Alexandria Wastesmart Strategic Plan 2019

ALEXANDRIA’S 20-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO SUSTAINABLY RECOVER RESOURCES

JANUARY 2019 Dear Alexandria residents,

We are pleased to present the City of Alexandria’s WasteSmart Plan, a comprehensive 20-year strategic plan that will ensure the City’s solid waste management program remains safe, effective, efficient, and environmentally sound in the coming decades. During the development of this plan, we have solicited your feedback through community meetings and feedback forms to establish a visionary strategic plan to reduce and divert waste.

The City is already ahead of the curve in sustainably recovering resources. In FY18, Alexandria achieved a 49% recycling rate and has diverted more waste from landfills and waste-to-energy than ever before through the four key practices of resource recovery: reduce, reuse, recycle and compost.

However, the recycling rate is no longer the sole metric for measuring our success. The WasteSmart Strategic Plan strives to not only recover resources and divert more materials from end disposal facilities, but to consider the principles of economics, community values and environment. The WasteSmart Plan also seeks to minimize our impact on climate change so that we can create a strong, resilient Eco-City.

The City cannot achieve WasteSmart alone and will need your help and participation to achieve these goals.

Together, we can work toward building an Eco-City Alexandria that will be strategic and smart about waste management and sustainably recovering resources.

Sincerely,

Resource Recovery Division, Transportation & Environmental Services WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 3 a ndri xa le yA

Eco-Cit

RIA A D I N - Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Council Washington - Metropolitan

– Electronic Waste – Electronic A

X N – electronic News News – electronic I – Solid Waste Management Plan – Solid Waste

– Waste Disposal and Service Agreement – Waste E

– Northern Virginia Regional Commission – Northern Virginia L – Household Hazardous Waste – Household Hazardous

– Municipal Solid Waste – Municipal G – Pay-As-You-Throw

– Transportation & Environmental Services & Environmental – Transportation – City Manager’s – City Office

– Waste-to-Energy A – Office of Environmental Quality of Environmental – Office – Council of Governments – Council – Compressed Natural Gas Natural – Compressed

– Office of Performance and Accountability and Performance of – Office

– Commercial Driver’s License Driver’s – Commercial

– Environmental Action Plan – Environmental – Environmental Policy Commission Commission Policy – Environmental – Environmentally Preferable Products Products Preferable – Environmentally – Environmental Protection Agency Protection – Environmental

– Automatic Vehicle Location Vehicle – Automatic

F R – Alexandria/Arlington

– Recycling Implementation Plan – Recycling

C Y I – Resource Recovery – Resource T I V T&ES WSDA WTE CNG COG E-Waste eNews EAP EPA EPP EPC HHW MSW MWCOG NVRC OEQ OPA PAYT RIP RR SWMP Acronyms and Abbreviations and Acronyms A/A AVL CDL CMO Resource Recovery Recovery Resource Quality of Environmental Office participation at meetings and online comments – – Environmental Services Environmental Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) of Governments Council Washington Metropolitan (NVRC) Regional Commission Northern Virginia (EPA) Agency Protection U.S. Environmental Department Services of General Inc.HDR Engineering, Office of Performance and Accountability Accountability and Performance of Office of Management and Budget Office Yon Lambert, Director, Department & Lambert, of Transportation Director, Yon Services Department & Environmental of Transportation Mark Jinks, City Manager City Jinks, Mark Manager City Deputy Emily Baker,

