Technology & Development Management 2300—Recreation Mgmt ... · Comprehensive Waste Management United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Technology & Development Program

ComprehensiveWaste

Management

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest Service

Technology &DevelopmentProgram

2300—Recreation MgmtSeptember 19999923 1206—SDTDC

FOREST SERVICE

DE

P A RTMENT OF AGR IC U L T U

RE

Most Forest Service refuse eventually ends up in landfill •These

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COMPREHENSIVEWASTE

MANAGEMENT

Lester A. Sinclair—Landscape Architect

USDA Forest ServiceSan Dimas Technology & Development Center

San Dimas, CA

Information contained in this document has been developedfor the guidance of employees of the Forest Service, USDA,its contractors, and cooperating Federal and State agencies.The Department of Agriculture assumes no responsibility forthe interpretation or use of this information by other than itsown employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation namesis for the information and convenience of the reader. Such usedoes not constitute an official evaluation, conclusion,recommendation, endorsement, or approval of any product orservice to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibitsdiscrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color,national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply toall programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternativemeans for communication of program information (Braille,large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office ofCommunications at 202-720-2791 (voice), or 800-855-1234(TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S.Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice), or 800-855-1234 (TDD). USDA is anequal employment opportunity employer.

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C O M P R E H E N S I V E W A S T E M A N A G E M E N T

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1

PURPOSE .......................................................................................... 1

BACKGROUND......................................................................................... 2

WASTE STREAM REVIEW PROCESSSite Selection ...................................................................... 2Waste Stream Analysis .......................................................... 3

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION METHODS ......................................................... 5

IMPROVING SOLID WASTE COLLECTION ...................................................... 5

WASTE CONTAINER EQUIPMENTDumpsters ........................................................................... 7Small Refuse Containers ....................................................... 8Trucks and Trailer Hauling Equipment .................................... 9

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 11

APPENDIXESAppendix A – Sample Questionnaire .................................... 12Appendix B – Glossary ........................................................ 21Appendix C – Waste Stream Data Results .............................. 25

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INTRODUCTIONThe Forest Service receives millions of visitors eachyear to day use areas and campground recreation sites.The high number of visitors means that large quantitiesof solid waste must be disposed of in a safe and costeffective way. Our “throw-away” society lifestyle hascontributed significantly to the tremendous increaseof solid waste especially in the packaging of everydayproducts. According to the 1989 U.S. Congress Officeof Technology Assessment document OTAO-424 foodpackaging is designed to meet multiple purposesincluding the following:

1. Protection of products during shipping andmaintaining a longer shelf-life

2. Prevention of food spoilage3. Display of consumer information4. Compliance with government regulations5. Tamper prevention6. Theft prevention7. Consumer convenience8. Attractive packaging presentation

Many of these products find their way to national forestlands and into a solid waste management program.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statisticsshow an average person can generate up to four poundsof waste per day. This amount may vary dependingon a person’s activity, but the fact still remains that inan average week, a family of four generatesapproximately 12 pounds of garbage each day.

EPA estimates in 1990 the quantity of municipal solidwaste primarily from households, not includingindustrial sources, was 195 million tons. Eighty-threepercent was disposed of in landfills or incinerators andthe remaining 17 percent was recycled or composted.Paper and paperboard products make up almost 40percent of the total weight of municipal solid waste;food waste accounts for less than 10 percent. Theremaining percentage is a mixture of yard trimmings,wood, glass, metal, plastic, leather, cloth, andmiscellaneous materials. In a not compacted state, solidwaste of this type weighs approximately 200 poundsper cubic yard.

Figure 1. Landfill sites have a finite life before they areclosed forever.

Today, solid waste management options available tothe Forest Service include landfills, incineration,recycling and composting depending on thegeographic location of the forests and the level ofservices in the local communities.

Landfills, because of their low cost, have been theoption of choice in past years. Today however,increased costs, closures of nearby landfills, increasedpressures to recycle by federal mandates coupled withopportunities to partner with local communities haveforced everyone to find alternative methods ofdisposing of waste.

A common scenario in the Forest Service today is tocollect the refuse generated by the public at recreationsites and either transports the refuse from small 32-gallon containers to dumpsters or directly landfillswithout ever knowing what was in the refuse mix.

