Act 148: Summary

Waste diversion rates have stagnated in Vermont between 30 to 36% over the past 10 years. A significant portion of the waste stream that is disposed is composed of recyclable items, leaf and yard debris, and food scraps that could be diverted from landfills and put to better use. In addition, landfilling these materials (especially food scraps) contributes to climate change by producing greenhouse gas emission. Recyclable materials, food scraps, and leaf and yard debris are all valuable resources that should not be thrown away. Finally, landfill space in Vermont is limited and one of the two major landfills is nearing its capacity.

The goal of Universal Recycling is to improve the capture and diversion rates for these valuable materials to prevent them from being landfilled. When the law takes full effect more materials will be diverted from the landfill. It has been demonstrated that recycling materials conserves resources while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The bans established by Act 148 send clear signals to both the private and public sector that materials will be available, which provides an incentive to invest in infrastructure needed to meet the demand. 

This law will provide convenience and choices to Vermont residents and businesses, and it will lead to more consistent statewide solid waste services such as recycling and composting. By requiring separation and diversion of materials it creates an incentive for investment into materials management strategies. It also allows for time to establish collection and facilities for managing recyclables and food, leaf, and yard materials. 

In summary the law bans disposal of certain solid waste from landfills including:

•  Recyclables by July 1, 2015 including:
•  Aluminum and steel cansAluminum foil and aluminum pie pans
• Glass bottles and jars from food and beverages
• PET and HDPE plastic containers, bottles and jugs
• Corrugated cardboard
•   White and mixed paper
• Newspaper, magazines, paper mail, and envelopes
• Box board
• Paper bags

o    Leaf and yard debris and clean wood waste by July 1, 2016, and

o    Food scraps by 2020, initiated in phases (see below).

Requires parallel collection at facilities:  Facility owners that offer trash collection must also offer collection of:

• Recyclables by July 1, 2014,
•  Leaf and yard debris by July 1, 2015, and
• Food scraps by July 1, 2017.

Facilities cannot charge a separate fee for the collection of residential recyclables, but can charge commercial haulers for collection of recyclables. The costs of collecting recyclables from residents can be included in trash collection fees. Facilities can charge for the collection of leaf and yard debris and food scraps.

 Requires parallel collection at curbside: Haulers that offer services for managing trash must also offer services for managing:

• Recyclables by July 1, 2015,
• Leaf and yard debris by July 1, 2016, and
• Food scraps by July 1, 2017.

Haulers cannot charge a separate fee for the collection of residential recyclables. The costs of collecting recyclables from residents can be included in trash collection fees. Haulers can charge for the collection of leaf and yard debris, and food scraps.

  Allows ANR to oversee facility and hauler residential rate structures to ensure that rates are transparent to residential consumers.

Includes a food recovery hierarchy:

1. Reduction at the source
2. Rescuing quality food for people
3. Diversion for agricultural uses, including as food for animals*
4. Composting, nutrient management, & anaerobic digestion
5. Energy recovery

* See VT Agency of Agriculture Policy on Swine Feeding:

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/solid/documents/SwineFeedingPolicy.pdf

Phased in food scrap diversion: Larger food scrap generators are targeted to divert their food scraps if a certified facility is within 20 miles (phased?in by amount generated over time):

• July 1, 2014 for generators of more than 104 tons/year (2 tons/week)
• July 1, 2015 for generators of more than  52 tons/year (1 ton/week)
• July 1, 2016 for generators of more than  26 tons/year (1/2 ton/week)
• July 1, 2017 for generators of more than  18 tons/year (~1/3 ton/week)

By 2020, all food scraps, including those from households, must be diverted with no exemption for distance.

Provides incentives to reduce waste by requiring municipalities to implement variable rate pricing (aka Pay As You Throw) for materials collected from residential customers based on volume or weight, by July 1, 2015. Haulers are also required to utilize variable rate pricing systems in accordance with the specific ordinances and rules that are implemented by municipal entities (including solid waste districts, towns, town groups, and alliances).

Provides more recycling options by requiring recycling containers to be located in public buildings and publicly owned or controlled land (municipal and state) wherever trash cans are located (except in bathrooms) by July 1, 2015; requires the State House to implement a similar program by July 2012. 

