Laserfiche WebLink
2020 Solid Waste and Moderate <br />Risk Waste Management Plan Update <br /> <br />AX0304191054PDX 3-1 <br />3. Waste Generation and Characterization <br />An accurate analysis of the types and quantities of waste generated provides the necessary data for <br />identifying existing and future solid waste system needs, and the policies, facilities, and programs to be <br />implemented to meet those needs. This chapter analyzes Kittitas County’s waste generation trends and <br />uses historical and projected population data to produce a waste generation forecast. <br />For the purposes of this analysis, waste generation is defined as the sum of tons of solid waste disposed <br />and diverted in Kittitas County. As used in this Plan, disposed solid waste is considered all solid waste <br />placed in landfills or incinerated. Diverted waste includes waste that is recycled, composted, or otherwise <br />diverted from disposal. The largest component of the waste stream is mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) <br />and consists of waste typically generated by residences, offices, and other businesses and institutions. <br />Other wastes include construction and demolition (C&D), moderate risk waste (MRW), and miscellaneous <br />wastes, such as biomedical wastes, tires and automobiles, electronic wastes, and other types of wastes. <br />Each category of miscellaneous waste has its own characteristics and handling needs. Miscellaneous <br />waste and hazardous wastes produced by households, and by businesses in small quantities, are <br />addressed separately in this Plan. <br />This chapter is organized as follows: <br /> MSW & C&D Disposal includes historical disposal and waste composition profiles for MSW and C&D <br />waste. <br /> Recycling and Diversion quantifies the materials recycled and diverted, recycling capture rates, and <br />recycling and diversion rates. <br /> Waste Stream Projections presents projected future waste stream quantities based on historic data. <br /> Level-of-Service Requirements describes the County’s commitment to a minimum level of service <br />for solid waste management and the projected requirement for 2030. <br />3.1 MSW and C&D Waste Disposal <br />MSW that is collected from residents by a private hauler or self-hauled by residents, businesses, and <br />institutions, is taken to one of two transfer stations located within the County, the Ellensburg or Upper <br />County Transfer Stations. All MSW generated in the County is transferred from these facilities to the <br />Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill in Douglas County. Details regarding the County’s MSW collection <br />and disposal infrastructure are included in Chapters 4 and 5 of this Plan. <br />There are two disposal options for C&D waste generated in Kittitas County: 1) residents and businesses <br />self-haul C&D waste to the two transfer stations for a reduced disposal fee; and 2) Waste Management, <br />licensed contractors, and other businesses with customer accounts dispose of C&D waste at Ryegrass <br />Limited Purpose Landfill. In 2017, a total of 3,657 tons of C&D was collected at the transfer stations and <br />sent to the Ryegrass Limited Purpose Landfill. Additional information about historic disposal rates and <br />composition can be found in the 2010 SWMP. <br />3.1.1 Historical Disposal <br />Figure 3-1 presents quantities of MSW disposed since 2013. Shown in prior plans, County disposal <br />climbed steadily from 2004 to 2007 from 25,000 tons disposed to a high of nearly 36,000 tons. Currently <br />disposal has reached this high level again due to the ongoing population increases, despite increased <br />waste reduction and recycling efforts. i) . I ,