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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM V-ACITY OF * Finance De artment p Interoffice Memorandum * ~ASHINGTGN To: Municipal Services Committee From: Shelley Coleman, Finance Director CC: Pete Lewis, Mayor Auburn City Council Date: December 11, 2009 Re: King County Draft 2009 Comprehensive Solid 1Naste Management Plan King County Solid Waste Division released their preliminary Draft 2009 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (the plan) on October 8, 2009. The plan updates the 2001 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (2001 Plan). The City of Auburn participated in the development of the plan through its representation on the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee (MSWMAC) and the Interjurisdictional Technical Staff Group (ITSG). The plan presents draft policies, recommendations, and goals in the areas of solid waste system planning, waste prevention and recycling, collection and processing, the transfer system, landfill management and solid waste disposal, and system financing. The plan proposes one major policy change by eliminating the 2001 Plan's policy for the county to "contract for long-term disposal capacity at an out-of-county landfill." Eliminating the policy allows for a range of future disposal options. The major item affecting the City of Auburn will be the closure of the Algona Transfer Station which is scheduled for 2017. MSWMAC and the King County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAG) held a joint meeting on November 20, 2009, to discuss the plan. Representatives from both committees had some minor suggestions, but overall comments complimented the plan and the planning process. King County Solid Waste Division welcomes written comments on the plan until February 4, 2010. The plan can be viewed at .City of Auburn Finance, Planning, and Public Works Department staff have had the opportunity to review the plan and have no comments at this time. King County Solid Waste Division will consider all comments received prior to releasing the final draft plan. The final draft plan must be adopted by cities representing three-quarters of the total population, the Regional Policy Committee acting as the Solid Waste Interlocal Forum, and the King County Council. The final plan will be submitted to Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) following adoption and completion of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. The plan is final upon approval by Ecology (see timeline below). Page ~ of 2 AUBURN ~ MO RE THAN YOU I MAG I N ~ D Draft 2009 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan Dates Step Oct. 8, 2009 Release preliminary draft plan Oct. 8, 2009 - Feb. 4, 2010 Preliminary draft review and comment period Dates to be determined (tbd) Revise preliminary draft to incorporate comments Dates tbd - up to 120 days Review of the preliminary draft by the Washington State Department of Ecology Dates tbd Revise preliminary draft to incorporate Ecology's comments Date tbd Release final draft Dates tbd -120-day period City adoption process Dates tbd Regional Policy Committee adoption process Dates tbd King County Council adoption process Date tbd Submit final draft to Ecology Dates tbd - up to 45 days after final draft Ecology approval period submittal Page 2 of 2 AUBURN ~ MO RE THAN YOU I MAG I N ~ D King County Solid ~Illaste Divisfon Department of Natural Resources ar~d Parks King Street Center 201 South Jackson Street, Suite 701 Seattle, INA 98104-3855 2~6-29fi-fi542 Fax 206-29b-0197 TTY Relay; 711 October 8, 2009 The Honorable Pete Lewis Mayor, City of A~iburn 2~ ~V Main Street A~iburn, WA 9$001-4998 Dear Mayor 1..1Lwis; . Please find e~~closed the preliminary Dr~czft ZOD9 Comprehensive Solid Waste .~lana~~~n~ent flan the lan .This lan, which a dates the 2~~~ Comprehensive Solid Waste ~Iana~e~~~en~ f ~crn ~ P } p p X2001 plan, presents proposed strategies for managing King County's solid waste over the next G ears, with consideration of the next 20 years. The pla~~ was prepared in accordance with y Revised Code of Washington 70.95. The plan presents draft policies, recommendations, and goals in the following areas: solid waste system planning, waste prevention and recycling, collection and processing, the transfer system, landfill management and solid waste disposal, and system financing. The division collaborated an the development of the plan with the cities and other stakeholders through its advisory committees -the Solid Waste Advisory Committee ~SWAC} and the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee ~MSVIrMAC}. The division also met with and received input from a number of individual city councils and staff. With this plan, the division is working with its stakeholders to build upon past and current efforts to increase waste prevention and recycling and advance green building practices in the region's communities and within our own operations. This is also tl~e first King County solid waste plan to look at ways to address climate change ~ one of the nation's leading environmental concerns. A primary building block for the plan was the 2006 Solid Waste Transfer and Waste ,~anagemcjn~ Plan Transfer Plan}, which provides recommendations for upgrading the division's aging transfer s stem, strategies for extending the lifespan of the Cedar Hills Regional Landf 11, and options for y re acing the landfill for eventual closure. These recommendations, developed in collaboration pP with SWAC and MSWMAC, were approved by the King County Council in December 2007 and are further developed for implementation in this 2009 plan. The lan roposes one maj or policy change -the 2001 plan directed that the county "contract for p P ion -term disposal capacity at an out-of county landfill" to handle the county's waste when the g Cedar Hills landfill reaches capacity and closes. Tl~e 2009 plan proposes eliminating this policy ~n favor of exploring a range of options for future disposal, such as waste-to-energy and other conversion technologies, in addition to waste export to an out-of county landfill. Current and • 12o2M The Honorable Pete Lewis October 2009 Page 2 