G1 Disposal and Diversion rates for the SWME’s jurisdiction. Include the calculation of the total disposal and per capita disposal rate for municipal solid waste from the jurisdiction for the SWME. Data tracking system: There is a system in place for tracking and reporting diversion rates biannually and disposal rates annually (check box) X Yes _ No (If No please indicate the deadline date below for when system will be in place).

Plan for Annually tracking data:  The Town of St. Johnsbury MSW disposal for 2013 was 7,769.92 tons. The 2010 population for St. Johnsbury was 7,603 for a disposal rate of 5.60 pounds per capita per day. St. Johnsbury will work to reduce the per capita rate by 25% during the term of the SWIP to 4.20 pounds per capita. The current diversion rate is 8.30%. The data generated by Retrac will be used to to accomplish the tracking and reporting of diversion rates and

G1 Disposal and Diversion rates for the SWME’s jurisdiction. Include the calculation of the total disposal and per capita disposal rate for municipal solid waste from the jurisdiction for the SWME.

• Disposal Rates Annually-  Efforts will be made through education and economic initiatives associated with the Universal Recycling Law to increase the diversion rate by at least 14% by 2020.
• Expected Time-frame- Malter Consulting, Inc. is compiling the data as a consultant to the Town of St. Johnsbury. The diversion data will be submitted by July 1, 2017 and biannually thereafter. The disposal data will be submitted annually. Retrac will be used in the compilation of the data.

G2 Within 6 months of VT ANR approval, post approved SWIP on SWME website.

• Plan for Posting:  The Town of St. Johnsbury will post it’s SWIP on our expanded website (www.stj.vt.com) within six months of approval by ANR.

G3 Within 3 months of VT ANR approval, submit one newspaper article or op-ed piece introducing SWIP.

• Plan for Submittal:  The Town of St. Johnsbury will announce the availability of the SWIP on it’s expanded website through a variety of initiatives including: a newspaper article in the Caledonian Record explaining the SWIP’s purpose and the resources to support it; at least one talk show interview on a local radio station (WSTJ) with listener call in opportunities; some social media involvement with Front Porch Forum and possibly a Facebook presence. Malter Consulting, Inc. will submit newspaper articles for the Town of St. Johnsbury.

G4 Within 6 months of VT ANR approval, conduct a survey of constituents on current knowledge; including variable rate pricing, recycling, organics, C&D, HHW/CEG, electronic waste, and universal waste. Survey to be done at beginning and end of SWIP term.

• Plan for Surveys:  St. Johnsbury will participate in the uniform statewide survey in order to ensure that all the concerns of ANR are being addressed. Copies of the survey will be made available in a variety of formats. It will be available electronically on our website, Front Porch Forum; it will be available in hard copy at Town Meeting; the Town Clerk’s Office and it will be available at the St. Johnsbury Transfer Station.  It is anticipated that approximately 750 constituents will be surveyed.

G5 Hold two public meetings during SWIP term, one before the end of the second year, the second in the fifth year.

• Planned Meeting Schedule:  St. Johnsbury will hold a public hearing by July of 2017 and a second one before July of 2020 in order to provide information on the various aspects of the SWIP and to respond to questions from the public. Documentation on how the public was informed of the meetings and participants will be collected.

G6 Develop and maintain a webpage linked to a homepage for the SWME that lists regional management options for waste material (A through Z).

• Date Planned for publishing Webpage: The St. Johnsbury website will be updated by January, 2016 and include information on waste management options in an A through Z format and will be updated regularly. Joe Kasprzak, Assistant Town Manager will update the website.

G7 Adopt and implement variable rate pricing for municipal solid waste from residential customers and show plan for bringing haulers and facilities into compliance.

Description of Program and copies of ordinances passed: Please attach copies of any ordinances passed to this template, as well as a brief program description in a PDF or Word document. Indicate the title of the ordinance here. (Variable Rate ordinance)

G8 Collect contact information for all commercial solid waste haulers and a list of services they provide within the SWME jurisdiction.

