Solid Waste Management Annual Report Fiscal Year 2013

124 Pages·2014·3.1 MB·English

South Carolina
Solid Waste
Management

Annual Report Fiscal Year 2013
l
Catherine B. Templeton, Director
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control

Introduction 1
SECTION
The mission of the S.C. Department of Health and l a summary of the state’s used

Environmental Control (DHEC) is to protect human motor oil recycling program targeting
health and the environment. Safe and efficient do-it-yourself oil changers;
management of solid waste is an essential part of
l recycling data for state agencies and
that responsibility.
colleges/universities;
The S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management
l key state programs that assist local governments
Act of 1991 (Act) – S.C. Code of Laws §§ 44-96-
in meeting the requirements of the Act including
10 et seq. – supports this mission by establishing
the state’s recycling and waste reduction goals;
a comprehensive framework for the proper
management of solid waste. For example, the Act: l a summary of the economic benefits of recycling;
l authorizes DHEC to establish solid waste l the amount and type of solid waste disposed of
regulations; as well as a list of permitted solid waste facilities;
l requires DHEC to develop a state solid waste l solid waste import and export data;
management plan (State Plan) and for county l remaining life estimates for landfills;
governments or regions to develop plans that are
consistent with the State Plan; and l planning and demonstration of need; and
l recommendations for improving solid waste
l sets statewide recycling and waste reduction
management.
goals.
This report – which
The Act – S.C. Code of Laws § 44-96-60 – also
reflects solid waste
mandates that DHEC publish an annual report –
management activities
based in part on the information that counties
in FY 2013 (July 1, 2012
and permitted solid waste facilities are required
to June 30, 2013) –
to provide – on solid waste management for the
measures and defines
previous fiscal year (FY). The “South Carolina Solid
two types of solid
Waste Management Annual Report” must be
submitted to the Governor and General Assembly waste: municipal
annually by March 15. solid waste
(MSW); and
This report includes: total solid
waste
l detailed information (by county and statewide)
(TSW).
on the amount of material recycled by
commodity (e.g., glass, metal, paper, plastic,
Continued on
banned items, miscellaneous items and the following
commingled recyclables); page
Table of Contents
SECTION 6: Used Motor Oil Recycling .......................................31
SECTION 1: Introduction ............................................................1 SECTION 7: Recycling: State Agencies & Colleges/Universities ..34
SECTION 2: Executive Summary ..................................................3 SECTION 8: Recycling: The State & Counties at a Glance ..........39
SECTION 3: Recommendations for Improving SECTION 9: Disposal .................................................................87
Solid Waste Management ..........................................................7
Import and Export of Solid Waste ........................................89
SECTION 4: Recycling’s Economic Impact .................................15
State & County MSW Recycling,
The Local Cost of Solid Waste Management .........................21 Disposal & Generation Rates ................................................97
SECTION 5: Recycling by Commodity........................................22 SECTION 10: Permitted Solid Waste Facilities..........................102
Commingled Collection ........................................................30 SECTION 11: Solid Waste Planning .........................................107
South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013 1
MSW is mostly comprised of waste generated by
households, businesses, institutions, offices and About this Report
non-profits. TSW is comprised of MSW as well as
construction and demolition debris, land-clearing The “South Carolina Solid Waste
debris and industrial solid waste. See Table 2.2 for the Management Annual Report for
Fiscal Year 2013” is submitted
definitions of MSW and TSW.
by the S.C. Department of
Health and Environmental
The distinctions between TSW and MSW are
Control (DHEC) in compliance
important. TSW, for example, includes all solid waste with the S.C. Solid Waste Policy
and provides a more comprehensive look at how and Management Act of 1991
much material is generated, disposed of and kept out (S.C. Code of Laws § 44-96-60).
Additionally, Act 119 of 2005
of landfills by recycling. MSW, conversely, is limited
mandates that agencies provide
and reflects specific activities and material. all reports to the General
Assembly in an electronic
The Act – S.C. Code of Laws § 44-96-80 – requires format.
each county to report annually the amount of
This report was published on
MSW recycled within its jurisdiction to DHEC. The March 15, 2014 by DHEC’s
Act – S.C. Code of Laws §§ 44-96-10 et seq. – and Division of Mining and Solid
subsequent regulation (R.61.107.19) also requires Waste Management.
permitted public and private solid waste landfills to The report serves as an update to the State Plan.
report annually the amount and type of solid waste
DIVISION DIRECTOR: Kent M. Coleman
disposed of to DHEC.
EDITOR: Amanda St. John
In 1991, the state’s
WRITERS: Richard Chesley, Anne McGovern, Stacey
recycling and disposal DHEC set new Washington and Jana White
goals were based on TSW.
waste reduction LAYOUT/GRAPHIC DESIGN: Gregg Glymph
In 2000, the state adopted
and recycling CONTRIBUTORS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Karla Isaac, Justin
the U.S. Environmental
Koon, Michaela Kraus, Joan Litton and Stefanie Vandiver
Protection Agency’s goals in FY11 to
ECONOMIC IMPACT DATA: Chantal Fryer and Tonya Lott,
definition for measuring be reached by
S.C. Department of Commerce
MSW with some
2020.
exceptions.
DHEC set new MSW
waste reduction and Methodology
recycling goals in the FY11
report. The state’s goals The goals are to County governments, state agencies and state-supported
colleges and universities are required to report annually
are by 2020 to: recycle
to DHEC on their recycling efforts. Permitted solid waste
l recycle 40 percent or 40 percent of facilities also are required to submit annual reports to DHEC
on their disposal activities.
more of its MSW; and the state’s MSW
In addition, recycling data is collected from municipalities,
l reduce the average and reduce businesses and the recycling industry. These entities are
disposal to 3.25 disposal to 3.25 not required to report; therefore, data collection from
these sources is inconsistent from year to year. The data
pounds per
pounds per collected is allocated to the counties where the material was
person per day or generated.
person per day.
less.
Recycling data is compiled and carefully vetted. Disposal
data also is collected and vetted as well as allocated to the
county of generation. Recycling and disposal data are then
combined to arrive at the solid waste generation tonnage.
Recycling Rate Equation
The equation below is used for calculating the MSW and
When Using this Report
TSW recycling rates.
RECYCLING AMOUNT RECYCLED When reviewing the tables in this report, it is important
= X 100 to note that – generally – recycling tonnage is rounded to
RATE (%) AMOUNT GENERATED* the nearest hundredth and disposal data is rounded to the
nearest ton. Some totals do not add up due to rounding
*Generated = Recycled + Disposed Of of numbers.
2 South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013
Executive Summary 2
SECTION
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the l The per capita MSW recycling rate