• • • • • • • • • • • Technical Analysis and Recommendations Used for Strategic Plan Strategic for Used and Recommendations Technical Analysis Participants: Other City Agencies Environmental Policy Commission Policy Environmental City Management the input of the residents and representatives from City and representatives the of the input residents various and commissions management, boards City City Council, agencies, City partners and organizations. external and several Public City Council Acknowledgments Acknowledgments been possible without not have would Plan Strategic The WasteSmart WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 4 3 3 2 8 11 12 ...... Letter from Division Letter Recovery the Resource Introduction The Planning Process and Trends Conditions Existing & Values Vision & Action Items Framework TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 5 EAP Goal Alignment Revisit & Update Goals & Update Revisit Research Using Experts Research Using Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder Develop & Adopt WasteSmart & Adopt Develop Implement, Monitor & Track Progress & Track Monitor Implement, incorporates feedback from feedback stakeholders. incorporates various The Planning Process Planning The as the City in 2017, started Planning process Strategic The WasteSmart criticalin a discussion of issues of the community engaged members The following years. 20 the next for priorities set and to began waste to plan that a strong in creating section planning process outlines the City’s values and economics. Finally, WasteSmart aligns our sustainable aligns our WasteSmart Finally, and economics. values be an to commitment with Alexandria’s management practices waste and visit. work live, to place and enjoyable safe clean, exceptionally years. The WasteSmart Strategic Plan (WasteSmart) will ensure will ensure Plan (WasteSmart) Strategic The WasteSmart years. by of its waste be a good steward to continues that Alexandria and taking concerns environmental emerging for both preparing identified The action items advances. of technological advantage of the triple values core against the three weighed in this plan were framework: line sustainability community environment, bottom green and prospering city. city. and prospering green a major has undergone market recycling the global years, In recent policies recycling of new part, in a series by driven, shift that has been address To materials. of recyclable importer the largest in China, once plan strategic a new has prepared landscape, T&ES the changing 20 the next management for solid waste that will guide the City’s regulatory responsibilities and core services. While refuse collection services. refuse While and core responsibilities regulatory Department the City’s services for one the of primary core remains think we the way Services (T&ES), & Environmental of Transportation Division was time. In 2014, the Waste Solid over has evolved about trash our vision Division. This name reflects Recovery the Resource renamed a livable, Alexandria making to as our commitment as well and values, Introduction most important of Alexandria’s is one of the City removal Solid waste WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 6 on Facebook, allowing the City to connect with residents in a new in with residents connect to the City allowing on Facebook, to form feedback filled out an online residents 370 Approximately way. was the editor to 2018, a letter In October priorities. identify waste-related further public awareness build to papers local the city’s to submitted 18, presented Open House, held October of the Plan. The WasteSmart additional public input. the public and gathered issues to the various able to were and engagement, we public feedback the various Through plan. the WasteSmart strengthen gathering over 1,200 questions and comments about the plan as well as about the as well plan 1,200 questions and comments over gathering actionitems. the included on WasteSmart Presentation Civic Association Yards 1 Potomac Figure staff held internally, the feedback importance of gathering Realizing staff. and hall meetings operations with collections town employee social media, and email, various through input external Staff solicited information staff presented Recovery meetings. Resource in-person public meetings of civic associations at several feedback and gathered streamed Some of these meetings were and commissions. and boards STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT STAKEHOLDER and needs, values stakeholder and incorporating Understanding The of this plan. elements the in development critical were priorities the to prior a year ongoing stakeholders discussions with started City opinions and solicit suggestions. In the to of WasteSmart development reached, were 1,500 stakeholders over engagement process, stakeholder

. facility in Alexandria after 2038 and recommend a general and recommend 2038 after in Alexandria facility solid waste managing Alexandria’s for planning schedule 2038 beyond fromtrash regular practices and processing Evaluate the collection and processing of recyclables separate separate of recyclables and processing the collection Evaluate collection waste benefits of current the environmental Evaluate Evaluate feasible alternatives to operating a waste-to-energy a waste-to-energy operating to alternatives feasible Evaluate Benchmark services and costs with other communities services and costs Benchmark contract by waste collecting and solid benefits of costs Review services new offering by Identify revenue increase opportunities to Evaluate current operations current Evaluate

