIRONMENT• Where to dispose of 5.7 million tons of

trash? Limited…and decreasing…capacity of landfill or combustion facilities.

• Zero Waste Goal driven by technology innovation and market pressures

• Maintain healthy economic growth while reducing waste disposal from 5.7 million tons to 4 million tons by 2030 (30% reduction)

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

METHUEN’S CURRENT SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL & RECYCLING POLICIES

WHAT WE DO NOW IN METHUEN

• Curbside collection for 14,754 Methuen households (86% of City total), municipal buildings and limited business (central business district)

• No Curbside Limits on # of barrels/bags. (Barrels must be 50 gallons or less)

• No Fees for most Bulky Goods Disposal including Mattresses, Carpets & Furniture; $10 - $20 charge for disposal of tvs, electronics and $25 for white goods (no charge for seniors)

• Dump permits available to all Methuen residents & businesses – annual charge $10 for cars/$40 for pickups

• Single Stream Recycling-glass, paper, plastic & metals. Mandatory recycling is not enforced in Methuen.

• Drop off at transfer station for tires, brush & yard waste, mercury products & demo material

• Current trash collection & disposal contractor is JRM Hauling of Peabody. 3rd year of three yearcontract with options to renew. Base contract for FY21 is $1.49 million plus tipping fees of $81 per ton.

• Current recycling collection contractor is E.L. Harvey & Sons of Westboro. 3rd year of three year contract with options to renew. Base contract for FY21 is $509,800 plus tipping charges of $45 per ton.

SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING

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How Does Methuen Rank Today?

Among Massachusetts communities providing municipal trash collection & recycling service, Methuen households:

• Generate More Trash on Average than 95% of the communities in the Commonwealth---2,408 pounds Per Household in 2019.

• Have Among the Lowest Recycling Participation Rates

HOW MUCH IS SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL COSTING METHUEN?

ECONOMIC COSTS

Costs of Solid Waste Disposal Are On an Unsustainable Path.

Methuen’s Trash Disposal Costs are 53% More than 10 Years ago –Up $1.2 million to $3.4 million in the FY21 Budget.

Inflation in Recycling Contract Cost is 155% Over 10 Years to $635,000 in FY21.

Methuen is recycling less. City’s recycling tonnage down 32% (more than 1,200 tons in 5 years).

Meanwhile…City’s trash tonnage increased by about 2,000 tons over the decade.

And Roadside Littering & Dumping Continue to Be Problems

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

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METHUEN’S TRASH & RECYCLING COSTS

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METHUEN’S TRASH & RECYCLING TONNAGE 2011-2019

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Methuen’s Trash Tonnage increased 19% over the last decade; Meanwhile…Recycling Tonnage decreased 12% over the same period and is down 32% from 2014 peak.

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How Does Methuen compare with similar communities? Trash Tonnage Collected

• Reviewed MA cities/towns providing trash disposal service to between 10,000 and 20,000 households (2019 calendar survey from MassDEP)

• Methuen had highest trash tonnage generated per household served

Municipality Name Households Served by Municipal Trash Program Trash Disposal Tonnage MSW lbs per HH

Methuen 14754 17766 2,408

Woburn 11240 13369 2,379

Peabody 14000 16608 2,373

Waltham 19170 21676 2,261

Framingham 18277 17473 1,912

Billerica 13567 12617 1,860

Beverly 12625 11668 1,848

Weymouth 17612 15722 1,785

Pittsfield 17522 15249 1,741

Chelmsford 12259 10489 1,711

Medford 19500 15471 1,587

Fitchburg 13500 10614 1,572

Taunton 16628 12087 1,454

Salem 15075 10935 1,451

Attleboro 14213 10186 1,433

Marlborough 12000 8231 1,372

Malden 17100 11676 1,366

Westfield 16096 10547 1,311

Brookline 13310 8353 1,255

Arlington 20311 12090 1,190

Chicopee 18869 10523 1,115

Gloucester 12850 6713 1,045

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How Does Methuen compare with similar communities? Recycling Tonnage Collected

• Methuen has 2nd lowest tonnage of basic recyclables collected per household served

Municipality NameHouseholds Served by

Municipal Trash Program

Basic Recyclables Tonnage Recycled lbs per HH

Brookline 13310 4681 703 Framingham 18277 5533 605 Billerica 13567 4081 602 Attleboro 14213 4135 582 Beverly 12625 3582 567 Weymouth 17612 4951 562 Taunton 16628 4598 553 Medford 19500 5234 537 Waltham 19170 5062 528 Chelmsford 12259 3105 507 Marlborough 12000 2981 497 Gloucester 12850 3152 491 Arlington 20311 4964 489 Peabody 14000 3318 474 Chicopee 18869 4402 467 Salem 15075 3448 457 Fitchburg 13500 2811 416 Westfield 16096 3048 379 Woburn 11240 2072 369

Methuen 14754 2541 344 Pittsfield 17522 1920 219 Malden 17100 no report NA

METHUEN’S MUNICIPAL BUDGET: 2010 TO PRESENT

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27.32% Increase in Municipal Spending

METHUEN’S TRASH & RECYCLING COSTS

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Cost Increase of154.7% Over Decade

Costs of Solid Waste Disposal & Recycling Are Growing at Significantly Higher Rate than General Government

Cost Increase of 52.9% Over Decade

THANK YOUMAYORPERRY@CITYOFMETHUEN.NET

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