#  GREENWASTE DIVERSION AND RECYCLING PLAN

# 2005 - 2006 

# 

#  Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute Fellow:

#  Robbin E. Rose, M.S., REHS)

*Environmentalist Supervisor*

Washoe County District Health Department

*1001 E. 9^th^ St.*

*Reno, Nevada 89512*

*(775) 328-2424*

*E-mail: rrose@washoecounty.us*

# Mentor:

### **Charles D. Treser, MPH**

*Senior Lecturer*, Department of Environmental Health

School of Public Health and Community Medicine

University of Washington

# Acknowledgements:

I would like to sincerely thank the following individuals for providing
me with the opportunity to attend the first class of the Environmental
Public Health Leadership Institute and affording me their support and
guidance throughout the wonderful learning and professional development
process:

Dr. Sharunda Buchanan, PH.D, Chief CAPT. John Sarisky, R.S., MPH

Environmental Health Services Branch Environmental Health Services
Branch

Centers for Disease Control Centers for Disease Control

National Center for Environmental Health National Center for
Environmental Health

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.3756944444444446in"
height="0.6368055555555555in"}

I would also like to sincerely thank the following individuals for
giving me the opportunity to attend the Institute and providing me with
their everlasting support and assistance in initiating and implementing
the Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling Plan for our community:

R. Jeanne Rucker, REHS Robert O. Sack, REHS

*Environmentalist Supervisor* *Director, Environmental Health Services*

Solid Waste Management Program Washoe County District Health Dept.

Washoe County District Health Dept. Reno, Nevada

Reno, Nevada

# EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Washoe County District Health Department has identified two
environmental health issues that need to be addressed in the Solid Waste
Management Program: 1) extending the service-life of the local landfill
and, 2) achieving the State's mandated 25% recycling rate. Staff agreed
to address these issues simultaneously by developing the Greenwaste
Diversion and Recycling Plan to reduce greenwaste disposal at the
landfill to increase its life expectancy and to develop commodities from
greenwaste generation (compost and mulch) to enhance the County's
recycling rate.

This report examines the process involved in developing and initiating
the Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling Plan in the Washoe County Health
District. The report will discuss the Plan's successes to date, outline
the steps required to complete the execution of the Plan, and discuss
potential hurdles and conflicts which may arise during the process.

# INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:

In the United States, municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has
continued to increase at an alarming rate since the year 1960's rate of
88 million tons, to the year 2000's rate of 232 million tons. The
generation rate in 1960 amounted to 2.7 pounds per person per day,
reached 4.5 pounds per person per day in the 1990s and has stabilized at
4.4 pounds per person per day in the early millennium years.^1^ "*This
deluge of garbage is growing steadily and we must find ways to manage it
safely and effectively. Eighty percent (80%) of garbage is landfilled.
But we're running out of space to bury it in existing landfills; more
than one third of the nation's landfills will be full within the next
few years and many cities are unable to find enough acceptable sites for
new landfills or new combustors. To eliminate this growing capacity gap,
all levels of government, the public and industry must forge a new
alliance to develop and implement integrated systems for solid waste
management".*^2^

In 1989, The EPA published *The Solid Waste Dilemma: An* *Agenda for
Action,* a landmark policy document that warned the nation that a waste
disposal crisis was about to occur---a crisis that could only be
prevented by implementing a significant change in existing solid waste
management practices. *"The United States must find a safe and permanent
way to eliminate the gap between waste generation and available capacity
in landfills, combustors, and in secondary markets."*^3^ It further
warned that if the country did not stop generating so much MSW, it would
run out of safe places to deposit the wastes and jeopardize the public's
health and the environment. The *Agenda* identified disposal capacity
and materials recovery as the underlying problem, and used the crisis as
a "call to action". Communities through out the nation have slowly, one
by one, begun to develop landfill diversion strategies in compliance
with state mandated recycling programs.

The Washoe County District Health Department's Solid Waste Management
Program is experiencing a solid waste dilemma similar to the rest of the
nation, which includes loss of available landfill service life,
skyrocketing increases in illegal dumping sites in outlying areas, and
the state's recycling rate mandate. The Department also has lead
enforcement agency responsibilities for solid waste management issues
including recycling for two municipalities; the cities of Reno and
Sparks and, the unincorporated areas within Washoe County, Nevada. To
help address the dilemma the Department's governing board, the Washoe
County District Board of Health, has directed staff to develop a solid
waste management program that will reduce, recycle or divert wastes from
going to the regional landfill.

