for the Environmental Advisory Council · 2013-08-21 · • siting criteria • liners • leachate collection • methane collection • groundwater monitoring • 98.2% of all

Briefing on

Solid Waste for the

Environmental Advisory Council

July 21, 2005

Jennifer Kaduck

Chief, Land Protection Branch

Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Who is responsible for managing Solid Waste in Georgia?

Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act (OCGA 12-8-20 et. seq.)

Department of Natural Resources*Environmental Protection Division

(EPD)

Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA)Department of Community

Affairs (DCA)

Local Governments andsolid waste authorities

*OCGA 12-8-180 established the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) within DNR to work on a voluntary basis with business and industry to prevent pollution. P2AD serves in partnership with EPD and other on solid waste reduction efforts in the state.

Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act specifies:

• EPD has primary responsibility for the state solid waste management program.• EPD, jointly with Department of Community Affairs and in cooperation with

the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, develops the statewide Solid Waste Management Plan. It serves as the guide for the development of local and regional plans for Solid Waste Management.

• DCA, in cooperation with EPD & GEFA, prepares and submits annual reports on the status of Solid Waste Management in the state.

• Each city and county must develop or be included in a comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. Annual reports and updates required.

• Multi-jurisdiction or regional plans are acceptable. • DCA sets minimum planning standards for local governments to follow.

Environmental Protection Division(OCGA 12-8-20 et. seq.)

• Regulations• Permits• Technical Assistance• Compliance Monitoring• Enforcement• Cleanup• Solid Waste Trust Fund Administration• Coordinates with other state agencies and local political jurisdictions to

achieve unified and effective program

Department of Community Affairs -Major roles in Solid Waste Planning and

Education• State solid waste management plan• Coordinates local government solid waste

planning activities• Annual reports of statewide solid waste

management activities• Technical assistance and education to local

government and public• Georgia Clean & Beautiful Program• Coordinates waste reduction efforts

Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority• loans and grants for solid waste infrastucture to local

governments and solid waste authorities

Local Governments and Solid Waste Authorities • solid waste collection, recycling and disposal. Some

provide these services themselves, others contract with private waste management companies.

Department of Natural Resources –Pollution Prevention Assistance Division

• assistance to industries, businesses and institutions to reduce solid waste

What is “Solid Waste”?

• Any garbage or refuse• Discarded material from industrial, commercial,

mining, agricultural and community activities (includes liquids, semi-solids and gases)

• Sludges from wastewater treatment plants, drinking water supply plants and air pollution control equipment

• Exclusions – recovered materials, domestic sewage, permitted wastewater and air discharges, irrigation return flows, radioactive waste

Waste Transfer/ProcessingFacilities

Land Disposal Sites

Solid Waste

* homes * businesses * industries * water treatment plants * out of state waste importers

Collection Vehicles

Incinerators

Where does Solid Waste go?

RecyclingPlants

Landfills

Collection Vehicles

EPD’s Major GoalsSolid Waste

Goal #1Significantly reduce the amount of solid waste that has to be disposedreduce need for more landfills that are expensive and problematicconserve land, prevent property diminutionsave valuable resources that would otherwise be buried in landfillsdivert waste for use by Georgia industries that use them as feedstocksreduce environmental degradation at landfillsreduce traffic congestion, air pollution, litter and conserve energysave money for taxpapers

Goal #2Insure safe management of solid waste to protect human health and environment

adequate disposal capacitylandfills safely and properly sited, designed, constructed, operated, closed and maintained after closurewaste collection, transfer and processing facilities safely and properly operated

Goal #3Cleanup problem sites

monitoring investigationcorrective action

SOLIDSOLIDWASTE

MUNICIPALSOLID

WASTE

YARDTRIMMINGS

STORMDEBRIS

SEWAGESLUDGE

INERTINDUSTRIAL

WASTE

CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION

WASTE*HAZARDOUS

WASTE

BIOMEDICAL/ASBESTOS

CONTAMINATEDSOILS & DEBRIS

LITTER

SCRAPTIRES

AGRICULTURALWASTE

HOUSEHOLDHAZARDOUS

WASTE

*Regulated by the Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Act

*Spec ia l Industr ia l Waste

(1 ,782 )

Hazardous Waste (34 ) Other (6 )

Construct ion & Demolit ion (350)

Industr ia l DWaste (214 )

Munic ipa l So lid Waste (232 )

Total Quantity of Solid Waste

(2.6 billion tons per year in U.S.)

