Waste-To-Energy
The cornerstone of the System is the
Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) which incinerates processable solid
waste (solid waste which can be incinerated), produces steam, and converts
the steam into electricity which is sold to the Tampa Electric Company.
Construction of the 1,200 ton per day mass burn RRF was completed in
1987 at a cost just over $80,000,000 by Ogden Martin Systems of Hillsborough,
Inc. (OMSH). OMSH is also responsible for the operation of the RRF
for a twenty year period until 2007.
In addition to the generation of electricity, the ash residue generated
as a result of the incineration process is cycled through a magnetic
separation process where the metals are separated and then recycled.
The remaining ash residue is transported to the Southeast County Landfill
where it is either landfilled or utilized as daily cover.
Due to safety considerations, the RRF only provides service to SWMD
transfer vehicles, franchise collectors, and commercial customers which
utilize mechanically unloading vehicles. Service is provided at the
RRF Monday through Saturday - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Class
I Landfill
Class I landfill disposal is provided
at the Southeast County Landfill (SCLF) which is
the only public Class I landfill in
Hillsborough County. Opened in 1984, the 179 acre SCLF is constructed
over the clay residue from a phosphate mining operation. These clays
serve as the liner for the SCLF. Generally, the SCLF receives: non-process-able
solid waste (solid waste which is unacceptable for disposition in the
Resource Recovery Facility such as bulky items, construction and demolition
debris, etc.); ash from the RRF and the City of Tampa waste-to-energy
facility; shredded tires; and, when necessary, diversions from the
RRF and the transfer stations. The SCLF is operated by Waste Management,
Inc. of Florida in accordance with a "life-of-site" contract
with the County.
Generally, the SCLF provides service to the SWMD transfer vehicles,
franchise collectors, and commercial customers. Residential (Annual
Disposal Assessment) customers may utilize the (SCLF) when the size
of the load is too large to be accepted at a Community Collection Center.
There is no charge for Annual Disposal Assessment customers. Service
is provided at the SCLF Monday through Saturday - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Transfer Stations
In order to provide more convenient disposition
alternatives for processable solid waste, the System utilizes two
(2) transfer stations which are operated by the SWMD - the Northwest
County Transfer Station located in the northwest part of the County
and the South County Transfer Station located in the southern part
of the County. The transfer stations: receive loads of processable
solid waste in varying sizes; consolidates them into tractor trailer
size loads (approximately 18 tons); and then transports the larger
loads to the RRF, or when necessary, to any one of a number of designated
diversion facilities. Therefore, in addition to providing more convenient
service to System customers, the transfer stations also serve to
reduce the amount of vehicular traffic at the RRF and the SCLF.
Generally, the transfer stations provide service to the SWMD, franchise
collectors, and commercial customers. Residential (Annual Disposal
Assessment) customers may utilize the transfer stations when the size
of a load dictates that it is appropriate. There is no charge for Annual
Disposal Assessment) customers. Service is provided at the transfer
stations Monday through Saturday - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Collection
Services
With a few minor exceptions, the System provides
all of the solid waste collection services in the System service area.
Collection services are provided by private contractors through exclusive
collection contracts (franchises) for residential collection services
and commercial collection services. The collection services are provided
by three (3) franchise collectors: East Bay Sanitation Services, Inc.;
Kimmins Recycling; and Waste Management of Tampa. Solid waste collection
services are regulated by County Ordinance 96-34.
Residential curbside collection service is mandatory for all residential
units in the System service area, with exemptions for some residential
units. Residential collection service provides for four (4) curbside
collections each week: 2 garbage; 1 yard waste; and 1 recyclables.
Residential customers are billed for this collection services as an
annual collection assessment on the Ad Valorem Tax Bill.
For commercial collection services, all three (3) of the franchise
collectors have the exclusive right to compete for the commercial business
anywhere in the System service area. Commercial customers are free
to negotiate cost and service terms with any of the three franchise
collectors.
Yard Waste Processing
The separation of yard waste from other solid waste is mandatory. Both residential and commercial customers must deliver separated yard waste to one of three (3) Yard Waste Processing Facilities (YWPF).
