2009 0505 platt stc_maine_0509
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Stop Trashing the ClimateStop Trashing the Climate
Brenda PlattBrenda Platt
Institute for Local Self-RelianceInstitute for Local Self-Reliance
BioCycle West, San DiegoBioCycle West, San Diego
April 15th, 2008April 15th, 2008
Stop Trashing the ClimateStop Trashing the ClimateBrenda PlattBrenda Platt
Institute for Local Self-RelianceInstitute for Local Self-Reliance
presented at thepresented at the 16th Annual Maine Recycling & Solid Waste Conference16th Annual Maine Recycling & Solid Waste Conference
Bar Harbor, Maine, May 5, 2009Bar Harbor, Maine, May 5, 2009
U.S. huge contributor
! 4.6% of global population
! Consume one-third of Earth!s timber and paper
! Generate 22% of global CO2 emissions
! Produce 30% of world!s waste
Wasting Trend in U.S.Wasting Trend in U.S.
LandfillLandfill greenhouse gas emissions,greenhouse gas emissions,
% of total% of total
Total 2005 = 7,260 megatons CO2 equiv.
The global warming potential conceptThe global warming potential concept
CO2
Methane - 100 year time horizon, 21 times more potent than CO2
Methane - 20 yrs,72 times morepotent
Climate ChangeClimate Change Tipping PointTipping Point
! Global emissions must peak and decline over thenext 10 to 15 years in order to limit global warming to2oC above pre-industrial limits.
! Uncontrolled climate change will lead to widespreaddevastation, economically and environmentally.
! A short window of opportunity exists to radicallyreduce GHGs and stabilize atmospheric CO2
concentrations before our climate reaches a “tippingpoint.”
LandfillLandfill greenhouse gas emissions,greenhouse gas emissions,
% of total, 20 yr time horizon% of total, 20 yr time horizon
Total 2005 = 8,754 megatons CO2 equiv.
Disposal sector emissions,Disposal sector emissions, 8.1% of8.1% of
total, 20 yr horizontotal, 20 yr horizon
The Wasteberg
For every ton ofmunicipal trash, 71tons of waste areproduced duringmanufacturing, mining,oil and gas
exploration,agriculture, and coalcombustion.
Upstream = 71 x MSW Waste
Sectors impacted by wasting, % of
total, 20 yr horizon
Impact of Waste Reduction
X XX XX
X
Landfill Gas Capture Systems Band-Landfill Gas Capture Systems Band-
Aid Approach at BestAid Approach at Best
! Rules do not require gas collection for the first 5years.
! Rules allow removal of gas collection systems 20years after landfill closes.
! All landfill barriers will ultimately fail during post-closure period, after which precipitation will re-enterthe landfill and in time cause second wave ofdecomposition without any controls.
! Gas generated inside landfills escapes all day,everyday from every landfill in America.
! Over lifetime of landfill, gas capture could be as lowas 20%.
Waste incinerators are NOT good forWaste incinerators are NOT good for
the climatethe climate
Zero Waste PathZero Waste Path
Aiming for zero waste is key GHGAiming for zero waste is key GHG
abatement strategyabatement strategy
AbatementAbatement MegatonsMegatons % of% of AbatementAbatement
StrategyStrategy COCO22 eqeq.. Needed in 2030 toNeeded in 2030 to
Return to 1990Return to 1990
Reducing wasteReducing waste
via prevention, reuse,via prevention, reuse,
recycling, compostingrecycling, composting 406406 11.6%11.6%
LightingLighting 240240 6.9%6.9%
Vehicle EfficiencyVehicle Efficiency 195195 5.6%5.6%
Lower Carbon FuelsLower Carbon Fuels 100100 2.9%2.9%
Forest ManagementForest Management 110110 3.1%3.1%
Carbon Capture & StorageCarbon Capture & Storage 9595 2.7%2.7%
WindWind 120120 3.4%3.4%
NuclearNuclear 7070 2.0%2.0%
Source: ILSR, GAIA, and Eco-Cycle, Stop Trashing the Climate (2008), and McKinsey &
Company, Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much and at What Cost? (2007)
Zero waste path:Zero waste path: less coal plantsless coal plants
By significantly
reducing waste
disposal, the U.S. can
take the equivalent of
21% of its coal-fired
power plants off the
grid by 2030.X
A Call to Action!
! Implement zero waste targets and plans.
! Stop disposing organic materials – COMPOST!
! Pursue recycling-based local economicdevelopment.
! Make manufacturers responsible for their products.
! Regulate single-use plastics.
! Reduce junk mail.
! Buy recycled.
! Institute pay-as-you-throw trash fees.