PURPOSEThe purpose of this study is to provide Forest Servicerecreation managers information regarding thecontents of the solid waste stream at forest recreationsites. This report discusses the refuse mix, defines thecurrent methods of collection and disposal, verifiesthe equipment used, identifies alternatives that makewaste management more efficient and cost effectiveat recreation sites. Understanding these elements willhelp recreation managers decide which wastemanagement practices to consider in the future.

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The volume of refuse generated at recreation sites maydetermine the size, number, and location of containers.User characteristics can be determined from the typesof refuse left at recreation sites. Different user groupsgenerate different refuse mixes and may necessitatechanging the types of refuse and recycling containersfrom one site to the next. For example: a recreationsite that has diapers, baby food containers, boxedjuices, cereal and milk cartons means that youngfamilies are using this particular site.

Waste Management TermsConfusion over differences between refuse, trash,rubbish leads to uncertainty as to how best to handlesolid waste. Knowing the differences between differenttypes of solid waste can help to understand how tobest manage the solid waste stream. Most refuse foundin recreation sites is a mixture of garbage and rubbishand in some cases, hazardous materials (see figure 3).A list of commonly used terms associated with solidwaste management is included as appendix B.

Figure 3. Typical mix of refuse including cardboard,paper, plastics, metals, glass and food scraps.

WASTE STREAM REVIEW PROCESSSite SelectionSites were selected in Regions 1, 3, 4 5, 6, 8, and 9that provided unique recreation opportunities atlocations nationwide and assured a good cross-sectionof the waste stream entering the National Forests.Diversity of elevation, climatological conditions,

BACKGROUNDThis report identifies current methods of refusecollection on Forest Service recreation sitesnationwide. The data collected in this report wasgenerated from direct field information in the form ofa questionnaire to determine the current collectionmethods and types of equipment used, followed by adetailed solid waste stream study. A samplequestionnaire is included as appendix A. The datacollected in the field was analyzed to determine thepercentages of different materials (i.e. paper, plastic,metal, glass, etc.) contained in the refuse found at forestrecreation sites. Methods of refuse collection andcollection equipment was also reviewed at the samesites the waste stream studies were done to determinewhat the most effective way to collect refuse is. Oncethe refuse is collected it must be disposed of either ina landfill or recovered in some other manner likecomposting and recycling. The methods of collectionand the different types of containers are usuallyindicative of the type of disposal being done at arecreation site. Other important elements of refusecollection include the volume of refuse generated anduser characteristics.

Figure 2. Typical mix of refuse includes food scraps,plastics, paper, metals, glass, etc.

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accessibility to sites, and proximity to urbancommunities were considered. Peak recreation usetimes, were also a factor considered in data collectionand particular attention was paid to heavy weekenduse and refuse collection days.

The following types of sites were selected for thereview process:

• Campgrounds with primarily recreationalvehicle use adjacent to a lake or river water atvaried elevations and in various forests.

• Campgrounds with primarily recreationalvehicle use not adjacent to a lake or river waterat varied elevations and in various forests.

• Recreation sites adjacent highly traveledcorridors like interstate highways and statehighways.

• Recreation sites along low traveled roads inmore remote locations.

• Campgrounds used mostly by families stayingin tents and campers adjacent to lakes and riversat varied elevations and in various forests.

• Campgrounds used by families staying in tentsand campers not adjacent to a recreational bodyof water at varied elevations and in variousforests.

• Sites included local area visitors and sites withvisitors from all over the world.

• Sites near urban centers that have facilities forcomposting and recycling and mostlymechanical refuse management collection.

• Remote sites that require small quantities ofrefuse to be transported long distances and/ordeposited at transfer stations.

Waste Stream AnalysisThe purpose of a waste stream analysis is to attaininformation to make informed decisions about the bestmethods for disposing of the refuse collected onnational forest recreation sites.

A waste stream analysis entails collecting data on thecomposition and quantity of refuse generated at afacility. These elements provide important data fordetermining how to handle the recoverable materialsfrom the waste stream. The data will also assist inplanning for the purchase of the correct equipmentfor collection, storage and transportation of thematerials to disposal sites, including recycling centers.

The best way to determine what garbage cans containis to empty the container onto a large flat surface andsort and count the contents of the container. This wasthe method used at selected sites and the contents ofthe refuse containers were carefully counted anddocumented. (See figures 4 through 8).