recommendations and decisions on whether to include them in the include and decisions on whether to recommendations document reports and cross-section The plan. full technical strategic website: on the WasteSmart found this plan can be that accompany alexandriava.gov/WasteSmart These memorandums were completed in July 2018 with a series in July 2018 completed were These memorandums While most future evaluate. to the City for of recommendations plan, some this strategic into been incorporated have strategies as external input, as well public and internal weighing not. After were HDR a document outlining key staff developed considerations, TASK 7 TASK TASK 5 TASK 6 TASK TASK 2 TASK 3 TASK 4 TASK provide recommendations for long-term management strategies. HDR management strategies. long-term for recommendations provide task on a focusing each papers, technical of seven a series completed include: tasks management. These seven waste to related 1 TASK RESEARCH USING EXPERTS RESEARCH HDR Engineering, an independent firm, retained T&ES In July 2017, and management programs waste current the City’s Inc. evaluate to WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 7 Figure 3 Resource Recovery Station Recovery 3 Resource Figure implement the strategic plan will be determined through the City’s through will be determined plan implement the strategic will the City the plan is implemented, As annual budget process. Plan of the action items. progress and share track monitor, to continue website. on the WasteSmart can be tracked progress GOALS REVISIT & UPDATE materials Packaging industry evolving. is constantly The solid waste the of waste composition impacting the material year-to-year, change are materials that these waste recognize It is also important to stream. act as commodities and that they that can be recovered, resources facilities, processing As marketplace. and regional in the global must adapt and time, the City over change and markets technologies, the and update will revisit The City as necessary. adjust its programs 3-5 years, Plan every Strategic of the WasteSmart and actiongoals items in the industry. occurs change or if a dramatic, unforeseeable IMPLEMENT, MONITOR & TRACK PROGRESS & TRACK MONITOR IMPLEMENT, August Manager in Program Environmental its first hired The City Plan Strategic of the WasteSmart the development complete to 2018 of the with the development its implementation. Concurrent and lead of implementing the identified the process has started plan, the City to fully required resources fiscal Additional action items. short-term The City submitted the draft action items to the Environmental the Environmental to action items the draft submitted The City with Council City that provides group a volunteer Commission, Policy On January and guidance. 8, 2019, feedback policy environmental adoption plan for the strategic received Council City Alexandria’s receive held January to was 12, 2019, A public hearing consideration. Plan. Strategic on the WasteSmart additional comments Using the technical analysis and recommendations provided by HDR, by provided and recommendations analysis Using the technical developed plan was input, the WasteSmart Inc., as stakeholder as well A full list of of short, with a series action items. medium and long-term at the end of Plan is provided up the Strategic that make action items this document. Figure 2 Environmental Action Plan Public Meeting Hosted on Facebook Live on Facebook Action Plan Public Meeting Hosted 2 Environmental Figure AND ADOPTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC framework for environmental decision-making. Throughout this process this process Throughout framework decision-making. environmental for the 1 EAP Phase for and action goals items of updating solid waste align the solid waste with the EPC to worked T&ES (Phase 2 in 2019), Plan. Strategic with the WasteSmart goals City adopted the EAP, which sought to achieve the vision and principles achieve sought to which the EAP, adopted City to continue and help the City Charter Eco-City outlinedin the City’s began the City In 2017, sustainability. environmental toward move (EPC) and the Commission Policy with the Environmental collaborating adoption The Phase 1 2018 the EAP. to an update develop to community actions establish a refreshed,of short-term and responsive informed, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN GOAL ALIGNMENT GOAL ACTION PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL comprehensive is the City’s (EAP) Action Plan 2030 The Environmental the In 2009, community. sustainable a thriving, creating for blueprint WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 8 $373 FY2019 Approved $4,564,192 $1,262,904 $61,328 $889,291 $30,000 $23,000 $300,500 $399,949 $7,531,164 20,200 18,249 Spring Clean-Up Spring Collection Leaf Recycling TV/CRT Program Compost Market Farmers’ Budget Compensation Workers Support) Administrative (City Costs Indirect Expenditures Total Served Residences Billable Households1 Fee Refuse Residential etc.) are non-profits, (elderly, relief tax subject to that are 1. Those residences fromexempt fee. paying the refuse Expenditure by Program by Expenditure Refuse Collection Residential Recycling Residential Curbside Old Town Farmers’ Market; Del Ray Farmers’ Market; Four Mile Run Four Market; Farmers’ Del Ray Market; Farmers’ Old Town four operates The City Market. End Farmers’ and West Market; Farmers’ wood and provides and produces citywide centers recycling convenient free up for pick to or have of Alexandria all residents for mulch and leaf a nominal fee. for delivered Table 1 City of Alexandria’s FY19 Approved Budget and Residential Refuse Fee FY19 Approved Alexandria’s of 1 City Table bulk trash collection, metal and appliances also provides The City (Spring and special collections collection, waste/brush yard collection, a permanent is there Currently, Collection). Up and Leaf Clean center recycling and electronics (HHW) Waste Household Hazardous free. for off these items drop can residents where Street, Colvin at 3224 by scraps food compost the option to also have residents Alexandria the City: across markets farmers weekend them off at four dropping Evolving Global Recycling Market Recycling Global Evolving Landscape Changes in Financial Challenges Environmental New The City of Alexandria The City Figure 4 City of Alexandria’s Curbside Bins Curbside of Alexandria’s 4 City Figure real estate tax bill and is paid semiannually. Residents living Residents in semiannually. tax bill and is paid estate real units are or more buildings with four and multifamily condominiums haulers. and trash recycling private served by T&ES manages the City’s residential recycling, trash, leaf and yard and yard leaf trash, recycling, residential manages the City’s T&ES household units. residential 20,200 approximately for collection waste single-family homes and in detached primarily These households are units. The annual Residential than four homesfewer with multifamily resident’s on each listed is these services. The fee covers Refuse Fee Alexandria is an incorporated city located in northern Virginia, across the across in northern Virginia, located city incorporated is an Alexandria the the U.S. to Census, According D.C. from River Potomac Washington, with 66,880 be 155,810, single- to estimated population was 2016 City’s about 60% of households were of 2010, households.As and multi-family single-family homes. 40% were homes and approximately multi-family • • • THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA Existing Conditions and Trends Conditions Existing • WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 9 and, in fact, the recycling industry has responded to these and policies industry to has responded and, in fact, the recycling theexample, For domestic efforts. by strengthening fluctuations market billion U.S. than $1 to dollars more industry paper has invested recycled States. fiber in the United recycling for capacity build and expand recovered, others, including glass and certain plastics, are difficult glass and certainare plastics, including others, recovered, against the current must be weighed These changes recover. to of new and the direction markets recycling of global understanding in the industry. trends on the marketability is predicated programs of recycling The success decades, has China For materials. post-consumer of and demand for In 2016, materials. recycled of American been the primary consumer fiber paper of its recycled about two-thirds exported States the United when China. This changed plastics to 40% of its recyclable and over in 2018. This policy National Sword the new enforce to China started the post-consumer and substantially limited altered has radically policy of The practice on the open market. that China purchases material includes − which Americans many by employed “wish-cycling” currently of a bin, regardless into recyclable consider may anything they tossing Starting Chinese in inspectors. to − is no longer acceptable cleanliness with an materials began accepting facilities July 2018, Chinese recycling below is far This number contamination. of level (0.5%) low extremely from emerging of materials level most American the contamination on the recycling information More in the country. centers recycling 1 and 5. on Task Memorandums on HDR’s found can be market up the global certainly shaken policies have National Sword China’s in the recycling shut down not but this has completely market, recycling materials post-consumer China is not the only destination for region. EVOLVING GLOBAL RECYCLING MARKET GLOBAL EVOLVING on sortingdesign, limitations technology, in packaging changes Due to recycling correctly, recycle to about how confusion and customer recyclables in processing challenges been facing have programs While products. new make to be used to materials raw into back successfully and metal, are cardboard, as paper, such some materials,

