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

Building Zero Waste Communities

Tools to take home

Rob HoweSustainnovation ConsultingOctober 20, 2009National Zero Waste Recycling Conference

Principles of Sustainability

1. What we take from the earth– Minerals, metals, natural resources– Fossil fuels

2. What we make from the earth– Pesticides, plastics, chemicals

3. What we do to the earth– Alter eco systems and reduce living species

4. Meeting fundamental needs– Food, shelter, clothing - basic human needs

1. What we take from the earth– Minerals, metals, natural resources– Fossil fuels

2. What we make from the earth– Pesticides, plastics, chemicals

3. What we do to the earth– Alter eco systems and reduce living species

4. Meeting fundamental needs– Food, shelter, clothing - basic human needs

The Natural Step

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

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

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

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

Urban Environmental AccordsUnited 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

Product Stewardshipthrough Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Voluntary product design changes:

• Design for Environment

• Biomimicry• Industrial Ecology

GOAL

ZERO WASTEZERO 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

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

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/Gre

enDistrict400.swfSource:: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/0waste.htm

Zero Waste Communities

Source: www.zwia.org

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

Setting up a Recycling Program

Step 1 – Identify funding at community or state levelStep 2 – Select a Recycling CoordinatorStep 3 – Determine the Waste StreamStep 4 – Practice Waste PreventionStep 5 – Include Concessionaires, Staff, VolunteersStep 6 – Select a contractor/haulerStep 7 – Establish a collection programStep 8 – Facilitate Outreach and EducationStep 9 – Monitor and Evaluate the program

Source: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/rogo/program/index.htm

References to help you make Zero Waste a realityWho What Web link

Zero Waste International Alliance Zero Waste Resourceshttp://www.zwia.orgGRRN Zero Waste Resources http://www.grrn.orgGAIA Zero Waste for Zero Warming http://www.gaia.orgZERI Zero Emissions Research Initiatives http://www.zeri.orgEco-cycle Zero Waste Resources http://www.ecocycle.orgEarth Resource Foundation Zero Waste Business Conferences http://earthresource.orgILSR Stop Trashing the Climate Report http://www.ilsr.orgZero Waste Communities List of ZW Communitieshttp://www.zwia.org/zwc.htmlZW Business Principles ZW Business Principleshttp://zeroheroes.bizZero Waste San Diego City websitehttp://zerowastesandiego.org/Zero Waste British Columbia Recycling Council of BChttp://www.rcbc.bc.ca/education/zero-wasteZero 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 infohttp://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 warminghttp://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.orgPew Center for Climate Change Info-conservation and environment http://www.pewclimate.org

Rob HoweSustainnovation Consulting, a division of Meridian Associates

978-299-0447www.sustainnovation.com

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““Every choice we make Every choice we make creates the world we live in”creates the world we live in”

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