VINEYARD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
The Case for Coordinated Action on Waste

As an organization with a forty-year history of environmental activism, the Vineyard Conservation Society is stepping forward at this time to make the case that the Vineyard needs and deserves a major re-assessment of its waste management practices.

VCS have a long history of advocacy in this area: we played a leading role in the establishment of the Island’s first recycling program in 1971, and by 1973 we were already speaking out in favor of an integrated Island-wide approach to our solid waste disposal problems. Propelled by the vision and hard work of the late Nellie Mendenhall, VCS supported the creation of the Island’s first Household Hazardous Waste Collection system in 1987.  More recently, in 2000, we co-sponsored a forum in conjunction with the League of Women Voters to discuss the potential for establishing a regional composting facility on the Vineyard. We consistently track developments in the Island’s waste-management infrastructure, with the goal of finding and taking advantage of opportunities to advocate for waste reduction, institutional efficiency, and environmentally sound practice on both the individual and the collective level.

We believe that such an opportunity is now at hand. With the ongoing effort to develop the Island Plan, our community is looking rigorously at its long-term needs. One of the main working groups in this process is focused on energy and waste, signaling the critical nature of the waste issue as we plan for a more sustainable future. Also, discussions aimed at improving cooperation are already underway among the Island's waste-management professionals, whose support will be important for any initiative going forward. And lastly, public awareness has been drawn to the subject by recent news reports, leading to an increased awareness that the existing solid waste treatment infrastructure falls short of fully serving the interests of the Island as a whole.

A Coordinated Approach

At the heart of the problem is the need for a more coordinated approach. The Vineyard Conservation Society strongly believes that the time has come for comprehensive assessment of current practices and opportunities, with the goal of evaluating the options for developing a progressive, integrated waste management system.

Such an assessment will require a critical mass of sanction and support. Initiative could come from an existing body, such as the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, hopefully working in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse Disposal District (MVRDD) and town officials, within the context of the Island Plan. Alternatively, the effort could be sponsored by a coalition of government, waste-management, business, and community interests, but regardless of leadership, official endorsement will be essential if this much-needed effort is to take shape.

Funding Requirements

Equally important will be funding. A project such as this is beyond the scope of what the Vineyard Conservation Society can undertake. Adequate analysis will require experts who can evaluate our solid waste disposal situation in its entirety, without investment in the status quo. No off-the-shelf proposal will meet the Island’s needs: with six towns, a tribal government, three separate waste-management authorities, dramatic seasonal population variability, and unique transportation constraints and costs, a comprehensive assessment will take financial as well as conceptual commitment.

Concerns and Opportunities

But consider the cost of leaving current practices in place, particularly in terms of lost opportunities. Inconsistent policies discourage conscientious participation in recycling efforts, especially on the part of visitors who are unfamiliar with our systems, and the Island’s average recycling rate is well below the state-mandated goal of 56 percent. For the most part, our transfer stations accept only items mandated by state law; existing infrastructures aren’t designed for optimal handling of all the other materials that call out for recycling and/or special treatment, such as appliances, computers, and building materials. Nor is there sufficient alignment between recycling and household hazardous waste programs: the two should be coordinated so that problematic items like fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers, batteries, and smoke alarms (which contain radioactive material) don’t end up in landfills and incinerators. We applaud the talks focused on improving cooperation recently begun by the Island’s waste management professionals, and hope that they can become part of a broader effort as momentum builds for a more integrated approach.

Another subject of concern is the large volume of compostable household waste and sewage sludge that is currently shipped away. According to one study, transportation of such waste represented the equivalent of one in every seven Steamship Authority freight trips in 2000, and the total amount of solid waste sent off-Island climbed from 14,200 tons in 1998 to 18,200 tons in 2002. A full assessment of our waste-management needs would include research into innovative composting alternatives, with full investigation of regulatory issues, economic feasibility, and potential markets for end products. Instead of sending this material off-Island, we might be able to process it into high-quality compost right here, thus saving in two ways. Not only would we reduce the volume of waste that we export to the mainland, at considerable expense; we would also minimize the import of compost, mulch, and similar products for garden and landscape use, thereby conserving fuel and enhancing the local economy. While the concept of Island-wide composting will require further in-depth study, a complete analysis should factor in all the indirect benefits of such a program, as well as the associated costs.

