Methods for Municipal Solid Waste Diversion: Options for Local Governments Page: 3
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Methods for Municipal Solid Waste Diversion: Options for Local Governments
landfill expansion. Too often tipping fees are lower than the true cost of
sending trash to a landfill. In addition, there is no incentive for citizens to
reduce their waste when disposal fees are low.
" Pay as you throw. In a pay-as-you-throw program, trash-collection
rates are based on the amount of waste produced. Rates can be
calculated by the bag, the size of the can, or the weight of the trash.
Directly linking fees to the amount of waste generated encourages
citizens to reduce. The EPA's Pay-As-You-Throw: Lessons Learned
About Unit Pricing (publication no. EPA 530-R-94-004) is a guide
for establishing a local program. It can be downloaded at
<www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/tools/payt/pdf/payasyou.pdf>. EPA
Pay-as-You-Throw publications (and other materials) can be downloaded
at <www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/payt/tools/order.htm>.
" Environmental Management System. An EMS is a method used to plan,
implement, review, and improve environmental performance. Your local
government can create its own EMS to reduce impacts on the environment
while increasing operational efficiency. Some of the major aspects of an
EMS include:
o identifying and prioritizing environmental impacts
o creating environmental goals
o considering environment impacts when purchasing materials or
conducting operations
o evaluating performance to reduce impacts on the environment
" An EMS helps a local government identify ways to reduce or even eliminate
waste by changing the products or processes that it uses. Not only can an
EMS positively affect the environment, it can save labor and money. The
TCEQ's guide A Model Environmental Management System for Local
Governments (publication no. RG-437) can help the local government start
developing its EMS. For more information, contact the Pollution Prevention
and Education Section at 512-239-3100.
Diversion
While minimization of waste streams is preferred, diversion is the next best
thing. Diversion is preventing valuable materials from being disposed of as
wastes in a landfill. Diversion is not only better for the environment-it makes
economic sense. Reducing or reusing materials saves money because of the
decrease in virgin materials purchased.
Where to Start?
- Encourage reuse at the point of generation. Diverting items from a waste
stream is the first step in reducing waste. Discarded items often have value.
Encourage reuse at the point of generation before the potential waste is
tossed out with the garbage. Simply stated: don't generate the waste.June 2009
TCEQ publication RG-474
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Methods for Municipal Solid Waste Diversion: Options for Local Governments, text, June 2009; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth624544/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.