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Briefing on
Solid Waste for the
Environmental Advisory Council
July 21, 2005
Jennifer Kaduck
Chief, Land Protection Branch
Georgia Environmental Protection Division
Who is responsible for managing Solid Waste in Georgia?
Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act (OCGA 12-8-20 et. seq.)
Department of Natural Resources*Environmental Protection Division
(EPD)
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA)Department of Community
Affairs (DCA)
Local Governments andsolid waste authorities
*OCGA 12-8-180 established the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) within DNR to work on a voluntary basis with business and industry to prevent pollution. P2AD serves in partnership with EPD and other on solid waste reduction efforts in the state.
Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act specifies:
• EPD has primary responsibility for the state solid waste management program.• EPD, jointly with Department of Community Affairs and in cooperation with
the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, develops the statewide Solid Waste Management Plan. It serves as the guide for the development of local and regional plans for Solid Waste Management.
• DCA, in cooperation with EPD & GEFA, prepares and submits annual reports on the status of Solid Waste Management in the state.
• Each city and county must develop or be included in a comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. Annual reports and updates required.
• Multi-jurisdiction or regional plans are acceptable. • DCA sets minimum planning standards for local governments to follow.
Environmental Protection Division(OCGA 12-8-20 et. seq.)
• Regulations• Permits• Technical Assistance• Compliance Monitoring• Enforcement• Cleanup• Solid Waste Trust Fund Administration• Coordinates with other state agencies and local political jurisdictions to
achieve unified and effective program
Department of Community Affairs -Major roles in Solid Waste Planning and
Education• State solid waste management plan• Coordinates local government solid waste
planning activities• Annual reports of statewide solid waste
management activities• Technical assistance and education to local
government and public• Georgia Clean & Beautiful Program• Coordinates waste reduction efforts
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority• loans and grants for solid waste infrastucture to local
governments and solid waste authorities
Local Governments and Solid Waste Authorities • solid waste collection, recycling and disposal. Some
provide these services themselves, others contract with private waste management companies.
Department of Natural Resources –Pollution Prevention Assistance Division
• assistance to industries, businesses and institutions to reduce solid waste
What is “Solid Waste”?
• Any garbage or refuse• Discarded material from industrial, commercial,
mining, agricultural and community activities (includes liquids, semi-solids and gases)
• Sludges from wastewater treatment plants, drinking water supply plants and air pollution control equipment
• Exclusions – recovered materials, domestic sewage, permitted wastewater and air discharges, irrigation return flows, radioactive waste
Waste Transfer/ProcessingFacilities
Land Disposal Sites
Solid Waste
* homes * businesses * industries * water treatment plants * out of state waste importers
Collection Vehicles
Incinerators
Where does Solid Waste go?
RecyclingPlants
Landfills
Collection Vehicles
EPD’s Major GoalsSolid Waste
Goal #1Significantly reduce the amount of solid waste that has to be disposedreduce need for more landfills that are expensive and problematicconserve land, prevent property diminutionsave valuable resources that would otherwise be buried in landfillsdivert waste for use by Georgia industries that use them as feedstocksreduce environmental degradation at landfillsreduce traffic congestion, air pollution, litter and conserve energysave money for taxpapers
Goal #2Insure safe management of solid waste to protect human health and environment
adequate disposal capacitylandfills safely and properly sited, designed, constructed, operated, closed and maintained after closurewaste collection, transfer and processing facilities safely and properly operated
Goal #3Cleanup problem sites
monitoring investigationcorrective action
SOLIDSOLIDWASTE
MUNICIPALSOLID
WASTE
YARDTRIMMINGS
STORMDEBRIS
SEWAGESLUDGE
INERTINDUSTRIAL
WASTE
CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION
WASTE*HAZARDOUS
WASTE
BIOMEDICAL/ASBESTOS
CONTAMINATEDSOILS & DEBRIS
LITTER
SCRAPTIRES
AGRICULTURALWASTE
HOUSEHOLDHAZARDOUS
WASTE
*Regulated by the Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Act
*Spec ia l Industr ia l Waste
(1 ,782 )
Hazardous Waste (34 ) Other (6 )
Construct ion & Demolit ion (350)
Industr ia l DWaste (214 )
Munic ipa l So lid Waste (232 )
Total Quantity of Solid Waste
(2.6 billion tons per year in U.S.)
