RPHF JOINT SOLID WASTE DISTRICT

ROSS, PICKAWAY, HIGHLAND, FAYETTE JOINT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

15 N. Paint Street, Suite 300, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 rphf@bright.net

Phone: 740-774-3793 or 800-852-9034 (in-district) Fax: 740-774-3794

SUMMARY OF THE RPHF SWMD

As a result of House Bill 592, each Ohio county is required to establish or join other counties to form a “solid waste management district.” The Ross, Pickaway, Highland, Fayette Joint Solid Waste Management District (RPHF SWMD) was established in 1989. The District began the necessary process to comply with regulations and goals set by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The Ohio EPA requires that six waste reduction strategies be implemented that will enable the district to meet the goals established in the 1995 State Plan. In general, these goals are as follows:

Goal #1 – ensure the availability of reduction and recycling opportunities/programs for residential/commercial waste

Goal #2 – reduce and/or recycle at least 50 percent of the total waste generation by the year 2000. ( this goal includes industry, business and residential waste with a requirement of 25% waste reduction from the residential/commercial sector)

Goal #3 – provide informational and technical assistance on source reduction

Goal #4 – provide informational and technical assistance on recycling, reuse and composting opportunities

Goal #5 – develop strategies managing scrap tires and household hazardous wastes

Goal #6 – provide a solid waste management Plan

Goal #7 – prepare a market development strategy (optional)

In order to meet the above goals the district must document an array of measurement, evaluations and inventories. There is a great deal of information gathered, analysis and projections made to be written in a Plan (Goal #6). This Plan, covering at least 15 years, is updated and approved by OEPA every five years. Ohio EPA approved the Third Revision of the RPHF Solid Waste Plan on April 21, 2006.

The 15 year projections include population, waste generation, composition of the waste stream, landfill capacities and waste reduction percentages. The Plan must also include detailed strategies demonstrating compliances with the goals listed above and the mechanism(s) to fund implementation of the Plan once approved.

The RPHF SWMD is at a comparative disadvantage because of the relatively low population, lack of places to recycle and no communities conducting curbside collection of recyclables. These factors added to the socio-economics and attitude of residents have resulted in the inability to reach Goal #1. Numerous attempts have been made to document the necessary amount of recycling through surveys. The majority of local businesses either do not recycle or chose not to complete a short survey documenting waste reduction.

The inability to demonstrate the required reuse and recycling of materials has now resulted in an increase in the disposal fee charged by transfer stations and landfills. The $1.00 per ton fee increase will begin in April 2007, for a total generation fee of $2.00 per ton. The increase will pay for the establishment of drop-off recycling locations in all four counties requiring a projected 2007 expenditure of $100,000 - $150,000. Advertising and promoting these recycling drop-off sites is necessary. This “outreach” includes this website, newsletters and media.

The District strives to meet State Plan goals with a minimum of funding. Even with the 2007 fee increase, the RPHF SWMD operates with the lowest fee in Ohio. The district staff (which consists of a part-time District Coordinator, and a full-time Administrative Assistant), Board of Directors and Policy Committee realize disposal problems remain with appliances, tires, hazardous waste and electronics. As funds and opportunities allow, there will be events and strategies evolving to deal with problematic materials.

Keep in mind that recycling is a service. It is not cost-effective for the private sector to engage in what we are doing. However, being conscious of environmental issues and reducing consumption has been deemed important by your state government. Please be part of the solution rather than adding to the problem.