Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control
Dover, Delaware

Evaluation of Enhanced Residential Waste and Recyclables Collection and Processing
for New Castle County, Delaware

At the time of the analysis, Delaware was one of the few remaining states without significant curbside collection of residential recyclables in major metropolitan areas. The Recycling Public Advisory Council, created under the Governor's Executive Order 82, contracted with DSM to conduct a feasibility study of the potential to replace the existing drop-off recycling program offered by the Delaware Solid Waste Authority with a comprehensive curbside collection program, involving single or dual stream processing at a DSWA facility.

DSM conducted surveys of existing drop-offs to estimate participation rates and costs, and then compared these participation rates and costs with alternative curbside collection programs, including subscription service, and countywide dual and single stream collection programs. DSM presented the findings and detailed cost analysis to the Governor, Governor's aids, DSWA officials, and the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources as part of a special session to review the cost of recycling in Delaware. DSM also presented the results at several public hearings in the County.

Back to Clients