Figure 4. Review of the contents of a 4 cubic yarddumpster at the Six Rivers NF to determine the exact mix

of refuse generated by the public. Sources of refuseincluded local day use sites and campgrounds.

Figure 5. Refuse content review at a Mt. Hood NFcampground site.

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After the paper, plastic, glass, steel, aluminum,cardboard, food waste and other miscellaneous itemsare counted, the percentages of each type of materialcan be calculated. These calculations will helpdetermine what type of action is needed to dispose ofthe materials found in the waste stream.

Figure 6. Investigating the contents of refuse wastestreams can mean guarding oneself from contaminants

using a respirator and a protective body suit.

Figure 7. The person counting is well protected fromchemical hazards as well as strong odors found in the

refuse.

Figure 8. Typical refuse mix of large quantities of paper,cardboard, plastics, composites, metals and glass. Theseitems were found in a variety of containers and carefully

counted for this study.

The waste stream data was reduced and shownnationally, by region and by forest. Percentages ofpaper, plastics, composites, organics, metal, glass andhazardous materials were calculated and thesepercentages are shown graphically in figure 9. Thetabulated data is included as appendix C. Theinformation contained in the appendix can assistmanagers estimate how many containers and what typetransportation may be required to adequately servicethe refuse collection process.

Figure 9. Graphical presentation of data from nationwidewaste stream review.

Composites14%

Hazardous Waste

1%

Glass 2%

Wood 1%

Organics

13%

Plastics22%

Paper

38%

Metal9%

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SOLID WASTE COLLECTION METHODSThe recreation sites reviewed for this study used avariety of refuse collection methods. Alternativesranged from small vehicles (such as pickup trucks) tolarge roll-off containers that can store and transporttons of material (see figures 10 and 11).

Figure 10. Typical pickups truck and trailer collectionsystem.

Figure 11. Large capacity roll-off container; these unitstypically haul 25 to 40 cubic yards of refuse. The unit ispicked up by a large flatbed truck and pulled onto the

truck with a winch.

In the past the most common way to collect garbagefrom forest recreation facilities was to collect the refusefrom 32-gallon containers with no protective liner ofany type. This made the task of refuse collection morelabor intensive by adding additional time to wash anddisinfect the refuse containers.

With the advent of plastic products, including refuse bags,cleaning the inside of 32-gallon container is not asdifficult as it was in the past. The time required for regularwashing and disinfecting has been cut to a minimum.Currently the refuse picked up by district personnel isalmost universally in plastic bag liners; the refuse bagsare taken straight to a landfill or to an interim storagelocation usually in a pickup truck or a stake-side truck.

The plastic trash bag (from grocery store size to 55-gallon size) has become the universally acceptedmethod of storing refuse. The public generally disposesof their accumulated refuse in some type of plasticbag. The refuse inside the bag is placed in a containerusually lined with a plastic bag. However, if the refuseis placed directly into a dumpster or a roll-off that isnot protected with a plastic liner the container generallyrequires a more aggressive cleaning schedule toprevent strong odors from developing. These odorsare attractants to insects and animals.

The trend seems to be moving to larger and fewerdumpsters. A common method of waste collectiontoday is contracted collection services that serve oneor more recreation facilities, using front end, side load,and rear-load dumpster trucks that will transport therefuse to landfill. As concessionaires replace forestemployee-managed recreation facilities, methods ofdoing business have changed as well. In many casesconcessionaires still use 32-gallon containers but therefuse is transferred to dumpsters serviced by a refusecontract service company.

IMPROVING SOLID WASTE COLLECTIONStreamlining a collection system begins with goodplanning and careful assessment of what method canbest serve the recreating customer. Streamlining andimproving refuse collection can save time and money.In addition, increasing efficiency will minimize wasteand maximize resources.

The entire collection system must be assessed, fromcollection to disposal. Improvements in collection canbe achieved by careful monitoring of the refuse contentand volume. Keeping track of volume and content canprovide the manager with information on who thecustomers are and what their needs are.

For some sites using small, labor-intensive, hand-collected containers for small volumes of refuse makessense. For sites that receive heavy use, largermechanically lifted equipment can be used moreeffectively. Trash collection at many forest recreationsites have been converting to more centrally located,

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larger dumpsters and roll-offs that can hold largerquantities of refuse away from a campground wherethe visiting public stays.

Location, Access, and VisibilityWhen siting a refuse collection facility the followingitems need to be considered: locations of existingrefuse containers, access to containers, and visibility.