***Problem Statement:***

####### The solid waste disposal issue in the Health District has become a complex issue. Three interrelated problem statements were identified by program staff to describe the issue:

1\. The Lockwood Regional Landfill's current footprint covers
approximately 115 acres^4^ and current 2005 estimates indicate that this
area has less than 25 years of service life left. The cost to the
community to re-site another location is extremely high.

2\. Illegal dumping is continuing to increase despite the education
efforts put forth by the Department.

3\. Washoe County's recycling rate for 2001 was 29%, 2002 was 24%, 2003
was 27% and 2004 was 25%. The State's recycling rate requirement is
25%.^5^ The voluntary curbside recycling program recovers only aluminum,
glass, plastic, and newspaper.

During the early problem assessment stage of this project, the causes
and contributing factors of the above three problems were identified:

1.1 Within the Health District, the Lockwood Regional Landfill provides
for the disposal of trash and garbage generated by communities in
Northern Nevada and Eastern California. A current estimate indicates
that this landfill has less than 25 years of service-life left. Waste
disposal in the state from 1999 to 2001 increased 3-4 %.^6^ In the last
decade, garbage importation from California has increased significantly
and has had a tremendous impact on the service-life of the landfill. The
population of the County is expected to grow at an average annual rate
of 1.43%, growing from 339,486 persons to an estimated 497,000 in
2023.^7^

**WASHOE COUNTY POPULATION GROWTH 1994-2025**

  ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------
  **YEAR**                       **POPULATION**

  1994                           293,141

  1995                           302,748

  1996                           312,366

  1997                           320,828

  1998                           327,899

  1999                           334,601

  2000                           \*339,486

  2001                           353,271

  2002                           359,423

  2003                           373,233

  2004                           383,453

  2005                           \*\*376,890

  2010                           \*\*408,740

  2015                           \*\*439,540

  2020                           \*\*468,890

  2025                           \*\*497,610
  ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------

![](media/image2.wmf)

**Notes**:

**\*** Year 2000 figures represent actual population as of April 1,
2000, and are from the decennial census conducted by the U.S. Census
Bureau. All other figures are estimates for July 1 of the respective
year.

\*\* Washoe County estimated population is calculated by averaging the
Nevada State Demographer's Labor Regression Model and Washoe County's
Housing Unit Model. This average is then submitted to the Department of
Taxation and certified by the Governor's Office.

> 2.1 Factors that have caused an increase in the number of illegal dump
> sites include: increases in fuel and transportation costs, increase in
> the cost for disposal at transfer stations and landfill, and the
> number and accessibility of transfer stations relative to the increase
> in population. There is limited funding to conduct an effective
> education program.

3.1 The curbside recycling programs collects aluminum, plastic, glass
and newspaper only. Businesses may recycle paper and cardboard. There
are no transfer stations available to take greenwaste and the closest
composting facility is at least 35 miles away. There are no monetary
incentives for persons or businesses to recycle.

The following *Behavior Over Time Graph* depicts the variables, which
contribute to the solid waste issue in Washoe County.

####### ***Behavior Over Time Graph:***

**NUMBER**

**TIME**

A systems analysis approach to the chronic solid waste problem was
initiated during the project's assessment phase process. An "Accidental
Adversaries" archetype was developed that identified several mental
models and root causes to the solid waste problem, which ultimately
could affect the implementation process of the project. (See Causal Loop
Diagram below)

***Causal Loop Diagram:***

![](media/image1.wmf)

In developing this archetype, the complexity of the solid waste issue in
our region was further emphasized. At the beginning of this process,
mandating a greenwaste diversion and recycling program appeared to be a
simple solution to increasing the landfill's service-life and for
increasing the County's recycling rate through greenwaste recovery and
composting. Program staff has estimated that 20%-30% of the material
going to the landfill is greenwaste and should be able to be recovered.
If this waste stream is diverted from the landfill, not only would the
waste disposal company lose a significant revenue source, the
municipalities with franchise agreements with the waste company would
also lose their revenue sources. A further trickle-down effect occurs
when Storey County (where the landfill is located) which, receives a
large part of its tax base and revenues from the company operating the
landfill, further loses its major revenue source.

