Zero Waste 2020 A Key Step towards Sustainability Zero Waste 2020 A Key Step towards Sustainability Dr Paul Connett Dr Paul Connett Emeritus Professor of Environmental Chemistry Director Zero Waste for Sustainability Project (AEHSP) Portland, March 2, 2009

Outline 1. Waste managment and the BIG PICTURE 1. Waste managment and the BIG PICTURE 2. The Zero waste 2020 strategy 2. The Zero waste 2020 strategy 3. Concluding remarks 3. Concluding remarks 4. Postscript 4. Postscript

1.Introduction. Waste management and the Big Picture

DIFFERENT TIMES DEMAND DIFFERENT QUESTIONS 20 th CENTURY WASTE MANAGEMENT “ How do we get rid of our waste efficiently with minimum damage to our health and the environment ?” 21 st CENTURY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT “ How do we handle our discarded resources in ways which do not deprive future generations of some, if not all, of their value ?”

DIFFERENT TIMES DEMAND DIFFERENT QUESTIONS 20 th CENTURY WASTE MANAGEMENT “ How do we get rid of our waste efficiently with minimum damage to our health and the environment ?” 21 st CENTURY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT “ How do we handle our discarded resources in ways which do not deprive future generations of some, if not all, of their value ?” The key issue was SAFETY The key issue is SUSTAINABILIY

We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to if we had another one to go to

We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to if we had another one to go to

We cannot run a throwaway society on a finite planet Waste is the evidence that we are doing something wrong Landfills BURY the evidence Incinerators BURN the evidence We need to face the real problem…

Our task is to fight over-consumption

Not only is over-consumption giving us a local waste crisis but also…

… a Global crisis

The Global Crisis: Since the Industrial Revolution we have imposed a linear society on a planet that functions in circles

A LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction Extraction A LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction ExtractionProduction A LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction ExtractionProductionConsumption A LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction ExtractionProductionConsumptionWaste A LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction ExtractionProductionConsumptionWaste A LINEAR SOCIETY See

Extraction ExtractionProductionConsumptionWaste Advertising/TV

Over-advertising produces Over-consumption

By the time a high school student leaves school, he or she will have watched over 350,000 TV commercials. Paul Hawken The Ecology of Commerce.

Myth versus Reality THE MYTH: THE MYTH: The more you consume the happier you become The more you consume the happier you become THE REALITY: THE REALITY: The more you consume the fatter you become! The more you consume the fatter you become!

From Ape to...

Modern man!

“The world has enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed” Mahatma Gandhi

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionWaste Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY A LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY GLOBAL WARMING

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY GLOBAL WARMING How do waste management practices affect this picture?

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY LANDFILLS GLOBAL WARMING

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY INCINERATION GLOBAL WARMING

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY GLOBAL WARMING RECYCLING OF MATERIALS

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY GLOBAL WARMING REUSE OF OBJECTS

Extraction of VirginMaterials Production of ManufactureditemsConsumptionDiscardedMaterials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY ENERGY GLOBAL WARMING COMPOSTING

COMPOST

Kg Greenhouse gas/tonne Municipal Waste A combination of recycling and composting is 46 times better -461 at reducing greenhouse gases than X 46 Incineration generating electricty -10 Waste Management Options and Climate Change. AEA 2001

Incineration is a waste of energy! About 4 X more energy saved by reusing, recycling and composting the various components in the discard stream About 4 X more energy saved by reusing, recycling and composting the various components in the discard stream Contact: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Contact: Dr. Jeffrey Morris,

Energy Comparison: Recycling versus incineration (ICF consulting, 2005) material Energy savings from recycling GJ/tonne Energy output from incineration GJ/tonne Energy savings recycling versus incineration Newsprint Fine paper Cardboard Other paper HDPE PET Other plastic

Energy Comparison: Recycling versus incineration (ICF consulting, 2005) material Energy savings from recycling GJ/tonne Energy output from incineration GJ/tonne Energy savings recycling versus incineration Newsprint Fine paper Cardboard Other paper HDPE PET Other plastic

