Program Description

  Materials and Collection

This program provides for collection of refuse from single family residences in the southern parts of the County (Subdistrict A) and the funds to secure, administer, monitor, and enforce contracts with private collectors for collection of residential recyclables for the entire County. It also responds to residents' service needs.

In addition, the program enforces the County's recycling regulations as they apply to single-family residences and other waste generators, and the enforcement of requirements outlined in Chapter 48 of the County Code. It also supports solid waste program goals and ensures the success of recycling initiatives and progress to achieve the County's recycling goals. Also, the program provides for mandatory recycling and waste reduction for multi-family properties, for all businesses, and for broadly educating everyone living, visiting, and working in the County. Program efforts include technical support, assistance, education, outreach, and training.

It provides for the separation, processing, and marketing of recyclable materials at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF, aka the Recycling Center). The MRF receives recyclable material collected under the County curbside collection program from all single-family residences as well as some materials from municipalities, multi-family properties, and non-residential properties that have established recycling programs. The materials are then sorted, baled, and shipped to markets for recycling. The program also provides for the processing, baling, and shipping of the County's residential and some non-residential mixed paper and corrugated paper (cardboard).

The processing, transporting, composting, and marketing of yard trim received by the County is also included in this program, including leaves received from the County's Leaf Vacuuming program. Processing includes grinding brush to produce mulch at the Transfer Station and composting of all leaves and grass, sold wholesale as Leafgro in bulk and bagged forms.

The program promotes recycling of food scraps as part of the County's overall effort to increase recycling and to reduce the amount of food waste within the County. The program includes initiatives to recycle food scraps and other acceptable organic materials generated by the single-family residential, multi-family residential, and commercial sectors, through composting and/or other technologies.