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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSolid and Hazardous Waste (PDF)Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 1 PROGRAMS: Small Business Technical Assistance Program (Local Source Control, EnviroStars Certification, Green Business Certification), Waste Reduction and Recycling Outreach, Solid Waste Permitting and Enforcement, and Hazardous Waste Investigations. MISSION statement for Solid and Hazardous Waste Program is to:  Enforce Washington State and Jefferson County solid and hazardous waste code  Educate the community about proper disposal of and ways to reduce solid and hazardous waste  Investigate alleged contaminated sites and rank sites with confirmed contamination Goal Objective Task Performance Measure 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Actual 2014 Actual 2015 Projected 2015 Actual Goal 1: Timely investigation of Solid and Hazardous Waste complaints Investigate within 30 days Contact solid waste (SW) complainant within 30 days Conduct complaint investigation within 30 days Determine if complaint is actionable SW complaints investigated within 30 days 44% 67% 100% 90% 90% 100% Initial Investigations (II) begun within 30 days New for 2013 100% 100% 90% 90% Goal 2: Timely resolution of non-abatement solid waste complaints Resolve non abatement solid waste complaints within 90 days Determine type of enforcement response Issue Warning Letter or Notice and Order to Correct Violation (NOCV) Issue citations as needed SW cases resolved within 90 days 59% 67% 75% 60% 75% 75% Goal 2.5 Timely Resolution of solid waste “abatement” cases Resolve at least one abatement from the SW “abatement” list per year Obtain warrants of abatements as needed Obtain contractors for cleanup Number of SW abatement cases resolved 1 1 0 0 2 1 Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 2 Goal 3: Timely resolutions of Initial Investigations (II) and Site Hazard Assessments (SHA) Complete II within 90- days and complete two SHAs per year Conduct site visits and sampling as required Write SHA/II Report and provide to Ecology % of II completed in 90 days 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% # of SHAs completed 4 2 8 3 8 3 Goal 4: Increase small businesses understanding of waste reduction, recycling, and green alternatives Provide on-site technical assistance to Small Quantity Generators Conduct small businesses assistance (SBTA) site visits Conduct 75 LSC visits per year 19 105 85 73 75 130 Conduct 10 SBTA site visits - - 10 10 10 6 Certify 5 new EnviroStars 5 3 5 0 5 3 Certify 2 New Green Businesses 6 1 2 0 2 4 Renew all Green Business 24 28 29 29 33 33 Renew all EnviroStars 21 26 25 25 25 22 Goal 5: Increase Public Education about pre- cycling, moderate risk waste, and household hazardous waste as identified in the Solid Waste Management Plan Conduct education and outreach to the public on pre-cycling, waste reduction and recycling, and less toxic alternatives Develop presentations to school and community groups # of school-based presentations New for 2013 27 24 25 52 # waste reduction campaigns 1 10 6 9 # of public outreach events New for 2012 1 6 23 20 19 Develop and distribute publications # of waste reduction and recycling articles 12 10 13 10 9 # of other publications 3 6 2 3 7 Goal 6: Ensure compliance with permits Ensure compliance with SW regulations at permitted sites Conduct one site visit per year % compliant with requirements 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 3 2015 Study/Analysis Small Business Technical Assistance Program In 2015, the Small Business Program focused its resources of the following priority sectors: Marine Trades, FOG visits, and Nail salons, along with businesses that were due for the 3 year return visit. The visits were well received, and many new contacts were made. With the completion of the 2013-2015 grant, a new grant was written and approved – with an increase in site visits to 160 per grant cycle. The focus areas for 2016 is to visit the educational facilities (high schools), renewed EnviroStars focus with an emphasis on certifying more businesses as EnviroStars, continuing site visits to businesses that have not been visited in the past or are due for their 3 year re-visit, and completing the data entry into the Tidemark Database System. The Tidemark Database entry work will consist of inputting previous site visits, violations found, best management practices, and recommendations offered. Once completed, the Tidemark Database will be able to provide a number of reports to track program and business progress, and populate follow-up