Institute for Tribal Environmental ProfessionalsInstitute for Tribal Environmental ProfessionalsTribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP)Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP)

Session 2: Session 2: Understanding Your Waste StreamUnderstanding Your Waste Stream

Source Reduction Strategies for Tribal Solid Waste ProgramsSource Reduction Strategies for Tribal Solid Waste Programs

Todd Barnell, ITEPTodd Barnell, ITEP

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: What Is It?What Is It?

Every man, woman and child in your Every man, woman and child in your community is generating waste – and recent community is generating waste – and recent trends show we are all generating more trends show we are all generating more waste every year waste every year

Your waste stream includes all of this Your waste stream includes all of this waste, as well as waste from offices, waste, as well as waste from offices, businesses, industries, etc.businesses, industries, etc.

You need to know: You need to know: How much waste is being generated?How much waste is being generated? What types of waste are present in your What types of waste are present in your

communitycommunity Where is it coming from?Where is it coming from? Are there certain types that are increasing? Are Are there certain types that are increasing? Are

any decreasing?any decreasing?

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: BenefitsBenefits

Once you understand your total waste stream, that Once you understand your total waste stream, that knowledge can help:knowledge can help: Guide source reduction strategiesGuide source reduction strategies Establish different purchasing/use guidelinesEstablish different purchasing/use guidelines Influence your over all solid waste management activitiesInfluence your over all solid waste management activities

This study is the foundation on which many of your This study is the foundation on which many of your future decisions will be made future decisions will be made

The amount of detail you go in to should be based on The amount of detail you go in to should be based on what you plan to do – more detail up front is always what you plan to do – more detail up front is always better than having to go back and do it all again!better than having to go back and do it all again!

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What Is In Your Stream?What Is In Your Stream? The three types of waste that make up the The three types of waste that make up the

majority of a typical solid waste stream are:majority of a typical solid waste stream are: PaperPaper Organic materialOrganic material Packaging/ContainersPackaging/Containers

All three of these waste types are prime All three of these waste types are prime candidates for source reduction strategiescandidates for source reduction strategies

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: ElementsElements

The following elements need to be determinedThe following elements need to be determined Generators Generators

ResidentialResidential NonresidentialNonresidential

Weight/VolumeWeight/Volume Composition/CategoriesComposition/Categories Future trends in generationFuture trends in generation

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Generators: ResidentialGenerators: Residential

Needs to be representative Needs to be representative What are your primary population centers?What are your primary population centers? Is your housing mostly clustered or non-clustered?Is your housing mostly clustered or non-clustered? Do you need different samples from different areas? Do you need different samples from different areas? What is your time frame?What is your time frame? Samples from routes, transfer stations, bins, others?Samples from routes, transfer stations, bins, others?

Communities off reservation?Communities off reservation? What effect might these populations have on your waste What effect might these populations have on your waste

stream?stream?

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Generators: NonresidentialGenerators: Nonresidential

Needs to be representativeNeeds to be representative Some possible generators may include: Some possible generators may include:

Government offices (Tribal? Nontribal?)Government offices (Tribal? Nontribal?) Healthcare and educational facilitiesHealthcare and educational facilities Commercial sources (e.g. stores, casinos) Commercial sources (e.g. stores, casinos) Construction/demolition activitiesConstruction/demolition activities Industrial (possible source of “special wastes”)Industrial (possible source of “special wastes”) Could there be sources off your tribal land?Could there be sources off your tribal land?

Prioritize sample activities and time framesPrioritize sample activities and time frames

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Getting Ready for the SortGetting Ready for the Sort

First you need to decide on when and how the samples are First you need to decide on when and how the samples are going to be takengoing to be taken Ranges from simple sorts of paper being thrown away at a Ranges from simple sorts of paper being thrown away at a

school each week to very involved sorts at transfer stations over school each week to very involved sorts at transfer stations over long periods of timelong periods of time

Keep in mind elements that might affect waste generation, such Keep in mind elements that might affect waste generation, such as seasonal variations, climate issues, etc.as seasonal variations, climate issues, etc.

