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RETH INK 6a RECYCLING® Waste and Toxicity Reduction Source reduction (also referred to as waste reduction) is the highest priority for managing waste in the solid waste management hierarchy. Source reduction is difficult to measure, but it is typically defined by the change in tons of waste generated per capita. MSW tons per capita decreased since the last update to the Regional Master Plan, from 1.26 in 2005 to 1.09 in 2010. Toxicity reduction is the process of reducing the amount and degree of hazardous materials in the waste stream to limit environmental and public health risks. The Region promotes reduction of wastes with hazardous characteristics, and provides for reciprocal use of household hazardous waste collection programs. Each metropolitan area county has at least one year - round site for the collection of household hazardous waste (HHW), which is augmented with seasonal, temporary, satellite, or special one -day collections. Since 2005, participation at the Region's HHW facilities has increased by 44 %, serving 245,602 vehicles in 2010. The top three collected materials by weight were consumer electronics at 51% of total pounds collected, latex paint at 18% and motor oil and filters at 8 %. The Region provides for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training for county inspectors and maintains a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) database. Metropolitan county staff inspect, train, and license hazardous waste generators and regulate in accordance with federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards, and use the VSQG database to track hazardous waste manifests. Recycling In 2010, the Region's recycling rate was at 40% (not including SCORE source reduction and yard waste credits). Recycling programs in the Region consist of curbside collection, event recycling days or one day events and drop -off sites, and include recycling services for both single - family and multi - family housing. Curbside recycling programs are provided by haulers through contracts with municipalities, or are provided by subscription service under licensing conditions of municipalities. Regional outreach, education and infrastructure efforts have been targeted primarily at the residential sector in the past two decades. Many businesses have recycling programs, and Minn. Stat. §115A.151 requires public entities to have containers for at least three recyclable materials from their operations. There are five privately -owned and operated Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) serving the Region. Materials accepted at the MRFs vary, but commonly include: paper /fiber, glass bottles, metals and plastic bottles. The private sector, municipalities, and counties provide numerous public drop -off locations for one or more types of recyclables. 2011 -2030 Regional Solid Waste Master Plan Approved by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board on December 14, 2011 Appendix V Page 17