• Description of collection process: In conjunction with the adoption of a Variable Rate Pricing Ordinance by July, 2015 a current list of all the haulers and their services will be accomplished.  (List of Haulers)
• Expected Time-frame: These tasks are in process. Hauler data will be updated annually. Hauler data will be accomplished in Microsoft Word. 

R1 Work with at least 10% or 2 schools (whichever is greater) to implement a school-wide waste reduction program (covering recyclables, organics, and HHW) each year ensuring that 50% of schools are reached by end of SWIP term). Please describe how you plan to work with the schools each year. *If work performed with schools covers recyclables and organics, only one description is required.

Description of program:  There are three public and five private schools in St. Johnsbury serving pre-k to 12. There is some waste reduction activity in the area of collection of recyclables, organics and household hazardous waste. We will work with Northeast Resource Recovery Association, Black Dirt Farm and other entities in developing programs for the schools annually and will work with the administration and staff to improve the effectiveness of waste reduction in the schools. Efforts will be made to get organics collectors and haulers to visit the schools and determine what types of containers would be most appropriate for both food scraps and recyclables. St. Johnsbury will meet school SWIP commitments through Tara Robinson Holt as a town staff member/contractor. Visits to the schools will be arranged following phone calls to the school administration. Documentation will be maintained on spreadsheets. At least two schools will be involved annually in St. Johnsbury.

• Expected Time-frame:  These tasks will be accomplished by July 1 of every year during the SWIP implementation period.

R2 Implement an ongoing multi-media public outreach campaign to inform the residents and businesses of the preferred practices to recycle materials including plan for raising awareness of the provisions from the UR law: 7/1/15-landfill ban and public space recycling.

Description of Campaign:  Efforts will be made through our website, press releases, brouchures and other media on the requirements of the Universal Recycling Act. The transfer station and haulers will also be providing information on waste reduction and landfill bans. An inventory of the number of recycling and trash containers located in public spaces will be accomplished.

• Expected Time-frame:  These programs will be initiated during 2015. By July 1 of 2016 and 2017 a minimum of one new media piece (video) explaining the upcoming program will be accomplished. This information will be put together byTara with support from various St. Johnsbury departments.

R3 Conduct outreach to at least 2% or 20 businesses/institutions (whichever is greater) in the region per year to increase their recycling and access to recycling in their public spaces, ensuring that a minimum of 10% of the businesses and institutions have been reached by the end of the SWIP term.

• Description of outreach plan:  There are approximately 734 business and institutions in St. Johnsbury. Tara will provide business outreach. The businesses will be contacted with a request for a site visit. Spreadsheets will be maintained on relevant information. Information on Act 148 will be provided to the businesses. Approximately 20 businesses/institutions annually will be visited to assess their current level of recycling and to offer recommendations to assist in meeting the goals of the Universal Recycling Act and recycling all mandated recyclables.  Follow up from the initial contact will be accomplished by Tara within 120 days of first contact or sooner if specific requests are made by the business.   This will also include awareness of the tools that will be found in our expanded website.
• Expected Time-frame:  Currently we respond to requests from St. Johnsbury businesses regarding issues concerning recycling. We will have direct outreach with at least 100 businesses/institutions by the end of the SWIP term.

R4 Provide technical assistance for waste reduction at public and private events. *If technical assistance covers recyclables and organics, only one description is required.

Description of program:  The St. Johnsbury website will enable residents that are planning or participating in an event to have access to resource information with easy to use hints on how to reduce waste and the A through Z list of waste management options. The availability of Clear Stream Portable Recycling Stations for public events and food scrap collection totes with composting information will be made available in conjunction with the St. Johnsbury composting community.

• Expected Time-frame:  These activities will be initiated by July 1, 2015.

R5 Include outreach & options for textile reuse and recycling.

• Description of program:  There are a variety of options available with textile reuse and recycling in St. Johnsbury through the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Kingdom Community Services Thrift Store, Connect With Kids Thrift Store and Planet Aid Collection Containers. Every garage and rummage sale in town offers textile reuse opportunities. A textile collection container at the St. Johnsbury Transfer Station is being reviewed. Information on textile management and the location of the textile reuse sites will be found on our website and updated annually. Notice in the Town Report is one way this and many other parts of Act 148 will be publicized.
• Expected Time-frame:  These activities are both ongoing and will be expanded by July 1, 2015. 