Jones Point Park Point Jones 3224 Colvin Street 3224 Colvin Figure 5 City’s Food Waste Waste Food 5 City’s Figure Program Composting South Whiting St. South 4251 Eisenhower Park 4251 Eisenhower Figure 6 Map of City’s Recycling Centers Recycling 6 Map of City’s Figure related costs, please refer to HDR’s Memorandums on Task 1 and 2. on Task Memorandums HDR’s to refer please costs, related Commercial properties, in addition to providing trash and recycling and recycling trash providing properties, in addition to Commercial submit a to required also are and residents, its tenants services to requires This form the City. to Implementation (RIP) Plan Recycling the for system its recycling describe to property commercial each portion the largest of its waste that comprise materials recyclable two services and its solid waste on the City’s detailed information For stream. collected alongside their residential alongside their residential collected provides also The City neighbors. collection and recycling trash buildings and and government schools 65 approximately services to organizations. 150 non-profit and a small number of non-profit and number of non-profit a small located that are organizations routes. collection along residential These small businesses can “opt-in” and collection City-sponsored to and recyclables their trash have The City currently provides provides currently The City of waste collection curbside 250 small approximately to accounts businesses/commercial WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 10 Figure 7 Child with City’s Recycling Bin Recycling 7 Child with City’s Figure oil, trees) were being wasted by landfilling rather than being recovered recovered rather than being landfilling by being wasted were oil, trees) still important, while challenges, no longer are These two recycling. by Reducing GHG has emerged were. once as they as critical considered were management and targets as an important in solid waste objective process. Action Plan update the Environmental established during NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES NEW ENVIRONMENTAL of the release involves and solid waste disposal of The collection or greenhouse emissions, climate-changing amountssignificant of Management Plan (SWMP) Thegases (GHG). of the impetus Solid Waste to and other locations landfills that was in 2004 Council by approved metals, (e.g. resources and natural scarce becoming were bury waste After 2038, when the City may need to develop and fund a new disposal and fund a new develop need to may when the City 2038, After initiating planning timeline establish a for option, it will be important to change. future accommodate funding needed to and potential disposing of waste at the facility and has given cause to re-evaluate the re-evaluate cause to and has given at the facility disposing of waste terms favorable has The City programs. related and benefits all of costs between tip fee a zero-cost including Covanta, with in the agreement roughly of cost savings in significant result This could and 2038. 2025 the ownership where ends in 2038 This agreement $1.2 million per year. County. and Arlington the City to back will be transferred of the facility Another point to note in terms of economics is that the cost of trash the is that cost of economics in terms note Another point to a long-term into entered the City In 2015, disposal is going down. waste-to- the City’s Inc., operate to Energy, with Covanta agreement is co-owned (the facility Avenue on Eisenhower located facility energy cost of the significantly altered This agreement County). with Arlington value goes up and down over time. The City will need to adjust will need to time. The City over goes up and down value or modify continue the decisions on whether to and make accordingly to and difficult both expensive that are of certain materials recovery additional 6 for on Task Memorandum HDR’s to refer Please recover. benefits of impacts and economic on the environmental information programs. and recycling the waste sending them to a waste-to-energy facility or a landfill. Recyclables are are Recyclables or a landfill. facility waste-to-energy a sending them to has of these commodities the value and, unfortunately, a commodity even also fluctuated have Markets years. five the past over plummeted policies National Sword of China’s enforcement since severely more of recycling the cost anticipates the City thesebegan. Because of factors, commodity, with any as However, increase. will and processing collection CHANGES IN THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE IN THE FINANCIAL CHANGES but money, makes always that recycling misconception It is a common than expensive more them has become recycling some materials, for WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 11 Safety Equity Community Job creation Public perception Customer satisfaction Customer Environmental Diversion Rate) Diversion Landfills (Recycling or (Recycling Landfills Residue/Contamination Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse Avoided waste sent to WTE/ sent to waste Avoided Economic Program costs Program Opportunity cost Avoided disposal costs Avoided Revenue opportunities Revenue CORE VALUES CORE through values of the triple bottom line: environmental, line: environmental, bottom of the triple values through values. and community economic measure its success when it comes to solid waste by just its recycling rate alone. Each action item identified in this plan was decided by weighingthe by was decided in this plan identified action item alone. Each rate just its recycling by waste solid to when comes it its success measure values. framework, economic, line sustainability and community environmental, considers bottom which of the triple values VISION WASTESMART recovery resource sustainable and achieve “WasteSmart” To Vision & Values Vision can no longer Action Plan in mind. The City Environmental Plan and the City’s Strategic with the City’s developed was Plan Strategic The WasteSmart WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 12 FY2022 – FY2025 – FY2025 FY2022 – FY2038 FY2025 FY2019 – FY2021 FY2019

