policy3 vermont universal recycling law, josh kelly
DESCRIPTION
Josh Kelly, VT DEC, discusses Act 148, which establishes comprehensive approaches to increasing waste diversion, from having universal access to recycling, to waste bans, to food residual diversion, to parallel collection.TRANSCRIPT
UNIVERSAL RECYCLING R3 CONFERENCE
APRIL 8, 2014
Josh Kelly – Environmental Analyst
VT Department of Environmental Conservation
Changing our view from “waste” to…
Materials Management
Universal Recycling Law (Act 148)
Most significant change to VT waste law since 1988.
Unanimously approved by state legislature in 2012
No funding attached…
GOAL: To divert valuable materials for better uses and provide more consistent and convenient services statewide
Initiated in Phases to allow infrastructure to develop
Universal Recycling - Bans
Bans disposal of:
listed recyclables by 2015 (metal, glass, plastics 1&2, paper)
leaf & yard debris and clean wood by 2016,
food scraps 2014 – 2020
Phased in mandates for larger generators to divert
food residuals, if there is a facility within 20 miles
2014 > 104 tons/yr (2 tons/wk)
2015 > 52 tons/yr (1 ton/wk)
2016 > 26 tons/yr (1/2 ton/wk)
2017 > 18 tons/yr (1/3 ton/wk)
2020 all food scraps
Parallel Collection & Unit-Based Pricing
Mandates parallel collection by facilities/haulers
that collect trash:
mandated recyclables by 2014/2015
(at no additional charge for residential recyclables),
leaf & yard debris by 2015/2016
food scraps by 2017
Municipalities must adopt Unit-Based Pricing by
2015
Recycling in Public Spaces
Recycling collection
containers must be
available in publically
owned places by 2015
Vermont Food Recovery Hierarchy
Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (1996) –
helps protect food donors from liability associated with donated food.
Universal Recycling Symbols
State Standardized Symbols – adopted fall 2013
Current Priorities
IMPLEMENTING Universal Recycling
Seeking funding source
Creating outreach Materials & Training
Organics Mapping Tool & Database
Outreach to:
Local Governments
Haulers & Facility Owners,
Food Scrap Generators, and more!
Many, many meetings
Additional Priorities & Initiatives
EPR & Product StewardshipMercury added Products
Electronics
Paint
Batteries in process
Collecting Good Data Waste Composition and
Systems Analysis Studies
Setting New Goals & Improve Local Governance Draft Materials Management Plan – Decrease Disposal by 25%
Contact Details & Website
Josh Kelly
802.522.5897
Want more info?
Search online for
“Universal Recycling VT”