Last month, part one of this article examined the determinants of collection quantities as identified in a recent study by Sound Resource Management (Bellingham, Washington). The study, commissioned by the King County Solid Waste Division, examined single-family household refuse, recycling and yard debris collection quantities in King County, Washington. Household size, income and yard size have substantial impacts on collection quantities, yet these variables are outside the control of those responsible for designing, managing and operating solid waste collection and diversion programs. Thus it is critical that communities manage the variables within their control - such as collection fees, frequency of service and container sizes - to simultaneously minimize waste generation and maximize diversion. In order to quantify how individual jurisdictions were doing at minimizing collected waste generation and maximizing waste diversion by households in 2000, the collection surveys were used to define the average for collection program characteristics and fees in King County. The typical collection program was then established as the baseline against which community performance was measured.
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