A Bigger Vision

More broadly, assessment should include an inventory of the full range of environmentally sensitive waste management practices currently in use or development, wherever they are found. Only by surveying the entire spectrum of innovative possibilities will we be able to develop the best plan for our particular needs.

Certainly the Vineyard faces some unusual challenges. But also, by virtue of being an Island, we have a unique opportunity to embody best practices with respect to waste management and responsible behavior. With an integrated system designed to screen out as many compostables, recyclables, and reusables as possible, we could dramatically reduce the amount of residual waste that we ship off-Island, with both economic and environmental benefits. In addition, with improved opportunities and guidelines for disposal of hazardous materials, we could go a long way towards eliminating toxics from our waste stream.

The case for this approach is grounded in both practical and moral imperatives. On the most basic level, coordinated management will lead to greater efficiencies and economies of scale. Beyond that, in an age of rising fuel costs, uncertain supplies, and global warming, taking integrated local responsibility for reducing our waste footprint makes both financial and environmental sense. And from a more global perspective, our geography invites us to become a model of environmental stewardship for the larger world. The Vineyard Conservation Society urges the Island’s leadership and public to come together in sponsoring a viable and visionary assessment of our potential for becoming a showcase community in dealing with our waste as a resource. 

Does MV really recycle?
By David Nash, VCS Board Member

When the topic of waste and recyclables comes up, one of the most often asked questions is; are we really recycling here on Martha’s Vineyard?   VCS has received calls from members and a West Tisbury newsletter has reported observations of recyclables being mixed with the trash. Although confusion does exist due to the different methods of handling recyclables at our transfer stations, the answer to that question is a clear and definite yes.
 
First and foremost is the need for each and every one of us to know where our recyclables are going when we put them at the curb or at one of our recycling centers.  All of our town and district transfer stations provide for recycling of bottles, cans, plastic containers, newspaper, corrugated cardboard as well as disposal options for tires, appliances, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, scrap metal and brush and leaves.  If going to a town or regional facility you can be confident that the materials are properly going to off-island facilities for further processing into raw materials for the glass, paper and metals markets.  Sometimes that is not entirely obvious because there seems to be inconsistent mixing of materials from facility to facility.  That is only due to the existence of contracts with different off-island vendors who are subsequently processing our recyclables in different ways using different technologies.   Some may mix colored glass and plastic; others may mix all glass and plastic.
 
Curbside pickup is an entirely different story and here is where it pays for the consumer to know exactly what services are or are not being provided. In Oak Bluffs, for example, town service includes curbside pickup for trash only and residents must bring their recyclable to the transfer station.  Seasonal visitors and vacationers may not be aware of that procedure and are surprised to see the local hauler place recyclables in with the trash.  The haulers may be breaking state law (more about that later) but they are actually providing the service they were hired to provide.  Not to single out  BFI,  but if you retain them for your weekly trash pickup you need to question them on the arrangements that exist for handing recyclables since their trucks are not currently equipped to provide recycling pickup at the residential level.  BFI needs to place themselves in a better position to service the collection of residential recyclables and if you are their customer you should ask them what they are doing to better plan for that.   Other local haulers do provide that service but may also be guilty of some co-mingling if the compartments they have dedicated to recyclables become full.  The town of Tisbury provides residential pickup using trucks which have a compartmentalized feature which allows for more efficient handling of recycled items.  If you observe any deliberate mixing of recyclables you should call the responsible party and report what you have observed.
 