O1 Work with at least 10% or 2 schools (whichever is greater) to implement a school-wide waste reduction program (covering recyclables, organics, and HHW) each year ensuring that 50% of schools are reached by end of SWIP term. *Please note if this description is provided above in the recyclables section.

Description of program:  See R1. Tara will be the SWIP staffer for all phases of the school work. The Town will encourage participation in on or offsite composting for the schools.

• Expected Time-frame:  These tasks will be accomplished by July 1 of every year during the SWIP implementation period.

O2 Implement an ongoing public education and outreach campaign to inform the residents, businesses, and institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, colleges, correctional facilities, and other large waste generators) of the better ways to manage organic materials. Must include at a minimum the plan for raising awareness about the organics disposal bans (leaf and yard debris and food scraps) and food recovery hierarchy from the UR Law.

• Description of campaign:  The St. Johnsbury website will include information on managing food scraps and yard and leaf debris. The information about the website will be promoted through various media including Front Porch Forum, Farmers Market Displays and newspaper articles. The food recovery hierarchy will be identified on the website. Three Food shelves in St. Johnsbury will be shown on the website as places to donate excess food. Truckload compost bin sales will be promoted and workshops on backyard composting will be held in conjunction with the sale. Rescue food whever possible and divert food scraps. Use the hierarchy of diversion on food scraps. Tara will be the staffer for this program.
• Expected Time-frame:  These activities will be accomplished beginning on July 1, 2015.

O3 Conduct outreach to at least 2% or 20 food based businesses and institutions (whichever is greater) within their jurisdiction each year, ensuring that at a minimum 10% of the business and institutions are reached by the end of the SWIP term.

• Description of outreach plan:  There are approximately 48 food related businesses/institutions in St. Johnsbury. So at least 20 of these locations will be contacted by the Town of St. Johnsbury annually to explain the diversion of food scraps from the landfill and the landfill bans on leaf and yard waste and clean wood. These businesses/institutions will be contacted again in approximately 120 days afetr intitial outreach to track the status of their organics program.  See R3.
• Expected Time-frame:  These activities will be accomplished beginning on July 1, 2015.

O4 Provide technical assistance for waste reduction at public and private events. *Please note if this description is provided above in the recyclables section.

• Planned Tasks:  See R4.
• Expected Time-frame:  These activities will be initiated by July 1, 2015.

O5 Contact and collaborate with local food redistribution groups and networks to conduct outreach and education to food service businesses and institutions about the opportunities to donate quality food within the region to feed people.

• Planned Tasks:  There are 3 food shelves and pantries in St. Johnsbury that are identified in the Vermont Food Bank database. Efforts will be made to through our website to get the message out to the residents about the opportunities to donate food to the food shelves and pantries. The Food Shelves will be identified and will be included in the website and annual town report.
• Expected Time-frame:  These initiatives will begin by July 1, 2015.

O6 Establish or promote year-round collection location for leaf and yard debris within SWME region. List existing location or the plan to establish and timeline for reaching operational capacity.

• Planned Tasks:  St. Johnsbury will be working with local composting sites and the St. Johnsbury Transfer Station to establish a year round leaf and yard debris collection site. Once a site or sites is established, it will be promoted on the website and print media.
• Expected Time-frame:  This initiative will begin by July 1, 2015. 

C1 Implement a multi-media outreach campaign to inform the residents and businesses of the preferred practices for the reduction of C&D materials generated and for end-of-life management.

• Description of campaign:  St. Johnsbury will promote recommended practices to reduce C&D generation through reuse and other sustainable practices. The website will tie in with the ANR website and list any facilities marketing services or materials. The information will be presented through our website, social media and print releases. Front Porch Forum and the website will be used to disseminate information developed by Tara on C&D.
• Expected Time-frame:  This initiative will begin by July 1, 2015.

C2 Establish a program for clean wood recycling prior to July 1, 2016 to coincide with the UR Law landfill ban.

