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RECYCLING for a Sustainable Future Kathy Keller-Mielke City of Allen, Waste Services Division

RECYCLING for a Sustainable Future Kathy Keller-Mielke City of Allen, Waste Services Division. OUR national solid waste challenge…. “Throw-away society” USA = 7% of world population USA consumes 50% of world’s resources USA generates 37% of world’s trash.

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RECYCLING for a Sustainable Future Kathy Keller-Mielke City of Allen, Waste Services Division

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  1. RECYCLING for a Sustainable Future Kathy Keller-Mielke City of Allen, Waste Services Division

  2. OUR national solid waste challenge… • “Throw-away society” • USA = 7% of world population • USA consumes 50% of world’s • resources • USA generates 37% of world’s trash

  3. In a lifetime, the average American will throw away 600 times his adult weight. This means that each adult will leave behind a legacy of at least90,000 pounds of trash!

  4. Other 3% Glass 5% Wood 6% Rubber, Leather, Textiles 7% Paper 34% Metals 8% Single Stream 59% Yard Trimmings 13% Recyclable:72% Not Recyclable: 28% Plastics 12% Yard Trimmings 13% Food Scraps 12% USA National Waste Stream

  5. Single Stream 19% Yard Trimmings 7% Recycling 26% Trash 74% Allen’s 2011 Waste Stream

  6. Allen’s 2011 Waste Stream

  7. Allen’s 2011 Waste Stream

  8. Benefits of Recycling… • Energy savings • Reduces Greenhouse gas • emissions • Saves resources • Reduces costs • Provides jobs

  9. COA Waste Management Initiatives • AISD recycling: classrooms, student cafeteria recycling, cafeteria staff, teachers’ lounges, football games • Multi-family housing: 7 complexes • Allen Station Park; Allen Event Center • HHW collection: dealing with toxics • Reuse/Recycle Events: ARD, GAC, electronics • KAB’s Reuse-A-Bag program

  10. What happens to recyclables? Material Recovery Facility or MRF Families Manufacturers

  11. Where is recycling headed in the next decade?? • Extended producer responsibility • Rising focus on toxics management • Food waste • Downstream auditing & environmental justice issues • Moving towards better metrics

  12. Sustainable Communities • Minimize waste & maximize use of recycled resources • Recognize economic/environmental benefits from waste diversion • View waste as a resource…as an opportunity • Provide high quality services • Live within the carrying capacity of our resources—land, water & air

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