Organics Diversion: Core ClimateOrganics Diversion: Core Climate
Protection StrategyProtection Strategy
! Prevents landfill methane emissions
! Stores carbon
! Improves soil!s ability to storecarbon
! Substitutes for energy-intensivefertilizers, pesticides, fungicides
! Improves plant growth, and thuscarbon sequestration
! Reduces energy use for irrigation
! Anaerobic digestion offsets fossilfuel consumption
U.S. municipal waste disposed
Source: US EPA, 2007 data (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm)
169.2 million tons in 2007169.2 million tons in 2007
Yard Trimmings Generated and
Recovered in the US, 1960-2007
Thousands
of tons
Source: US EPA, 2007 data (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm)
Compost Applications
! landscape and nursery
! agricultural and horticultural
! vegetable and flower gardens
! tree and shrub planting
! sod production and roadside projects
! wetlands creation
! soil remediation and land reclamation
! sports fields and golf courses
! sediment and erosion control
Composting, lots of models
On-farm composting
Toronto
Unit-based Pricing Sends a Clear Message
Worcester, MA
Population 173,000
San Francisco, CA
Population 775,000
Unit based pricing is just a different way of paying for wasteUnit based pricing is just a different way of paying for waste
Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions, www.thewastesolution.com
Overall Waste Generation Decrease 20+%
Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions, www.thewastesolution.com
Communities with Zero Waste Goal
Source: Gary Liss, Zero Waste International Alliance, www.zwia.org
California, USA• Del Norte County
• San Luis Obispo County
• Santa Cruz County
• San Bernardino County
• San Francisco City and County• City of Oakland
• Berkeley
• Burbank (informally)
• Palo Alto
• California Integrated Waste Management Board
Other USA
• Boulder County, CO
• Summit County, CO
• Carrboro, NC• Seattle, WA
• Central Vermont Waste Management District
Other North America• Halifax, Nova Scotia Regional District
• Nelson, British Columbia Regional District
• Kootenay Boundary, British Columbia Regional
District
• Cowichan Valley, British Columbia• Central Kootenay, British Columbia
• Smithers, British Columbia Regional District
• Nanaimo, British Columbia
• Toronto, Ontario
• Sunshine Coast Regional District, British Columbia
Zero Waste Is an International
Movement
Source: Gary Liss, Zero Waste International Alliance, www.zwia.org
South America• Buenos Aires, Argentina
Australia
• Eurobodalla Council
• Willoughby Council• South Australia State Government
• Canberra
• The State of Western Australia
• The State of Victoria
New Zealand
Over 50% of cities adopted ZW as a goal
Europe
• Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council• Bath and NE Somerset District Council
• Wales
• Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
AfricaSouth Africa, adopted the Polokwane Declarationon Waste Management at 1st National WasteSummit in 2001
Asia• Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
• San Isidro, Sueva Edija, Philippines
• Pilar, Sorsogon, Philippines
• Linamon, Lanao del Norte, Philippines
• Sigma, Capiz, Philippines• Kamikatsu, Japan
• Kovalem, India
• Kanchrapara Municipality, West Bengal, India
Boulder Farmers’ Market
Composting & Recycling CollectionComposting & Recycling Collection
System Designed For High DiversionSystem Designed For High Diversion
Recycled Paper
21%
Glass and Plastic Bottles
Aluminum and Steel Cans
5%
Construction and
Demolition Waste
25%
Other
15%
Food Scraps
20%
Yard Trimmings
5%
Compostable Paper
10%
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
Easy to Understand Program
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
Designed for Easy Participation
Kitchen Pail
Labeled Lids
Wheeled Cart
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
Special Event Composting
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
Color-Coded Compostable
Design for 400k cups at SF Festival
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
NorcalNorcal’’s s Jepsen Prairie OrganicsJepsen Prairie Organics
Regional Composting FacilityRegional Composting Facility
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
Compost Used on Organic Farms and
Vineyards to Build Healthy Soils
Courtesy of City of San Francisco
Changing the rules in SF
! Bans polystyrene take-out containers
! Requires retail bags to be compostable plastic,
recyclable paper, or reusable
! Bans use of city funds to purchase single-serving
bottled water
! Will not give a street closure permit for events unless
composting collection is in place
! Extended producer responsibility (EPR) resolution
San Francisco EPR resolution
Calls on its Department of the Environment to:Calls on its Department of the Environment to:
““help City government lead by example by working withhelp City government lead by example by working with
the City Purchaser and Office of Contract Administrationthe City Purchaser and Office of Contract Administration
and other departments to include EPR language, suchand other departments to include EPR language, such
as leasing products rather than purchasing them andas leasing products rather than purchasing them and
specifying product and packaging collectispecifying product and packaging collection andon and
recycling requirements, in contracts for commodities...recycling requirements, in contracts for commodities...””
Why EPR?
! 72.5% of MSW is manufactured products &packaging
! When manufacturers are responsible they:
" Use environmentally safer materials
" Consume fewer materials
" Design their products to last longer
" Create better recycling systems
" Are motivated to minimize waste costs
" No longer pass the cost of disposal to the government andtaxpayer
Extended Producer Responsibility (2004)
Clean Production Action, www.cleanproductionaction.org
Challenges & Opportunities
! Leadership
! Policies
! Infrastructure
! Operator Training and Technical Assistance
! Permitting and Siting
! Education & Outreach
! Connections to Other Key Issues
The Tipping Point
! Innovators, the adventurous ones
! Early adopters, infected by innovators
! Early Majority
! Late Majority
! Laggards
Source: Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point (2002)
Make the Connections
! Climate protection
! Soil protection and revitalization
! Sustainable agriculture
! Anti-nuclear power
! Zero waste
! Environmental health(safer, better designed products)
! Anti-waste incineration
! Community and economic development
! Cost Cutting
! Green jobs and pro-worker
Job Creation:
Reclamation vs. Disposal
Type of Operation Jobs/
10,000 TPY
Computer Reuse 296
Textile Reclamation 85
Misc. Durables Reuse 62
Wooden Pallet Repair 28
Recycling-Based Manufacturers 25
Conventional MRFs 10
Composting 4
Disposal Facilities 1
MRF = materials recovery facility
TPY = tons per yearInstitute for Local Self-Reliance
Starve a Landfill
Feed the soil
Conserve resources
Protect the climate
Create jobs
Sustain new businesses