ANNUAL REPORT
October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2003
COMMODITIES PROCESSED In the past year, the Blaine County Resource Recovery Center processed 2,094 tons of cardboard, newsprint, metal cans, magazines, glass, mixed residential/office paper, and plastic bottles. The 2,094 tons is an 8% increase (158 tons) over the 1,936 tons of materials processed in the same twelve months of the preceding year. This 8% increase is a welcome change from the 5% decrease experienced over the past two years. Table 1 identifies the volumes of recyclable materials handled in each of the twelve months of this reporting period. TABLE 1 COMMODITY RECOVERED
Tons per Month
I ..
... ' .'
'
Cans'
Oct. 02
65.5 T.
22.6 T.
2.3 T.
37.2 T.
2.0 T.
12.5 T.
17.7 T.
Nov.
64.4
22.8
1.6
34.1
2.1
7.5
34.1
Dec.
78.2
22.7
1.3
47.0
2.3
23.7
19.8
0.3
Jan. 03
72.3
22.7
1.6
52.3
2.6
11.8
24.2
0.3
Feb.
61.4
19.1
1.6
44.0
1.8
14.7
17.4
0.3
March
68.7
22.7
1.2
47.5
2.5
12.2
19.1
0.5
April
60.8
22.0
1.9
39.4
1.8
13.3
21.0
0.5
May
63.0
23.5
1.4
34.5
2.2
9.7
19.9
0.7
June
72.6
21.1
2.0
41.9
1.9
13.0
20.7
July
84.2
23.9
1.8
53.9
2.0
7.0
15.9
0.6
Aug.
79.9
19.7
1.7
44.2
1.8
8.5
22.8
0.9
Sept.
79.3
20.7
2.4
53.6
1.4
12.5
20.9
0.8
Total
850.3
263.5
20.8
529.6
24.4
146.4
253.5
5.1
0.2
It is important to detennine which of the recyclable commodities is experiencing a in volume since a wide variability in value exists for each commodity. The revenue fromlthe sale of these commodities, particularly cardboard, newsprint, and aluminum, help offset the of operating the recycling center. !
A comparison of the amounts of the different types of commodities processed in each dfthe past four years can be found in Table 2 I ,
TABLE 2 COMMODITY VOLUMES BY YEAR
..
2000
2001
Cardboard
876 Tons
883 Tons
836 Tons
850 Tons
Newsprint
303
270
254
264
Aluminum Cans
25
21
22
21
Glass
451
446
430
530
Tin Cans
27
25
25
24
Mixed Paper
138
136
134
146
Magazines
245 -
227 -
235
254
-
5
Plastic Bottles
Tons
2002
2003
......
.•.
This table identifies an increase in both cardboard (+ 14 tons) and newsprint (+ 10 tons) are two of the three commodities providing primary sources of revenue. Aluminum cans, which is the third major revenue producing commodity, decreased 1 ton. A large increase in glahs, mixed paper, magazines, and plastic bottles is noted, but these materials produce little to no I
The next set of data identifies how the recyclable materials are getting to the processin4 center. Recyclable materials are transported to the Blaine County Resource Recovery Centc:r by Wood River Rubbish (the curbside collection program), by Recycling Services (the primary recycler), and those persons that transport the materials on an individual basis Clear Creek Disposal began a recycling collection service in August and September, the last two months of this reporting period.
In this past year, the curbside collection program operated by Wood River Rubbish acc 47% of all marketable materials (cardboard, newsprint, mixed residential paper, alumi tin). Recycling Services was responsible for bringing in 30% of the marketable materi Creek Disposal hauled in an average of 12 tons during each of the last two months oft reporting period. Self hauls continue to account for a significant volume. Table 3 provi more detailed breakdown.
unted for m, and Is. Clear is es for a
TABLE 3 COMMODITIES BY CARRIER
Wood River Rubbish
Recycling Services
Cardboard
309 Tons
411 Tons
Newsprint
204
17
2
41
Mixed Paper
185
31
6
170
Aluminum
13
Tin
19
5
1
4
Plastic
Dis osal
15 Tons
7
1
(1%
While volumes from Wood River Rubbish and Recycling Services each declined an av rage of 3% or 30 tons each, the 5% increase in volume from self hauls and the addition ofCle Creek Disposal (a combined increase of 100 tons) more than covered this shortfall.
OPERATION COSTS AND REVENUES The overall trend of operating expenses exceeding operating revenues continued again his year. The BCRRC experienced decreased annual revenues (approximately $10,000) in spite f increased tonnages for cardboard and newsprint. Reduced values for cardboard and th combination of less value and less volume of aluminum beverage containers are the p .mary causes for the reduction in revenue. The total paid out for the buy-back program for aluminum and cardboard decreased si ificantly last year, as well. A reduction of $7,000 or 25% paid out less than last year is further e idence of declining market values.
TABLE 4 2000 - 2001
REVENUE VS EXPENSE
2001- 2002
Revenues
$ 76,677.40
$ 99,362.35
Expenses
$100,974.06
$113,116.26
Net
($24,296.66)
($13,296.66)
2002 - 2003 $ 89,719.59 $116,551.02 ($26,831.43)
The 2,094 tons of recycled materials, which would otherwise be handled as solid waste, saved Blaine County and its residents $39,786 in the avoided cost of solid waste transfer and landfill expense. The value of the avoided cost, $39,786, when factored against the net loss ($26,831) yielded an overall value of $12,955 to the benefit for the operation of the resource recovery center. Community service labor is a positive asset for the operation of the Resource Recovery. 1,290 hours of community service labor were utilized this past year. This level of community service does not include the time and effort of other volunteers, such as the Environmental Resource Center's special events recycling project.
OTHER RECYCLING ACTIVITIES Glass Recycling - The Idaho Dept. of Transportation teamed up with Southern Idaho Solid Waste to use nearly 650 tons of crushed glass in a road construction project in South Blaine County. This is the second consecutive year recycled glass has been used in a road construction project by the Department of Transportation. Computer Recycling - Slightly over 1.5 tons of computer components were recycled this spring. The computer recycling program, which is in its second year, is a collaborative effort with the Blaine County Commissioners. This year's total is nearly identical to the amount of computers and peripherals recycling last year. Plastics Recycling - Primarily through the efforts of the Environmental Resource Center, a full year of recycling plastic bottles #1 and 2 has come and gone. The monthly rate of volume has steadily increased over the year. While adding the option to recycle plastic bottles in the curbside collection program has resulted in more volume, the primary source of plastic bottles for this program comes from individuals hauling that material directly to the Recycling Center. This "self haul" volume indicates a strong commitment by the residents to plastic recycling.
Public Education - Southern Idaho Solid Waste and the Environmental Resource Center pooled resources to raise the awareness of recycling in the Wood River Valley. SISW shared $8,000 of a solid waste management grant with the ERC in an effort to rejuvenate recycling efforts. The 8% increase in recycling commodities, which equates to 158 more tons, is proof that this collaborative effort has been successful. Unfortunately, that funding source is not available in the upcoming year to continue the combined public education outreach.