Recyclables in Massachusetts are managed by the imposition of what is called the “waste ban” regulation. This means that certain materials are prohibited from being disposed of in a manner that will cause the materials to end up in either a landfill or a resource recovery facility (incinerator).  Recyclables are “banned” from being disposed of at those locations.  This differs from a mandatory recycling law which many Massachusetts communities have independently adopted (although none here on the Vineyard).  Our recyclables can, unfortunately, be legally mixed with trash as long as there exists a reasonable plan to inspect and observe incoming loads so that any with “excessive” amounts of recyclables could conceivably be rejected as violating the waste ban provisions.  A little confusing perhaps but this subtle twist in the law, while not discouraging recycling, establishes a slightly less stringent standard for encouraging that there are good solid recycling practices in place.         
What can we do?  We can first make sure that those responsible for getting recyclables to the transfer facilities are doing that in a manner that supports your wishes; if not, hire someone else or make sure you are handling your recyclables in the way that your town requires.  If you are bringing them to your local facility yourself that isn’t a problem.  We can all encourage our local elected officials to be as proactive as possible in increasing the availability of recycling opportunities for both the resident population as well as the tourist population. Encourage the placement of recycling containers in shopping areas, downtown areas, at Steamship Authority properties and on their vessels as well and at any transportation center such as the airport, bus stops, etc. We should consider the placement of recyclables drop-off centers closer to residential areas rather than having the town drop-off centers serving as the only location for recyclables.    Also, if you rent your property, make sure you are providing proper instructions and supplies for your renters to be able to recycle here just as they do at home.  
 
There will always be those who litter and those who make business decisions that just aren’t in the best interests of the environment.   Recycling is still not an easy thing to do for many people and we need to make sure that we have the support systems in place to minimize any obstacles.  Understanding the laws in place and working with our town leaders to assure that they are working to provide a manageable system are good places to start.  

Martha's Vineyard Refuse District begins finalizing plans to recycle CFL's
By David Nash, VCS Board Member

Anyone using the MVRRD transfer station out near the airport may have noticed a new storage shed on the property. More information will be forthcoming but the District has received this shed as part of a program to allow for enhanced collection and recycling of what is referred to as "Universal wastes", most notably, compact fluorescent light bulbs. The best news is that collection of CFL's may likely be without any direct cost to us all (tube bulbs will still cost $1 for disposal). Until details of this new disposal service are announced, we should all save any burned out CFL's from now on (stored safely to prevent breakage). We have learned from MVRRD sources that this shed will be used to enhance efforts to recycle and properly dispose of other mercury containing devices such as thermostats and switches as well. The category of waste materials referred to as "universal wastes" includes, in addition to mercury containing devices such as bulbs, switches and thermometers, certain pesticides which contain arsenic, mercury or chlorinated compounds, pesticides which have been banned or recalled, NiCad batteries and certain lead acid batteries. The term "Universal waste" actually designates a subset of materials which would otherwise be regulated as hazardous wastes. If a receiving facility, in this case the MVRRD, complies with certain state mandated requirements, then the wastes can be handled in a manner which greatly reduces the costs associated with managing these materials as fully regulated hazardous wastes. These requirements include storage in a manner which prevents leaking, breakage and cross contamination. The additional avoided costs include detailed recordkeeping, manifesting, transportation related costs, and other requirements which are imposed on generators of hazardous wastes. Eventually, when these wastes reach their end destination, they are recycled or otherwise handled by recipients who are fully licensed to receive hazardous wastes. This is a small but important step for our island to take in seeking better management of the wastes that we all generate. Not only will this represent a better disposal option for consumers and homeowners but it will hopefully increase alternatives for small businesses, contractors and builders to become "greener" and more environmentally friendly in the way they do business."

VINEYARD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
The Case for Coordinated Action on Waste

As an organization with a forty-year history of environmental activism, the Vineyard Conservation So-ciety is stepping forward at this time to make the case that the Vineyard needs and deserves a major re-assessment of its waste management practices.