emerging technologies provide opportunities to convert solid waste to energy or other reusable resources. Some of the technologies are capable of processing the entire solid waste stream, while others target specific components, such as plastics or organics. As the timeframe for landfill closure approaches, the division will continue to monitor both out~of county landfill capacity and waste conversion technologies. The Solid waste Division welcomes comments on the preliminary draft plan from October 2009 to Febr~~ary 4, 2010.. Copies of the pla~~ will be available for public revieti~~ at all King County libraries. The plan is also available on the division's web site for review by the public and other stakeholdez~s at ~~~~1~~~~~~. kingcvunty.gvl}/Si~DCc~j~~pPl~~n. Comments ca« be s~~bmitted through one of several avenues: . Usi~~g tl~e Comment Form on the plan Web site. • Sc~~ding an e-mail to the division at CSWMI~'.C1al~~~~nents~cr~~l<in~cou~~t~~.t~c}~;. • Sendin4~ a letter addressed ta. 2009 Draft Solid waste Plan Co~~~ments King Co~~nty Solid Waste Division 201 S..lackson St., Suite 701 Seattle, ~1VA 9$104-3$55 Tl~e final draft plan will be released after cozlsideration of all comments, review of the cost assessza~ent by tl~e washington Utilities and Transportation Commission provided in Appendix A of the plan}, review by the washington State Department of Ecology Ecology}, and completion of an environmental review. The f naI draft plan must be adopted by: • Cities representing three-quarters of the total population of the cities that choose to act on the plan during the 120-day adoption period • The Regional Policy Committee acting as the Solid Waste Interlocal Forum • The King County Council After completion of State Environmental Policy Act ~SEPA}requirements and adoption, the final draft plan will be submitted to Ecology. The f nal draft becomes the final plan upon approval by Ecology, The division looks forward to providing brief ngs on any aspect of the plan as requested. if you have any questions about the plan, please contact Thea Severn, Planning and Communications Manager in the Solid waste Division of tl~e Department of Natural Resources and Parks, at 206-296-4360. Sincerely, f. Kevin Kiernan Division Director Summary of the Preliminary Draft 2009 King County Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan The Draft 2009 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (the plan) updates the 2001 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (2001 Plan). The City of Auburn participated in the development of the plan through its representation on the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee (MSWMAC) and the Interjurisdictional Technical Staff Group (ITSG). The maj or item affecting the City of Auburn will be the closure of the Algona Transfer Station which is scheduled for 2017. King County is currently procuring a consultant for siting the new South County Transfer Station. The siting process is expected to last until 2012, followed by design and permitting until 2014, with construction beginning in 2015. Differences from 2001 Plan: The plan proposes to eliminate the 2001 Plan's policy for the county to "contract for long-term disposal capacity at an out-of county landfill." Eliminating the policy allows for exploration of a range of future disposal options. The plan also builds upon past and current efforts to increase waste prevention and recycling (WPR) and advance green building practices. This is the first King County solid waste plan to look at ways to address climate change (i.e. conversion of landfill gas to energy). The plan presents draft policies, recommendations, and goals in the following areas (policies and recommendations are listed at the beginning of each section): Solid Waste System Planning -Since the late 1980s, 37 of the incorporated cities within King County (excludes Seattle and Milton) have established interlocal agreements (ILAs) designating the King County Solid Waste Division as the lead planning agency. Cooperation between King County and the cities allows for lower disposal fees and convenient transfer station locations. Table 2-1 describes the roles of state, county, and local governments in planning and administering solid waste programs and policies (p.2-4). King County collects data from transfer stations, haulers, waste characterization studies, and the Department of Ecology to assist with forecasting future trends in solid waste disposal. Waste Prevention and Recycling -Waste prevention and recycling efforts have extended the life of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill by more than 10 years. However, recent studies indicate that more than half of the materials disposed in the landfill could have been reused or recycled. The plan identifies goals for waste prevention, waste disposal, and recycling (p.3-3). The recommended goals will be met through educational programs, enhanced curbside collection services, additional recycling options at transfer stations, the development oftake-back programs, and possibly mandates. Past, present, and future waste prevention and recycling efforts are described in the plan. Collection and Processing -Figure 4-1 presents the complex solid waste management system in King County (p.4-3). All garbage collected in King County is taken to county-owned transfer stations and transported to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill for disposal. Recyclables are collected curbside or taken to collection facilities before traveling to private material recycling facilities (MBEs) to be processed. Yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper are collected curbside and sent to the private processor, Cedar Grove Composting, Inc. The number of businesses that specialize in construction and demolition debris (C&D) collection and processing is increasing as markets for recycled products grow. The plan describes collection challenges and provides recommendations for improving the solid waste collection and disposal system for residential, multi-family and commercial customers. Solid Waste Transfer System -The King County Solid Waste Division operates eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes, and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill (Figure 5-1). The plan builds on the 2006 Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan that was developed in collaboration with the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAG) and MSWMAC to provide recommendations for upgrading King County's transfer system. The Bow Lake and Factoria stations will be deconstructed and new stations will be built on the existing sites and adjacent properties. The Algona and Houghton stations will be closed and replaced with newly sited recycling and transfer stations in the South County and Northeast Lake Washington areas. The Renton station may close once the new urban stations are built and the closure impacts can be determined. Table 5-2 lists the criteria used to determine the transfer system renovations and Figure 5-5 illustrates the locations of the existing and planned solid waste facilities. Landfill Management and Solid Waste Disposal -The Cedar Hills Regional Landfill is located on a 920-acre site near Maple Valley (Figure 6-1). The 2001 plan indicated that the landfill would reach capacity in 2012; however, a variety of efforts have extended that date to 2018. King County is in the process of updating the Cedar Hills Site Development Plan which evaluates options for increasing landfill capacity. Extending the life of the landfill will delay the unavoidable rate increases that will come with the transition to a new disposal method. The plan describes the best management practices King County implements to operate the landfill efficiently and how the landfill will be maintained upon closure. The plan also discusses the options for disposal once Cedar Hills closes (out-of county landfills and waste conversion technologies). Solid Waste System Finance -King County's solid waste system is funded almost entirely by fees collected from customers. The fees charged at county facilities pay for facility operation and maintenance, education and promotion, waste prevention and recycling grants to cities, administrative costs, and overhead. Figure 7-1 illustrates the Solid Waste Division's fund structure. King County is responding to reductions in garbage tonnage that have led to declining revenues. The plan summarizes the solid waste division's funding sources, revenues, and expenditures. Appendix A -The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) Cost Assessment for the King County Solid Waste Division includes information on forecasted demographics, waste generation, and system component costs. Appendix B -The interlocal agreement (ILA) between King County and its incorporated cities expires in 2028. The City of Auburn signed the ILA in 1988. i ~ ~~n g County Department of C~M~IENT F~RI~ Natural Resources and F'arks ' svlidWas~e Division 2449 Draft Com renensive p Solid Vllaste Management Plan E Review and Comrnenf Period: ~c~ober 8, 2nU9 fo F'ebrua 4, ~0~~ The preliminary Draf~.20~9 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan was prepared by the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks in accordance with Washin ton state law Revised Code of Washin ton RCW 70.95. It resents ro osed 9 9~ 7 p p p 3 strategies for managing King County's solid waste over the next 5 years, with consideration of the next 20 years. Draft policies, recommendations, and goals are presented for the following elements of solid waste management: system planning, waste prevention and recycling, solid ~ waste collection and processing, the transfer system, landfill management and solid waste disposal, and system financing. The core mission of the King County Solid Waste Division is to ensure that citizens in the county have access to safe, reliable, efficient, and affordable solid waste handling and disposal services. Aver the last 20 years, that mission has expanded to integrate the principles of environmental stewardship, waste prevention and recycling, green building, and sustainable development into every aspect of solid waste management. This plan builds upon those principles in our facility designs, operations, and programs. This is also the first King County solid waste plan to look at ways to address climate change - one of the nation's leading environmental concerns. In 200G, the division published the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Managemenf Plan, which provides recommendations for upgrading the division's aging transfer system, strategies for .extending the lifespan of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, and options for preparing the landfill for eventual closure.. These recommendations, approved by King County Council in 2007, are further developed for implementation in this plan. First, the division has been moving forward on the renovation of the division's urban transfer system to update station technology and incorporate green building features, increased recycling services, and operational efficiencies. Second, the division is pursuing all viable options for extending the useful life~of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill for as long as feasible, Cwned and operated by King County, Cedar Hills is currently the most economical method for disposal of the region's wastes. The division continues to monitor a wide range of options for disposal once the landfill reaches capacity and closes. The Solid Waste Division welcomes comments on this draft plan from Qctober 8, 2009 to February 4, 2010. Please provide your comments on this form and mail it to: X009 Draft Solid Waste Plan Comments, King County Solid Waste Division, X01 S. Jackson St., Suite 101, Seattle, WA 95104-3855. Comments can also be submitted bye-mail at CSWMP.Comments kin count . ov or via the Internet at wuvw.kin count . ov~SWDCom Plan. All comments received. on the draft plan will be considered in the preparation of the final. The comments will become a part. of the public record associated with the final plan. Comments must be received by February 4, 244 to be considered. Name: Mailing Address: Phone: E-mail: Comments please print clearly}: Please continue on the back side if you have more comments r 1 t k i i`I I f 1 i. 1 I 1 j I i I i. i i i I 's .