Agenda - Council - 11/25/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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- 30 Several energy market studies recently completed in the Region have indicated very favorable potential for refuse ~to energy facilities. Contrary to materials markets, the criteria for suita- bility for energy markets include degree of seasonal variation of demand, long-term reliability and capacity. Several large indus- tries and power-generating plants have been identified in the urbanized area of the Region as bein9 suitable for either RDF-or mass-burning waterwall boilers. Less is known at this time about the smaller capacity markets suitable for modular combustion units, especially in the more rural metropolitan counties. B. PROGR~24 COSTS 1. WASTE REDUCTION The waste reduction methods described and evaluated in the pre- vious section can be divided into two ma3or categories for pur- poses of discussing program costs: first, methods requiring state or federal legislation; second,' methods requiring establishment of municipal or county policies. a. Waste Reduction Methods Requiring State or Federal Legislation Many methods--including container deposits, packaging reduc- tion, product charges, bans, extended warranties, and news- print conservation--would be most effective if enacted at the state or federal level. Local and county governments, however, could support this type of legislation through resol- ution and incur no program costs while receiving the benefits of waste reduction. It is also important to keep in mind the net, long-term consumer savings derived from more efficient and less wasteful packaging systems and products. b. Waste Reduction Methods Requiring of Municipal or County Policies Two waste reduction techniques are more easily implemented at the county or municipal level: office paper reduction and extended tire warranties. Both of these programs involve only minimal amount of planning, with implementation through resolu- tion. Each county or city procurement administrator would then restrict purchases to follow the adopted waste reduction guidelines and assist with have the potential for net mented in conjunction with (see "Waste Separation" in employee education. Both programs savings, especially when imple- post-generation recycling programs this section). A more controversial waste reduction strategy that could poten- tially be instituted by county or city governments is the waste charge. With the enactment of the new 1980 Waste Manage- ment Act, cities or counties may place reasonable conditions. on waste processing and disposal facilities. One such condi- tion could be a per ton waste charge to help defray any plan- ning and management costs of monitor~n9 the facility or waste recovery program. In addition to funding recovery efforts, such a change would increase the generator's Incentive to reduce waste output.