TIME FRAMES FOR ACTION ITEMS Long-term actions Long-term Short-term actions Medium-term actions

esou R rce R Recycl ec ing & o Or v ga er se ni y u cs e R & e c u d

R l

p s

d h

c n

a E

f O a

p c

d a

t i

E i

o v n

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v e t n n m e long-term action items was developed for the City to WasteSmart and sustainably recover resources. resources. and recover sustainably WasteSmart to the City for developed was action items long-term Framework & Action Items & Action Framework theme, of short, a list each medium, Plan. Within in this Strategic application vision to the framework the WasteSmart turn themes to will govern Five WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 13 changes. encourage guidelines to list and establish EPP procurement City content. with recycled materials purchase current truck routing, mileage, staffing levels, homes served per staffing levels, mileage, routing, truck current collected. of trash and tonnages route fees. solid waste and commercial residential Review trucks. in specs of new technology AVL incorporate to Continue identify if changes to facility usage of the HHW current Examine convenient it more make to hours the operating be made to could costs. reduce potentially and to residents to and provide of CDL drivers and retention recruiting Evaluate programs, CDL training (e.g. turnover reduce to recommendations adjustments, other incentives). compensation and engagement survey and implement stakeholder Develop properties. commercial for forum absenteeism lower to in place program and safety training Evaluate injuries. and workplace haulers. commercial for fees licensing Review and other operational on optimizing routes recommendations Formalize a special revenue fund and direct all revenues related to to related all revenues fund and direct a special revenue Formalize and initiatives. programs self-fund to recovery resource Sustainable purchasing: add recycled product manufacturers to to manufacturers product addrecycled Sustainable purchasing: Explore fleet greening (e.g. Electrification, CNG, Flywheel hybrid). CNG, Electrification, Flywheel (e.g. fleet greening Explore Conduct a Route Optimization Study to perform a review of the a review perform to Optimization Study a Route Conduct Evaluate public space trash and recycling bins and make bins and make and recycling trash public space Evaluate