amount of solid waste generated, disposed of and also increased. On average, each
recycled in South Carolina for fiscal year (FY) 2013 South Carolinian recycled 1.59
(July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013) as required by the pounds per person per day (p/p/d) in
S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991 FY13 – up from 1.44 p/p/d in FY12.
(Act) – S.C. Code of Laws § 44-96-60.
l On average, each South Carolinian recycled more
Two specific types of waste – municipal solid waste than 580 pounds of MSW in FY13.
(MSW) and total solid waste (TSW) are defined and
measured. As required by l Electronics recycling jumped from 9,258 tons in
the Act, the focus of this FY12 to 11,560 tons in FY13 – about a 25 percent
report is on MSW. increase.
More than
The amount of MSW l Local governments reported earning more than
1.3 million tons
generated (disposed $9 million from the sale of recyclables in FY13
of plus recycled) was of MSW were and more than $67 million since FY07.
4,357,812 tons. Of that recycled in FY13
amount: – the most since
CHART 2.1: MSW Management in South Carolina
FY07.
l 1,371,960
tons (31.5
percent)
RECYCLED 31.5%
were recycled; and
l 2,985,852 tons (68.5 percent) were disposed of
in MSW landfills (including MSW generated in
South Carolina, but disposed of out of state).
Here are additional MSW data indicators from FY13.
l The amount of MSW recycled increased 142,860 DISPOSED OF IN LANDFILLS 68.5%
tons (more than 11 percent) in FY13.
l The state’s MSW recycling rate improved from
29.5 percent in FY12 to 31.5 percent in FY13. This
is the fourth straight year the rate has increased.
(See Chart 2.3.)
TABLE 2.2: What is MSW and TSW?
South Carolina voluntarily adopted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) definition of MSW in 2000.
EXAMPLES OF MSW EXAMPLES OF TSW
MSW is defined as paper, cans, bottles, food scraps, yard TSW includes MSW as well as industrial process waste
trimmings, packaging and other items. MSW may be (e.g., scraps and by-products from the manufacturing
generated by residential, commercial, institutional and process), construction and demolition (C&D) debris,
industrial sources. South Carolina expanded its MSW land-clearing debris, automobile bodies, combustion
definition (beyond EPA’s definition) to include tire-derived ash and other items.
fuel, yard trimmings used as boiler fuel and used motor
oil from do-it-yourselfers.
South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013 3
l The amount of MSW disposed of in FY13 Of the 7.7 million tons
increased nearly 50,000 tons (almost 2 percent) recycled, the majority (53
from the previous FY’s total of 2,935,876 tons. percent) of the material Of the 7.7 million
was yard
tons recycled,
l MSW per capita disposal increased for the first trimmings that
the majority
time in eight years from 3.4 p/p/d in FY12 to 3.5
were recycled into
p/p/d in FY13. (53 percent) of
mulch and compost or
used as boiler fuel. the material was
The TSW recycling rate
yard trimmings.
improved to more than Overall, the amount of
The amount of
49 percent in FY13. TSW generated increased
TSW recycled
from more than 13
The amount of TSW improved to more million tons in FY12 to
recycled increased
than 49 percent more than 15 million tons in FY13.
about 45 percent from
in FY13.
5.3 million tons in FY12 TSW per capita disposal increased from 9 p/p/d in
to more than 7.7 million FY12 to 9.2 p/p/d in FY13.
tons in FY13.
CHART 2.3: South Carolina’s MSW Recycling Rate CHART 2.4 South Carolina’s TSW Recycling Rate
by Percentage, FY09 to FY13 by Percentage, FY09 to FY13
35 49.3
50
31.5
29.5
30
27.7 40.8
38.6
25.5 40
25
22.1
29.5
30
20 26.7
15
20
10
10
5
0 0
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13
Each South
MSW Household electronics
Carolinian
South Carolinians recycling recycling increased
recycled more
recycled increased more about
than
than
31.5% 25%
580
11%