Yard and wood waste received at the Northwest County Yard Waste Processing Facility (8001 West Linebaugh Avenue), the Falkenburg Yard Waste Processing Facility (350 Falkenburg Road) and the South County Yard Waste Processing Facility (13000 US HWY 41) is size reduced with a tub grinder by a private contractor. The size reduced yard waste is windrowed, and recycled as mulch, soil amendment or fuel by the same private contractor.
The YWPFs are open Monday thru Saturday - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
NOTE: ALL YARD WASTE SITES CLOSE AT 5:00PM TO CUSTOMERS THAT DO NOT HAVE AUTOMATIC UNLOADING VEHICLES.
Community
Collection Centers
Residential customers who are billed
the Annual Disposal Assessment may deliver their own non-processable
solid waste to any one of five (5) conveniently located SWMD-operated
Community Collection Centers (CCC). Solid waste received at the CCCs
is transported by the SWMD to the SCLF, or the Waste Tire Processing
Facility. The CCCs are not available for use by commercial customers.
To gain access to a CCC, a customer must show a copy of their Ad Valorem
Tax Bill, which includes the Annual Disposal Assessment, and another
form of identification. Service is provided at the CCCs Monday through
Friday - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM (except Wimauma which closes at 5:00 PM).
Household
Chemicals and Electronics Collection Program
Residential customers, throughout
the entire County, may deliver household chemicals (paints, fertilizers,
herbicides, used oil, used antifreeze, etc.) and electronics to one of three (3) Household
Chemicals and Electronics Collection Centers (HCCC) - the Sheldon Road site (9805 Sheldon
Road, North Road Maintenance Unit), the South County site (Powell Road,
east of U.S. 41, quarter-mile north of Big Bend Road), and the East
County site (County Road 579, quarter-mile north of Interstate 4's
Exit 10). Chemicals received are either managed as a hazardous waste
by a private contractor or recycled (paint, antifreeze, oil, and others)
by the SWMD. Residential customers are not charged directly for this
service. This service is not available to commercial customers. Service
is provided from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Sheldon Road site on the
first Saturday of each month; at the South County site on the second
Saturday of each month; and at the East County site the third Saturday
of each month. Customers may also deliver electronics only to County Community Collection Centers.
Waste
Tire Processing Program
Virtually all tires received in the
System are ultimately delivered to the Waste Tire Processing
Facility (WTPF) where the tires are shredded by the SWMD into tire chips two
(2) inches and smaller. The tire chips are either utilized as a landfill
cover or disposed of in the SCLF.
ACDA customers may deliver used tires to the CCCs at no charge. Commercial
customers are required to deliver used tires to the WTPF. Service is
provided at the WTPF Monday thru Saturday - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Other Recycling Services. Citizens and businesses are provided with
the opportunity to utilize a number of other recycling services.
Drop-Off Recycling. Drop-off recycling services are provided at the
Northwest County Facility and the Hillsborough Heights Facility. Customers
may drop off aluminum cans, newspaper, glass jars and bottles, and
plastic milk, soda and water bottles. Dropped off recyclables are delivered
to a recycling broker by the SWMD.
Scrap Metal Recycling. Customers may deliver scrap metal to any one
of five (5) CCCs and to the SCLF and the scrap metal is delivered to
a private contractor by the SWMD. On an annual basis, approximately
1,849 tons of scrap metal are recycled.
Lead Acid Battery Recycling. Customers may deliver lead acid batteries
to any one of the five (5) CCCs and to the SCLF where the lead acid
batteries are collected for recycling by a private contractor. On an
annual basis, approximately 5,000 lead acid batteries are recycled.
Waste Reduction. The SWMD utilizes the Hillsborough County Cooperative
Extension Service (CES) to promote waste reduction. The programs offered
by the CES include the Master Composters Program, Enviroshopping and
4-H Recycling Education. The SWMD reimburses the CES for the services
provided. The SWMD also provides waste reduction education through
its Residential and Commercial Recycling Education Programs and Waste
Profile Program.
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