Featured Projects for Resource Recovery & Recycling
Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA)
State of Delaware
State-Wide Analysis of Commercial and Industrial Recycling
DSM was contracted in 2007 to conduct the first in the nation comprehensive analysis of all non-residential recycling activity within the State of Delaware. The goal was to quantify all recycling activities occurring in the transport, agricultural, industrial, institutional, and commercial sectors in Delaware to determine what the impact on landfill capacity would be if these materials were being delivered to DSWA landfills. Subsequent to 2007 DSM has had an annual contract to collect data on all Municipal Solid Waste (as defined by the US EPA) recycling quantities managed in the State of Delaware for use by the Delaware Recycling Public Advisory Committee in preparing their annual report to the Legislature on the recycling rate. Recently DSWA contracted with DSM to update the 2007 comprehensive analysis to determine how Delaware is doing in meeting the Moving Toward Zero Waste Plan (also prepared by DSM). The data on quantities recycled can be compared with data on materials disposed at all DSWA landfills based on the 2006 – 2007 comprehensive waste characterization study managed by DSM.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Boston, Massachusetts
Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Industry Analysis
DSM was contracted by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a state wide analysis of the Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D) recycling industry in Massachusetts a year and a half after a state waste ban was put in place for wood, asphalt, brick, & concrete, and metal. DSM visited C&D processing facilities and recycling markets throughout the region to determine the quantity, composition, and flow of C&D waste materials from Massachusetts, the effects of the waste ban, and the future of the markets. Ultimately DSM created a state-wide mass balance of C&D waste generation, composition and markets/end uses.
Bottle Bill Redemption Fee Study
DSM was contracted by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a detailed economic analysis of the bottle bill redemption system in Massachusetts. The results were used to make recommendations to the legislature concerning increases in the handling fee paid to redemption centers. As part of the analysis, DSM conducted in-depth assessments of the hauling and transportation costs of sixteen redemption centers to determine average handling costs of deposit containers. In addition, DSM conducted on-site and telephone interviews, and meetings with all stakeholders to determine how changes in the container redemption system would impact each stakeholder. These included soda and beer distributors, food retailers, and distributors' agents. The final report was presented first to an internal committee within State Government and then to all stakeholders to determine how changes might be made to the system to make it more equitable.
Trust for the National Mall / National Park Service
Washington, D.C.
Design of Recycling System for the National Mall
DSM was contracted through Keep America Beautiful to carry out an assessment of waste management and litter collection on the National Mall and to design a recycling system that could be managed by the National Park Service. This included a review of the composition of waste in litter baskets on the Mall, at Mall concessions, at recreation and picnic areas on Hains Point and in certain City Pocket Parks maintained by the National Park Service.
In addition to the waste audit, DSM reviewed current waste collection activities throughout the year, including seasonal fluctuations in visits and special events that impact waste collection. DSM also evaluated recycling at special events and evaluated refuse container layout, servicing, and container fullness. DSM researched public area recycling throughout North America and Europe looking for the best examples to bring to the National Mall.
New York City Economic Development Corporation
New York City, New York
Hunts Point Organics Recovery Feasibility Study
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) contracted with DSM to conduct a feasibility study of organics recovery options at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx. The sources of material to be recovered are the Hunts Point Cooperative Produce Market (the largest produce market in the US) and the Fulton Fish Market (the oldest fish market in the US). Together, these two markets generate over 100 tons of waste a day, more than half of which is organic and potentially degradable. DSM sorted waste from both the Produce Market and the Fish Market to determine how much of the waste was organic versus contaminants. DSM then reviewed multiple proposals for construction of organics facilities at Hunts Point ultimately recommending an Anaerobic Digestion facility as the most feasible option.
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Montpelier, VT
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF ACT 148 - ORGANICS BAN and RECYCLING COLLECTION MANDATES
The Vermont Legislature unanimously passed a comprehensive new materials management statute (Act 148) in 2011 banning organics from landfills in 2020, requiring that all solid waste haulers offer comprehensive materials recycling collection in parallel with refuse collection with the cost embedded in the refuse collection cost, and requiring that all municipalities adopt unit based pricing (PAYT) for refuse. DSM was contracted by the Agency of Natural Resources to conduct a systems analysis of the impacts of Act 148 on costs, materials diversion, and greenhouse gas emissions over the period of 2012 through 2022 when it was assumed that Act 148 would be fully implemented. DSM quantified the base case, c. 2012 and then estimated the change in collection, processing and disposal costs associated with increased diversion of materials and organics. Systems costs, materials recovery rates and GHG emissions were estimated for three alternative systems and formed the basis of the VT ANR report to the Legislature on the impacts of Act 148.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Dong Nai, Vietnam
Area-Wide Environmental Quality Improvement
Ted Siegler of DSM was selected by UNIDO to be a member of a team of environmental scientists and economists tasked with assessing the most cost effective investments to reduce air, water and land pollution in this rapidly growing and industrialized area of Vietnam adjacent to Saigon. The goal was to investigate where Vietnam and the donor countries should invest to achieve the greatest reductions in pollution. Ted then took the lead author role in producing an Area-wide Environmental Quality and Management document designed for both for Vietnam, and as an educational tool for environmental specialists in other countries trying to improve overall environmental quality in a region.
Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)
Recycling Economic Information Study
DSM was contracted by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) to update the Recycling Economic Information Study originally completed in 2000. The primary goal was to document the size of the recycling and reuse industry in the Northeast by calculating the direct and indirect economic impact of the industry in 26 categories of recycling and reuse sectors. The direct economic impacts to be measured were:
Number of establishments; Employment; Annual payroll; Annual receipts; and Annual throughput (as appropriate).
Once the direct economic impact was determined, the indirect and induced economic benefits were modeled to estimate the total economic impact of the recycling and reuse industry in the northeastern United States.
The report included an analysis of the trends in the industry when compared to the 2000 study. The states will use this information to help define policies and actions for future recycling market development efforts.