of all MSW in FY13. from FY12 to
pounds of MSW
from FY12 to FY13. FY13.
in FY13.
4 South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013
CHART 2.5: MSW Disposed of in Pounds Per CHART 2.6: TSW Disposed of in Pounds Per
Person Per Day, FY09 to FY13 Person Per Day, FY09 to FY13
4.0 3.9 10 9.5
9.3
3.7 9.1 9.0 9.1
3.6
3.4 3.5
3.5
8
3.0
2.5 6
2.0
4
1.5
1.0
2
0.5
0
0.0
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13
TABLE 2.7: S.C. Recycling Data by FY
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13
MSW Recycled in Tons 912,961 1,063,521 1,172,768 1,229,100 1,371,960
MSW Recycling Rate by
22.1 25.5 27.7 29.5 31.5
Percent
MSW Recycled in p/p/d 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.6
TSW Recycled in Tons 3,239,918 2,781,003 4,913,823 5,314,842 7,700,976
TSW Recycling Rate by
29.5 26.7 38.6 40.8 49.3
Percent
TSW Recycled in p/p/d 3.9 3.4 5.8 6.2 8.9
Each South Each South
Of the
Carolinian disposed Carolinian
7.7 million TSW recycling
of more than disposed of
tons of TSW recycled, increased about
about
more than 45% 9
3.5
53%

