BerkeleyMunicipalSolidWasteFacilityTours4/9/17ExecutiveSummary:Thereare4majorcomponentstothemunicipalsolidwastesystemforBerkeley:

• TransferStation–OperatedbytheCityofBerkeley.Theirtruckscollecttrash,compost,andC&D(construction&demolitionmaterials)fromresidentialandcommercialoperations.AndcollectcommercialrecyclingtodropoffatCCC.Thecitytrucks(along400-500residents/dayself-hauling)dropoffthesematerialsatthetransferstation,whereUrbanOrehasachancetoscavengeformaterial,beforebeingtransferredto18-wheelersandsenttothelandfill,compostcenter,orC&Dfacility.

• EcologyCenter–Homeofthefirstcurbsiderecyclecollectioninthenation.Theyown11truckstopickupresidentialrecyclinginBerkeley.Initially,recyclingwasa7binsystem,nowtheyoperatewithadual-streamsystemwithasplitrecyclingbin.Theyalsohostavarietyofprogramssuchas:thefarmer’smarket,storeforsustainablelivingandrecyclingoutreach.

• CommunityConservationCenters(CCC)–doesthemanualsortingoftherecyclablematerialscollectedbytheEcologycenter(residential)andtheCityofBerkeley(commercial).Alsorunsthebuybackprogramforrecyclables.Everyyeartheypayoutabout$1millionforbuybacks.

• UrbanOre–afor-profitcompanywhichre-sellsandrecyclesmaterialsthataredonated,salvagedfromthetransferstation,orarepicked-upfromoutsidelocations.

Eachoftheseprograms/companiesislookingtowardscapitalimprovementstohelpexpandandmovetowardsthegoalofzerowaste.Forexample,thebuildingsattheCCCaretheoriginalbuildingsfromthe1980sandsincethenthetotalamountofrecyclableshasincreaseddramaticallywithoutsignificantcapitalimprovements.

OverviewofBerkeleyMunicipalSolidWaste:

UrbanOreStats:

• Approximately2-3tons/dayarecollectedfromtheBerkeleytransferstation.In2016,888tonsweresalvagedfromthetransferstationthereforedivertingitfromthelandfill.Andapproximately,10-20%collectedfromthetransferstationissalvagemetalsandsoldasscrap.

• MostofUrbanOre’sdiversioncomesfromdropoffsandabout50%ofthetonnageisfromtheiroutsidetrader.ItisestimatedUrbanOredivertscloseto7,000tonsannually.Thediversionnumberincludesnotonlyreusedgoodssalesbutalsorecycleditems(e.g.,scrapmetals,ceramics,glass,textiles,electronics,plastics,paperandcardboard.)

• In2016,UrbanOrehasgrossedcloseto$2.6million.Laborcostsarehigh.Profitsaremarginalatbest.Costsarerising.

• Thebestsellersaredoorsandwindows–thebreadandbutterofthecompany.Future:

• OwnersDanKnappandMaryLouVanDeventerwouldliketoretiresoonandareconsideringanemployee-ownedmodelmovingforward.Theywanttoconservethelocaleconomyandlocalcommunityratherthansellouttoanoutsideinterest.

• Thereareanumberofideasforthecurrentlyun-utilized,17,000square-footmezzanine.Ideasinclude:leasingoutthespacetosynergisticenterprisessuchasabicyclerepairshop,ausedrecordshop,vintageclothing,antiquedealers,ageneralfixitperson,acobbler,greeneventspace,etc.But,todevelopthemezzanine,UrbanOrewillneedcapitalinvestmenttofinancegettingthestairsuptocodeandinstallinganelevator.

ReceivingArea:

WindowsSection:

LumberSection:

EcologyCenter/CCCHistory:

• 1stinnationcurbsidecollectionprogram• Collectsfromsinglefamilyand9orlessmulti-familyhomes• 1973–Createdclosedlooponrecycledpaper.Pulpedpaper->EggCartons->Recycled• 1982–Burnmunicipalsolidwastepropositionwasdefeated• 1986–BottleBillintroducedwhichdismantledreuseofglassandacceptingofglassat

grocerystoresinfavorofplasticsingleusebottles.Originallyhada7cartsystemforrecycling.Residentswoulddothesortingandthentheywouldcollectall7bins.Verycleanmaterialbutnoteasyforresidents.Now,theyhavedual-streamrecycling.Meaningthereare2sidesontherecyclebin.Onesideforpaperandcardboard.Theothersidefor“containers,”(e.g.,bottlesandcansandplasticclamshelltakeoutcontainers)

Whentherecyclebinistipped,thetruckhasadividertoosothedifferentmaterialsstayseparated:

Containersaretippedinthebunkerandarerelativelycleanduetodual-streamcollection:

Containersaresortedontheindoorsortinglinemanuallybyabout8people:

Thebuildingistheoriginalbuildingfrom1980s!Glassissortedinto3colors+mixed/broken:

Paper/CardboardistippedinsideanotherbuildingtobesortedintomixedpaperandOCC(oldcorrugatedcardboard):

Cardboardismanuallypulledonthepapersortinglineandtossedintobunkersbelow.

Remainingmixedpaperfallsoftheendoftheline:

Allmaterialsarebaledinthebaler:

Future:EcologyCenterandCCCneedmajorcapitalinvestmenttotheiroriginalequipmentandbuildingstohandlemorewasteandreducetothegoalofZeroWaste.

TransferStation:TheCityofBerkeleycollectstrash,compostandConstruction&Demolitionmaterials(C&D).TrashandcompostaretippedunderalargeroofandC&Disputoutsidethebuilding.

UrbanOrescavengesthetrashcollection.Eachoftheseitemsaresentouton18-wheelertruckstothelandfill,compostfacility,orC&Dsortingcenter.

Thetransferstationisalsoopenforthepublictodropofftheirownmaterials.Therateshaven’tbeenupdatedinaboutadecadeandarewelloverdueforanadjustment.

E-waste,Mattresses,andusedmotoroilarealsocollectedonthesite.Future:AlsoneedssomeattentionandcapitalinvestmentifwantingtoreachZeroWastegoal.