Washoe County has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Storey County
to oversee the landfill operations, since Storey County does not have a
local health department. Washoe County is also the largest generator of
wastes, which are disposed of at the landfill in Storey County. If
Washoe County decides to divert 20%-30% of the waste stream going to the
landfill causing revenues to be decreased, the landfill will need to
seek out other revenue sources, including importing wastes from other
states, in order to stay in business. This strategy would negate the
Department's Solid Waste Management Program's goal of increasing the
landfill's service life. As is evident, there is no easy quick fix to
this problem.

Two intervention strategies have been identified for successful project
implementation: finding sustainable monetary incentives to encourage the
waste company to incorporate a greenwaste diversion program in its
business plan, and conducting an extensive public outreach/educational
campaign to reduce greenwaste generation and identify disposal options.
Department staff agreed to continue to pursue this project by initiating
the "Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling Plan", whose goals are to reduce
greenwaste disposal at the landfill to increase its service life
expectancy and to develop commodities from greenwaste generation
(compost and mulch) to enhance the County's recycling rate.

####### 

####### ***10 Essential Environmental Health Services:***

During the development phase of the Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling
Plan, program staff ensured that the goals and objectives for the Plan
incorporated one or more of the 10 Essential Environmental Health
Services^8^, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Environmental Health. The following describes how
the Plan incorporates the Essential Services.

1\. **Monitor health status to identify community health issues**.

-   monitor records of greenwaste and MSW hauled to transfer stations
    and compost facilities

-   conduct audits of county records, reports, permits issued, waste
    releases issued, etc.

-   audit all groundwater, methane and other tests required of landfill
    and other solid waste management facilities within the county.

2\. **Diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards**.

-   investigate and carryout compliance actions on all valid solid waste
    complaints.

3\. **Inform, educate and empower people about health issues.**

-   conduct annual Compost Awareness Day in May for homeowners

-   set up composting container distribution center for the public

-   develop informational brochures and handouts

-   develop section on greenwaste diversion and composting on website

4\. **Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health
problems.**

-   Identify community partners and develop a Greenwaste Taskforce

-   Collaborate with General Improvement Districts and municipalities to
    address the solid waste issues within their communities

-   Collaborate with non-profit organizations involved with community
    clean-up issues

-   Collaborate with local governments, businesses, University of
    Nevada, landfill and transfer station owners, landscaping industry,
    parks and recreation departments to partner insetting up and
    operating composting sites

> 5\. **Develop policies and plans that support individual and community
> health efforts.**

-   Review and update current solid waste and recycling policies and
    review and amend Solid Waste Management Plan

-   Develop new policies as needed to support the implementation of the
    Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling Program

6\. **Enforce laws and regulations that protect health**

-   Prevent illegal dumping throughout the community

-   Prevent groundwater contamination and toxic air emissions

-   Reduce amount of waste disposed in regional landfill

-   Reduce water consumption and landscape evaporation rates

-   Enforce the Washoe County District Board of Health Regulations
    Governing Solid Waste Management

-   Ensure that action is taken to abate imminent environmental health
    hazards.

7\. **Link people to needed services and assure the provision of health
care when otherwise not available.**

-   Maintain relationships with other environmental health agencies to
    provide accurate and adequate referrals

8\. **Assure a competent workforce.**

-   Provide technical training to staff to assure competency in solid
    waste management and recycling programs

-   Collaborate with the University of Nevada --Reno's Public Health
    School to provide internships for students pursuing a career in
    environmental health

-   Provide in-service training for all new and existing staff to
    enhance competencies in solid waste and recycling management program
    elements

-   Strengthen partnerships between schools of public health,
    environmental health department and local municipalities, to
    effectively increase capacity at the local level

9\. **Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal
population-based health services.**

-   Prepare annual report for the Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling
    Plan

-   Prepare Annual Solid Waste Management Report

-   Prepare Annual Recycling Activities Report

10\. **Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health
concerns.**

-   Collaborate with the University of Nevada---Reno, municipalities,
    state agency, community agencies, non-profit groups, parks and
    recreation departments, and waste disposal companies to research
    alternative solutions to solid waste disposal and to enhance
    opportunities for waste diversion and recycling.