• Description of program:  St. Johnsbury will work with the St. Johnsbury Transfer Station to come up with a clean wood recycling program.
• Expected Time-frame:  This initiative will begin by July 1, 2015 with a goal of implementation by July 1, 2016.

C3 Establish at least one collection location for asphalt shingles collection and drywall by end of the SWIP term in each SWME’s jurisdiction.

Planned Tasks:  St. Johnsbury will work with the St. Johnsbury Transfer Station and Myers Hauling to explore the feasibility of hauling this material back to their C&D Recycling Facility in Colchester. The St. Johnsbury Transfer Station will be the collection point for asphalt shingle and drywall. This will be market driven and Myers Hauling will be encouraged to take this material for recycling but the economics of hauling, handling and processing will factor in to when it will be feasible.

• Expected Time-frame: Efforts will be made to accomplish this task before the end of the SWIP term.

H1 Work with schools and VT ANR’s Environmental Assistance Office to provide information and technical assistance on HHW/CEG hazardous waste handling, disposal, waste reduction, recycling and assistance accessing cost effective disposal options. Work with at least 10% or 2 schools (whichever is greater) each year ensuring that 50% of schools are reached by end of SWIP term.

• Description of program:  The Town of St. Johnsbury and their consultant will work with two schools per year in order to reduce the toxicity and volume of Household Hazardous Waste/Conditionally Exempt Generator Waste while expanding cost effective disposal options. Work will be accomplished with the ANR’s EAO and members of the administration, custodial and academic staff. By getting the school administration involved the cost effectiveness of environmentally preferable purchasing will show the benefits in lower lifecycle costs, potential health and insurance costs and lower disposal costs. See R3.
• Expected Time-frame:  All of the St. Johnsbury schools will have opportunities in this area during the SWIP period.

H2 Implement a multi-media outreach campaign to inform residents, businesses and institutions of environmentally preferable purchasing and of the preferred practices for hazardous materials including pharmaceuticals.

• Description of program:  The Town of St. Johnsbury will work with residents, businesses and institutions through our website, press releases, radio interviews and social media to explain the benefits of environmentally preferable purchases practices and best management practices for the disposal of hazardous waste and pharmaceuticals. The St. Johnsbury Police Department will assist in the disposal of pharmaceuticals in conjunction with DEA sponsored collections which are still being offered and publicized. Tara will coordinate the outreach.
• Expected Time-frame:  This program is ongoing and will be updated every year by July 1.

H3 Work with 2% or 20 (whichever is greater) of businesses and institutions within jurisdiction per year on proper disposal and waste reduction information, ensuring that at a minimum 10% of the business and institutions are reached by the end of the SWIP term.

• Description of program:  St. Johnsbury will work with 20 businesses/institutions annually . Information on Environmentally Perferable Purchasing and waste minimization and proper disposal will also be made available on our website. See R3. During site visits if additional resources are needed to support the proper management of these hazardous waste streams the business will be so notified.  St. JOhnsbury will assist businesses in gaining resources from the Vermont Environmental Assistance Program, the Northeast Resource Recovery Association or other entities.  The use of the website, FPF, news releases in the Caledonian Record and information in the town report should encourage more participation.  St. Johnsbury will check in with businesses approximately 120 days after first contact.
• Expected Time-frame:  During the term of the SWIP at least 80 businesses/institutions will have been contacted.

H4 Year 1: Establish a minimum of 2 HHW/CEG events per year, or access to a permanent facility. 

Year 2: Demonstrate that year-round HHW/CEG collection exists for additional MMP-specified materials, provide 2 HHW/ CEG events per year or access to a permanent facility for items not listed. 

Year 3: Demonstrate that year-round HHW/CEG collection exists for additional MMP-Specified materials, provide 3 HHW/CEG events per year or access to a permanent facility for products not listed. 

Year 4: Demonstrate that year-round HHW/CEG collections exists for additional MMP-Specified materials, provide a minimum of 3 HHW/CEG events per year or access to a permanent facility for products not listed, ensure households have access to HHW/CEG event or permanent facility within 15 miles. 