Action items highlighted in green are also action items in the City’s Updated Environmental Action Plan Environmental Updated in the City’s also action items are in green highlighted Action items

LONG-TERM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS LONG-TERM 1.11 1.12 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 ACTION ITEMS MID-TERM 1.8 1.9 1.10 SHORT-TERM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS SHORT-TERM 1.1 Figure 8 Resource Recovery Team Discussing Safety and Training and Training Discussing Safety Team Recovery 8 Resource Figure Memorandums. Below is a list of actions to maximize the City staff time, staff infrastructure, the City maximize is a list of actions to Below as exploring applied, as well currently are as they and other resources to will also continue services. The City opportunities improving new for and safety, staff health impacts the on environment, negative minimize of current a detailed review needs. For City budget,the City and future 1 and 2 of HDR’s Task to refer please and benchmarking, operations Effective Government Operations Government Effective programs. Recovery Resource City optimize to will continue The City WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 14 Evaluate the feasibility of a Resource Recovery Ambassador Recovery of a Resource the feasibility Evaluate Program. Volunteer Develop and make available resources such as downloadable as downloadable such resources available and make Develop and social media kits tenants, to sample letter signs, recycling/trash and multifamily buildings, commercial government schools, for properties. tool. to dispose search notification & how sorting game app and share recovery Implement a resource Public Schools. City to resource recovery on resource bi-annual education campaigns Conduct recycling specific - addressing service guide; spring how-to - (fall contaminations). of translations providing accessible, more the website Make content. satisfaction customer determine of households to a survey Conduct additional services desired of service, serviceswith cost provided, of services. and level Refresh the Resource Recovery website to make it easier to find to it easier make to Refresh website Recovery the Resource mobile friendly. more it make and to information Launch a Recycle Right education campaign. a Recycle Launch Implement digital outreach resources such as a collection such resources Implement digital outreach

Action items highlighted in green are also action items in the City’s Updated Environmental Action Plan Environmental Updated in the City’s also action items are in green highlighted Action items

3.9 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 ACTION ITEMS MID-TERM 3.6 3.7 ACTION ITEMS LONG-TERM 3.8 SHORT-TERM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS SHORT-TERM 3.1

& Disposal Treatment Treatment Energy Recovery Energy Recycling/Composting

Source Reduction & Reuse Source Least Preferred WASTE MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY WASTE Figure 10 U.S. EPA Waste Management Hierarchy Waste 10 U.S. EPA Figure resources, protect the environment, and reduce costs. The U.S. EPA The U.S. costs. EPA and reduce the environment, protect resources, method as the most preferred and reuse reduction source recommends opportunities management. These actions provide of sustainable waste and leverage stream the waste entering to prior andreuse reduce for partners, with regional relationships and expand resources regional and local businesses. residents to outreach agencies, and improve Reduce & Reuse Reduce natural save to way the is most effective and reusing Reducing waste Most Preferred WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 16 Refresh Oops Tags for Recycling and evaluate working with working and evaluate Refresh Recycling for Oops Tags cart level. staff on direct messagingoperations at the refuse bid change. of glass and implement a glass the recyclability improve to centers campaign. awareness recovery glass eliminate potentially and/or glass drop-off centers expand to from recycling. single stream evaluate Sort (MRF) to Facility Recovery an annual Material Conduct education help inform to rates and residual composition recycling campaigns. to plastics in the marketplace of #3-7 recyclability Review list and update recycling in the City’s include whether to determine Code. City market. recycling global generation study (composition, characterization a waste Conduct and baseline establish a citywide to and contamination) projection, achieve. to the City for goal and ambitious recycling set a realistic Solicit and award a short-term recycling collection and processing and processing collection recycling short-term a Solicit and award Install special containers for only glass at all recycling drop-off only glass at all recycling for Install special containers Upon evaluating the state of the recycling market, develop a plan a develop market, of the recycling the state Upon evaluating changes in the reflect to ordinance recycling the City’s Update

