Non-Refillable Gas Cylinder Meeting Sarasota County, FL FL Department of Environmental Protection The Product Stewardship Institute June 18, 2003

Product Stewardship Institute  Mission  History  Method  Current projects

PSI Current Projects  Cylinder Projects Small gas cylinders 20 pound grill tanks  Electronics  Paint  Radioactive Materials  Thermostats (mercury)  Tires

Product Stewardship Institute  Steering Council  Coalition/Affiliate Members Agency Leaders Pledge Support to Work With PSI on Product Stewardship Issues 26 States: CA, CT, FL, HI, IN, IA, IL, MA, ME, MN, MO, MS, NJ, NE, NH, NC, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI 24 Local Agencies from CA, MA, MI, MN, NC, OR, WA

Project Recap  Stakeholder Identification  Interviews  Analysis  Dialogue

Small Gas Cylinder Project Key Stakeholders  Sarasota County, FL  FL DEP  State and local government  Manufacturers  Recyclers  Waste management companies  Retailers  Associations

Problems with Small Gas Cylinders  Safety and environmental risks  Wasted resources  Financial considerations

Project Goals  Reduce safety and environmental risks (safely evacuate and collect gas)  Increase the recovery and recycling of used cylinders  Reduce costs of managing cylinders

Project Recap MAY 14 MEETING - Project Goals - Developed list of key issues - Set criteria to rank strategies - Developed list of strategies - Set tasks for between meetings

Strategy Recap & Research Low interest  Design Changes to indicate emptiness  Investigate Gas removal machinery  Investigating gas recovery/removal using professionals

Strategy Recap & Research Medium interest  Sending cylinders to WTE plants  Suggestions for enhancing scrap industry/municipal relationships  Contract language

Strategy Recap & Research Medium-high interest  Cylinder color-coding recommendations  Economic incentives for consumers to return cylinders  Economic incentives for processors to accept cylinders  ISRI cooperation on guidance for cylinder management

Strategy Recap & Research High interest  National Education Campaign  Hierarchy of Management Strategies

Agenda Development Strategies selected by: 1) participant rankings 2) additional research 3) Concrete accomplishment within given time frame

Meeting Goals  Increased stakeholder knowledge of problem  3-4 Developed strategies, including obstacles, opportunities, and next steps Develop refined draft management hierarchy Develop draft guidelines for scrap dealers to accept cylinders

Meeting Goals  Strategies, Continued Provide information about Earth’s 911 and develop draft tank labeling language Begin discussion on economic incentives for consumers and processors  Develop clear path forward

Hierarchy of Management Review text  Is this the information we want?  Is this geared at the right audience?  Is this the correct format?

Discussion Questions  What would hinder the effectiveness of this management hierarchy? How can those obstacles be overcome?  How can we best distribute the hierarchy document to those it can most help?

Discussion Questions  How will stakeholders – including manufacturers, retail, recycler, government, and consumers – be impacted (positively and negatively) through the use of this document?  What measures should be used to evaluate the success of this strategy?

Next Steps  What needs to happen next in order to follow through?  Who should have responsibility for moving this forward?

Guidelines for Scrap Metal Dealers Goals:  improve understanding of related hazards  develop best management practices for verifying cylinder emptiness and decreasing risks  develop a better understanding of potential options for processing cylinders (e.g., new machinery)

Discussion Questions  What are the best management practices for verifying that a cylinder is empty?  What obstacles would you foresee in implementing these approaches?  How would you overcome these obstacles?

Discussion Questions  What is the best organization and process for further developing these BMPs?  What additional information is needed to determine BMPs?

National Educational Program Earth’s 911 Presentation – Meryl Klein, Director of Outreach

National Educational Program Proposed Elements  Earth’s 911 creates web content General information Consumer options  Information on scrap metal processors for municipal officials  Manufacturers amend label  Municipalities & Retailers publicize information

Discussion Questions  What are potential obstacles to developing and disseminating educational information, if any? (e.g., political, financial, legal)  How can we take advantage of existing opportunities to disseminate educational information? (e.g., partnering opportunities, existing committee structures).

Discussion Questions  Are there ways to more effectively involve stakeholders in an education program, including manufacturers, retail, government, and consumers?  What measures should be used to evaluate this strategy?

Next Steps  What needs to happen next in order to follow through?  Who should have responsibility for moving this forward?

Economic Incentives Goals  Improve our understanding about current economic disincentives  Develop potential options to remove disincentives/create incentives for consumer return  Narrow list of options  Determine next steps

Economic Incentives Example: Proposed Massachusetts Used Oil Recycling Legislation Manufacturer payment to fund Consumer incentive for return (“deposit”) State control of fund Retail involvement mandatory

Economic Incentives Example: Best Buy Retailer Drop-off Model Retailer contracts with recycler Consumer pays fee to retailer with return Retailer publicizes program Voluntary program

Discussion Questions  What is the most practical design for an economic incentive program for cylinders? Consumer incentive Manufacturer role Retailer role Financial system Legislation needed Who manages fund

Discussion Questions  How would responsibility be divided up for this strategy? Who are the primary players?  What are potential obstacles to this strategy, if any? (e.g., political, financial, legal). How could these be overcome?

Discussion Questions  How will stakeholders – including manufacturers, retail, recycler, government, and consumers – be impacted (positively and negatively) by this strategy?  What measures could be used to evaluate an economic incentive program?

Next Steps  What needs to happen next?  Who should have responsibility for moving this forward?

Contract Language  What are successful models?  What needs to be included? Responsibilities of the parties involved Processing and/or safety standards Contingencies (quantity provided, etc.)  How could we introduce contract language to those who can benefit from it?

Next Steps  What needs to happen next in order to follow through with this strategy?  Who should have responsibility for moving this forward?

Next Steps for Cylinder Management Quo vadis? - PSI responsibility - Other responsibility

Meeting Evaluation  Logistics  Materials  Process