######## Ten Essential Services of Environmental Health

######### 

![](media/image2.png){width="3.75in" height="3.8125in"}

*Source: Public Health Functions Steering Committee (July 1995)*

####### 

####### 

####### ***National Goals Supported*** 

1\. The Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling Plan will support the
objectives set forth in *Healthy People 2010^9^*; namely, Objective \#
8-15 Increase Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste. The objective
established a baseline rate of 27% of the total municipal solid waste
generated to be recycled. The target rate for 2010 is 38%, which is
consistent with EPA's 1997 Strategic Plan. Our plan will establish
objectives that meet or exceed this Healthy People 2010 objective.

2\. The Plan's objectives and events/activities will support the
following goals and objectives in CDC's *National Strategy to Revitalize
Public Health Services*^10^*:*

**Goal 1: Build Capacity**

> [Objective I-B]{.underline}: Support, evaluate, and disseminate the
> results of new demonstration programs, best practices, and
> CDC-supported projects designed to improve livability and to prevent
> and control environmentally related illness.

**Goal 2: Support Research**

> [Objective 11-B:]{.underline} Engage community support for
> community-based environmental public health research.
>
> [Objective II-C:]{.underline} Synthesize and disseminate relevant
> research findings on environmental public health services.
>
> [Objective II-D:]{.underline} Implement environmental public health
> service demonstrations and evaluations in the built and natural
> environments that lead to healthier communities.

**Goal 4: Communicate and Market**

> [Objective IV-A]{.underline}: Identify and promote community-based
> strategies to elevate the image, importance, and need to improve
> environmental public health services.
>
> [Objective IV-B:]{.underline} Support educational approaches and
> models of best practices to gain community support and participation
> in addressing environmental public health service issues, concerns,
> and best models to organize, deliver, and market environmental public
> health services.

###### Goal 6: Create Strategic Partnerships

> [Objective VI-A:]{.underline} Coordinate and promote activities that
> identify critical stakeholders, and foster communications and
> interaction among agencies, organizations, and interests that
> influence environmental public health services.

3\. In May 2001, the National Centers for Environmental Health, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Public Health
Association published the Environmental Health Competency Project^12^
recommending core competencies for Local Environmental Health
Practitioners. Attending the Environmental Public Health Leadership
Institute and through developing the Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling
Plan, myself and other program staff will have enhanced the following
recommended core competencies:

A. **Assessment** C. **Communication**

> A.1 Information Gathering C.1 Educate

A.2 Data Analysis and Interpretation C.2 Communicate

A.3 Evaluation C.3 Conflict Resolution

C.4 Marketing

B. **Management**

B.1 Problem Solving

B.2 Economic And Political Issues

B.3 Organizational Knowledge and Behavior

B.4 Project Management

B.5 Computer/Information Technology

B.6 Reporting, Documentation, and Record-Keeping

B.7 Collaboration

***Project Logic Model***:

+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| INPUTS       | \--number of members/volunteers/regulators/business   |
|              | owners/partners involved in greenwaste activities     |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--landscapers, homeowners and residents, trainers    |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--training curriculum                                |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--materials: sites, water accessibility, signage,    |
|              | bins, materials, flyers                               |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ACTIVITIES   | \--collaborate with local government agencies,        |
|              | businesses, University of Nevada, landfill and        |
|              | transfer station owners, landscaping industry, parks  |
|              | departments to partner in setting up and/or operating |
|              | composting sites, collection facilities and markets   |
|              | for processed greenwaste                              |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--partner with farmers, community gardeners, and     |
|              | other potential customers to purchase and/or          |
|              | contribute materials to the compost sites             |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--train community volunteers & partners in           |
|              | composting procedures & care                          |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--distribute composting containers to households     |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--set up and maintain transfer stations and          |
|              | composting sites; collect materials and advise public |
|              | of drop-off points, maintain and care for compost;    |
|              | distribute or sell humus to growers, individual or    |
|              | community gardeners and landscapers                   |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| OUTPUTS      | \--number of solid waste permits issued by the agency |
|              | for haulers, transfer stations, and compost           |
|              | facilities                                            |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--number of collaborative partners and community     |
|              | outreach events                                       |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--number of tons of organic material collected       |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--number of hours transfer stations and compost      |
|              | facilities are in operation                           |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--number of educational materials developed and used |
|              | in outreach efforts                                   |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--number of households using home compost bins       |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| INTERMEDIATE | \--increased public and commercial awareness of and   |
|              | contribution to compost site(s)                       |
| OUTCOMES     |                                                       |
|              | \--increased use of compost by home and community     |
|              | gardeners and landscapers                             |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--decrease greenwaste disposal at transfer stations  |
|              | and landfill                                          |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| END\         | \--reduction in the amount of greenwaste generated    |
| OUTCOMES     | (e.g. lbs. per capita)                                |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--improved soil quality where compost was added and  |
|              | reduced water use (soil retains moisture and          |
|              | nutrients, prevents runoff, lessens need for          |
|              | fertilizer)                                           |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--reduction in the number of illegal dumpsites in    |
|              | outlying areas and increase beautification of land    |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--increase in amount of available compost and life   |
|              | of landfill                                           |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| HOW          | \--records of greenwaste hauled to transfer station   |
|              | and compost facility                                  |
| MEASURED     |                                                       |
|              | \--checklist of households where containers were      |
|              | distributed                                           |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--schedule of outreach programs with estimated       |
|              | attendance                                            |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--checklist of educational materials developed       |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--record of hits on website                          |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--survey of landscape companies, hauling companies,  |
|              | community gardeners, parks departments, landscaping   |
|              | industry, households                                  |
|              |                                                       |
|              | \--audit county records                               |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+

# 

# PROJECT OBJECTIVES/DESCRIPTION/DELIVERABLES:

**[Program Goal]{.underline}:** To reduce the amount of recyclable
materials being disposed at the local transfer stations and the regional
landfill.

**[Health Problem:]{.underline}** Solid waste generated by communities
may contain organic and hazardous materials such as toxic chemicals and
disease-causing organisms which, could compromise the public's heath if
not properly disposed of. Proper solid waste disposal reduces the risk
of public exposure to toxic materials and disease-causing organisms by
limiting and confining wastes to approved landfill sites. Landfill space
in the United States is being filled at an alarming rate and sites for
disposing of garbage and other non-recyclable materials are decreasing
in number. Diversion of greenwaste and other recyclable materials from
landfill disposal would reduce the total volume of waste disposed and
would extend the service-life of landfills.

**[Outcome Objective:]{.underline}** By January 01, 2009, the amount of
greenwaste being disposed of at the landfill will be reduced by 50% from
the baseline amount calculated for 2006.

**[Determinant]{.underline}**: The amount of greenwaste disposed of at
the regional landfill.

**[Impact Objective:]{.underline}** By January 2007, 50% of all
commercial landscape companies and 25% of all homeowners will dispose of
all greenwaste at greenwaste recovery/recycling centers or composting
facilities.

**[Contributing Factors:]{.underline}**

> 1\. There is a lack of convenient and low-cost facilities for the
> recovery and processing of greenwaste for re-use.
>
> 2\. Transportation, storage, and processing costs are prohibitive.
>
> 3\. The public lacks awareness of and knowledge about the importance
> and benefits of recovering and recycling of greenwaste.

**[Process Objectives:]{.underline}**

> 1\. By March 01, 2006, the Greenwaste Taskforce will identify
> opportunities for developing transfer stations, recovery programs and
> composting facilities within a short proximity of the Health District.

[Event:]{.underline} Conduct Survey

-   Convene Greenwaste Taskforce 2-3 times and brainstorm opportunities
    for greenwaste recovery facilities.

-   Conduct presentations for DBOH, County Commissioners and other
    agencies to present proposal and benefits to the community.

-   Present idea to developers, Landscape Association and other
    interested parties to determine whether these parties would support
    such a program.

2\. By June 2006, project-funding opportunities will be identified.

[Event:]{.underline} Identify costs associated with program

-   Survey grant and other funding opportunities to help offset costs of
    program.

-   Conduct a costs/benefit analysis to determine feasibility.

-   Develop a list of grant opportunities to off-set costs of disposal.

> 3\. By June 01, 2006, 25% of all residents in Washoe County shall
> demonstrate an awareness of the importance, effectiveness, and
> environmental benefits of greenwaste recycling and composting.

