Managing the Waste Stream: Background Information for Planning Source Separation Programs

摘要

The document includes a variety of data that can be used to help plan recycling and yard waste collection and composting programs. The report has been written primarily as a reference for people using the Recycling Planning and Evaluation Program (REPEP), a simple, spreadsheet computer program for planning recycling programs. Much of the information and some of the default data in REPEP were developed as part of a review of the first two years of the Illinois Recycling Grants Program. Data in the report are organized so that readers can easily look up estimates of the impact that different types of source separation programs have on the waste stream. The terminology and framework for evaluation of the performance of source separation programs is consistent with standards being developed by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC). The report includes an overview of different types of recycling programs and a discussion of the NRC framework for measuring program performance. Waste generation and composition data from a number of jurisdictions in Illinois are summarized. Collection statistics for materials recovery programs supported by recycling grants are summarized. Yard waste programs are described.