SMMP Credit 3: Adoption of Diversion and Recycling Goals

SMMP Credit 3: Adoption of Diversion and Recycling Goals 

(Local Government: 1-3 points; Industry 1-5 points)

Non-Reciprocal

Intent:

Increase recycling, composting and other beneficial utilization of waste through methods that have been proven non-harmful to environmental systems and human life and increase the productivity of alternative disposal methods so that the highest quality outcomes are produced.

Local Government Requirements

Adopt a policy that sets recycling and landfill diversion goals that exceed U.S. national average recycling and diversion rates as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association. The policy must require publicly reporting achieved recycling/diversion goals and require that recycling and diversion methods yield the highest quality outcome/product of disposed-of materials.

C&D Diversion Facilities must obtain CORR certification to be considered a viable diversion facility within this standard. (https://www.recyclingcertification.org/resources/)

Tier 1: (1 Point)

Adopt a policy goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 15 percent higher than the national Average Recycling Rate^[1] for MSW and 25 percent higher than the national average recycling rate for C&D.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 20 percent.

 Tier 2: (1 Point)

Adopt a policy goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 20 percent higher than the National Average Recycling Rate for MSW and 30 percent higher than the national average recycling rate for C&D.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 15 percent.

Tier 3: (1 Point)

Adopt a policy to achieve a Zero Waste goal.

Policy must adopt or reference the SWEEP Diversion Calculation Methodology and SWEEP Guidelines for Waste Characterization and Waste Generation Studies^[2] as the basis of the calculations. In addition, the Plan/Policy must be updated when there is a change in federal average diversion rates made publicly available.

Alternative Compliance Path: (For Pilot Implementation)

Tier 1: (1 Point)

Adopt a policy goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 10 percent higher than the Local Government’s state average and develop and submit a plan to achieve 10 percent higher than national average diversion within a period of 3-5 years.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 20 percent.

Tier 2: (1 Point)

Adopt a policy goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 20 percent higher than  the state average and develop and submit a plan to achieve 20 percent higher than national average diversion within a period of 3-5 years.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 15 percent.

 Tier 3: (1 Point)

 Adopt a policy goal to achieve to achieve a Zero Waste goal within a period of 3-5 years.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 10 percent.

 Note: Alternative Compliance Path Plan/Policy must be updated when state and/or federal average diversion rates are made available.

 Industry Requirements

      Adopt a corporate-wide business goal that sets recycling and landfill diversion goals that exceed U.S. national average recycling and diversion rates as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. The implementation program for the business goal must require publicly reporting achieved recycling/diversion figures.

 C&D Diversion Facilities must obtain CORR certification to be considered a qualifying diversion facility within this standard. (https://www.recyclingcertification.org/resources/ )

Tier 1: (1 Point)

Adopt a company business goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 15 percent higher than the national average recycling rate for MSW and 25 percent higher than the national average recycling rate for C&D.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 20 percent.

Tier 2: (2 Points)

Adopt a company business goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 20 percent higher than the National Average Recycling Rate^[3] for MSW and 30 percent higher than the national average recycling rate for C&D.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 15 percent.

 Tier 3: (2 Points)

Adopt a company business goal to achieve Zero Waste goal within a period of 3-5 years.      

Policy must adopt or reference the SWEEP Diversion Calculation Methodology and SWEEP Guidelines for Waste Characterization and Waste Generation Studies^[4] as the basis of the calculations.

 Alternative Compliance Path: (For Pilot Implementation)

Tier 1: (1 Point)

      Adopt a company business goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 10 percent higher than the Local Government’s state average and develop and submit a plan to achieve 10 percent higher than national average diversion within a period of 3-5 years.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 20 percent.

Tier 2: (2 points)

Adopt a company business goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 20 percent higher than the National Average Recycling Rate for MSW and 30 percent higher than the national average recycling rate for C&D.

●      Residue from recycling facilities should not exceed 15 percent.

Tier 3: (2 points)

Adopt a company business goal to achieve recycling and diversion rates 20 percent higher than the state average and develop and submit a plan to achieve 20 percent higher than national average diversion within a period of 3-5 years.

 Note: Alternative Compliance Path Plan/Policy must be updated annually when state and/or           federal average diversion rates are made available.

 Potential Strategies:

●      Calculate the diversion rate.

●      Measure residual rates. SWEEP⁺ requirements may be adjusted based on data acquired from the field.

●      Establish policies, programs and projects to increase diversion from disposal.

National average recycling rates for MSW and C&D materials as they apply to Local Governments and Industry service providers will be described more fully in the Certification Manual and will be based on conventional sources, such as the EPA and the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association.

[1] National Average Recycling Rate for MSW is 34.7 percent (EPA) and for all C&D (Bulk Aggregate, Mixed C&D & Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) it is 73% (CDRA). During the Pilot we will evaluate whether to include Bulk Aggregate and RAP, or whether to just use the Mixed C&D number (38%). If National Average Recycling Rates increase, the policy should be adjusted accordingly.

[2] SWEEP Methodologies for calculating the Diversion Rate, Waste Generation and Characteristics will be under development during the Pilot Phase. Diversion rates should not include materials disposed of by waste to energy facilities. Diversion rates should not include waste derived alternative daily cover, such ash, sewage sludge, or recyclable materials.

[3] National Average Recycling Rate for MSW is 34.7 percent (EPA). If National Average Recycling Rates increase, the policy should be adjusted accordingly.      

[4] SWEEP Methodologies for calculating the Diversion Rate, Waste Generation and Waste Characteristics will be under development during the Pilot Phase. Diversion rate calculation will include consideration of local market conditions, such as the reasonable availability of glass recycling capacity and other factors.  Diversion rates should not include materials disposed of by waste to energy facilities and diversion rates should not include alternative use of incinerator ash, sewage sludge, or recyclable materials, such as glass, as an alternative landfill cover.