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LOCAL GOVERNMENT CASE STUDY: |
ORANGE COUNTY -
COMMERCIAL RECYCLING |
Orange County started a commercial recycling program in 1992. It currently provides recycling services to 100 businesses throughout the county, including bars and restaurants. To identify businesses’ interest in a new recycling program, the county mailed advertisements for it. The county also followed up by contacting business directly to market the new business recycling service.
Participating businesses are required to source separate recyclables into rolling carts supplied by the county. Weekly collection is provided for the following materials: glass (clear, brown and green), aluminum and steel cans, plastic and newspaper. The county initially provided containers for the indoor storage of recyclables; however, this service is no longer provided. Management of municipal waste and corrugated cardboard, which is banned from disposal in the county, remains the responsibility of each participating business.
There is no direct charge to the businesses for this recycling program. The program is financed from three resources: transfer station tipping fees, revenue from the recyclables, and the 3R fee, which is a resident tax of $27 per unit applied to all churches, schools, businesses, apartments and households.
Labor to facilitate the commercial recycling program includes one county truck driver working three days a week providing collection from businesses. A portion of a supervisor’s time is also allocated to the program along with the support of other staff such as the county’s education and outreach coordinator.
Commercial recycling in Orange County continues to grow. While space is a primary issue for business recycling, particularly with a source-separated program, the county has worked to alleviate some of that stress, at least externally. Space for recycling containers outside buildings is now an element incorporated into the building code. During 2005, businesses recycled 646 tons (not including corrugate cardboard). The breakout of recovered materials is estimated as approximately 100 tons of fiber, 548 tons of cans and bottles and 16 tons of plastics.
March 2006
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