*CKD; fossil fuel waste; oil/gas; mining/mineral waste

Georgia Waste Trends

02,000,0004,000,0006,000,000

8,000,00010,000,00012,000,00014,000,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

MSW C&D

National Solid Waste Reduction Goal

USEPA

By 2008, increase recycling of Municipal Solid Waste to 35% (from 31% in 2002).

Maintain national average Municipal Solid Waste per capita generation rate at no more than 4.5 pounds per person per day.

How is solid waste regulated?LAWS Federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act of 1976

Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act

RULES USEPA “Subtitle D” national minimum standards for

municipal solid waste landfillsGA Rules for Solid Waste Management

• States operate solid waste programs in lieu of USEPA

• No federal funds provided to states

• Annual state appropriations fund EPD’s Solid Waste Management Program – current

funding is sufficient for 26 EPD staff.

Fede

ral A

cts

& R

egul

atio

ns1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2005

Georgia A

cts & R

egulations

Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)

Proposed Guidelines for Landfill Disposal of SW and Guidelines for Development & Implementation of SW Mgmt

Solid Waste Management Act of 1972Executive Reorganization Act of 1972 and EPD Created

Rules, Solid Waste Management

Rules & Regs for Solid Waste Mgmt


Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment to RCRA

Major Solid Waste Milestones Federal and State

Criteria for SW Disposal Facilities and Practices (40 CFR 257, 258)


Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act


EPA Approves Georgia Solid Waste Program

SWTF Trust Fund Fees Authorized.

Sub-Title D Amendments

Technical Rule Amendments

Liquid Waste Rule AmendmentSWTF Fees Extended 3 Years

SWTF Fees Extended 5 years

Major Solid Waste Efforts (1990s – present)

Moving Municipal solid waste from “just holes in the ground” to modern, properly

designed Subtitle D landfills to entomb waste

• siting criteria

• liners

• leachate collection

• methane collection

• groundwater monitoring

• 98.2% of all MSW now disposed in lined Subtitle D landfills

Reducing amount of MSW disposed

• segregating yard trimmings & encouraging composting

• recycling

Properly closing and maintaining old substandard and completed landfills

Investigating and mitigating: leachate releases, ground water contamination, methane

migration, air emissions and odor from landfillsCleaning up 12.5 million abandoned scrap tires and recycling scrap tires as they get generated

Preventing solid waste dumping thru comprehensive solid waste regulatory programEncouraging 25% waste reduction goal efforts

Solid waste planning

What is a municipal solid waste landfill?

- An engineered structure built into or on the ground designed to isolate waste from the environment

- EPD permits are required

- Local government approval required

- Subtitle D regulations govern landfill design and operation – liners, leachate, methane gas collection systems, groundwater monitoringsystems, cover systems are required

- Final closure, 30-year post-closure maintenance required

- Some are very large – typically several hundred acres with disposal capacities ranging up to 53 million cubic yards (Imagine a cube of compressed garbage measuring 400 yards per side)

How many landfills do we have?

Where are they?

111 Total

Are our modern, permitted landfills safe?Yes, if properly sited, designed, constructed, operated and maintained in perpetuity

Will liners eventually degrade over time and begin to leak?

Yes. Landfill liners are not designed to last “forever”. As lined landfills age, leakage may occur.

What environmental problems can be caused by Landfills?

Erosion & sedimentation into streams


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contamination


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contamination


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generation


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should berecycled


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts with valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehicles


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitter


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property values


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questions


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questionsRestricted future use of the land


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questionsRestricted future use of the landCommunity angst


Erosion & sedimentation into streamsGroundwater contaminationSurface water contaminationAir Pollution from landfill gases (methane, H2S, other volatile air pollutants)Explosion hazards from methane generationWaste of large amounts valuable materials that can and should be recycledAir pollution and fuel consumption for waste collection vehiclesLitterPossible diminution of nearby property valuesLong term cost of post-closure care and corrective action – financial assurance questionsRestricted future use of the landCommunity angstEnvironmental justice

How many closed landfills do we have in Georgia?

How many landfills in Georgia have groundwater

contamination?

Landfills listed on the Hazardous Sites Inventory

117 Total

Funds expended to date from Hazardous Waste Trust Fund

Approximately $18M on 96 local government contracts

Can these problems be corrected or controlled?

Yes, but it is very expensive and takes many years.

How much will it cost to correct or control environmental problems at old leaking landfills?

