Intent:  

To consistently measure or calculate the generation of municipal waste, which is the foundation for effective waste management policies and programs.

Requirements:

Tier 1: Measuring Waste Generation

Calculate the generation of municipal waste, construction and demolition waste and municipal wastewater biosolids within the boundaries of the jurisdiction for residential, commercial and non-hazardous industrial waste that is collected or controlled by the municipality. Municipal waste is defined according to the EPA

Municipalities should report total aggregated annual tonnage of mixed waste, recycling (including contamination), green waste, C&D and wastewater biosolids as weighed on certified scales at the final destination of the material. Total waste imports should be measured/quantified separately, but should not be included in the calculation of municipal generation.

Tier 2: Calculating Source Reduction Potential

Based on calculated or measured waste generation and characterization, calculate the Source Reduction potential for the municipality.

Utilize the source reduction potential calculation methodology outlined in the US EPA’s Source Reduction Program Potential Manual available at https://www.epa.gov/nscep

Potential Strategies:

• Adopt and implement SWEEP Guidelines for Waste Characterization and Waste Generation Studies.
• Food rescue programs/projects “Spoiler Alert” for products with limited lifetime esp. Food
• Implementation of local mandatory recycling policy
• Enforce local mandatory recycling policy
• Educational programs on reuse and source reduction
  • Prevalence and magnitude of educational programs for residents &/or commercial/institutional organizations
  • Prevalence and magnitude of educational programs for waste management employees
• Measuring/calculating
  • total solid waste generated;
  • per capita solid waste generation;
  • Residential vs. Commercial origin;
• Procurement policies and achievements
  • EPP policy-recycling, composting, etc.
    • Muni building recycling & composting programs
    • Buy used
    • remanufactured toner cartridges
    • Buy Recycled
  • Auction /resale of used goods
  • Encouraging take-back programs
• Product labeling practices
  • Procurement guidelines regarding labeling products as compostable or other definitional labels
• Municipally Sponsored Source Reduction programs:
  • Backyard composting;
  • Material exchanges/material libraries, e.g. textiles/clothing
  • Waste audit & recommendations “right-size” programs
  • Phonebook opt out
  • Grasscycling