*CKD; fossil fuel waste; oil/gas; mining/mineral waste
Georgia Waste Trends
02,000,0004,000,0006,000,000
8,000,00010,000,00012,000,00014,000,000
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
MSW C&D
National Solid Waste Reduction Goal
USEPA
By 2008, increase recycling of Municipal Solid Waste to 35% (from 31% in 2002).
Maintain national average Municipal Solid Waste per capita generation rate at no more than 4.5 pounds per person per day.
How is solid waste regulated?LAWS Federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act of 1976
Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act
RULES USEPA “Subtitle D” national minimum standards for
municipal solid waste landfillsGA Rules for Solid Waste Management
• States operate solid waste programs in lieu of USEPA
• No federal funds provided to states
• Annual state appropriations fund EPD’s Solid Waste Management Program – current
funding is sufficient for 26 EPD staff.
Fede
ral A
cts
& R
egul
atio
ns1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2005
Georgia A
cts & R
egulations
Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)
Proposed Guidelines for Landfill Disposal of SW and Guidelines for Development & Implementation of SW Mgmt
Solid Waste Management Act of 1972Executive Reorganization Act of 1972 and EPD Created
Rules, Solid Waste Management
Rules & Regs for Solid Waste Mgmt
Rules, Solid Waste Management
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment to RCRA
Major Solid Waste Milestones Federal and State
Criteria for SW Disposal Facilities and Practices (40 CFR 257, 258)
Rules, Solid Waste Management
Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act
Rules, Solid Waste Management
EPA Approves Georgia Solid Waste Program
SWTF Trust Fund Fees Authorized.
Sub-Title D Amendments
Technical Rule Amendments
Liquid Waste Rule AmendmentSWTF Fees Extended 3 Years
SWTF Fees Extended 5 years
Major Solid Waste Efforts (1990s – present)
Moving Municipal solid waste from “just holes in the ground” to modern, properly
designed Subtitle D landfills to entomb waste
• siting criteria
• liners
• leachate collection
• methane collection
• groundwater monitoring
• 98.2% of all MSW now disposed in lined Subtitle D landfills
Reducing amount of MSW disposed
• segregating yard trimmings & encouraging composting
• recycling
Properly closing and maintaining old substandard and completed landfills
Investigating and mitigating: leachate releases, ground water contamination, methane
migration, air emissions and odor from landfillsCleaning up 12.5 million abandoned scrap tires and recycling scrap tires as they get generated
Preventing solid waste dumping thru comprehensive solid waste regulatory programEncouraging 25% waste reduction goal efforts
Solid waste planning
What is a municipal solid waste landfill?
- An engineered structure built into or on the ground designed to isolate waste from the environment
- EPD permits are required
- Local government approval required
- Subtitle D regulations govern landfill design and operation – liners, leachate, methane gas collection systems, groundwater monitoringsystems, cover systems are required
- Final closure, 30-year post-closure maintenance required
- Some are very large – typically several hundred acres with disposal capacities ranging up to 53 million cubic yards (Imagine a cube of compressed garbage measuring 400 yards per side)
How many landfills do we have?
Where are they?
111 Total
Are our modern, permitted landfills safe?Yes, if properly sited, designed, constructed, operated and maintained in perpetuity
Will liners eventually degrade over time and begin to leak?
Yes. Landfill liners are not designed to last “forever”. As lined landfills age, leakage may occur.
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streams
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contamination
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contamination
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generation
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should berecycled
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts with valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehicles
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitter
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property values
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questions
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questionsRestricted future use of the land
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questionsRestricted future use of the landCommunity angst
What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?
Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questionsRestricted future use of the landCommunity angstEnvironmental justice
How many closed landfills do we have in Georgia?
How many landfills in Georgia have groundwater
contamination?
Landfills listed on the Hazardous Sites Inventory
117 Total
Funds expended to date from Hazardous Waste Trust Fund
Approximately $18M on 96 local government contracts
Can these problems be corrected or controlled?
Yes, but it is very expensive and takes many years.
How much will it cost to correct or control environmental problems at old leaking landfills?
