Julie Rose, City of Salem, discusses the different approaches Salem has taken to push towards zero waste. Mandatory waste reduction, trash barrel limits and more.

1. CITY OF SALEM
MISSION POSSIBLE-
GETTING TO ZERO WASTE
Julie Rose
Business Manager
City of Salem
MassRecycle R3 conference
April 8, 2014

2. Goals
•Reduce City’s solid waste and increase
recycling for cost saving, health, job
creation and environmental reasons
•Increase diversion of non-curbside items
•Improve environmental footprint
•Increase communications with residents
•Community buy-in and involvement

3. Salem Demographics
• 8 square miles
• 41,000 residents
• 15,000 households
• 120 miles roadway
• 37 languages spoken in schools
• Hosts about 1 million visitors annually
• International
• 40% day trippers; 60% overnighters
• Over 40% property is rental

4. Background
• 2007 and 2012 competitively bid solid waste
• 2008-3 barrel limits, weekly recycling
• 2013-mandatory recycling
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Solid waste and recycling tonnage
Solid Waste
Recycling

5. Solid waste transportation and disposal
3.2
2.49 2.51 2.53
2.7 2.8
2.3
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Cost in millions
Cost in millions

6. Background, continued
• Improved curbside recycling percent and set-out rates
• SalemRecycles
• GreenSalem.com
• Rigid Plastics (DEP)
• Books

7. Background, continued
• Textiles
• Public Recycling (AB and DEP)
• Mandatory Recycling (DEP)

8. What’s Left? COMPOSTING

9. Process
Applied for and Received DEP grants
• Technical Assistance
• Carts
Started survey prior to grant award
• Gathered data
• Evaluated interest
• Compiled Frequently Asked Questions
• Great input-
• ex. participants want to receive compost to use

10. Process, continued
• Pulled together composting strategy/selection team
• DPS Director
• City Engineer
• Mayor’s office
• Planning
• DEP
• Decisions-
• City-wide pick-up
• Voluntary
• Start with one route
• Stagger delivery and distribution to allow one-on-one education

11. Competitive Procurement
• Created questions and pre-interviewed potential bidders
• Received 5 bids
• Lowest bid was company who could haul and also
compost materials

12. Current Status
• Starting Weds. April 16
• Chose Weds. to ensure no changes due to holidays
• 575 households City-wide
• Using two trucks; transfer materials at DPS
• Carts distributed with SalemRecycles and volunteer effort
• Opportunity to interact with each resident
• Increased our volunteer base through this effort
• Positive energy and excitement about program

13. Questions