Action items highlighted in green are also action items in the City’s Updated Environmental Action Plan Environmental Updated in the City’s also action items are in green highlighted Action items 4.8 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 ACTION ITEMS MID-TERM 4.7 ACTION ITEMS LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING RESIDENTIAL ACTION ITEMS SHORT-TERM 4.1 To improve the recyclability of glass, the City is planning to launch glass launch is planning to of glass, the City the recyclability improve To recover an additional option to provide to the City across drop-off centers a for the market monitoring is also actively glass. The City and recycle glass from with recycle and working collection viable option to curbside solutions. innovative regional for and advocate propose to our neighbors jurisdictions, is facing the challenge of glass recycling. Because glass of glass recycling. the challenge is facing jurisdictions, with contaminated it is often and processing, collection during breaks and shredded rocks, porcelain, ceramics, as caps, such other small items unable to are facilities recycling Because of this contamination, paper. of it. get rid to their glass and must pay market The City’s record-high recycling rate demonstrates the commitment demonstrates rate recycling record-high The City’s It is frustrating recycling. to have and our community our government ends our contractors by recycling for that glass collected hear when we as one of the most is perceived example, for Glass, instead. up in landfills that is know but we stream, in our waste materials recyclable readily of our neighboring along with many no longer the case. Alexandria, Figure 11 Recyclables being sorted at a Material Recovery Facility Recovery at a Material being sorted 11 Recyclables Figure value fluctuates. Sorting technologies and packaging designs also designs packaging and technologies Sorting fluctuates. value and adjust its review to the City requires time, which over change programs. recycling Resource Recovery: Recycling Recovery: Resource the market commodity, and with any commodities, are Recyclables WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 17 Action items highlighted in green are also action items in the City’s Updated Environmental Action Plan Environmental Updated in the City’s also action items are in green highlighted Action items Figure 12 Recycling Center at Jones Point Park at Jones Point Center 12 Recycling Figure Consider establishing business rebates, resource recovery grants, recovery resource establishing business rebates, Consider programs. loans revolving and/or recovery in the commercial sector. Evaluate for recycling capacity, capacity, recycling for Evaluate sector. in the commercial recovery be to required recyclables of number and sign, type convenience, and RIP form. education & outreach, recycled, is being followed. plan development opportunitiesIdentify in the site development and additional establish new opportunities for to process review rooms. compactor commercial resource improve to requirements recycling commercial Review commercial recycling accounts. recycling commercial and commercial for Implement campaign an education hauling buildings and spot inspections of commercial multifamily Implementation Plan (RIP) if the Recycling determine to accounts Evaluate an additional FTE dedicated to commercial education and commercial to an additional FTE dedicated Evaluate funds with from FTE also will fee. enforcement refuse commercial new should pursue on whether the City recommendations make 4.13 LONG-TERM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS LONG-TERM 4.11 4.12 MID-TERM ACTION ITEMS MID-TERM 4.10 opportunities. ACTION ITEMS SHORT-TERM 4.9 for the City to increase its recycling rate, greater participation from greater rate, recycling its increase to the City for require needed. will be This may sector the commercial/multifamily there Furthermore, education and enforcement. for additional resources new of opportunities development through be additional revenue may action of is a series Below the City. by recycling commercial services for recycling commercial new the support and expand approach to items COMMERCIAL RECYCLING COMMERCIAL than 70% more for account sectors and multi-family The commercial that, identified have The HDR papers stream. waste solid of the City’s WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 18 Support growing local composting efforts such as backyard as backyard efforts such local composting Support growing composting. and community composting quantity of a large development Support legislative the regional ban. generator organic Evaluate whether to privatize composting program at Farmer’s at Farmer’s program composting privatize whether to Evaluate the program. expand and whether to Market waste yard of the cost-effectiveness and the efficiency Improve waste, yard privatize whether to evaluate (e.g. program collection etc.). season, winter during suspend collection collection. waste yard on curbside education and outreach Expand and a separation waste yard whether mandatory Evaluate should be from plastic bags collections ban plan to waste yard implemented. and Leaf for and participation rates of weights accuracy Improve operations. Collection Waste Yard efficiencies and the for Facility Storage Leaf the City’s Evaluate equipment maintained. (tub-grinder) organics of curbside digestion) and feasibility and anaerobic collection. and support commercial list to license haulers an organics Develop in the City. collection organics multifamily Continue to meet and grow public awareness of food composting of food public awareness meet and grow to Continue Market. the at Farmers’ program Evaluate organics processing market readiness (both composting readiness market processing organics Evaluate

