The Plastic Disclosure Project

Shannon DavisUniversity of California,

BerkeleyCHESC June 18, 2014

The Plastic Disclosure Project

The Commodification of Waste: A Story of Plastic Recycling in Berkeley

• Society & Environment B.S. with Honors

• Conservation Resource Studies B.S.

Symbolism: a grey area

Limitations with Resin Identification

UC Beyond the Bin

The Precursor to a Commodity

Meanwhile, pteropods are

in decline

Dark humor or harsh reality?

Micro Plastics & Pteropods

• Macro perspective on the “International Plastic Dilemma”

• Pteropods = base of the marine food web• Synergistic effects on all trophic levels

The effect of plastic in the context of a

changing climate

Mechanisms & Contributing Factors

City of Berkeley: MIXED bales contradict VHQ

“waste” embedded in the system

Is Commodification Recycling?• What is the difference between recycling, up-cycling, or down-cycling?

•All plastics are not made equal (Type,Shape,Color,Grade)

•Many names:• Waste?• Resource?• Raw material?• Scrap Plastic?• A commodity?

• At what point is a material “recycled”?• Bale?• A ton?• Flake?• Pellet?• Actual “new” material or product?

Potential solutions: reduce reuse recycle REFORM

Conclusions & Recommendations

• Up-cycling: (Single use) MULTI USE • Design a circular economy• DISCLOSURE! Beyond diversion rates• Utilize a “systems” approach• Examine upstream & downstream processes• Shift the burden: Extended Producer Responsibility• Internalize externalities-separate costs • RESEARCH more alternatives!

– Social responsibility– Environmental responsibility– The role of POLICY

MIXED bales contradict VHQ

Questions?

• Shannon Davis• shannondavis@berkeley.edu

• Recycle.berkeley.edu