letters, streamlining the data entry process. Due in part to the work that the Small Business Program has done, many small businesses are now falling into the Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Status (CESQG). These businesses, because of their acceptance of best management practices and their enthusiasm to protect the environment, are now becoming eligible to be certified as EnviroStars. With a renewed push in this sector, we will be able to promote small businesses in Jefferson County and potentially draw more businesses to the area. One area that the Small Business Program is interested in pursuing is visiting all of the high Schools in Jefferson County to promote best management practices for hazardous materials. High Schools have a number of different departments where hazardous chemicals can be found (i.e. Biology and Chemistry departments, Art Studios, Wood and Metal Shops, Facilities Maintenance, and Vehicle Maintenance). Waste Reduction and Recycling Outreach Over the past year, the Solid Waste Team has been focusing on consolidating and updating the information put out by the 6 different agencies dealing with solid and hazardous waste in Jefferson County. The addition of new recyclables included in our collection system prompted a higher level of coordination of these agencies in order to provide our citizens with current, helpful information on all types of waste. Data assessment and research has been key to creating new outreach materials for the school system, community groups, businesses, and individual Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 4 citizens. In the context of the solid waste program, we have focused on reducing waste and contamination, including a focus on food waste, and using less hazardous alternatives. We have broadened our use of Social Marketing, a marketing strategy1 geared at behavior change. General Public Education and Outreach In 2015, we completed the 3-year One-Less Bag Campaign and enrolled an additional 52 participants and distributed 156 re-usable produce bags, a waste reduction tips magnet, and a packet with instructions for making toxic-free cleaning supplies. A total of 460 individuals have been enrolled in the very successful program since 2012. In 2015, we created two new booths for our outreach programs: “What’s Recyclable in Jefferson County?” and “Hazardous Waste Doesn’t Have to be Scary” designed for both adults and children. These booths were featured at a number of events such as Port Townsend Farmers Markets and the Jefferson County Community Picnic. Two composting workshops were created, one for backyard composting and one for worm composting. Workshops were well-attended with over 110 enthusiastic composters who received either Worm Factory 360 worm bins or Earth Machine backyard composters. Both systems were chosen with the needs of both city and county residents in mind, addressing issues of ease of use, odor, animal intrusion, etc. Household Hazardous Waste flyers were distributed to citizens through an insert in the PT Leader and also announced a collection event in Port Ludlow in April. Informational articles appeared in the Port Townsend Leader, PT Mayor’s Letter, Washington State Recycling Association Newsletter, and the Sierra Club Newsletter, as well as public service announcements on KPTZ. Education in the Schools New recycling curriculum was expanded to all schools in Jefferson County in 2015. Partnerships with Clallam and Kitsap County were established to share curriculum creation of 6 new waste reduction activities for K-8 classrooms. A number of waste reduction initiatives were implemented in partnership with Port Townsend High School’s Students for Sustainability. Initiatives included creating a functional recycling program at the high school, waste audits to support the implementation of reusable dishes 1 Social Marketing is a term used to describe marketing behavior change to achieve a specific result and remove or aid in reducing barriers to achieve a specific behavior change. For example, we’re providing two re-usable produce bags to discourage the use of plastic bags and to reduce waste. Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 5 and utensils in the cafeteria, a ‘dish drive’ to replace the disposable trays used in the high school cafeteria, reduction in food waste, and plans for city recycling bins in the downtown area. We will continue our successful program of offering free environmental education curriculum to K-12 graders as well as community groups like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4-H. A worm composting program was established with 5 schools in Jefferson County (Blue Heron, Grant Street, Chimacum Creek Primary, Chimacum Middle School, and Chimacum High School). Six “Worm Watcher” composting teaching units were given to teachers who are incorporating vermicomposting into their classroom curriculum and food waste reduction projects. The units are also being shared with other teachers and students in each of the 5 schools. Solid Waste Permitting and Enforcement Beginning July 1, 2015 complaints were no longer accepted as a result of state legislative budget cuts. As a result, we received and investigated the lowest number of complaints since we started keeping track (submitted prior to July 1st). Please keep in mind that the low numbers are not due to less solid waste being observed by citizens. They are due to us not taking them, due to lack of resources and we estimate that between July 1st and December 31st approximately 36 complaints were turned away. In 2015 we received a total of 33 complaints, of those 9 were Illegal Dumps and 1 was Illegal Burning. 8 Compliance Agreements were written during the year, some of those were for the same property, just updating the compliance agreement. 46 complaints were closed during the year, 2 of those were very large quantities of solid waste that took over a year to complete, the first of those was an abatement removing 6 tons and 2 vehicles, the other was an abatement removing 67 tons and 32 vehicles. We conducted a site abatement for Solid Waste violations located at 307123 U.S. HWY 101 in Brinnon in 2015. From the very beginning of the project, it was apparent that the local community was interested and supportive of the clean-up. On the first day of the three day project, a number of patrons of the neighboring restaurant came over and watched the progress. By the second day of the project, a dozen or so local residents arrived to watch and take pictures of one of the “local landmarks” removal. This landmark being a green RV, parked within a few feet of HWY 101, with ferns and other plants growing on top of it. One of the individuals was very excited and expressed their joy that the eye sore was being removed, along with the older bus that was crammed into a corner of property. On the third and final day of the clean-up, all of the Solid Waste had been removed and the ruined mobile home was boarded up and posted no trespassing signs. Overall, during the clean-up, local residents expressed their pleasure that the Health Department had completed this project. Solid Waste Permitted Facilities Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 6 The number of SW Permitted Facilities remains static at eight permitted facilities, however we have had inquiry from Indian Island Naval base that they would like to close their Inert Waste Landfill. All remaining items with PTPC were completed in 2015. The facility now has a Limited Purpose Landfill Permit, has opened a new cell and closed an old cell in accordance with that permit as well as instituted comprehensive groundwater monitoring and obtained financial assurance for closure and post-closure of the facility. This concludes 4 years of back and forth on the issue and places more protection for the facility, the citizens and the environment. Exempt Facilities There are currently four identified exempt facilities(less than 250 cubic yards) within the county. These include Valley View Compost, Peninsula Auto Wrecking, Leavitt Trucking, and Miles Sand and Gravel. Based on field observations and Ecology data, there may be more exempt facilities. Initial Investigations (II) and Site Hazard Assessments (SHA) The SHA grant was scheduled to end on June 30th. JCPH was allowed to carry over remaining SHA/II funds from the 2013-2015 grant to continue work from July 1, 2015 through September 31, 2015. Unfortunately, beginning October 1, 2015 the grant was revoked by Ecology due to lack of revenue to pay for the grant. From Jan 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015, 8 Initial Investigations were investigated and reported on to Ecology. 3 SHA were completed, 2 finalized and 1 still pending when the grant was revoked. Program Needs and Priorities Data Management and Infrastructure In 2015, the Solid and Hazardous Waste team has successfully implemented using Tidemark for data management. The improved efficiencies for tracking, managing, and reporting data for the Small Business Assistance Program will have a positive impact on seeing improvement and success in reducing and preventing pollution in the county from Small Business Generators of Solid and Hazardous Waste. We will continue to use the Excel spreadsheet for tracking site visits until the Small Business Case is fully tested Tidemark. This continues to be a high priority for the program and the agency. Sustainable Workload Due to the budget cuts, staffing has been completely reorganized. As services were also cut, the workload is now at a manageable level. Staff are better focused to achieve success. If funding is restored, we will examine anticipated workload to determine which staffing levels that funding can support and services accordingly. Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 7 PROGRAM STATISTICS SOLID WASTE ENFORCEMENT 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total number of solid waste complaints received 114 60 65 68 36 58 42 33 Total number of solid waste violations resolved 117 90 68 81 60 37 31 57 # of illegal dumps complaints received 12 14 11 14 5 5 6 9 # of illegal dumps complaints resolved 11 19 10 12 5 10 6 9 # of illegal burning complaints received 5 7 0 2 1 1 1 # of illegal burning complaints resolved 7 0 2 2 1 1 # of citations/tickets issued 28 24 5 8 4 2 1 2 # of court hearings attended 0 19 2 7 6 6 0 3 # of compliance agreements and Notice To Title filings* New Category Added in 2013 10 18 8 Tons/cubic yards of solid waste removed/recycled through compliance efforts (not including junk vehicles) (these are verified #s, actual #s are higher) >450 cu yards 0 55+ tons 25 60 75 58 95 Total number of solid waste violations awaiting legal action/abatement 1 1 2 2 2 2 10 15 # of warrants of abatement obtained/completed 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 # of Jeff. Co. permitted facilities meeting current regulation standards (out of 8) 8 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 # of Jeff. Co. exempt facilities inspected/ meeting current regulation standards (out of 4) (1) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 # of Junk Cars removed/recycled 279 139 141 35 25 2 47 57 Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 8 SOLID WASTE EDUCATION, OUTREACH & SBA 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 # of Small Business Technical Assistance site visits New Category Added in 2013 10 10 6 Total number of active EnviroStars businesses (out of 100 eligible in Jefferson County) 10 14 18 21 23 25 24 22 # of new EnviroStars businesses 1 3 5 5 3 5 0 3 # of active Green Businesses 21 26 24 28 29 29 33 # of new Green Businesses 6 6 6 1 2 0 4 # of “Amnesty Day” events 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Tons/yards of solid waste recycled/disposed of during “Amnesty Day”. (2) 2500 tires, 601 tons -- 3000 Tires -- -- -- 0 292 (5 properties cleared of tires) # of public outreach events New Categories Added in 2012 1 6 23 19 # of waste reduction and recycling articles 12 10 13 9 # of waste reduction advertisements 2 15 3 23 # of other publications 3 6 2 7 # of Envirostars promotional Ads 4 46 2 19 # of Green Business promotional Ads 2 14 0 0 # of waste reduction campaigns New Categories Added in 2013 1 6 9 # of participants enrolled in waste reduction campaigns 186 174 880 # of School-based Education programs delivered 27 24 52 # of students served 611 480 1,300 HAZARDOUS WASTE 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 ERTS Received/Investigated New Category in 2011 9 12 8 4 8 # Initial Investigations Completed 13 7 5 12 8 3 8 # Awaiting Site Hazard Assessment 10 10 8 20 20 21 19 # Site Hazard Assessments Completed 4 0 4 2 8 3 3 # of Local Source Control Visits 9 29 19 105 85 86 130 Spill Kits Distributed 0 0 25 0 7 7 6 (1) There are four exempt facilities but actual number may be higher. These facilities have not been inspected and compliance is assumed. (2) JCPH worked with Washington Department of Ecology to remove and properly dispose of 904 tons of tires from five large sites, at no cost to Jefferson County. Initial numbers from 2007 were 300 tons. Final numbers for the project by the end of 2008 were 904 tons. JCPH then sponsored a one-day tire-recycling event for county residents that collected an additional 2500 tires. * Notice to Title filings were added new in 2014. Jefferson County Public Health Performance Measures 2015 Year-end Report SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 9 Attachment 1—Number of Businesses by Sector 2 2 Businesses included are those that are potential hazardous waste generators. Data is based on Department of Revenue licensed businesses in Jefferson County in 2012. Garden and Landscaping 140 Artists and Photographers 169 Automotive Repair and Autobody 46 Industrial Repair and Machinery 20 Appliance Repair 4 Chiropractors 10 Dentists 16 Veterinary 8 Boat Builders and Dealers 59 Jewelry Makers 16 Painting and Wall Coverings 20