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Building Zero Waste Communities

Building Zero Waste Communities. Tools to take home. Rob Howe Sustainnovation Consult ing October 20, 2009 National Zero Waste Recycling Conference. Principles of Sustainability. What we take from the earth Minerals, metals, natural resources Fossil fuels What we make from the earth

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Building Zero Waste Communities

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  1. Building Zero Waste Communities Tools to take home Rob Howe Sustainnovation Consulting October 20, 2009 National Zero Waste Recycling Conference

  2. Principles of Sustainability • What we take from the earth • Minerals, metals, natural resources • Fossil fuels • What we make from the earth • Pesticides, plastics, chemicals • What we do to the earth • Alter eco systems and reduce living species • Meeting fundamental needs • Food, shelter, clothing - basic human needs The Natural Step

  3. Life Cycle Analysis • “Hidden History” case study • 1 ton of finished product comes from 71 tons of energy and materials to produce • The Myth of “Away” Source: Gary Liss & Associates, Natural Capitalism, Lean Thinking, Womack and Jones, google images

  4. Islands of Plastic Sources: Across the Pacific Ocean, Plastics, Plastics, Everywhere, CHARLES MOORE / Natural History v.112, n.9, Nov03. Kathy Marks and Daniel Howden, The Independent, Tuesday, 5 February 2008. Google images, www.current.com/items/86290391_more_on_the_great_pacific_garbage_patch

  5. Definition of Zero Waste • Zero Waste is a goal that is both pragmatic and visionary, to guide people to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are resources for others to use. • Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. • Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that may be a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health. Source: www.zwia.org/standards.html

  6. What does Zero Waste mean? "If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned, or removed from production. The goal is to combine aggressive resource recovery and industrial redesign to eliminate the very concept of waste. Eventually, the community’s resource-use system will emulate natural cyclical processes, where no waste exists." Source: Martin Bourque, Berkeley, CA Ecology Action at the GRRN Zero Waste Conference in NYC in 2005

  7. Urban EnvironmentalAccordsUnited Nations Environment Program • Establish a policy to achieve zero waste to landfills and incinerators by 2040. • Adopt a citywide law that reduces the use of a disposable, toxic, or non-renewable product category by at least fifty percent in seven years. • Implement "user-friendly" recycling and composting programs, with the goal of reducing by twenty percent per capita solid waste disposal to landfill and incineration in seven years. Source: http://www.livabilityproject.org/files/Accords.pdf

  8. Product Stewardshipthrough Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Voluntary product design changes: • Design for Environment • Biomimicry • Industrial Ecology GOAL ZERO WASTE In response to legislation: • Home Appliance Recycling Law (Japan) • Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (Europe) • Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive (Europe) • End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive (Europe) Source: Product change resulting from EPR, Pledger, L., 3-10-09

  9. Current Waste Reduction Programs • Recycle on the Go • Electronics Take Back • Beverage Take Back • Clean Car Campaign • Mercury Policy Project • Clean Production Action • COOL 2012 Campaign

  10. City of Austin, TX • Achieve UN Urban Environmental Accords Goals • Reduce per capita solid waste disposal to landfills by 20% by 2012 • Zero Waste by 2040 = waste reduction of 90% sent to landfills • Lead by example • Commercial and Multi-family Recycling regulations • Conduct extensive outreach • Focus on Composting • http://www.cityofaustin.org/sws/video/GreenDistrict400.swf Source:: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/0waste.htm

  11. Zero Waste Communities • Austin, TX • Alaminos City, Philippines • Canberra, Australia • New Zealand – with over 66% of NZ Cities • Buenos Aires, Argentina • Seattle, WA • Boulder, CO • Central Vermont Waste Mgt. District • San Luis Obispo, CA • Fresno, CA • San Francisco, CA • Del Norte County CA • Oakland, CA • Santa Cruz County, CA • Berkeley, CA • Palo Alto, CA • Marin County • Los Angeles, CA • Chicago, IL • Halifax, Nova Scotia • Toronto, Ontario • Nelson, British Columbia and other Regional Districts Source: www.zwia.org

  12. EPA Record-setting Recycling Programs • Compost Yard trimmings • Target a wide range of materials • Require resident participation • Institute economic incentives • Design programs for convenience Source: http://www.ilsr.org/recycling/recordsetters/keycharactrrs.html

  13. Setting up a Recycling Program Step 1 – Identify funding at community or state level Step 2 – Select a Recycling Coordinator Step 3 – Determine the Waste Stream Step 4 – Practice Waste Prevention Step 5 – Include Concessionaires, Staff, Volunteers Step 6 – Select a contractor/hauler Step 7 – Establish a collection program Step 8 – Facilitate Outreach and Education Step 9 – Monitor and Evaluate the program Source: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/rogo/program/index.htm

  14. References to help you make Zero Waste a reality Who What Web link Zero Waste International Alliance Zero Waste Resources http://www.zwia.org GRRN Zero Waste Resources http://www.grrn.org GAIA Zero Waste for Zero Warming http://www.gaia.org ZERI Zero Emissions Research Initiatives http://www.zeri.org Eco-cycle Zero Waste Resources http://www.ecocycle.org Earth Resource Foundation Zero Waste Business Conferences http://earthresource.org ILSR Stop Trashing the Climate Report http://www.ilsr.org Zero Waste Communities List of ZW Communities http://www.zwia.org/zwc.html ZW Business Principles ZW Business Principles http://zeroheroes.biz Zero Waste San Diego City website http://zerowastesandiego.org/ Zero Waste British Columbia Recycling Council of BC http://www.rcbc.bc.ca/education/zero-waste Zero Waste New York City NYC ZW program http://www.consumersunion.org/other/zero-waste/ Zero Waste Businesses ZW reference list http://www.grrn.org/zerowaste/business/profiles.php References for Climate Change and Recycling Who What Web link U.S. EPA Climate change and environment http://www.epa.gov/climatechange Earth 911 Environmental and recycling info http://www.earth911.org Environmental Literacy Council Climate and environment info http://www.enviroliteracy.org IPCC Climate change http://www.ipcc.ch Nat Resources Defense Council Environmental info and resources http://www.nrdc.org Stopglobalwarming.org Climate change, global warming http://www.stopglobalwarming.org UN Environment Program Climate change and environment http://www.unep.org World Health Organization Climate change and environment http://www.who.int/globalchange/en World Resources Institute Climate change and environment http://www.wri.org Pew Center for Climate Change Info-conservation and environment http://www.pewclimate.org

  15. Education Energy Waste Facilities Sustainability Product Organization Reporting Social Rob HoweSustainnovation Consulting, a division of Meridian Associates978-299-0447www.sustainnovation.com

  16. “Every choice we make creates the world we live in” -Phyllis Ballata

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