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S OURCE R EDUCTION. What Is It And Why Is It So Important?. Q UIZ: W HICH I S I T ?. A. B. Recycle Reuse Reduce. Reduce Reuse Recycle.
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SOURCEREDUCTION What Is ItAndWhy Is It So Important?
QUIZ: WHICH IS IT? A B Recycle Reuse Reduce Reduce Reuse Recycle
“Source Reduction is a tool affecting resource consumption that is linked to production…Thus to achieve the goal of resource conservation, source reduction and reuse aremore valuable to society (ton-for-ton)than recycling.” National Recycling Coalition, 9/94
Yet, when educated aboutthe true value of source reduction,its value increases to nearlythat of recycling.
WHATISSOURCEREDUCTION? Any activity that reduces the amountof materials or energy consumedduring the production, distribution or disposalof products and packages.
IN PLAIN ENGLISH: • Use Less Stuff.
WHY DO WE NEED TO THINKABOUT USING LESS? • 1. We're throwing away too much stuff and what we do throw away doesn't just go away.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT1960 - 1995 Ton, millions Recycling,yard trimmings composting Combustion Landfill, other Source: Franklin Associates for the EPA
WHY DO WE NEED TO THINKABOUT USING LESS? • 1. We're throwing away too much stuff and what we do throw away doesn't just go away. • 2. Recycling is working, but can only do so much.
RECYCLING RATES • 1996 Maximum (%) Practical (%) • Corrugated Boxes 73 75 Yard Wastes 30 50 Glass Bottles & Jars 31 40 Office Paper 31 50 Steel Cans 58 65 Aluminum Cans 63 75 Plastic Bottles 25 38 • All Waste 27 33 Source: Porter & Associates
WHY DO WE NEED TO THINKABOUT USING LESS? • 1. We're throwing away too much stuff and what we do throw away doesn't just go away. • 2. Recycling is working, but can only do so much. • 3. We're generating more waste, especially paper, than we can recycle.
GROWTH OF DISCARDS • 1972-1987 200% • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 130% 84% 100% • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 44% 15% 7% 0% Office Paper Books, Magazines Appliances Tires Food Packaging Source: Franklin Associates
BENEFITSOF SOURCE REDUCTION • 1. Keeps waste from being produced in the first place.
BENEFITSOF SOURCE REDUCTION • 1. Keeps waste from being produced in the first place. • 2. Conserves material, energy and financial resources.
BENEFITSOF SOURCE REDUCTION • 1. Keeps waste from being produced in the first place. • 2. Conserves material, energy and financial resources. • 3. Reduces pollution and greenhouse gases.
ADVANTAGESOF SOURCE REDUCTION • 1. A little does a lot.
THESOURCEREDUCINGCAPABILITIESOF PLASTICS • PET • 2 LiterSoda Bottles • 68Grams • 1977 • 51Grams • 1990 • Source Reduction: 17 grams or 25%
It is a big deal when one considers that there are about 7 billion 2 liter bottles sold each year.
Source Reduction Eliminated262,000,000 Lbs.of PET per Year for thisOne Application
ADVANTAGESOF SOURCE REDUCTION • 1. A little does a lot. • 2. It’s market driven.
12 OZ. ALUMINUM CANS • 2-1/8”(14.3 grams) • 2-15/16”(15.3 grams)
12 OZ. ALUMINUM CANS • 1.0 gramsourcereduction • (15.3 grams) • (14.3 grams) • Yearly Source Reduction Equals1.0 grams x 100 billion cans = ~ 220,000,000 lbs.
ADVANTAGESOF SOURCE REDUCTION • 1. A little does a lot. • 2. It’s market driven. • 3. It’s always a good idea.
RECYCLINGVS. SOURCE REDUCTION • Recycling Source Reduction • Recycle office paper. Photocopy on both sides, use E-Mail and Voice Mail. • Put clippings curbside Compost your yard wastes.for collection. • Recycle cans, jars, bottles. Buy concentrates or larger sizes. • Drive to work, recycle Take the bus, train or carpool.tires and batteries. • Have your own mag. subs., Share with office mates.recycle (maybe).
TOOTHPASTE • 30-60% less packaging
SOFT DRINKS • Weight ofOuter Package: 3.2 oz. 0.24 oz. • 92% Less Packaging
COLD CEREAL • 98% Cereal2% Package • 82% Cereal18% Package
CEREAL REDUCTION POTENTIAL • Switching from box & bag to bag only equals about a 3 oz. reduction. • If all the roughly 60,000,000 boxes of Froot Loops sold each year switched to just a bag -The material savings would equal approximately11,250,000 Pounds Saved.
CEREAL REDUCTION POTENTIAL • Switching from box & bag to bag only equals about a 3 oz. reduction. • If all the roughly 2.8 Billion boxes of cereal sold each year switched to just a bag -The material savings would equal approximately500,000,000 Pounds Saved.
THINK FLEXIBLE 47 % Package 4 % Package 53 % Peanuts 96 % Peanuts
PEANUT BUTTER (18 oz.) • Weight of the jar: 10.2 oz. 1.7 oz. • % of total weightthat’s product: 64% 91% • Shipping andenergy comparison:
COFFEE • Needed to hold65 lbs. of coffee: 20 lbs. 3 lbs. • Recycled: –11 lbs. – 0 lbs. • To landfills: 9 lbs. 3 lbs.
JUICE • Packaging needed to hold1,000 gals. 3,765 lbs. 524 lbs. • % of total weight that’s product: 70% 96% • Amount landfilled when 30%of glass is recycled: 2,635 lbs. 524 lbs. • Ratio 5 : 1
WHICH BAG? • Height of 1000 bags: 46" 4" • Weight of 1000 bags: 140 lbs. 16 lbs. • Shipping andenergy comparison:
WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE, MAKE SURE YOU REUSE! • Cloth • Plastic • Paper
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? • Estimated MPG 20 23 • Life of Car 100,000 mi 100,000 mi • Gasoline Used 5,000 gal 4,350 gal • Savings – 650 gal; $715
SMART THINKING • 1/2 lb. • 70 lbs.