Recent studies show the accuracy of sorting is more Recent studies show the accuracy of sorting is more important than the quantity of waste sortedimportant than the quantity of waste sorted The more people you have to do the sorting the more accurate The more people you have to do the sorting the more accurate

your sorting will be (usually)your sorting will be (usually)

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Three Step Sorting ProcessThree Step Sorting Process

Primary: Establish broad categories and sort the Primary: Establish broad categories and sort the waste into separate pileswaste into separate piles

Secondary: Each category from the primary sort is Secondary: Each category from the primary sort is broken up into multiple, specific sub-categoriesbroken up into multiple, specific sub-categories

Weighing: Each category of waste is weighed in Weighing: Each category of waste is weighed in tared containers or you may do a volume analysis tared containers or you may do a volume analysis insteadinstead

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Primary SortPrimary Sort

PaperPaper PlasticPlastic GlassGlass MetalMetal Organic Organic

MaterialMaterial

Durables/White GoodsDurables/White Goods Construction and Construction and

Demolition DebrisDemolition Debris Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Special WasteSpecial Waste OtherOther

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Secondary Sort (Paper Example)Secondary Sort (Paper Example)

NewspaperNewspaper CardboardCardboard GlossyGlossy Telephone BooksTelephone Books High Grade Office High Grade Office Mail/PaperboardMail/Paperboard Non-recyclable PaperNon-recyclable Paper

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ScaleScale

Sorting containersSorting containers

Sorting areaSorting area

WasteWaste

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Waste Stream Characterization:Waste Stream Characterization:Sample ConsiderationsSample Considerations

Safety first in all sampling activitiesSafety first in all sampling activities Staffing: How many are sorting what types?Staffing: How many are sorting what types? Will seasonal issues affect samples?Will seasonal issues affect samples?

TourismTourism ClimateClimate ConstructionConstruction

Documentation of the samplesDocumentation of the samples Where did it come from? How does it fit into your Where did it come from? How does it fit into your

overall understanding of your waste streams?overall understanding of your waste streams?

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Waste Stream Characterization:Waste Stream Characterization:Future GenerationFuture Generation

Develop projections for future solid waste generation Develop projections for future solid waste generation by all identified sourcesby all identified sources

If necessary, include estimates of future generation by If necessary, include estimates of future generation by neighboring communitiesneighboring communities

Linking waste stream characterizations to Linking waste stream characterizations to developing/revising an ISWMP or other studies can developing/revising an ISWMP or other studies can save time and effortsave time and effort Population and economic projections done as part of Population and economic projections done as part of

developing an ISWMP can be combined with developing an ISWMP can be combined with weight/volume data to make per capita projections of weight/volume data to make per capita projections of future waste generationfuture waste generation

Projections should match the “lifespan” of the ISWMP – if Projections should match the “lifespan” of the ISWMP – if the plan covers the next 20 years, the projections should the plan covers the next 20 years, the projections should also cover 20 yearsalso cover 20 years

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Waste Stream Characterization: Waste Stream Characterization: Sampling ResourcesSampling Resources

Sampling activities can take many forms and may be Sampling activities can take many forms and may be quite involved – pick the approach that works best for quite involved – pick the approach that works best for youyou

Tohono O’odham waste stream analysis report located Tohono O’odham waste stream analysis report located in your manual after this presentationin your manual after this presentation

The Garbage Project, University of Arizona “The The Garbage Project, University of Arizona “The Archeology of Us” article is located in your manual Archeology of Us” article is located in your manual after this presentationafter this presentation

““Characterization of Waste Streams” is also in your Characterization of Waste Streams” is also in your manual – much more detailedmanual – much more detailed

USEPA maintains links to state and national data at USEPA maintains links to state and national data at www.epa.gov/msw/index.htmwww.epa.gov/msw/index.htm

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What do you mean you don’t have What do you mean you don’t have the time or resources?the time or resources?

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Make It Work For YouMake It Work For You Determine what kind of an analysis makes Determine what kind of an analysis makes

since given your needssince given your needs Small, targeted source reduction activities Small, targeted source reduction activities

might only need small, targeted waste stream might only need small, targeted waste stream characterizationscharacterizations A school project focused on recycling paperA school project focused on recycling paper A casino project focused on food wasteA casino project focused on food waste A battery collection project based at local storesA battery collection project based at local stores An office project focused on office equipment and An office project focused on office equipment and

paperpaper Desktop EstimatesDesktop Estimates