VCS have a long history of advocacy in this area: we played a leading role in the establishment of the Island’s first recycling program in 1971, and by 1973 we were already speaking out in favor of an inte-grated Island-wide approach to our solid waste disposal problems. Propelled by the vision and hard work of the late Nellie Mendenhall, VCS supported the creation of the Island’s first Household Hazardous Waste Collection system in 1987. More recently, in 2000, we co-sponsored a forum in conjunction with the League of Women Voters to discuss the potential for establishing a regional composting facility on the Vineyard. We consistently track developments in the Island’s waste-management infrastructure, with the goal of finding and taking advantage of opportunities to advocate for waste reduction, institutional efficiency, and environmentally sound practice on both the individual and the collective level.

We believe that such an opportunity is now at hand. With the ongoing effort to develop the Island Plan, our community is looking rigorously at its long-term needs. One of the main working groups in this process is focused on energy and waste, signaling the critical nature of the waste issue as we plan for a more sustainable future. Also, discussions aimed at improving cooperation are already underway among the Island's waste-management professionals, whose support will be important for any initiative going forward. And lastly, public awareness has been drawn to the subject by recent news reports, leading to an increased awareness that the existing solid waste treatment infrastructure falls short of fully serving the interests of the Island as a whole.

A Coordinated Approach

At the heart of the problem is the need for a more coordinated approach. The Vineyard Conservation Society strongly believes that the time has come for comprehensive assessment of current practices and opportunities, with the goal of evaluating the options for developing a progressive, integrated waste management system.

Such an assessment will require a critical mass of sanction and support. Initiative could come from an existing body, such as the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, hopefully working in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse Disposal District (MVRDD) and town officials, within the context of the Is-land Plan. Alternatively, the effort could be sponsored by a coalition of government, waste-management, business, and community interests, but regardless of leadership, official endorsement will be essential if this much-needed effort is to take shape.

Funding Requirements

Equally important will be funding. A project such as this is beyond the scope of what the Vineyard Con-servation Society can undertake. Adequate analysis will require experts who can evaluate our solid waste disposal situation in its entirety, without investment in the status quo. No off-the-shelf proposal will meet the Island’s needs: with six towns, a tribal government, three separate waste-management authorities, dramatic seasonal population variability, and unique transportation constraints and costs, a comprehensive assessment will take financial as well as conceptual commitment.

Concerns and Opportunities

But consider the cost of leaving current practices in place, particularly in terms of lost opportunities. In-consistent policies discourage conscientious participation in recycling efforts, especially on the part of visitors who are unfamiliar with our systems, and the Island’s average recycling rate is well below the state-mandated goal of 56 percent. For the most part, our transfer stations accept only items mandated by state law; existing infrastructures aren’t designed for optimal handling of all the other materials that call out for recycling and/or special treatment, such as appliances, computers, and building materials. Nor is there sufficient alignment between recycling and household hazardous waste programs: the two should be coordinated so that problematic items like fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers, batteries, and smoke alarms (which contain radioactive material) don’t end up in landfills and incinerators. We applaud the talks focused on improving cooperation recently begun by the Island’s waste management professionals, and hope that they can become part of a broader effort as momentum builds for a more integrated approach.

Another subject of concern is the large volume of compostable household waste and sewage sludge that is currently shipped away. According to one study, transportation of such waste represented the equiva-lent of one in every seven Steamship Authority freight trips in 2000, and the total amount of solid waste sent off-Island climbed from 14,200 tons in 1998 to 18,200 tons in 2002. A full assessment of our waste-management needs would include research into innovative composting alternatives, with full investiga-tion of regulatory issues, economic feasibility, and potential markets for end products. Instead of send-ing this material off-Island, we might be able to process it into high-quality compost right here, thus sav-ing in two ways. Not only would we reduce the volume of waste that we export to the mainland, at con-siderable expense; we would also minimize the import of compost, mulch, and similar products for gar-den and landscape use, thereby conserving fuel and enhancing the local economy. While the concept of Island-wide composting will require further in-depth study, a complete analysis should factor in all the indirect benefits of such a program, as well as the associated costs.

