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Recycling in Your Agency by Thomas C. Fisher How many reasons can we think of to avoid starting a recycling program? "Recycling takes too much time, and the cost will be too great; buying recycled products means using inferior products; my agency is too small to make a difference." These are just a few of the excuses used to justify a lack of action. We should be concentrating, instead, on reasons why we absolutely need a recycling program. The United States produces 160 million tons of garbage per year. In 1991, 80 percent of this garbage was deposited in landfills, 10 percent was incinerated and 10 percent was recycled. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency estimated in 1990 that if no new landfills were sited in Illinois, 39 counties would be without landfill space in three years. Our three years are almost up, and the situation has not improved dramatically. Combine that with the fact that landfills are becoming more difficult to site because of legislation, environmental protection, and the NlMBY (not-in-my-backyard) mind-set of the public. Meanwhile, the tipping fees (the fees to dump waste in a landfill) have been increasing 10 percent per year in Illinois. So, not only is landfill space becoming scarce, the cost is becoming prohibitive. It would be nice if the United States could do without landfills, but it cannot. We need to extend the life of the landfills, and the most logical way to accomplish this is to reduce the amount of waste that ends up there. Who does the public look to for leadership on environmental matters? Traditionally, it has looked to park and recreation agencies. These agencies plant trees, take care of park lawns, maintain golf courses, and maintain arboretums and natural open space areas. In the public's eyes, the park and recreation agency is the pace-setter on environmental matters. Therefore, that agency has an opportunity to lead and educate the public about the need to reduce the amount of waste that enters our landfills. How do you recycle in your agency? What makes an effective plan; how do you begin the process; and how do you maintain die program? The following tips may provide some answers to these questions (a list of resources is also included to assist the planner in developing a recycling program). The Plan One effective way to reduce the amount of waste entering the landfill is to recycle. In order to put a recycling program into place you must make an effective plan. A suggested plan deals with seven major areas: 1) providing a clear definition of recycling; 2) identifying what recycling the park district is already doing; 3) developing specific goals; 4) writing a resolution to collect recyclable waste and buy recycled products; 5) developing a plan for implementation; 6) implementing your plan; 7) reviewing and expanding your program regularly. Before planning a recycling program, you must first decide on a clear definition of what recycling is. Most people would say collecting their soda cans, bottles and newspapers, and taking them to the curb or to a recycling collection point is recycling. The Solid Waste Management Plan of Lake County offers this definition: Recycling: the process by which materials that would otherwise become waste, including, but not limited to, metals, glass, paper, leaves, yard waste sand plastics, are collected, separated, processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of reusable materials or new products. If you are not buying recycled materials, then you are not recycling. This means that we must utilize, as much as possible, products that contain recycled material, as well as collect all the waste that can be recycled. The second step is to identify the current recycling situation in your agency to include both what you collect and what recycled products you use. List the major kinds of products that can be recycled: aluminum, glass, plastics, paper, wood chips, yard waste, motor oil and miscellaneous automotive by-products. In this step, the planner decides the current recycling status of each major area of products, including what is being collected and procured for use in the agency. You now know where your district stands on recycling. Next, decide what you want the recycling program to be in the future. This is the most difficult part of the planning because it requires quite a bit of research and time if your organization is truly committed. The first part of goal-setting involves looking at other recycling programs and how well they are working (the Park District of Highland Park and the Chicago Park District are two leaders in recycling). This will show what you can accomplish and what your limits may be. It will also provide you with ideas for implementation. Next, set specific goals for each of the major groups of recyclable products. Identify your current purchasing requirements and then gauge availability of the recycled products to meet your needs. The catch
is that recycled products may cost more than the virgin material. You must decide, within your budget constraints, how much more you are willing to spend. Many cost obstacles can be eliminated through creative procurement practices. The next step is to draft a resolution to recycle and buy recycled products. A resolution will make it clear and binding that the board supports the recycling project and the purchase of recycled materials. In developing the resolution there are two resources that may prove helpful. Model Ordinances for Environmental Protection, compiled for the Local Government Commission and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Recycled Products Procurement Manual, prepared for the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Illinois, are excellent guides for developing a resolution. Call the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Technical Assistance Library, (708) 752-0141 for information about the availability of these resources. A logical plan for implementing your recycling program should be developed next. It should be broken down into phases so that you do not overwhelm your system with projects. The program will not be successful if you expect every aspect of recycling to be accomplished in the first season. A phased approach allows you to gather resources, make mistakes and perfect your procedures. Three phases illustrate this approach to implementation, but each park and recreation agency should tailor the following outline to its own needs. Phase I - (summer/fall) • Organize a recycling committee consisting of at least one employee from each facility and department. • Develop a system for indoor and office collection, involving custodians in the decision-making. • Develop a collection system for your parks. You may want to try out different systems in different parks. Obtain ideas from park and recreation agencies that have already implemented programs. • Research and secure waste collectors for different kinds of material, based on the collection plans drafted. • Research the local markets for recyclable materials, including haulers and buy-back centers. • Present the plans to the park and recreation agency board for approval and support. • Start an education program for the agency employees and the public, • Identify producers of recycled products that meet your procurement needs. Have the companies demonstrate their products and show you how they can be incorporated into your system. • Start procuring products that are recycled. There are many recyclable office products available. • Start a re-use program for yard wastes. Some examples include: wood chips, composting and firewood. • Develop programs for summer youth activities to encourage recycling in the parks. • Encourage the use of products that can be recycled. • Keep records of the weight or volume of materials collected. (This data will aid in future planning). Phase II - (winter/spring) • Evaluate and modify, if necessary, the collection systems both inside and outside on a regular basis.
