Resource Recovery Parks as a Solution for the Self-Haul Sector
Track
C&D
Session Description
Resource Recovery Parks are places where materials can be dropped off for donation or buyback and co-locate reuse, recycling and composting, and processing.
The Resource Recovery Park concept has been evolving naturally at landfills and transfer stations. These facilities can provide additional recycling opportunities for self-hauled loads brought to "the dump." Landfills and transfer stations have been sited near the centers of discarded materials generation. A Resource Recovery Park can make the landfill or transfer station more sustainable by diversifying revenue, conserving capacity, and extending the useful life of those facilities.
A significant fraction of materials delivered to landfills and transfer stations in California are from self-haul customers. These are the "missing tons," typically not included in municipal contracts or regulated by local ordinances.
We will hear from facilities that are addressing self-haul loads through policies and programs, including:
- Berkeley Serial MRF
- San Luis Obispo - Cold Canyon Landfill
- Monterey Regional Waste Managment District
Speakers
Max Wechsler, Urban Ore
Title
Operations Manager
Speaker Abstract
Urban Ore is another key component of the Berkeley serial MRF, providing a unique role in the recovery ecosystem. Urban Ore started at City's landfill in 1980, salvaging materials from self-haul customer delivering their discards to "the dump." It moved to the City's transfer station and then to its current 3-acre site and includes both a building materials exchange and a general store. Salvagers still rescue reusable items from the transfer station and transport the materials to the site.
In 2019, Urban Ore’s gross revenue had been stuck at $2.6M for a decade. As costs continued to rise, things weren’t looking too good. Then the pandemic happened. In 2022, the company grossed $3.5M. How did this happen? Max will present on the challenges and opportunities that COVID has created for the reuse retail industry, including how being a for-profit has helped in Urban Ore’s success. He will also touch upon the trailblazing salvage service contract that the company has renewed with the City of Berkeley.
Peter Cron, Public Works, County of San Luis Obispo
Title
Solid Waste Coordinator III
Speaker Abstract
The Cold Canyon Landfill, operated by Waste Connections, hosts the San Luis Obispo Resource Recovery Park. The Resource Recovery Park was opened in early 2000 to accept C & D materials from roll off companines and commercial customers. The park was expanded in May 2003 to over 100,000 square feet to accomodate public and self-haul.
The Resource Recovery Park includes a public drop-off facility, a construction and demolition (C&D) recycling operation, a household hazardous waste drop-off facility, a universal and electronic waste recycling center, and an equipment maintenance facility. Materials collected, sorted, and recovered in the bunkers include cardboard, metal and appliances, green waste, wood waste, concrete/asphalt/brick, trash, tires, drywall, and other paper and plastic materials.
Self-haulers directed to bunkers for separating materials (Metal, Yard trimmings, C&D).
Self-haulers must separate materials for recycling or face an additional Facility Use Fee for by-passing separation area. As a result, 97% of self-haulers separate materials.
Ruth Abbe, Global Recycling Council
Title
Co-Chair