pounds of TSW
in FY13.
in FY13. pounds of MSW
were yard trimmings.
in FY13.
South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013 5
TABLE 2.8: S.C. Waste Disposed of by FY
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13
MSW Disposed of
3,226,412 3,113,365 3,065,806 2,935,876 2,985,852
in Tons
MSW Disposed of
3.9 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.5
in p/p/d
TSW Disposed of
7,789,1431 7,602,7011 7,824,312 7,696,559 8,573,103
in Tons
TSW Disposed of
9.5 9.1 9.3 9.0 9.2
in p/p/d
TABLE 2.9: S.C. Waste Generated by FY
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13
MSW Generated
4,139,373 4,176,886 4,238,574 4,164,976 4,357,812
in Tons
MSW Generated
5.0 5.0 5.0 4.9 5.1
in p/p/d
TSW Generated in Tons 10,983,3641 10,383,7031 12,738,135 13,011,401 15,607,497
TSW Generated
13.4 12.5 15.1 15.2 18.1
in p/p/d
TABLE 2.10: S.C. Population
2009 2010 2011 2012 20132
Population 4,494,435 4,576,446 4,625,364 4,679,230 4,723,723
NOTES
1. This number does not include the ash disposed of at Charleston County’s Bees Ferry Landfill.
2. The population data used in this report reflects the most recent estimate available from the U.S. Census Bureau.
6 South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013
Recommendations 3
SECTION