Arguments against incineration It is a bad economic investment and very bad for the local economy It is a bad economic investment and very bad for the local economy It wastes valuable material resources It wastes valuable material resources It wastes energy It wastes energy It wastes the opportunity to really fight global warming It wastes the opportunity to really fight global warming It produces a toxic ash It produces a toxic ash It produces toxic air emissions It produces toxic air emissions It is extremely unpopular with the public It is extremely unpopular with the public It is not sustainable It is not sustainable It is very very BORING It is very very BORING

Incineration is a poor investment Most of the money spent on incinerators goes into complicated machinery and leaves the community, whereas Most of the money spent on incinerators goes into complicated machinery and leaves the community, whereas The money spent on the alternatives goes into JOBS and stays in the community. The money spent on the alternatives goes into JOBS and stays in the community.

Incinerator in Brescia, Italy The incinerator cost $400,000,000 and only produced 80 jobs! and only produced 80 jobs!

Nova Scotia 50% diversion in 5 years (Halifax ~ 60%) 50% diversion in 5 years (Halifax ~ 60%) 1000 jobs created collecting and treating discarded materials 1000 jobs created collecting and treating discarded materials Another 2000 jobs created in the industries handling the collected material Another 2000 jobs created in the industries handling the collected material Nearly all the separated materials are re- used in Nova Scotia’s own industries. Nearly all the separated materials are re- used in Nova Scotia’s own industries.

Incineration is extremely unpopular Incineration is extremely unpopular In the US over 300 incinerator proposals defeated between 1985 and 1995 In the US over 300 incinerator proposals defeated between 1985 and 1995 US has not permitted a new trash incinerator since US has not permitted a new trash incinerator since 1995.

Think of an incinerator as three boxes 1. The Furnace which Converts 100’s of Tons of trash into Trillions of tiny particles and gases. and gases.

1. The Furnace which Converts 100’s of Tons of trash into Trillions of tiny particles and gases. and gases. 2. The Air Pollution control devices control devices Which attempt to capture the tiny particles and some particles and some of the gases

$$$$$ $$$$$ 1. The Furnace which Converts 100’s of Tons of trash into Trillions of tiny particles and gases. and gases. 2. The Air Pollution control devices control devices Which attempt to capture the tiny particles and some particles and some of the gases

1. The Furnace which Converts 100’s of Tons of trash into Trillions of tiny particles and gases. and gases. 2. The Air Pollution control devices control devices which attempt to capture the tiny particles and some particles and some of the gases 3. A depository for A depository for the tiny particles the tiny particlescaptured (the fly ash) and the bottom ash the bottom ash

1. The Furnace which Converts 100’s of Tons of trash into Trillions of tiny particles and gases. and gases. 2. The Air Pollution control devices control devices which attempt to capture the tiny particles and some particles and some of the gases 3. A depository for A depository for the tiny particles the tiny particlescaptured (the fly ash) and the bottom ash the bottom ash Incinerators don’t get rid of Landfills

1. The Furnace which Converts 100’s of Tons of trash into Trillions of tiny particles and gases. and gases. 2. The Air Pollution control devices control devices which attempt to capture the tiny particles and some particles and some of the gases 3. A depository for A depository for the tiny particles the tiny particlescaptured (the fly ash) and the bottom ash the bottom ash For every three - four tons of trash you get one ton of toxic ash! you get one ton of toxic ash!

“Even if we made incineration safe we would never make it sensible -

“Even if we made incineration safe we would never make it sensible - It simply does not make sense spending so much money destroying resources we should be sharing with the future.” (PC)

The modern incinerator is attempting to perfect a bad idea Our task in the 21st Century is not to find better ways to destroy discarded materials Our task in the 21st Century is not to find better ways to destroy discarded materials But to stop making packaging and products that have to be destroyed! But to stop making packaging and products that have to be destroyed!

