Addressing Collection System Efficiencies & Economics

Addressing Collection System Efficiencies & Economics

By Barbara Warren, Consumers Union

KEY Points concerning Collection:

Collection is one of the most expensive portions of the Dept. of Sanitation’s Budget, whether we are talking about garbage or recyclables.
Recycling Collection has become more efficient as the program has expanded citywide and added more materials.
The incremental cost of recycling collection has declined by 95% from FY 1994 (from $275 to $13 per ton) See cost analyses 1998 & 2000 SWMP Modifications.
As a result of removing recyclable materials from the waste stream significant productivity improvements occurred in the collection of trash. This led to reductions in truckshifts, new labor agreements and savings for the City.
Productivity is measured by tonnage per truck. The removal of higher volume, but lighter weight metal, glass and plastic is largely responsible for the productivity & cost improvements in collecting mixed garbage. If MGP recycling collection is suspended and this material returns to the waste collection system, trucks would not be able to achieve their current levels of over 10 tons of waste per truck.
Recycling has not adequately been credited for these productivity savings achieved in the operation of NYC’s entire waste system. NYPIRG completed an analysis of FY 1996 economics and determined that recycling had resulted in $50 million dollars in savings in waste collection and relay costs. (Cheaper Than You Think:Recycling Costs in New York City, Arthur Kell, 1997)

NO Analysis of the fiscal impacts of returning metal, glass and plastic to the waste stream has been completed by DOS and made publicly available.

Bulk metal collection has been collected with MGP. The collection of bulk metal is a required service and it will be more costly to collect separately.
Reductions in Truck Shifts have already occurred. Now we must expand the program to realize more savings.

First, because of productivity improvements – truck shift reductions were a direct result of recycling.

Second, because of the use of 2 –bin trucks, which will soon be in 22 out of 59 districts, the overall EXISTING savings of the 2 bin program is approx. 11 million dollars. This estimate does not include the reported savings from the co-collection at schools of trash and recyclables in 2 bin trucks. In this case the 2-bin trucks have enabled more service at the same cost. Expansion of 2-bin trucks beyond the 22 districts should receive a fair trial with a pilot project.

Third, substitute containerized collections for curbside recycling collection until the same percentage level is achieved as for waste containerized collections (at the minimum).

Finally, we recommend Expansion of the Truck Shift Reduction program to achieve even greater efficiency by Substituting Recycling & Green Waste Collections for Garbage collections.

Aim for 10% reduction in garbage truckshifts through substitution. ( With 4900 truckshifts we would aim to reduce 490 truckshifts. Note however, that DOS has not recently supplied truckshift numbers). Eliminate all third garbage collections in one week. In districts with twice a week collection – eliminate second garbage collection and provide instead a green organic waste collection. Distribution of Locking Bins, appropriately sized for different residences and buildings is essential to this program, particularly to realize the ancillary benefits of pest control. Since we are substituting a truckshift to pick up organic waste, greater than a 10% truckshift reduction is not likely to be possible.

Trash Collection at $360 million per year could drop by $36 million with a 10% reduction in truckshifts. All Manhattan districts are on 3 times a week trash collection, 7 of 12 in the Bronx and 4 districts in Brooklyn. (23 out of 59 districts-13% reduction in truckshifts. Since this may not be possible we assumed a 10% reduction in truckshifts if the 3^rd collection was eliminated.) Locking green bins for yard and food waste should be purchased at approx. $10 million for 500,000 bins under the capital budget. Green waste collections should begin in those communities generating large amounts of yard waste—a minimum of 1/3 of the City. At the same time a pilot in 2 other denser areas of the City where rats are plaguing residents would iron out difficulties before full scale implementation of the program Citywide.

Recommendations:

1) A pilot project to evaluate expansion of 2-bin trucks beyond the 22 districts

2) Substitute containerized collections for curbside recycling collection until the same percentage level is achieved as for waste containerized collections (at the minimum). Waste has approx. 10% while recycling has approx. 0.4% containerized. Institutions should especially be targeted..

3) Major Expansion of the Truck Shift Reduction program to achieve even greater efficiency by eliminating 3^rd collections in a week and substituting Recycling & Green Waste Collections for Garbage collections. The elimination of collections should achieve a saving of $36 million.