Year 5: Demonstrate that year-round HHW/CEG collections exists for additional MMP-Specified materials, provide a minimum of 4 HHW/CEG events per year or access to a permanent facility for products not listed, ensure households have access to HHW/CEG event or permanent facility within 15 miles. Ensure that minimum requirements outlined in MMP under Convenience are met each year.

• Description of plan for each year:  St. Johnsbury holds a Spring and Fall HHW/CEG Collection event on a Saturday at the Main Street Parking Lot behind the St. Johnsbury Fire Station. These events are four hours each. A licensed Hazardous Waste Contractor is hired to manage the collection, transportation and disposal aspects of the program. St. Johnsbury’s consultant and volunteers collect data on the participants in the events. While these events are for the benefit of St. Johnsbury residents, people from outside the Town are able to dispose of their HHW for a fee. In 2014 a total of 131 households and 20 CEG businesses and Institutions participated in the collections. The St. Johnsbury Transfer Station collects used crankcase oil, lead acid batteries, one pound propane tanks, e-waste and antifreeze. Appalachian Supply on Memorial Drive will take mercury thermostats year round. Sherwin Williams, St. J True Value Hardware and Aubuchon Hardware all in St. Johnsbury participate in the PaintCare program for paints and coatings. Mercury lamps and rechargeable batteries are collected at St. J Hardware. We anticipate the same level of coordination and cooperation with adjoining waste management districts and towns to provide on a fee for service basis the disposal of HHW/CEG Waste in the event that the two identified collection events are not compatible with the generator’s needs. St. Johnsbury and the Town of Burke have agreed to utilize each others HHW/CEG event for our third event in 2017 and 2018.  Arrangements are being negotiated for the fourth HHW/CEG event.  If these negotiations are unsuccessful then St. Johnsbury will offer an additional HHW/CEG event in the Town of St. jOhnsbury in 2019.
• Expected Time-frame:  This program is ongoing and reporting will be accomplished annually. 

S1 Implement a public education and outreach campaign to inform residents and businesses of the quality and beneficial uses of Vermont’s biosolids and residual wastes to address public perceptions and to educate residents and businesses to not dispose of household hazardous wastes, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals in wastewater and septic systems.

• Description of program:  St. Johnsbury will identify best management practices for residents and business to ensure that household hazardous waste, pharmaceuticals and other chemical waste streams are not discharged to the septic system or wastewater treatment system. This information will be made available on the website. The town will distribute the State’s flyer on beneficial use of biosolids through local septic tank haulers. This will be accomplished by July, 2018.
• Expected Time-frame:  This program will be accomplished during the term of the SWIP. 

 S2 SWME's shall work with their respective municipalities, plant operators, and septic service providers to encourage the beneficial use of biosolids and septage.

All of St. Johnsbury's biosolids from the St. Johnsbury Sewage Treatment Plant are land applied in accordance with State and Federal requirements.  Septage collected by septic service providers is processed by the St. Johnsbury Sewage Treatment Plant.

• Expected Timeframe:  This program will be accomplished during the term of the SWIP.

Effective July 1, 2016 bans clean wood, branches, leaf & yard debris, grass clippings etc. from the landfill

Effective July 1, 2020 bans food scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells etc, from the landfill

Every year, construction and demolition (C&D) projects in Vermont generate approximately 50,800 tons of waste material, accounting for 10% of residential waste and 15% of industrial, commercial, and institutional waste*. C&D waste is produced from the construction, repair, and demolition of structures of all sizes--from backyard sheds to large apartment complexes, roads, and bridges. Most often, these materials can be separated and then recycled or salvaged into useful products or beautiful new structures. Finding ways to minimize the generation of C&D waste coming from your project, or creatively reusing or recycling as much of it as possible, is a winning strategy.

With valve installed, any condition- can be dropped off at Amerigas during regular business hours at 810 Red Village Road in Lyndonville VT.

Empty, devalved (valve has been removed)- can be brought to the St Johnsbury Transfer station and placed in the scrap metal dumpster (minimum fees apply).

with or without valves, can brought to the the St Johnsbury Trnasfer Station and placed in the scrap metal dumpster (minimum fees apply).