§342G-26  Contents of the program element. (a)  The waste stream assessment component shall describe and explain theorigin, composition, and weight or volume, or both, of solid waste generatedwithin the county during the year in which the plan is being developed, orduring the subsequent years when a revised plan is being developed.

The component shall include data that arereasonably representative of, and that reflect information that considers,seasonal and year-round patterns in waste generation.  The data developed inthis component of the initial county plan shall serve as the baseline forfuture measurement of the percentage of waste reduced through source reduction,recycling, and bioconversion programs.  For each revised plan, the component shallprovide a quantitative estimate of the amount of each type of solid waste thatwas reduced through recycling and bioconversion during the previous planningperiod.  The revised plan shall also include an estimate of reduction that hasresulted from source reduction efforts, to the extent that the reduction can bequantified.

(b)  The source reduction component shallidentify and evaluate specific measures for achieving source reduction,including, but not limited to:

(1)  Increased efficiency in the use of all materials;

(2)  Replacement of disposable materials and productswith reusable materials and products; and

(3)  Reduced packaging.

(c)  The recycling and bioconversion componentshall identify and assess:

(1)  The level of waste reduction the county isachieving through existing recycling and bioconversion efforts;

(2)  The type and amount of solid waste that it istechnically and economically feasible to recycle or alter throughbioconversion; and

(3)  Methods to increase and improve the recycling andbioconversion efforts, including opportunities for backyard composting.

For recycling, the counties shall assess thetype and amount of solid waste that it is technically feasible to recycle,giving consideration at a minimum to clear glass, colored glass, aluminum,steel and bimetallic cans, high-grade office paper, newsprint, mixed paper,corrugated paper, HDPE, PET, and green waste.

For bioconversion, the counties shall assessthe type and amount of solid waste that it is technically feasible to alterthrough bioconversion, giving consideration at a minimum to green waste, woodwaste, animal manure, sewage sludge, and food wastes.

(d)  The energy-balance component shalldescribe the programs by which the county will investigate or incorporate waysof increasing the energy efficiency of the solid waste management process,including the assessment of energy and fuel-production options such ascomposting, anaerobic digestion, acid hydrolysis, production of liquid fuels,incineration, or a combination thereof.  The energy component shall identifyand assess:

(1)  The amount of energy input, including, but notlimited to, electrical power, gasoline, diesel fuel, coal, natural gas,propane, kerosene, and heating oil, required by the plan for the accomplishmentof collection, recycling, composting, bioconversion, waste handling, disposal,and landfilling;

(2)  The amount of energy produced from the waste,including electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, and liquid fuels such as ethanolor methanol;

(3)  The net energy use or energy productionattributable to the solid waste program.  Where feasible, this assessment shallinclude energy used in the original manufacture of these goods.  Nationalaverages of energy consumed may be incorporated in these estimates; and

(4)  Methods by which net energy use may be decreasedor net energy or fuels production may be increased.

(e)  The special waste component shall describethe existing waste handling and disposal practices for special wastes,including, but not limited to, asbestos, used oil, petroleum-contaminated soil,lead acid batteries, municipal waste combustion ash, sewage sludge that is nothazardous waste, agricultural and farm-generated wastes, medical wastes, tires,white goods, and derelict vehicles.  The component shall identify current andproposed programs to ensure the proper handling, reuse, and long-term disposalof special wastes.

(f)  The household hazardous waste componentshall:

(1)  Assess the quantity and type of hazardous wastesgenerated by residences in the county;

(2)  Describe current collection, recycling, andexchange programs, as well as current methods of disposing of householdhazardous waste; and

(3)  Develop programs for the collection of householdhazardous wastes that protect the public and the environment from thesesubstances.  The household hazardous wastes collected by the counties shall bedisposed of by a state program.  A county may petition the director to beexempt from this paragraph if the county demonstrates to the director’ssatisfaction the adequacy of its current methods of household hazardous wastecollection, recycling, exchange, and disposal to protect public health and theenvironment.

(g)  The public education and informationcomponent shall describe the programs that the county will use, in coordinationwith the efforts of the office, to:

(1)  Provide comprehensive and sustained public noticeof the options for alternate source reduction, recycling, and bioconversion,and for the proper handling of household hazardous and special wastes; and

(2)  Distribute information and educational materialsregarding general solid waste issues through the media, schools, and communityorganizations.

(h)  The landfill and incineration componentshall:

(1)  Assess the county’s current landfill capacity andways to extend that capacity;

(2)  Assess the availability of land for futurelandfills;

(3)  Estimate the amount of waste currently going intoincineration facilities and the remaining available capacity;

(4)  Estimate the amount of ash generated atincineration facilities; and

(5)  Describe provisions for ash disposal.

(i)  The marketing and procurement of materialscomponent shall describe:

(1)  Existing county, state, or other markets formaterials diverted from the solid waste stream;

(2)  Methods to increase access to markets, includingthe promotion of local uses for materials derived from solid waste; and

(3)  Methods to promote the procurement of recycledmaterials by county agencies.

(j)  The program implementation component shalldefine:

(1)  Specific tasks and responsibilities;

(2)  Schedules for implementation;

(3)  Identification of proposed ordinances, contracts,and other guidelines; and

(4)  Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of thecounty plan.

(k)  The program funding component shall:

(1)  Provide for each of the components, whereapplicable, the estimated cost to the county of program implementation; and

(2)  Demonstrate the county’s economicself-sufficiency in managing solid waste pursuant to the implementation of theapproved plan.  This includes the identification of county funding sources thatwill be used to implement the plan, and other viable sources of funding thathave been identified or are anticipated. [L 1991, c 324, pt of §2; am L 1993, c190, §4]