Action items highlighted in green are also action items in the City’s Updated Environmental Action Plan Environmental Updated in the City’s also action items are in green highlighted Action items 5.10 ACTION ITEMS LONG-TERM 5.11 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 ACTION ITEMS MID-TERM 5.7 5.8 5.9 SHORT-TERM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS SHORT-TERM 5.1 Figure 13 Resident dropping off food scraps for composting for scraps off food 13 Resident dropping Figure 28 percent of the total material stream is composed of food scraps food of is composed stream material of the total 28 percent and can be recovered materials These organic trimmings. and yard that can fertilizer compost, a natural into down break to composted on the For additional information beneficial use. into be applied back food benefits of management impacts of and economic environmental 6. on Task Memorandum HDR’s read please waste, and yard Resource Recovery: Organics Recovery: Resource approximately Agency, Protection the U.S. to Environmental According WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 19

and condition…” as required by the Waste Disposal and Service the Waste by as required and condition…” (WDSA). Agreement the on engagement forum and implement a stakeholder Develop fee. $0.00/tip upcoming with savings budget for and options recommendation Develop from tip fee $0 Covanta 2025-2038. that end disposal options, knowing long term Evaluate study. planning and potential for any significant timewill be needed implementation. for on the potential recommendations and make Evaluate service expansion. refuse commercial revise disposal study, of an alternative Upon the completion solid waste needs for the predicted incorporate to the SWMP of the a description period, an on-goingmanagement for 20-year to an ability meet those needs, and show to be taken actions to meet those future to the necessary funding and resources provide needs. Closely monitor Covanta’s comprehensive preventative and preventative comprehensive Covanta’s Closely monitor contract, of the years the 5 final efforts over maintenance corrective good order “…in the City to is returned the Facility ensure to Complete a regional comprehensive alternative disposal alternative comprehensive a regional Complete

Action items highlighted in green are also action items in the City’s Updated Environmental Action Plan Environmental Updated in the City’s also action items are in green highlighted Action items MID-TERM ACTION ITEMS MID-TERM 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 ACTION ITEMS LONG-TERM 6.6 SHORT-TERM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS SHORT-TERM 6.1 capacity. The City will continue to monitor end disposal options and monitor to will continue The City capacity. disposal. for develop as they technologies emerging alternate evaluate the to as related events the future given of action items is a series Below updating this for estimates cost details, including more For facility. A/A and landfill 2038, after the period disposal options for alternative facility, 7. Task Memorandum HDR’s read please in the region, capacities will be transferred back to the City and Arlington County. County. and Arlington the City to back will be transferred is Covanta facility, WTE A/A of the Covanta arrangement Under current George’s King ash is being sent to Currently, ash disposal. for responsible analysis Current of additional materials. recovery for mining and Landfill to back transfers ownership when the facility the agreement after landfill of available likelihood indicates County and Arlington the City (A/A) waste-to-energy (WTE) facility located on Eisenhower Avenue in Avenue on Eisenhower located facility (WTE) waste-to-energy (A/A) and is located Covanta by and operated is owned This facility Alexandria. By County. and Arlington the City by of land jointly owned on a parcel zero to will decrease waste the City’s for the tip fee in 2025, contract, This trash. amount of residential a limited for ($0.00/ton) per ton dollars of the facility the contract, ownership by In 2038 until 2038. will continue Figure 14 Covanta A/A Waste-to-Energy Facility Waste-to-Energy A/A 14 Covanta Figure within generated waste) (and most commercial trash All residential Alexandria/Arlington the Covanta hauled to direct is currently the City End Disposal End WasteSmart: Alexandria’s 20 Year Strategic Plan to Sustainably Recover Resources 20 @AlexandriaVATES

@AlexandriaVATES STAY CONNECTED CONNECTED STAY #WasteSmart @TESAlexandriaVA alexandriava.gov/WasteSmart For more information, including the technical papers that papers including the information, technical more For accompany the WasteSmart Strategic Plan, visit our website: Plan, visit our website: Strategic the WasteSmart accompany alexandriava.gov/TES