• Total future costs are unknown.• In 2001, EPD projected the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund will need a
minimum of $177 Million to help local governments.• Hazardous Waste Trust Fund can pay up to $2 Million per site in
correcting problems for landfills listed on the state Hazardous Site Inventory.
Does Georgia have enough permitted landfill capacity for future needs?
YES
Existing Disposal Capacity2004
MSW 26.6 Years
C&D 19.9 Years
Percent of MSW Disposed in Georgia Landfills From Out-of-State Sources
0%2%4%6%8%
10%12%14%16%
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Why does Georgia have so much landfill capacity?
Private sector has developed several very large landfills in GeorgiaCost of disposal is CHEAP
• Low tipping fees• Competition in private sector• Cheap, abundant land with plenty of clay
Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia
Disposal is cheap
Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia
Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.
Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia
Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operations
Georgia Landfill Disposal 2004Public vs. Private (in million tons)
3.0
9
30.63
41 MSW Landfills
16 MSW Landfills
14 C&D Landfills
37 C&D Landfills
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Public Private
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
MSW Disposal C&D Disposal # of MSW Facilities # of C&D Facilities
Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia
Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operationsFewer, but much larger, landfills
Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia
Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operationsFewer, but much larger, landfillsWaste reduction efforts need significant improvement statewide
Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia
Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operationsFewer, but much larger, landfillsWaste reduction efforts are largely need significant improvementstatewideMany old landfills are leaking and require costly cleanups-funding insufficient
Benefits of the Current Status
Cheap and abundant landfill capacity keeps disposal costs low for citizens and businesses.Trash is cash – increased revenues for landfill owners (private and local governments).
Drawbacks of our Current StatusBig landfills can REALLY STINK! We have growing odor problems at several of them.Transportation of waste to big landfills increases traffic congestion, energy consumption, air pollution and litter.Landfills are permanent. While the available land suitable for landfills is currently plentiful, it will decrease as Georgia continues to grow. Our current system of waste disposal is not sustainable for the future.Long term costs are large.Existing rules provide for post closure care for landfills for 30 years after closure, yet they will need maintenance forever. No provisions have been made for this. Many closed landfills need long term corrective action. Funding is inadequate for this.Bankruptcy or financial instability of landfill owners leave the public “holding the bag”for maintenance and cleanup costs.
True costs of landfills are masked by failure to address long term maintenance and corrective action and failure to recognize value of materials that are recyclable - this thwarts development of more sustainable solutions.
Profits to be made siting new landfills encourage developers to force landfills on communities that do not want them. While our laws provide for significant amount of local control, many local governments have failed to enact ordinances to enable control. These communities are targeted by landfill developers and then turn to EPD and elected officials to “stop the landfill”often too late.
Failure to recycle means lost resources and lost jobs in industries that used recycled materials as feedstocks.
“Our disposable society” is producing a vast and ever-increasing array of cheap, disposable products and packaging, resulting in increased waste disposal demand and increased environmental impacts.
Improvements UnderwaySolid Waste Trust Fund recently reauthorized until 2008 – FY06 appropriation $1.5 MillionImprovements in local government solid waste planning process Improvements in EPD’s review of solid waste management plans as part of proposed landfill applicationsRecently completed State waste characterization study will help focus and improve future recycling efforts.Increasing emphasis on environmental educationEPD’s Task Force on Landfill Odor MitigationGovernor’s Executive Order on Litter; establishment of Litter Task Force
ConcernsWaste disposed on a per capita basis is significantly higher than national norms.Recycling rate is much too low; huge quantities of valuable materials are being wasted. Out-of-state waste imports into Georgia are dramatically increasing. Long-term costs of perpetual care and cleanup of leaking landfills are not provided for in the current system and keep the true costs of disposal artificially low.Landfill odors are a significant problem at some large sites.General public does not want new landfills sited.Landfills are being located far away from population, adding to traffic and air pollution problems.Litter is a significant and growing solid waste problem.Solid Waste Trust Fund used by the state to fund many important functions expires in 3 years.Solid Waste Trust Fund appropriation for FY04 & 05 was zero. FY06 appropriation was$1.5 Million (out of $6.5 Million in fees collected). Lack of sustained funding jeopardizes Georgia’s ability to adequately deal with solid waste.
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