[Event:]{.underline} Implement Greenwaste Recycling Awareness Program
(multi-media approach)

-   Obtain funding for education program/ media campaign

-   Develop informational brochures on greenwaste recycling and
    composting

-   Conduct Annual Community Compost Awareness Day

-   Present outcome of Compost Awareness Day to District Board of Health

-   Create a greenwaste recycling section on website to educate the
    public

# Plan Development Steps Completed:

The following Plan assessment and development steps have been completed:

-   A broad-based needs assessment has been conducted.

-   Goals with measurable objectives have been identified.

-   A comprehensive literature review of and identification of
    successful greenwaste recycling programs in the nation has been
    completed.

-   Stakeholders have been identified and the Greenwaste Taskforce
    selected. The taskforce met four times during 2005 and once in
    January of 2006.

-   The current solid waste and recycling infrastructure in the Health
    District has been identified and evaluated. Defects and lack of
    components have been identified.

-   A "systems thinking" analysis of the solid waste problem has been
    conducted which has identified the Plan's implementation barriers.

-   A dynamic logic model has been drafted to outline the process for
    Plan implementation.

####### 

####### **PLAN SUCCESSES TO DATE:**

The Plan has achieved the following successes since the initiation of
the project in January 2005:

-   Compost Awareness Day conducted on May 07, 2005, with community
    partners including the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension,
    Master Gardeners, Cities of Reno and Sparks Parks Departments, Keep
    Truckee Meadows Beautiful and the Washoe County Regional Parks
    Department. An annual event is scheduled to coincide with National
    Compost Awareness Day.

-   Implementation of a greenwaste awareness multimedia campaign in
    conjunction with an annual Christmas tree recycling program with
    Department partner, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful. The trees are
    mulched and used for weed control through out the community.

# Development of an educational outreach program with community partners for dissemination of brochures, fliers and fact sheets on composting and recycling.

-   Conducted a presentation to the District Board of Health in June of
    2005 on the Plan's goals and current successes.

-   Conducted a field trip to a composting facility for stakeholders and
    taskforce members.

# FUTURE OUTCOMES

Significant progress has been made on implementation of the Greenwaste
Diversion and Recycling Plan. However, as with any project of this
magnitude, one year's time is just not enough to complete the process.
Current estimates indicate that full implementation may not be
accomplished until the year 2012. The following steps and activities
must be addressed for successful completion of the project and
implementation of the plan:

-   An economic feasibility study and cost/benefit analysis must be
    completed. Funding for this study must be secured and the Taskforce
    members are currently researching grant opportunities through EPA
    and other agencies.

-   A complete waste stream analysis must be conducted at the local
    transfer stations and the regional landfill to determine the
    quantities of greenwaste and other compostable materials being
    disposed. We are partnering with the University of Nevada---Reno's
    Public Health School to identify students of interest and projects
    that could enhance the collection of data for the project.

-   Identify suitable sites for construction of composting facilities
    and greenwaste transfer stations. Identify potential developers and
    managers of such facilities.

-   Identify sustainable monetary sources and incentive opportunities
    for developers of greenwaste recycling facilities and waste
    management companies. Ways to off-set the reduction in revenues from
    waste diversion from the landfill must be found to ensure that the
    landfill continues to be financially stable.

-   Enhance the current public outreach program and obtain a funding
    source for the multimedia campaign. Conduct presentations to the
    landscaping association and builders associations. Create a specific
    website for greenwaste recycling on the County's website to educate
    the public.

-   Evaluate the Department's current policies and regulations to
    determine need for amendments, deletions and/or additions.

-   Present Plan concept to the mayors, city managers, and governing
    councils of the cities of Reno and Sparks, and County Commissioners
    from Washoe County and Storey County and obtain their endorsements.

-   Evaluate the effectiveness of the Plan in extending the life of the
    landfill, in diversion of waste, generating compost, and in
    decreasing the numbers of illegal dump sites in the Health District.

# LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

####### ***Robbin E. Rose M.S., REHS***

Wow! What an incredible two years. This journey started with being
recognized as an Emerging Leader in Environmental Health and attending
the Emerging Leader Conference Session in Atlanta at the 6^th^ National
Environmental Public Health Conference, in December of 2003. As an
Environmental Health Specialist, I am dedicated to my profession and
know that what I do probably makes a difference in protecting our
environment and the public's health. I guess I have kind of taken things
for granted, doing my work from day to day, until such time as I sat
down, and looked at what I have accomplished during my career. In
applying for EPHLI, it gave me time to actually sit down and really
reflect on what I have done in my career and made me realize that the
programs and things I have accomplished have really made a difference.
EPHLI has made me realize that there are also other environmental health
specialists doing outstanding jobs, have innovative ideas, and make a
great difference in public health across this country. EPHLI has allowed
me to network with these professionals who recognize, provide support
and believe in your accomplishments. It is a great feeling to know that
professionals at the federal level recognize your work and provide
support and guidance. EPHLI has allowed me to accomplish and fulfill my
goals set out in my application to the Institute. I wanted to "enhance
my leadership skills/ abilities and become a manager whose decisions
will have a positive effect on the health and welfare of our citizens".
Attending the EPHLI gave me an advantage when I interviewed for my
supervisor position. I am happy to report that I was promoted in
September of 2005 and am now Supervisor of the Food Protection Program.
I have improved my team building and problem-solving skills, enhanced my
networking, communication and motivational abilities, and have had a
wonderful experience sharing successful experiences with other
professional in the field. I have learned to take a systems analysis
approach to problem identification and solving. My professional
development has been enhanced considerable. EPHLI has allowed me to
identify areas to improve on through the Skillscope Evaluation and
really help me understand how I communicate and how others observe me. I
have been so fortunate to be able to attend this Institute and to be
able to fulfill my personal and professional development goals. EPHLI
has given me the opportunity and the tools needed to be the best person
and successful Environmental Health Professional that I could ever be.
Thank you so very much for this wonderful opportunity.

# ABOUT THE EPHLI FELLOW

###### 

###### *Robbin E. Rose M.S., REHS*

Robbin Rose has been employed at the Washoe County District Health
Department in Reno, Nevada for the past 17 years and is an
Environmentalist Supervisor in the Food Protection Program. Prior to her
promotion to supervisor in September, she worked as Senior
Environmentalist for the Solid Waste/Recycling Program, where she began
the Greenwaste Diversion and Recycling Plan for her EPHLI project.
During her tenure at the Health Department, she worked for 13 years as
the Senior Environmentalist for the Food Protection Program, and
developed the mandatory Food Protection Manager Certification Program.
She also was a member of the Conference For Food Protection's
subcommittee that developed the "National Accreditation Standards for
Certification of Food Protection Managers" and the subcommittee that
developed the "National Guidelines for Food Recovery Programs". She
received her B.S. in Agriculture/Integrated Pest Management and her M.S.
in Agronomy/Plant Pathology from the University of Nevada-Reno.

# REFERENCES

1\. U.S. EPA. *Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2001 Facts
and Figures.* Washington D.D. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Solid Waste and Response*.* EPA 530-R-03-011. October 2003: 1-2.

2\. U.S.EPA. *The Solid Waste Dilemma: An Agenda for Action.* Washington
D.C.: United States Environmental Protection Agency. 1989: 1.

3\. *Ibid, p.22.*

4\. Kennedy/Jenks Consultants. *Final Draft Design Report, Executive
Summary Lockwood Regional Landfill, Storey County, Nevada.* Reno, NV.
September, 1994: 1.

5\. Washoe County District Health Department. *Annual State Recycling
Report.* Submitted to the Bureau of Waste Management, Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection. May 2004.

6\. Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of
Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Management. *2003 Recycling
Status and Market Development Report. 2003: 11.*

7\. Washoe County Office of the County Manager. *Washoe County Consensus
Forecast 2003-2025.* Reno, Nevada. February 12, 2003.

8\. Osaki, C. *Essential Services of Environmental Health.* Northwest
Center for Public Health Practice, University of Washington School of
Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA. July 2004.

9\. U. S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Disease
Prevention & Human Services. *Health People 2010.* Available at:
[http://www.healthypeople.gov](http://www.healthypeople.gov/). Accessed
January 27, 2006.

10\. CDC. *A National Strategy to Revitalize Environmental Public Health
Services.* Atlanta, GA: Dept. of Health and Human Services. (US) CDC:
September 2003.

11.CDC. *Environmental Health Competency Project: Recommendations for
Core Competencies for Local Environmental Health Practitioners.*
Atlanta, GA. Dept. of Health and Human Services (US), CDC: 2001*.*