Refuse container location is a critical element ofcareful refuse planning. By locating the containersaway from campground areas there are less problemswith animals drawn by the smell of decomposing foodwaste. Having the collection area away fromcampground areas means less disruption of vehiclescollecting trash in campgrounds. This practice alsoreduces the noise of collection vehicles.

When deciding upon a collection location, look for aplace that provides easy customer access such as apull off site or a pull through facility or just an extrawidening in the road inside the facility away fromtraffic. Pedestrian access is critical and universal accessmust be considered when designing access to refusecollection facilities. Universal access to refuse binsshould be carefully assessed when locating or placingrefuse containers. Of particular importance is accessand egress to the individual containers.

Vehicular access must also be considered when adetermination is made as to the type of collectionvehicle that will be used for the collection of refuse.Each type of equipment is different and the vehicledimensions are important when considering the length,width, and overall height of the vehicle while loading,see figures 12, 13 and 14. Low tree branches can affecta front-loading vehicle that loads vertically and mayrequire a high clearance to operate. The turn-aroundradius of different vehicles also needs to be consideredfor ease of access and egress of the collection vehicles.For typical pickup trucks and trailers and stake-sidetrucks access is not as big a problem; small trucks canmaneuver more easily and high overhead clearance isnot as critical.

Figure 12. Truck and trailer assembly can be used wherelow tree branches are a common occurrence.

Figure 13. Roll-off trucks require wide turning radius andhigh tree clearance to drop off and pick up large

containers.

Figure 14. Rear load packer truck requires tree clearanceif operated in a heavily wooded area.

Visibility and well placed signing are critical for easeof customer use. Information regarding refusecollection can also be added to a site informationhandout or it can be placed on information signs at

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the entry of all facilities. A strategically placed refusecollection center can be very effective and shrink laborcosts by reducing the use of collecting labor intensivesmall refuse containers.

WASTE CONTAINER EQUIPMENTWaste container equipment, shown in figures 16through 24, vary in size and material composition. Thecontainers may be made of a variety of materials suchas wood, steel, fiberglass, concrete, plastics, andcomposite materials. Sizes vary from the standard 32-gallon container to large roll-off containers capableof transporting several tons of waste and recyclablematerials. Choosing appropriate containers for a refusecollection program can vary with budget constraints,volume requirements, collection vehicle constraints,and aesthetic considerations. Smaller refuse containersthat allow universal access are preferred to largerinaccessible dumpsters.

DumpstersToday a growing trend that is a more common methodof refuse disposal is the use of dumpsters of sizes from0.5 cubic yard to 8 cubic yard humpback dumpstersto 24 cubic yard roll-off containers. These large refusecontainers are picked up by front-end or back endloader refuse trucks and hauled off site to a landfill.Shorter units, that allow universal access, are thepreferred alternative to the tall, less accessible unitsthat require heavy lifting of lids and are too tall forolder Americans, children, persons of low stature andpersons that are physically challenged. Designingramps or setting containers in a depressed landing canprovide direct universal access to taller containers.

Figure 15. Typical 2 cubic yard rear-load dumpster with

an aluminum can recycling wire basket.

Figure 16. A six cubic yard capacity slope-front-load steelcontainer. This container has been designed for animal

proofing and a more user-friendly access door versus thelarger dumpsters that must be lifted at much higher levels.

Photo courtesy of Capital Industries, Seattle, WA.

Figure 17. Same as figure 21 but in an unloading positionwith a typical front-end loader garbage truck. Clearancesfor this type of operation must be planned for in recreation

sites. Photo courtesy of Capital Industries, Seattle WA.

Figure 18. An all aluminum front load dumpster,lightweight, minimal maintenance, does not rust, does not

require painting. Photo courtesy of Visions Inc.

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Figure 19. Typical front-load dumpster that can range incapacity from 2 to 4 cubic yards. This particular

dumpster is provided by Waste Management Industries.

Figure 20. This campground uses simple 32-galloncontainers to collect recyclable material. The refuse is

placed in the rear-load dumpsters at this Forest Servicecampground in Wisconsin.

Small Refuse ContainersSmall individual and multiple containers typically 32-to 100-gallons in size are available in steel and plasticmodels. Animal resistant models are available for siteswith large and small animal problems. Shapes mayinclude round and square models with or withoutwheels. Many units can be secured on a stand, boltedon a concrete foundation or can be ground securedfor animal resistance.

