Public Works

Solid Waste Division

Residential Waste

Business & School Waste


Department of Public Works

1500 Scribner NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone: (616) 336-3694
Fax: (616) 336-3338

Mission Statement

The Kent County Board and Department of Public Works acquires, improves, enlarges, operates, and maintains water supply systems, sewage disposal systems, and refuse systems to promote and protect the health and welfare of its residents and the environment.

Household Waste Guide


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Overview

The Department of Public Works is an enterprise fund department established by the Board of Commissioners to provide solid waste management services and water and sewer system construction, inspection, and maintenance under contract with some local units of government. The department is divided into four divisions: Utility Services, Finance and Accounting, Waste-to-Energy and Solid Waste. In addition to general administration and budgetary oversight, the department also helps local municipalities to secure funding for water and sewer projects.

To accomplish the above services Department of Public Works is divided into two divisions. They are:

Strategic Goals

  • Develop and implement a long-term energy generation and use strategy for landfill gas
  • Develop and implement a strategy for increased solid waste recovery, processing, and recycling services and systems
  • Operate without the use of Kent County General Fund support
  • Participate in the economic development and planning efforts of the region
  • Sustain the appropriate useful life of infrastructure.

Operational Goals

  • Ensure availability of long-term disposal and transfer capacity for Kent County residents
  • Accept and process increased curbside recycling tonage at the Material Recovery Facility
  • Accept all solid waste delivered and process solid waste for energy recovery or transfer in a cost effective and environmentally responsible manner
  • Provide reliable cost-effective sanitary and storm sewer operations and maintenance services for contracted communities and County agencies
  • Provide services to permit and inspect new sanitary sewer installations in accordances with MDEQ Act 98 permit requirements

2009 Adopted Uses: $54,801,496

2009 Adopted Revenues: $54,801,496

Selected Performance Measures

Uses
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Expected
Work plans completed 9 9 9 9
Electricity sold (Mwh) 95,509 98,738 102,168 96,120
Tons of solid waste landfilled 171,883 183,897 190,545 190,000
Tons of recyclable materials processed 13,688 14,230 14,492 15,000
Number of households’ hazardous waste disposed 1,582 2,430 2,053 2,100
Tons of waste turned to electricity & steam 180,726 178,579 187,135 178,000
Lineal feet of public sanitary sewer construction inspected 18,424 45,300 46,998 25,000
Net cost/ton processed (Material Recovery Facility) $65.82 $64.58 $75.56 $70.00
Cost per pound collected (Household Hazardous Waste) $2.04 $1.23 $1.32 $1.45
Cost per ton for processing - SKL $16.85 $17.66 $19.35 $20.00
Cost per ton for processing - NKTS $22.71 $22.89 $23.84 $24.00

Department History of Uses

Uses
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Adopted
2009
Adopted
Personnel
3,984,846
4,375,250
4,563,550
4,839,782
Commodities
136,624
132,536
186,950
180,049
Contractual
37,653146
39,209,011
39,516,891
39,890,474
Operating Capital
723,713
868,880
827,500
856,834
Other Expense
4,121,403
3,806,687
10,605,630
9,034,357
Total Uses
$46,619,732
$48,392,364
$55,700,521
$54,801,496
 
Personnel FTE
77.5
71.5
71.5
70.5

Significant Budget Issues

The Waste-to Energy operations completed an extended and restated service agreement with Covanta Energy for the operaton of the facility. The Resource Recovery Program participated in numerous educational events during the year. Also, the department instituted a program that lends recycling bins to organizations for special events. The Utility Services Division has entered into a five-year contract with the North Kent Sewer Authority and its individual members.

A decrease of one FTE is due to changes in part-time hours.

History of Uses (in millions)