• Research the potential of recycled products used in the maintenance of the parks. Some examples are: playground equipment, paper, landscape timbers, biodegradable bags. • Evaluate and expand program for re-use of yard wastes. Consider creating a joint composting facility with other park and recreation agencies or municipalities. • Canvas employees of the agency for their ideas and concerns about the program. • Implement additional staff/public incentive programs to increase participation. Phase III - (summer/fall) • Evaluate the entire program for successes/failures, needs of the program, methods of improvement, and expansion plans. • Keep the public informed as to how the program is working. • Evaluate participation rates, waste-stream reduction figures and the cost/benefit ratio. Use this information to change or modify your program for constant improvement. Once you have agreed upon a plan you can begin to implement it. It is essential that a director be placed in charge to monitor the progress of each step. The director should also have a committee made up of one person from each department. You will also need a starting point, which should be decided and planned out in a schedule of activities. Once you have launched your program, one of the hardest tasks is to keep it going. A constant evaluation process should be employed to ensure that the program runs smoothly and that any problems are addressed as soon as possible. Another challenge is getting people to adhere to the recycling program. The best way to get maximum participation is to continually educate and involve the people who will be affected. Educate the board, administrators, staff, all employees and especially the public. If you cannot win the public's support for this program it ultimately will fail. Resources An abundance of resource material is available on the topic of recycling. A review of recycling resolutions and plans implemented in park districts and agencies in Illinois shows they would help any parks and recreation agency beginning to undertake a recycling project. The following list of resources will help in planning a recycling program. These items can be obtained directly from the source, or through the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Technical Assistance Library. Also listed below are some governmental agencies that may provide assistance or information for your recycling project. Publications • Composting Organic Wastes, Local Government Commission, Sacramento. California, March 1990; 916/448-1198. • Illinois Recycled Materials Market Directory, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, October 1991; 800/252-8955. • Office and Commercial Waste Reduction; A How-To Guide for Illinois Businesses and Organizations, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 1991; 800/252-8995. • The Official Recycled Products Guide, Volume 3, Number 1, The American Recycling Market Inc., 1991; 800/267-0707. • A Planning Guide for Residential Recycling Programs in Illinois, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, May 1988; 800/252-8955. • Program Services and Funding Summary for Solid Waste Management, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Spring 1992; 800/252-8955. • Proposed Recycling Program, Park District of Highland Park, Highland Park, Illinois, May 1989. •Recycled Products Procurement Manual, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Illinois, September 1991; 708/336-9340. • The Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste; Issues for Illinois Communities, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, August 1988, 800/252-8955. • Sources of Recycled Papers, Illinois Association of Recycling Centers, periodically updated, available through the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources; 800/252-8955. Governmental and Federal Contacts • Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials, 444 North Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. 20001; 202/624-5828. • Council of State Governments, 270 Broadway, Suite 513, New York, New York 10007; 212/693-0400. • Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 100 West Randolf Street, Suite 11-600, Chicago, Illinois 60601-3218; 312/814-3870. • Solid Waste Association of North America, 8750 Georgia Avenue, Suite 123,P.O.Box7219, Silver Springs, MD 20901; 301/585-2898. • National Association of Counties, 440 First Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005; 202/393-6226. • National Association of Towns and Townships, 1522 K Street NW, Suite 730, Washington, D.C. 20005; 202/737-5200. • National League of Cities, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004: 202/626-3000. • U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620 Eye Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006; 202/293-7330. • Joint Committee on Printing, Faye Padgett, JPC specifications; 202/224-1176. • General Services Administration (GSA), Benny Wong, Specifications; 212/264-8724. • Governmental Printing Office (GPO), Caseda Moody, Quarterly GPO solicitations; 202/275-2022. Tony Valentine, Printing contracts; 202/275-2595. Sylvia Subt, Paper testing; 202/275-2966. • Environmental Protection Agency, Richard Braddock, Procurement guidelines; 202/382-2780. Randy Bacon, Paper performance; 202/382-2128. About the Author Thomas C. Fisher, an intern with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, specializes in research about recycling; he is a graduate student in Environmental Studies at Michigan State University.
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