Figure 21. These 32-gallon galvanized steel units havebeen the most used container in the Forest Service.

Figure 22. This steel refuse container is often called afour-in-one system. Four 32-gallon individual trash bagsare placed inside the container. The refuse is deposited ineach of the four hinged access doors and is emptied from

the front.

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Figure 23. Double 32-gallon bear-proof container withan option for recycling. SDTDC prototype. Container

anchors to the ground and opens with a swing door foreasy servicing of the liner bags. Photo courtesy of

Boxmaster.

Figure 24. Accessible triple 32-gallon refuse containersmolded with cross-linked polyethylene material. Thesemay be converted to a recycling system. Photo courtesy

of Romtec Inc.

Truck and Trailer Hauling EquipmentPickup trucks and trailers are a necessary part of asmall refuse collection program. If only a few bags ofrefuse and recyclable material are collected at a time,covered and lockable trailers can be used to collect

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materials for a longer period of time reducing thefrequency of hauling recyclable material to a recyclingcenter.

Other types of trucks, including stake-side, may beequipped for special pickup of either refuse, co-mingled, or presorted recyclable material. In a largeprogram that may require more storage, a roll-off typecontainer may be practical to handle the volumegenerated by a large and busy site. Busy sites mayalso profit from the use of a compactor trailer, whichcompresses the waste and allows the storage of largervolumes of refuse and/or recyclable materials.

Containers shown in figures 25 and 26 and 27 are themost common types of mechanically operatedcollection vehicles. These vehicles usually require onlyone operator.

Figure 25. Front loader system, some units can beadapted for dumpsters and 50 gallon plus containers by

using a mechanical arm. Photo courtesy of McNeilusTruck and Manufacturing Co.

Figure 26. Rear loader also commonly called packer maybe loaded without overhead lifting. Photo courtesy of

Sterling Truck Corporation.

Figure 27. A small collection system may be as simple asa pickup truck and a trailer.

Again, the cost of purchasing, operating, renting, orcontracting the equipment needs to be carefullyanalyzed to determine the most cost effective methodof transporting refuse and recyclable material to thelocal markets.

Figure 28. This roll-off container has severalcompartments for recycling or for a combined use. Photo

courtesy of Capital Industries, Seattle WA.

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CONCLUSIONThis study revealed a tremendous potential forrecovering recyclable, reusable and compostablematerials that would reduce the overall volume contentthat goes to the landfill. By reducing the overall volumeof refuse that is disposed of at landfills there is a greatopportunity for overall direct cost savings;improvement of customer service; recoverablematerials such as aluminum cans and plastic bottlescan also generate revenue that has been approved foruse in purchasing containers, signs, bags, educationalmaterials, etc. to improve recycling facilities.

Other indirect benefits include; increasing the life oflandfills by reducing the overall refuse volume;reducing the overall cost of metal, glass, plastic andpaper recovery by reducing the energy requirementsto produce new products from recycled materialsources; recovery of compostable materials to makereusable products like humus to improve soil health;removal of organic compostable materials also helpsto reduce methane levels in landfills.

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APPENDIX A

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APPENDIX B

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GLOSSARY

The following definitions apply to terms used in this document.

Garbage—Composed primarily of decomposable “wet” food wastes such as left over foods derived from foodpreparation while at recreation sites. In the mix can be found produce scraps, breads, eggshells, meatscraps, soiled containers, milk product containers and other miscellaneous items. Garbage is highlydecomposable wet foods that can generate strong offensive odors due to the breakdown of the foodsfound in the mix, while rubbish does not.

Hazardous waste—The waste material that may pose an immediate health and or environmental health threatdue to the quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or of an infectious nature.

Refuse—A mix of garbage and rubbish. Also included in the mix is trash and hazardous materials.

Refuse, trash and hazardous waste—All are found in the forest service waste stream. The public packs supplies,food and other materials to meet their needs while staying in the forest; much of these materials are leftbehind as one form of solid waste or another.

Rubbish—Composed of dry materials such as paper, plastics, glass, cloth and wood.

Trash—Rubbish containing large bulky items such as beds, furniture and stoves.

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APPENDIX C

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Documents

Technology & Development Management 2300—Recreation Mgmt ... · Comprehensive Waste Management United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Technology & Development Program