1 / 13

Product Stewardship and the Precautionary Principle

Product Stewardship and the Precautionary Principle. SF Department of the Environment. SFE Overview. Product Stewardship. San Francisco has been very active over the past 20 +years Many different local initiatives that have resulted in effective programs throughout San Francisco

chiko
Download Presentation

Product Stewardship and the Precautionary Principle

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Product Stewardship and the PrecautionaryPrinciple SF Department of the Environment

  2. SFE Overview • .

  3. Product Stewardship • San Francisco has been very active over the past 20 +years • Many different local initiatives that have resulted in effective programs throughout San Francisco • San Francisco has also been active statewide and nationally advocating for extended producer responsibility policies

  4. History Long SF history of promoting toxics reduction and proper HHW handling - first HHWF in CA Learned from British Columbia and Northwest Product Stewardship Council formation Worked with Product Stewardship Institute Advocated locally on individual campaigns Joined effort to create California Product Stewardship Council, it has been a great step “Adopt” neighboring jurisdictions

  5. Examples Paint take-back in place for over 20 years 100 retail locations taking batteries 35 taking CFLs 70 needles drop-off locations Effective mercury thermometer exchanges Most are small retail, hardware and pharmacy type stores where space is at a premium Shows the big box stores and manufacturers that it can be done, and that residents use it No excuse if “Mom and Pop” in SF can do it with no space, displaces other products, on their own staff time As locations increase HHWF stays constant, no drop

  6. The Precautionary Approach It is NOT sufficient to ask: Is it legal? Is it safe? We also MUST ask: Is it necessary?

  7. How long do we wait, how much harm do we allow,before taking action?

  8. The Precautionary Principle ≠Zero risk ≠Zero science ≠Loss of jobs ≠ Predetermined outcome (i.e. ban) =Minimize harm =Maximize info./science =Increase innovation = Transparent Process for public decision making

  9. So that when we ask: • It is legal? • Confident our laws are protective of all life • Is it safe? • Sufficient data and testing so that we understand how a chemical interacts within organisms and ecosystems • Is it necessary? • Affected communities are at the table, we are all empowered to examine all the alternatives, and to choose those that minimize harm

  10. = Adopted in 2006 =Incorporated as part of the Environmental Code in SF The Precautionary Principle

  11. SF bans Bpa in baby bottles: Retailers answer

  12. Other examples of, “Is is necessary?” • Plastic bags • Water bottles • Artificial Turf • Energy efficient lighting that contains mercury

  13. Contact: Marjaneh Zarrehparvar 415-355-3756 marjaneh.zarrehparvar@sfgov.org Debbie Raphael 415-355-3711 debbie.raphael@sfgov.org

More Related