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TOMORROW’S ENVIRONMENT: ARE YOU IN OR OUT?

TOMORROW’S ENVIRONMENT: ARE YOU IN OR OUT?. Laurie Batchelder Adams October 2, 2008 2008 Annual Conference Colorado Rocky Mountain SWANA Chapter. The Work Environment – Work Force Diversity. Greater that 25% will be Hispanic & Asian Increased training Staff – hands-on & specialized, ESL

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TOMORROW’S ENVIRONMENT: ARE YOU IN OR OUT?

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  1. TOMORROW’S ENVIRONMENT:ARE YOU IN OR OUT? Laurie Batchelder Adams October 2, 2008 2008 Annual Conference Colorado Rocky Mountain SWANA Chapter

  2. The Work Environment – Work Force Diversity • Greater that 25% will be Hispanic & Asian • Increased training • Staff – hands-on & specialized, ESL • Supervisors – cultural awareness, languages • Improved communication skills & media needed (digital, on-line forums, blogging, link-ins) • Retention needs will increase • Tuition reimbursement • Comprehensive health benefits • Absenteeism & safety incentives

  3. The Waste Environment – New Materials in Waste Stream • Materials from displaced products • Materials from new technology • Nanotechnology • Health issues? • Equipment & ops issues? Fullerene = simplest carbon structure

  4. The Regulatory Environment –LFGTE & WTE • LFG classified as renewable energy - eligible for production tax credit • WTE defined as renewable in 15 states • Reduces methane & provides alternative to fossil fuels • Approx 500 LFGTE projects • 90 WTE projects • Both expected to increase

  5. The Environment Environment • Global water shortage – over I billion people lack access to potable water • Air quality – 130M in the U.S. live with “unhealthy” air • Global warming – climate change, compromised ecosystems, health affects But really – what’s the big deal??

  6. Just the Facts, Ma’am American West has warmed 70% more than planet as a whole (Colorado River Basin 2X global average)

  7. Greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide & CFCs Biogenic & anthropogenic sources CO2 has “global warming potential” of 1 (baseline) Measured as metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCE) Global Warming Basics

  8. What’s the Relevance? • MTCE = a balloon filled to a 30-ft diameter • Annual US per capita generation = 20 to 25 MTCE

  9. US Climate Change Movement • 24 states require electric utilities to use renewables • 11 states to reduce GHGs by 80% from 1990 levels • > 600 mayors signed climate protection agreement • > 1000 companies participate in GHG reduction & renewable power procurement programs • EPA programs - Climate Leaders Program, Green Power Partnership, Energy Star, Methane to Markets, etc.

  10. Will Congress Ever Catch Up? • America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 (S. 2191) • Requires caps for manufacturing, transportation & electric • Offset trading from agricultural, forest & other land-use • Efforts to Modify S. 2191 by coalition including SWANA to recognize recycling as GHG stabilizer • House Climate Change Bill (in progress) – SWANA coalition wants to study direct $$ to recycling • Many new renewable energy bills

  11. www.markstivers.com/cartoons/main%202002.html

  12. Role of Solid Waste Industry • < 5% of total US GHGs from solid waste • Collection = largest emission process • Landfill disposal = largest methane generator • Recycling reduces resource consumption of virgin materials • Recycling & composting improve carbon sequestration & reduce disposal, avoid landfilling • LFG & WTE create energy that replaces fossil fuels

  13. SWANA’s Role • Recently Added Services & Programs • Joined Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) • Offset footprints for SWANA events beginning 2007 • Monthly E-sessions on solid waste + climate change • Partnered with Clinton Climate Initiative • New “ning” site social network at iamswana.ning.com • WASTECON 2008

  14. Carbon Calculator included in WASTECON 2008 Registration

  15. SWANA, con’t • Increased role for Technical Divisions • Training – new updates for Transfer Stations, C&D and Recycling • Continued advocacy • Part of Renewable Energy Business Alliance • Action Alerts on SWANA home page • America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 2009 • Interstate Waste – Rail-Based Solid Waste Facilities – Flow Control

  16. You & SWANA? • Join a Technical Division • Become a training instructor • Join SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation • Take the SWANA Climate Change Challenge today

  17. Expect • Question • Participate in Change Laurie Batchelder Adams LBA Associates & SWANA lbaassoc@qwest.net

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