• Total future costs are unknown.• In 2001, EPD projected the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund will need a

minimum of $177 Million to help local governments.• Hazardous Waste Trust Fund can pay up to $2 Million per site in

correcting problems for landfills listed on the state Hazardous Site Inventory.

Does Georgia have enough permitted landfill capacity for future needs?

YES

Existing Disposal Capacity2004

MSW 26.6 Years

C&D 19.9 Years

Percent of MSW Disposed in Georgia Landfills From Out-of-State Sources

0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Why does Georgia have so much landfill capacity?

Private sector has developed several very large landfills in GeorgiaCost of disposal is CHEAP

• Low tipping fees• Competition in private sector• Cheap, abundant land with plenty of clay

Current Status of Solid Waste in Georgia

Disposal is cheap


Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.


Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operations

Georgia Landfill Disposal 2004Public vs. Private (in million tons)

3.0

9

30.63

41 MSW Landfills

16 MSW Landfills

14 C&D Landfills

37 C&D Landfills

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Public Private

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

MSW Disposal C&D Disposal # of MSW Facilities # of C&D Facilities


Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operationsFewer, but much larger, landfills


Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operationsFewer, but much larger, landfillsWaste reduction efforts need significant improvement statewide


Disposal is cheapOut-of-state waste importation to Georgia’s landfills is dramatically increasing. Intermodal transportation is expected to magnify this trend.Shift from public to private operationsFewer, but much larger, landfillsWaste reduction efforts are largely need significant improvementstatewideMany old landfills are leaking and require costly cleanups-funding insufficient

Benefits of the Current Status

Cheap and abundant landfill capacity keeps disposal costs low for citizens and businesses.Trash is cash – increased revenues for landfill owners (private and local governments).

Drawbacks of our Current StatusBig landfills can REALLY STINK! We have growing odor problems at several of them.Transportation of waste to big landfills increases traffic congestion, energy consumption, air pollution and litter.Landfills are permanent. While the available land suitable for landfills is currently plentiful, it will decrease as Georgia continues to grow. Our current system of waste disposal is not sustainable for the future.Long term costs are large.Existing rules provide for post closure care for landfills for 30 years after closure, yet they will need maintenance forever. No provisions have been made for this. Many closed landfills need long term corrective action. Funding is inadequate for this.Bankruptcy or financial instability of landfill owners leave the public “holding the bag”for maintenance and cleanup costs.

True costs of landfills are masked by failure to address long term maintenance and corrective action and failure to recognize value of materials that are recyclable - this thwarts development of more sustainable solutions.

Profits to be made siting new landfills encourage developers to force landfills on communities that do not want them. While our laws provide for significant amount of local control, many local governments have failed to enact ordinances to enable control. These communities are targeted by landfill developers and then turn to EPD and elected officials to “stop the landfill”often too late.

Failure to recycle means lost resources and lost jobs in industries that used recycled materials as feedstocks.

“Our disposable society” is producing a vast and ever-increasing array of cheap, disposable products and packaging, resulting in increased waste disposal demand and increased environmental impacts.

Improvements UnderwaySolid Waste Trust Fund recently reauthorized until 2008 – FY06 appropriation $1.5 MillionImprovements in local government solid waste planning process Improvements in EPD’s review of solid waste management plans as part of proposed landfill applicationsRecently completed State waste characterization study will help focus and improve future recycling efforts.Increasing emphasis on environmental educationEPD’s Task Force on Landfill Odor MitigationGovernor’s Executive Order on Litter; establishment of Litter Task Force

ConcernsWaste disposed on a per capita basis is significantly higher than national norms.Recycling rate is much too low; huge quantities of valuable materials are being wasted. Out-of-state waste imports into Georgia are dramatically increasing. Long-term costs of perpetual care and cleanup of leaking landfills are not provided for in the current system and keep the true costs of disposal artificially low.Landfill odors are a significant problem at some large sites.General public does not want new landfills sited.Landfills are being located far away from population, adding to traffic and air pollution problems.Litter is a significant and growing solid waste problem.Solid Waste Trust Fund used by the state to fund many important functions expires in 3 years.Solid Waste Trust Fund appropriation for FY04 & 05 was zero. FY06 appropriation was$1.5 Million (out of $6.5 Million in fees collected). Lack of sustained funding jeopardizes Georgia’s ability to adequately deal with solid waste.

Documents

for the Environmental Advisory Council · 2013-08-21 · • siting criteria • liners • leachate collection • methane collection • groundwater monitoring • 98.2% of all