for Improving Solid Waste Management

The S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of l promote and help build local and
1991 (Act) – S.C. Code of Laws § 44-96-60 – requires statewide recycling markets; and
the S.C Department of Health and Environmental
l provide comprehensive outreach and education
Control (DHEC) to make recommendations on how to
programs and campaigns.
improve solid waste management in the state.
The recommendations that follow are strategies
Since the passage of the Act, South Carolina has
to build on the basic foundation of solid waste
made signifcant progress developing a system that:
management outlined above. These strategies, if
1) ensures facilities that manage solid waste are
properly designed and operated to protect human implemented, will help South Carolina manage its
health and the environment; and 2) promotes waste waste more efficiently, achieve its waste reduction
reduction and recycling. and recycling goals and realize more of recycling’s
potential economic and environmental benefits.
While much has been accomplished, much remains to
be done. To improve solid waste management, two
primary challenges must be addressed – making solid Update the state plan, review
waste management cost effective and increasing the
measurement and improve
state’s recycling rate.
reporting.
According to full-cost disclosure reports submitted
to DHEC, local governments spent more than $330
Smart planning at both the state and local level
million to manage solid waste in fiscal year (FY)
will allow South Carolina to make short- and
2013 (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013) and more
long-term decisions that promote efficient
than $1.2 billion since FY10. See “The Local Cost of
and environmentally responsible solid waste
Solid Waste Management” on page 21. Clearly, each
management. These efforts, in turn, will help the
program should ask how it can be more efficient
state meet its recycling and waste reduction goals.
and cost effective while remaining environmentally
responsible.
In addition, although South Carolina’s municipal solid
Strategies to update the state’s
waste (MSW) recycling rate improved for the fourth
planning and reporting efforts ...
consecutive year, almost 70 percent of the MSW
generated was thrown away in FY13.
Revise the S.C. Solid Waste Management Plan
Increased recycling is part of the solution. It makes to include long-term projections on MSW disposal,
programs more cost efficient by providing the an evaluation of solid waste management
opportunity to avoid disposal costs and earn revenue practices, discussion of new technologies and
from the sale of valuable commodities. Recycling also recommendations to improve solid waste
plays a key role in the state’s economy by creating management.
and sustaining businesses and jobs. See Section 4,
Evaluate current strategies and methodologies
“Recycling’s Economic Impact.”
used to measure waste reduction and recycling.
The state should continue to work to improve its
Continue to encourage improved reporting
solid waste management efforts – centered on waste
through the S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program
reduction, recycling and composting. South Carolina
and the Green Hospitality Program. Continue to
should:
encourage local governments to gather data from
l reduce the amount of waste it generates and businesses that recycle.
disposes of;
Evaluate the process local governments use to
l maximize waste reduction, recycling and measure the true cost of solid waste services
composting; and develop options (e.g., new methodology,
training) that would result in more consistent and
l promote and stimulate the purchase and use of
meaningful data collection.
recycled-content products;
South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013 7
Recover more food scraps
Strategies to compost more food scraps and
and yard trimmings through
yard trimmings ...
composting.
Recommit efforts to promote grasscycling and
Food scraps and yard trimmings comprised backyard composting. This strategy includes working
about 28 percent (70 million tons) of the closely with local governments, developing partnerships
nation’s MSW in 2011 according to the U.S. and offering technical assistance, outreach programs
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). and grant funding when possible.
Applying that percentage to South Carolina’s
MSW, the state generated an estimated 1.2 Encourage school composting programs. Provide
million tons of these organics in FY13. Of that technical assistance, training and grant funding
amount, 274,594 tons (roughly 23 percent) when possible to help schools create on-site recovery
were recovered. programs.
Any significant increase to South Carolina’s Work with the S.C. Department of Commerce’s
MSW recycling rate or decrease in per capita Recycling Market Development Program to attract
disposal must include a concentrated effort to businesses to South Carolina that want to set up
recover more food scraps and yard trimmings large-scale composting operations to recover more
material, produce valuable products and create jobs.
through composting. The recovery of this
material also has significant economic and
Use two DHEC initiatives, the S.C. Smart Business
environmental benefits including conserving
Recycling Program and the Green Hospitality
resources and producing valuable soil
Program, to increase commercial composting
amendments as well as creating jobs and
through education and outreach efforts as well as
supporting businesses.
technical assistance.
One of the first steps to encourage additional
composting in South Carolina was revising
the composting regulation (R.61-107.4) – a Strategies to maximize food recovery ...
recommendation outlined in last year’s annual
report. The first part of that recommendation Food recovery should be encouraged and supported
has been accomplished. The revision was at the state and local government level to all
proposed to expand the list of allowable stakeholders (e.g., restaurants, grocery stores,
feedstock, establish exemptions from non-profit organizations, colleges/universities, schools,
permitting requirements and develop standards military installations, hospitals, prisons, athletic venues).
for compost production. On January 9, 2014,
Best management practices to reduce food scraps
the DHEC Board approved a request to submit
should be promoted. Businesses should be encouraged
the proposed revision for 2014 General
to closely track food scraps, change purchasing
Assembly review.
habits and train staff to ensure the safe and efficient
preparation of food.
Second, beyond the regulation, composting
should be encouraged from backyard to
The S.C. Green Hospitality Alliance (Alliance) should
large-scale systems and promoted to all
update its certification process to include reduction
stakeholders including households, schools,
practices for food scraps. The Alliance, of which
colleges/universities, businesses and
DHEC is a partner, offers a certification program that
government.
recognizes facilities for reducing their environmental
footprint.
Maximize food recovery
Work with all stakeholders (e.g., restaurants and other
opportunities.
businesses, colleges/universities, state agencies) to
promote efficient and environmentally responsible
Food scraps comprised more than 36 million
recovery and improve infrastructure as possible to
tons of the nation’s MSW generation in 2011
increase the quality and quantity of recovered food
according to the EPA. Of that amount, almost
scraps. DHEC’s S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program
35 million tons were thrown away. Food scraps
and the Alliance should assist with this effort.
was the single largest material thrown away
8 South Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013