Planning and Development

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
   
• Implementation Action Plans
• Business Plans
• Capital Plans
• Funding System Design and 
  Approval
• Program Design and Development
• Procurement Strategies
• Performance Objectives and
  Budgeting
• Operating Procedures
• Staff Training
• Development of recycling
  ordinances and host agreements
• Development of reporting tools
  for haulers

SOLID WASTE SYSTEM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
     
RRSI can implement a system planning and development process that
will bring innovative solutions, resources and support for your project,
tailored to your needs.


RRSI consultants and engineers understand the importance of planning
for the long term success of your solid waste management and recycling
systems. We know the value of including strategic planning and technical
analysis into the planning process. We can develop comprehensive
master plans for system-wide guidance or targeted strategic development
plans for specified program expansion. RRSI will integrate the plan into the
actual work programs and develop budgets that translate plan objectives
to real world results.

MANAGING THE PLANNING PROCESS
     
• Surveys and Focus Groups
• Workshop Planning and 
   Implementation
• Stakeholder Involvement
• Policy/Regulatory Analysis and 
   Development
• Technical and Financial Plan 
   Development
• Plan Document Management
• Plan Presentation and Adoption
• Media Support and Outreach
   Campaigns
• Waste Management generation and
   recycling estimates over the planning
   period
• Review of current recycling, diposal
  and processing technologies
• Discussion of plan with state 
  regulatory agency

Oakland County, Solid Waste Management

The Oakland County Waste Resource Management Division is responsible for all solid waste management planning and implementation in this County of 1.3 million people in 61 local units of government. RRSI provides technical and engineering consulting services for all stages of solid waste plan development, implementation planning, program development and roll-out and intergovernmental project coordination.

Specific services have included development of database/information systems profiling all municipal recycling and solid waste programs and all related private sector facilities and services; engineering analysis of recycling, composting and disposal capacity serving the region and identification of service and capacity gaps expected over the next twenty years; peer community case studies/profiles demonstrating best practice opportunities suitable for Oakland County communities; intergovernmental service development and coordination including service definition, specification development, proposal/procurement process management and vendor selection and contracting; outreach and education campaign planning and development; and system and facility procurement.
RRSI also supported the County’s corporate and business environmental programming with development of a region-wide e-waste management infrastructure (REAP2), including industry and technology profiles, best practice benchmarking, program funding development, linkages with high-tech industry (automotive and defense), recruitment of e-waste processors, corporate recruitment and supply profiling to justify financing, and outreach/education programming to recruit participation.

STRATEGIC PLANNING
   
• Establishing Baseline 
  Conditions
• Institutional Analysis
• Service Gap Assessment
• Recycling Potential
  Assessment
• Technology Evaluations
• Best Practice Benchmarking
• Options Identification and
  Evaluation
• Goal and Strategy
  Development

Herman Miller Corporate Sustainability Initiative

RRSI provided services to Herman Miller Corporation to implement a program targeted at zero waste to landfill for all of its facilities in southwestern Michigan. Efforts included development of a corporate waste profile including audits and waste stream characterization studies for all facilities, followed by on-going updating of waste stream characterization data as recycling program design and implementation was carried out.

An RRSI led engineering analysis assisted Herman Miller staff with the implementation of in-plant recycling systems and the procurement of a material recovery facility. The procurement process included evaluation of technical and financial merits of a Herman Miller-operated on-site facility against a third-party operated off-site facility. RRSI participation in developing a zero-waste program for this well-known manufacturer of office furniture helped to create the recognition of Herman Miller as a leader in sustainable manufacturing. Herman Miller Corporation

Athens-Clark County, Comprehensive Solid Waste Reduction Study

RRSI has a long-standing working relationship with the Solid Waste and Recycling programs of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia (ACC). This has included planning services, curbside program implementation support, drop-off system design and implementation, yard waste collection service analysis, full service MRF procurement, MRF vendor oversight, markets studies and ordinance development.

RRSI prepared a Comprehensive Solid Waste Reduction Study for ACC. Phase I of the study, completed in the Spring 1993, included a characterization of the county solid waste stream, a thorough analysis of existing waste reduction programs and the establishment of options for a comprehensive waste reduction strategy for the county. A detailed evaluation of these options was then conducted and an option was selected for further study. Conceptual design and cost information was provided for each aspect of the program which included source reduction, recycling, composting education, incentive, regulatory, collection and processing systems. Program designs address both the residential and commercial/industrial sectors. A detailed rate model for a volume-based refuse fee system was also included, as was an efficiency assessment of their current refuse collection system. RRSI has since completed work on Phase II of the project which provided review and adoption of policies supporting the waste reduction strategy, and the implementation of related ordinances and facility procurement.

Michigan Compost Market: SWAP

RRSI was the lead grant recipient of a major study of Michigan yard waste composting that incorporated the efforts of RRSI, Michigan State University and SOCRRA (a 12-community solid waste and recycling authority with a population of over 300,000) for market development research and demonstration of odor minimization techniques for centralized compost sites. This study framed a curbside-to-market analysis of the yard waste composting industry in terms of best practices, enhanced marketability and low odor management techniques.

Using scientific research and operational observation, the best practice operating standards developed by RRSI have been shown to be robust in application. Work from this two year project effort enabled RRSI to develop the Michigan Compost Council’s “Yard Waste Compost Operators Training Course” that is offered annually to statewide composters.

In addition to operating standards, the project effort also focused on the development of finished compost marketing. A wide variety of markets were evaluated for possible size, entry points, and particular quality requirements. All of these findings are available in printed form from RRSI for a minimal fee.