A Bigger Vision

More broadly, assessment should include an inventory of the full range of environmentally sensitive waste management practices currently in use or development, wherever they are found. Only by survey-ing the entire spectrum of innovative possibilities will we be able to develop the best plan for our particular needs.

Certainly the Vineyard faces some unusual challenges. But also, by virtue of being an Island, we have a unique opportunity to embody best practices with respect to waste management and responsible behavior. With an integrated system designed to screen out as many compostables, recyclables, and reusables as possible, we could dramatically reduce the amount of residual waste that we ship off-Island, with both economic and environmental benefits. In addition, with improved opportunities and guidelines for dis-posal of hazardous materials, we could go a long way towards eliminating toxics from our waste stream.

The case for this approach is grounded in both practical and moral imperatives. On the most basic level, coordinated management will lead to greater efficiencies and economies of scale. Beyond that, in an age of rising fuel costs, uncertain supplies, and global warming, taking integrated local responsibility for reducing our waste footprint makes both financial and environmental sense. And from a more global per-spective, our geography invites us to become a model of environmental stewardship for the larger world. The Vineyard Conservation Society urges the Island’s leadership and public to come together in spon-soring a viable and visionary assessment of our potential for becoming a showcase community in deal-ing with our waste as a resource.

Below is a summary of the Mercury Management Act of 2006: http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/laws/hglawfax.doc

For information of disposal of fluorescent lamps: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/hazardous/fluores.htm

For information on mercury in schools: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/schools.htm#mercury

Below is the link for Public School Chemical Management Grant Program: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/compliance/schlchem.htm

Last years grant that will hopefully be repeated again: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/mwrgin07.pdf

Another good link: http://www.cetonline.org/FarmBusiness/municipal_collections_of_mercury.htm

For more information on Mercury in schools contact Tina Klein or call her at 617-292-5704 . For information on recycling contact Edith DeMello,508-946-2725 There is a hearing to be held in our cape office on the proposed mercury in products regulations. This may not be of particular interest to the MVEEA, but some folks may be interested.

Public hearings will be held on amendments to 310 CMR 70.00 and new chapters 310 CMR 74.00 and 310 CMR 75.00 that would implement provisions of the Massachusetts Mercury Management Act calling for removal of mercury-added vehicle switches and collection/recycling of mercury-added lamps and other products.

Disposing of Mercury on the Island

Don Hatch, the manager of the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District, reports some good news on Mercury collection for island residents. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9AM - 2 PM people can drop off their old thermostats and thermometers at the Edgartown Transfer Station at 750 West Tisbury Rd., Edgartown. Check in with the attendant at the scale house for specific directions as to where to deposit these items. The first 20 people will receive a free digital thermometer.

Mr. Hatch also reports that shortly a ‘Universal Waste Shed,’ specifically for Mercury collection, will be in place at the Transfer Station. At that time compact florescent light bulbs can be brought in and deposited. It is very important he noted to make sure the bulbs are packaged in such a way that they don’t break on route.

Currently there is no compact florescent bulb crusher available to handle old bulbs. The demand has not been significant enough for the industry to create one similar to the florescent lamp crusher that is presently housed at the Tisbury Dump. According to Air Cycle Corp a manufacture of bulb crushers, it may be a year or so before such an item is in production. In the meantime carefully transfer your light bulbs over to the ‘Universal Shed’ at the transfer station.

Mr. Hatch was also glad to announce that SEMASS Company of Rochester, MA, who receives the island waste, has recently gotten a State grant that would provide reimbursement to the Island for their shipping and disposal costs for any mercury products that are pulled out of the waste stream. Be a responsible consumer and deposit these mercury products in a proper safe way.

The 2008 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days are the following:
Dates: May 17, July 19, Sept. 20, Nov. 15
Where: The Edgartown Transfer Station, 750 West Tisbury Rd. Edgartown
Time: 9 - 12 PM
Questions: 508-627-4501

Click here to view a pdf with the types of hazardous waste accepted at the Edgartown Wastewater Plant on Hazardous Household Waste Days.

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