§ 4.2. Solid Waste

The Solid Waste portion of the Infrastructure Element provides an understanding of both solid waste and hazardous wastes in the County. On average, each person within Santa Rosa County produces 8.14 pounds of solid waste per day. Although hazardous waste disposal is not a large component of the total waste generated, several large and small hazardous waste generators are located within the County.

The purpose of this sub-element is to determine the current and projected needs of Santa Rosa County in order to provide adequate solid waste facilities to meet those needs. Analysis and projected levels of service are based on an inventory of existing facilities and capacities.

4.2.1 Existing Conditions

The Central Landfill, which was originally permitted in 1977, is owned and operated by the County under the authority of the Santa Rosa County Environmental Department. The landfill consists of 593 total acres. The most recent permit renewal was in April 5, 2013 for 39.03 acres of Class I and 44.27 acres of Class III over top of the old Class I facility. The Central Landfill received an Air Construction Permit on June 20, 2013 for the installation of a landfill gas (LFG) Collection and Control System (LFGCCS) and blower/flare. Installation of the LFGCCS was completed in early 2014 and the LFG collection system and blower/flare is currently undergoing operational evaluation. Santa Rosa County has submitted and received a draft Title V Air Operations Permit that authorizes unconditional use of the LFG Blower/Flare, Air Curtain Incinerator and Class One Landfill. Since that time the County, has received a final Title V Air Operations Permit.

There have been four (4) other landfills that have closed in the County that included the Class III on Carroll Road that closed in August 2001, the North Landfill (Munson) closed in August 1988, the Holley/Navarre Landfill closed in August 1992 and the Northwest Landfill (Jay) closed in August 1989. The Jay site continues to be used as a transfer station for the northern part of the County. All these landfill closures were in compliance with existing rules and regulations. An illustration of all of the active and abandoned landfills and transfer stations is shown in Map 4-3 below.

4.2.2 Solid Waste Collection

In early 2011 the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) published a Request for Proposals for Solid Waste Services for the south end of Santa Rosa County. The goal of the RFP was to provide an increased level of service to include garbage collection, curb side single steam recycling, yard waste and bulk waste collections at a lower cost to residents. The BCC eventually created two exclusive franchises in the south end and awarded the franchise to Waste Pro and Waste Management. During mid- 2014, the BOCC issued a second RFP for Solid Waste Services for the remainder of Santa Rosa County and selected the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority to provide solid waste services for the north end of Santa Rosa County to include garbage, curb side recyclable, yard waste and bulk waste collections and disposal.

4.2.3 Solid Waste Disposal

As previously discussed, the Santa Rosa County Central Landfill is the only Municipal Solid Waste disposal facility within Santa Rosa County. Introduction of county wide curb side single stream recycling, expansion of the Central Landfill Household Waste (HHW) and increased diversion at the Central Landfill's Residential Drop-off area have diverted significant quantities of materials from the Class I and Class III disposal areas at Central Landfill. Class I landfills receive an average of 20 tons or more of solid waste per day, specifically household waste. Class III receive only yard trash, construction and demolition debris, waste tires, asbestos, carpet, cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, furniture other than appliances, or other materials approved by the Department which are not expected to produce leachate which poses a threat to public health or the environment. Class III landfills do not accept putrescible household waste. The total per capita breakdown of the waste stream within Santa Rosa County (2012) is as follows:

Total Solid Waste—8.14 pounds per capita per day (ppcd)

Landfilled Materials—175,344 tons

Recycled Materials—55,359 tons

Total—230,703 tons

As illustrated, the removal of recoverable/recyclable materials tonnages from the waste stream entering the Central Landfill can substantially increase its life span.

4.2.4 Hazardous Waste

Within Santa Rosa County, hazardous waste has not been a major problem because of the small number of large quantity generators (LQGs). However, in the future the County may be affected because of the increasing number of small quantity generators (SQGs). FDEP regulations, along with those developed by the EPA, require all counties to identify all small and large quantity generators in an attempt to monitor the growth and production of hazardous wastes.

A study was performed for Santa Rosa County by the West Florida Regional Planning Council (WFRPC) and was completed in 2008. The total waste produced by conditionally exempt and small quantity generators in Santa Rosa County was approximately 130.177 tons from 2002 through 2007. Used oil and filters generated the largest quantity of waste. Service stations and repair shops produced approximately 82 tons of these materials and lead acid storage batteries were the second most frequently generated waste. Battery shops, service stations and repair shops generated about 23 tons of lead acid batteries. The third largest type of waste produced was Non-halogenated solvents, which amounted to approximately 13.4 tons.

