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1. RECYCLING VS. GROWTH:
<br />Indian River County (IRC) has seen a rise in development and subsequently, a rise in population. In order
<br />to relate the increased recycling tonnages to the population growth in IRC, SWDD staff compared the
<br />annual population estimates provided by the Florida Legislature Office of Economic and Demographic
<br />Research, to the total amount of single -stream recycling produced in Indian River in a calendar year.
<br />*Note this includes single-family and multi -family recycling as well as commercial recycling that is tracked
<br />through the landfill and sent to Tropical Recycling.
<br />In 2017, SWDD estimates that the average IRC resident produced about 0.75 lbs. of recycling per person
<br />per day. In CY 2016, residents produced slightly less at 0.73 lbs. per person per day and in CY 2015, the
<br />rate was even lower at 0.51 lbs. per person per day. In summary, residents in Indian River County are
<br />indeed recycling more and the increase in single -stream tonnages over the last few years is not just a
<br />product of population growth.
<br />2. RECYCLING RATE UPDATE FOR 2017:
<br />On March 29, 2018, SWDD staff submitted the annual Solid Waste Management Report to the Florida
<br />Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). According to the data we submitted to FDEP for review,
<br />the recycling rate for IRC is estimated to be 60% for 2017. If FDEP accepts and confirms our calculations,
<br />then IRC will have successfully reached the interim goal of a 60% recycling rate by 2017. The official
<br />recycling rates for all Florida counties should be posted by DEP by July 1, 2018.
<br />3. C&D RECYCLING:
<br />As suggested by the SWDD Board, any concrete material that is collected and reused by the Public Works
<br />Department from local demolition projects will be tracked and reported to SWDD to be included in the
<br />2018 recycling report. In addition, SWDD staff will continue to coordinate with private companies that are
<br />recycling asphalt, concrete and vegetative waste in IRC.
<br />4. CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE CENTERS:
<br />The delivery of recycling carts to all residential homes in IRC was expected to increase participation in the
<br />curbside recycling program, and subsequently decrease the amount of recyclable materials being brought
<br />to the CCCs, specifically those materials that are accepted curbside. As anticipated, the amount of mixed
<br />recyclables, paper products and cardboard collected at the CCCs decreased after the implementation of
<br />the single stream program in FY 15/16 (Figure 1).
<br />Interestingly, the total Garbage tonnages at the CCCs dropped significantly in FY 15/16, but then
<br />rebounded in FY 16/17, surpassing the tonnages brought in prior to the single -stream program. This
<br />rebounding effect was likely a result of the occurrences of both Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma
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<br />CY 2015
<br />CY 2016
<br />CY 2017
<br />Population
<br />143,326
<br />146,410
<br />148,962
<br />Number of Households
<br />(Single and Multi -family)
<br />73,055
<br />73,883
<br />74,923
<br />Annual Tons of
<br />Single Stream Recycling
<br />13,647
<br />19,444
<br />20,412
<br />(Material sent to Tropical Recycling*)
<br />Pounds per person per day
<br />1 0.51
<br />0.73
<br />0.75
<br />*Note this includes single-family and multi -family recycling as well as commercial recycling that is tracked
<br />through the landfill and sent to Tropical Recycling.
<br />In 2017, SWDD estimates that the average IRC resident produced about 0.75 lbs. of recycling per person
<br />per day. In CY 2016, residents produced slightly less at 0.73 lbs. per person per day and in CY 2015, the
<br />rate was even lower at 0.51 lbs. per person per day. In summary, residents in Indian River County are
<br />indeed recycling more and the increase in single -stream tonnages over the last few years is not just a
<br />product of population growth.
<br />2. RECYCLING RATE UPDATE FOR 2017:
<br />On March 29, 2018, SWDD staff submitted the annual Solid Waste Management Report to the Florida
<br />Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). According to the data we submitted to FDEP for review,
<br />the recycling rate for IRC is estimated to be 60% for 2017. If FDEP accepts and confirms our calculations,
<br />then IRC will have successfully reached the interim goal of a 60% recycling rate by 2017. The official
<br />recycling rates for all Florida counties should be posted by DEP by July 1, 2018.
<br />3. C&D RECYCLING:
<br />As suggested by the SWDD Board, any concrete material that is collected and reused by the Public Works
<br />Department from local demolition projects will be tracked and reported to SWDD to be included in the
<br />2018 recycling report. In addition, SWDD staff will continue to coordinate with private companies that are
<br />recycling asphalt, concrete and vegetative waste in IRC.
<br />4. CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE CENTERS:
<br />The delivery of recycling carts to all residential homes in IRC was expected to increase participation in the
<br />curbside recycling program, and subsequently decrease the amount of recyclable materials being brought
<br />to the CCCs, specifically those materials that are accepted curbside. As anticipated, the amount of mixed
<br />recyclables, paper products and cardboard collected at the CCCs decreased after the implementation of
<br />the single stream program in FY 15/16 (Figure 1).
<br />Interestingly, the total Garbage tonnages at the CCCs dropped significantly in FY 15/16, but then
<br />rebounded in FY 16/17, surpassing the tonnages brought in prior to the single -stream program. This
<br />rebounding effect was likely a result of the occurrences of both Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma
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