Concept of Zero Wastes and

Role of Material Recovery Facilities

Salman ZafarFounder, EcoMENAwww.ecomena.org

7th Kuwait Waste Management Conference7 – 8 April 2015, Kuwait

Resolving Problem of Waste

Better organizationBetter educationBetter industrial design

Paradigm Shift

Recyclables used to be what we kept out of the garbage

Now garbage is what we have leftover after we reuse, recycle and compost

What is Zero Waste

New direction in waste management

Comprehensive socio-technical system

Addresses resource use from product design to disposal

Cradle-to-Cradle approach

In a Nutshell

"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.“—Ecology Center, Berkeley

Defining Zero WastePragmatic and visionary approach

to guide people to emulate sustainable natural cycles.

Designing and managing products and processes to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste and materials.

Conservation and recovery of all resources, and not to burn or bury them.

Elimination of all discharges to land, water or air

Waste Management Hierarchy of 6Rs

◦Reduce

◦Redesign

◦Repair

◦Reuse

◦Recycle

◦Regulate

Central Concepts

Change the RulesProducer ResponsibilityPurchasing for Zero WasteResource Recovery Infrastructure

Components of Zero WasteClean ProductionExtended Producer ResponsibilityResource RecoveryBuilding CapacityBuilding RelationsParticipationPolicy

Who is Planning for Zero WasteCommunities that:

◦Are running out of landfill capacity◦Can’t site new landfills or incinerators

◦Want to strive for sustainability◦Want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Why Zero Waste Strategy for Kuwait

Vast expansion in urban developmentsTremendous increase in waste

generation.Lifespan completion of

landfills/dumpsitesLack of engineered landfillsUncontrolled waste dumpingIncreasingly unsustainable lifestylesWorld’s largest per capita ecological

footprint

Conventional Waste Economy

Closing the Loop

Key Zero Waste Facilities

The MRF – Materials Recovery FacilityComposting Facility – to recycle

organicsRe-Use Facilities – e.g. like thrift storesC&D Facilities – Debris recyclingResidue DisposalWastewater/Biosolids Facility – solids

separation and anaerobic digestion facility

Zero Waste Facilities

Community assetsAesthetically

appealingArchitectural

featuresModel green

buildings

Ideal Site Layout

Physical InfrastructureAccess to recycling and composting

collection ◦Residential◦Commercial◦Institutional

Processing Capacity◦Recycling◦Organics

Self-haul◦Resource recovery park◦Scavenging prior to landfilling

Social InfrastructureAlignment of Goals

◦Local Government◦Generators◦Service Providers

Community-Based ApproachesNew Rules and MandatesAttitudinal ChangeTechnical Assistance

Zero Waste Material Recovery FacilityResource recovery parkResource recovery centerMaterial recovery facilityZero waste transfer stationEco-industrial parkReuse/recycling ecological park

Three Stream Collection Program

Recyclables

Compostables

Wastes

Major ElementsRetail sales

◦ Reuse center◦ Compost and garden

products◦ Building supplies

Education center◦ Green building◦ Sustainability

Reuse and recycling◦ Drop-off◦ Buyback

Processing◦ Materials recovery◦ C&D debris◦ Organics

Residual waste management◦ Treatment◦ Transfer

Trash Collection Using Dual Compactors

Separate Collection for Organics

Materials Recovery Facility

Initial Manual Sorting

Mechanical Sorting

Screened Mixed Paper Fibers

Materials for End-Use

C&D Debris Management

Organic Waste Management

Biodegradable

Onsite

Technology Options

Aerobic Digestion◦Composting◦Vermicomposting

Anaerobic Digestion

Household Composting

Engineered Compost System

Outcome of Composting

Anaerobic Digestion

Biological degradation in a closed reactorBiogas used to produce electricity and

heatDigestate is nutrient-rich material

Biogas-powered Heavy Vehicles

Fertilizer Value

Advantages of Zero Waste StrategySustainable waste management

optionReduction in environmental and GHG

impactsGeneration of employment

opportunitiesMultiple revenue streamsConservation of natural resourcesEnergy conservationPromotion of better environment

Thank You!