The County's Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility accepts household hazardous waste (i.e., paint, pesticides, fertilizers, gas, florescent bulbs and batteries) at the Central Landfill. Collected materials are bulked and disposes it to outside contract sources or selected for reuse in the landfill Swap Shop, a facility at the Central Landfill were residents can pick up paints and household cleans at no charge. The County accepts other Household Hazardous Waste one time per year on amnesty day and that waste is collected at remote sites from the landfill. This waste is also disposed of through outside contract sources. This is administered through a cooperative grant program with Okaloosa County. As a result, commercial entities must contract with hazardous waste carriers for the disposal of their wastes. To deal with these SQGs, the State of Florida requires all counties, through the Small Quantity Generator (SQG) Program, to randomly inspect and ensure that commercial generators of hazardous wastes are complying with state requirements.

Residents can dispose of their household hazardous waste for free at the county's Household Hazardous Waste Center, open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hazardous household waste includes household cleaners, motor oils, gasoline, car batteries, inks and toners, propane tanks, pool chemicals, and pesticides.

4.2.5 Solid Waste Needs and Assessments

The Existing Conditions section identified the current demand, as well as available capacity, for solid waste disposal within Santa Rosa County. This section closely examines facility capacity analysis based on recent population projections, level of service standards, funding alternatives, and the problems and opportunities that have faced the County since the last planning timeframe. At the current time, the County expects the landfill to reach maximum capacity in 2065.

4.2.5.1 Level of Service

A level of service standard (LOS) was established in order to estimate solid waste generation and to determine landfill life expectancy and projecting capacity of the landfill. The LOS was calculated by multiplying the amount of solid waste generated daily in the County by the population and projected population. This rate is currently 8.18 pounds per person per day.

As part of the Concurrency Management System, the County uses LOS standards to determine whether the capacity of solid waste facilities is adequate to support the impacts of each proposed residential development. If the projected solid waste generation by the development will result in the standard being exceeded, provisions for solid waste facilities and services necessary to maintain the standard must be provided as required by the Concurrency Management regulations.

4.2.5.2 Ensuring Adequate Landfill Capacity

The total capacity of the Central Landfill solid waste facility is allocated to serve the entire County. The Central Landfill facility has been sized and permitted to accept municipal waste based on county-wide (including municipalities) population estimates. The Central Landfill has sufficient capacity to meet demand through the Year 2065 under the current and projected operating conditions. The current active section consists of 39.03 acres of Class I and 44.27 acres of Class III.

In addressing adequate landfill capacity, Santa Rosa County has focused on both increasing the supply of, and decreasing the demand for, landfill space in the County. To decrease demand for landfill space, Santa Rosa County has taken several steps, the most significant of which is the development of a county-wide recycling program. The County traditional recycling rate in 2012 was 24%. One of the challenges facing the County in the future will be increasing that percentage. The County intends to use two measures to increase the percentage of waste recycled, the initiation of additional recycling efforts at the landfill and the enhancement of commercial and governmental recycling initiatives.

Another recycling issue facing Santa Rosa County (and all public or private organizations that collect recyclable materials) is finding additional markets for recyclable materials collected. As recycling technology increases, so do products made from recycled materials. Counteracting that trend, however, is the increasing supply of recyclable materials. The increase in the quantities of recyclable material is largely due to more and better recycling efforts by communities throughout the nation.

An additional step that has helped Santa Rosa County decrease demand for landfill space is the addition of the air curtain incinerator at the Class III section of the landfill. This facility, along with the recycling program, will greatly increase the life span of the landfill.

Other methods of solid waste disposal include various methods of resource recovery. These methods do not eliminate the need for landfills, but they decrease the amount of waste entering into the landfill, thereby increasing the life span of the landfill.

4.2.5.3 Flow Control

In 2007, the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners enacted Ordinance 2007-16 that established Flow Control in Santa Rosa County. To the extent allowed by federal law, all solid waste generated in Santa Rosa County except for hazardous waste, construction and demolition debris, land clearing debris, or bio-hazardous waste shall be disposed in a Santa Rosa County managed disposal facility. Upon the request of Santa Rosa County, all collectors of solid waste, including commercial solid waste collectors, shall provide Santa Rosa County information regarding the quantity of solid waste collected in Santa Rosa County.

In the exclusive franchise areas within Santa Rosa County, franchisees are required, by contract, to delivery all solid waste, curb side recyclables, yard waste and bulky waste to the Santa Rosa County Central Landfill.