District of Columbia

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RESIDENTIAL WASTE SORT

• District of Columbia
• Department of Public Works
• Hallie Clemm and Thomas Henderson
• MWCOG Recycling Committee Meeting
• May 15, 2008

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Quick Background

• District DPW collects waste and recycling from
  about 103,000 customers in buildings with three
  units or less.
• Recycling collection is weekly, single stream
  with 90 of customers using 32-gallon carts.
• Recycling program commodities are ONP, OCC,
  Mixed Paper, Glass and Plastic Bottles, Aluminum
  and Steel Cans.

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Quick Background

• We collected a total of 133,000 tons in 2007.
  24,380 tons of recyclables.
• Our recycling diversion rate was 17.6.
• Recycling diversion rate by Ward ranges from
  28.2 to 7.8.
• The Ward with the highest recycling rate still
  had 1.75 times more trash per household than the
  Ward with the lowest rate.

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• DOES THE RECYCLING DIVERSION RATE REALLY TELL THE
  STORY?

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Objectives of the Sort Study

• Determine how much of the waste stream is
  recyclable under current program
• Determine what other materials are in the trash
  that could be recycled through an expanded
  program and
• Look for ways to tailor the recycling message to
  enhance program.

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Study Summary

• 89 loads, 56 trash and 33 recycling, were sorted
  from October 23 to November 8, 2007.
• Trash and recycling loads were sorted from the
  same neighborhoods.
• All 8 District Wards were involved.
• Work was done at the Districts two transfer
  stations by DPW Staff.
• Front-end Loaders were used to separate a sample
  which was then hand sorted and weighed.

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Summary of Results

• We are currently recycling about half of the
  program recyclables in the waste stream.
• In addition to 23,380 tons of recycling
  collected, there was an additional 23,800 tons
  remaining in the trash.
• Of our total waste stream, commodities in our
  current recycling program represent 36.2.

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Summary of Results

• While our recycling diversion rate is not high,
  our rate of recycling some key commodities is
  well above the national average.
• This includes ONP and Plastic and Glass Bottles.
• We lag in OCC, Mixed Paper, and Steel Cans.

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Key Findings

• To improve the recycling diversion rate, we will
  need to both capture more of the existing program
  recyclables and expand the definition of what is
  recyclable.
• Message needs to reemphasize ONP, OCC, Mixed
  Paper, Plastic Bottles, and Steel Cans.
• Need to find ways to recycle textiles and compost
  more yard waste.

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Thanks to those who showed up and sorted!
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For Further Information

• Hallie Clemm
• hallie.clemm_at_dc.gov
• 202-671-0575
• Tom Henderson
• thomas.henderson_at_dc.gov
• 202-645-5141

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