Chillicothe Municipal Recycling/Long-Range Planning Programs

 

Municipal Recycling/Fuel Pellet Plant 

Through a curbside recycling program and the creation of a paper pellet plant that turns waste paper into fuel, Chillicothe is the first city in Missouri to comply with the Missouri Solid Waste Minimization Law of 1990 (Senate Bill 530), which was enacted to reduce the amount of solid waste landfilled by 40% by 1998. To date, Chillicothe has reduced solid waste bound for landfills by 47%. 

In addition, Chillicothe has expanded its curbside recycling program from paper to include glass, plastic and tin, with near 100% compliance from its residents. 

Long Range Planning Program 

In the last part of 1993, the Long Range Planning Committee set about renewing their planning process in a way that would spark new ideas, develop additional leadership, and involve the entire community. 

Hundreds of surveys were sent out to area residents to help identify areas of highest concern within the community. Then, a city matrix identifying the age groups and professions represented in Chillicothe was created, and more than 200 individuals representing these groups were recruited to participate in two evening planning sessions. 

The Long Range Planning Committee accepted as its challenge the need to address the root causes of problems, and to recognize that while many problems are global, solutions are local. 

Prior to the establishment of this process, there was virtual "open warfare" among different community groups, and wide divisions between citizens and government officials. Many of these differences have been resolved as a result of an open, empowering planning process. 

Program Highlights 

Municipal Recycling/Fuel Pellet Plant 

• Solid waste and recyclables are collected simultaneously. Collection trucks feature a "split packer" -- solid waste is put into one side and tin, glass, aluminum and plastic is put into the other -- allowing recyclables and solit waste to be picked up on a single run.
• The community supports recycling because it has proven itself as both the right economic and the right environmental choice. Landfills have a longer lifespan, coal bills have dropped and agricultural production has increased.
• Waste paper collected curbside is taken to the pellet fuel plant, where it is ground up, mixed with water as a bonding agent and extruded into pellets of varying length and 3/4-inch in diameter. The paper pellets are then blended with coal and burned, resulting in reduced solid waste, reduced dependency on coal, and increased savings.
• Two pounds of paper can provide enough power to run a microwave for 100 minutes, a hair dryer for 15 minutes or a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours.

• The long-range planning committee identified nine areas in which they wanted to invest resources. For each of the areas below, a task force was created to meet once a month and help achieve the listed goals.

Education: 

Schools will have adequate facilities to meet the needs of students in a changing world; establish a countywide school district; invest in high technology infrastructure; expand opportunities for post high school development; set a goal of 100% matriculation from high school. 

Environment and Aesthetics: 

Expand recycling program beyond paper to include plastic, tin and glass; extend recycling program to entire county; enforce zoning laws; demolish old buildings; create home beautification programs; institute a statewide five cent deposit on glass, plastic and cans.

Family Life: 

Increase participation in parenting programs (e.g., adopt a grandchild, Parents-as-Teachers); offer more family programs (e.g., allow public use of school computers, invite volunteers to bring programs to schools); complete a community housing study.

Government: 

Provide more space and increase size and pay for police force; increase salaries of Council Persons and Mayor; publicize bus routes.

Youth: 

Build a youth center; employ more counselors; introduce programs to support single-parent homes.

Quality of Life: 

Build a multipurpose community and fine arts center; create a community wellness center; improve access for handicapped.

Economic Development: 

Emphasize market-oriented approaches in government; increase available funding for small businesses.

Downtown Revitalization: 

Take advantage of do-it-yourself committees to help renovate; clean second floor windows; create a parking garage district; develop a financial plan for revitalization; acquire low-maintenance Christmas lights; recruit businesses to fill empty buildings; evaluate downtown traffic controls; restore clocks on courthouse.

Agriculture: 

Construct renewable fuels plant; provide financing for new farm families; increase marketing access for farmers; establish flood control measures.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Natural Resource Conservation Program is managed by Chillicothe Municipal Utilities (CMU). CMU has entered into a partnership with North American Resources to produce paper fuel pellets. The pellet plant was constructed without government assistance. 

The Long Range Planning Committee works with consultant Jack McCall and encourages input from all citizens. 

Budgets: In revision. 

Community Served: The 8,800 residents of Chillicothe, MO. 

Measures of Success:

The solid waste stream has been reduced by 47% since the program's inception.

Crop production has increased, and costs for disposal of bio-solids has decreased from $60 per ton to $16 per ton.

The cost of the Household Hazardous Waste program has declined 30% and 75%-80% of all household hazardous waste is now recycled.

Curbside recycling compliance has reached nearly 100%.

Every day 12,000-15,000 pounds of waste paper bound for the fuel pellet plant are collected.

The pellet plant saves $3 per ton compared to burning pure coal.

Overall, the pellets will net a 1% savings in fuel costs.

The need to purchase low-sulfur coal from out of state has been reduced.