Local Governments Join
Forces to Recycle

Mobile Environmental Learning Center

The Land-of-Sky Regional Council of Governments, an Economic Development Administration (EDA) funded district in Asheville, North Carolina, has been working on a number of projects that address solid waste.

Regional Recycling
The council has taken a regional approach to magnify benefits to the area’s various recycling programs. The guiding logic is simple: member governments aggregate common recycled materials (glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, cans) into one central location for processing and shipment to end markets resulting in economies of scale that will:

• Allow local programs to realize the highest commodity prices for recycled materials.
• Expand the region’s options for simplified collection/delivery of recycled materials.
• Create stability in local programs by using a reliable, consistent and long-term recyclable materials outlet.
• Promote increased recycling program participation throughout the region.
• Allow for expansion of comprehensive materials acceptance regionwide.
• Strategically place local governments in a stronger position to negotiate better and more consistent recycling service contracts with private sector providers.

After a great deal of research, Land-of-Sky concluded that strong economic and recycling program benefits can be achieved by working together as a region to realize economies of scale through cooperative processing and marketing of recyclable materials. The model suggests that other project goals, such as improved program stability, collection options, participation rates and strategic position, can be enhanced through a regional approach.

The public sector material recovery facility model is based upon a ten-year “life cycle” (one year of construction and nine years of operation). Maximum capitalization cost is $6.32 million. Bond expenses and debt service for ten-year revenue bond financing would increase the total capital costs to just over $8.2 million. Materials sales revenues during the nine years of operation are estimated to be over $41 million. Projected net revenues to local governments and private sector recycling firms are over $17 million. The model would create a minimum of 17 new jobs paying a total of more than $370,000 in salaries and benefits in the first year of operation. The facility is expected to divert a minimum of 437,000 tons of materials over the nine-year operating period.

Recycling Education Made Fun
To complement this program, Land-of-Sky is also working on new and innovative ways to educate the public and increase diversion from their expensive sub-title D landfills. With a largely rural population, it is difficult to reach the target audience, especially children, who typically do not read newspapers, take trash to the curb or drop center, or understand how local tax funds are spent. Some recycling education occurs in schools, but how much is really learned and transferred to the home or likely to influence behavior is unknown. In order to reach the future recyclers and waste reducers of America, the region needed something fun, hands-on, complete and memorable. Land-of-Sky encouraged teachers to focus on the subject of waste reduction and offered them technical support.

Land-of-Sky, the local solid waste department and the region’s NC Cooperative Extension Centers united local officials around the concept of a “Mobile Environmental Learning Center” that could roam the region teaching the “how to’s” and benefits of proper solid waste management. This “field trip” would come to the people and be hands-on and simple enough for kids while being interesting enough for adults.

Leveraging available grant funds from the NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, partnerships were created with the NC Cooperative Extension, A-B Technical Community College, National Association of PET Container Resources, Square D Corporation, Biltmore Iron and Metal Company, Buncombe County Environmental Control Department, and county solid waste departments.

By Melissa Levy, Digest Managing Editor
Contact Ron Townley of Land-of-Sky at (828) 251-6622, ext. 130 or email at ron@landofsky.org.

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