Waste is not a technical problem but a problem of organization,education, industrial design and responsibility Eliminating waste, is the key stepping stone in moving from a throwaway society to a sustainable society.

2. The Zero waste 2020 strategy

The Zero Waste 2020 strategy Says NO to incineration and Says NO to incineration and NO to mega-landfills NO to mega-landfills

To move towards zero waste & sustainability We need three things: 1) 1) INDUSTRIAL RESPONSIBILITY (at the front end) 2) 2) COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY (at the back end) 3) GOOD LEADERSHIP (to link the two together)

Industrial Responsibility 1. Design for sustainability 1. Design for sustainability 2. Clean production 2. Clean production 3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Extended Producer Responsibilty - packaging The Ontario Beer industry has been using refillable glass bottles for over 50 years 98% recovered Each bottle reused 18 times It saves the company money 2000 jobs in collection and cleaning No cost to municipality

Extended Producer Responsibilty - products XEROX CORPORATION EUROPE XEROX CORPORATION EUROPE Recovers copying machines from 16 different countries Recovers copying machines from 16 different countries Takes them to huge warehouses in the Netherlands, where the machines are stripped down for parts and materials Takes them to huge warehouses in the Netherlands, where the machines are stripped down for parts and materials 95% of materials recovered for reuse or recycling! 95% of materials recovered for reuse or recycling! This is saving Xerox $76 millions a year!! This is saving Xerox $76 millions a year!!

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY Community responsibility begins with Source Separation Community responsibility begins with Source Separation

SourceSeparation

SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection

“The Fantastic 3” The San Francisco system

1 2 3

CompostingFacility 1 2 3

Composting Facility Near San Francisco

CompostingFacilityMaterialsRecoveryFacility 1 2 3

Materials Recovery Facility

CompostingFacilityMaterialsRecoveryFacility 1 2 3

CompostingFacilityMaterialsRecoveryFacility We have to minimize minimize the quantity of the the residuals residuals going into the thirdcontainer

Three ways to minimize the residual fraction with… 1) Waste reduction initiatives 1) Waste reduction initiatives 2) Reuse, repair and deconstruction 2) Reuse, repair and deconstruction 3) Economic incentives 3) Economic incentives

WasteReductionInitiatives

Ireland Government put a 15 cent tax on plastic shopping bags - Government put a 15 cent tax on plastic shopping bags - This reduced use by 92% in one year This reduced use by 92% in one year

Italy A supermarket chain near Florence is providing dispensers which allow customers to refill shampoo and detergent bottles… A supermarket chain near Florence is providing dispensers which allow customers to refill shampoo and detergent bottles… Others wine, water and milk Others wine, water and milk

Un pizzico di creatività a monte può far risparmiare milioni a valle Un pizzico di creatività a monte può far risparmiare milioni a valle

Reuse,RepairandDeconstruction

Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction

reuse

VIDEOS “On the Road to Zero Waste” “On the Road to Zero Waste” Part 1: Nova Scotia Part 1: Nova Scotia Part 2: Burlington, Vermont Part 2: Burlington, Vermont Part 3: Canberra, Australia Part 3: Canberra, Australia Part 4: San Francisco Part 4: San Francisco Zero Waste: Idealistic Dream or Realistic Goal? Zero Waste: Idealistic Dream or Realistic Goal? Pieces of Zero: Creativity versus Waste Pieces of Zero: Creativity versus Waste

EconomicIncentives

The “pay by bag” system

1 Free

1 2 FreeFree

1 2 $ FreeFree The more you make Pay!

CompostingFacility RecyclingFacility ? Reuse and Repair Centers 1 2 $ Deconstruction WasteReductioninitiatives

CompostingFacilityMaterialsRecoveryFacility Residuals= Our Current Failures Reuse & Repair & Deconstruction WasteReductioninitiatives

Landfills & Incinerators attempt to make the residuals disappear

To move towards zero waste & sustainability we need to make the remaining residuals very visible

ResidualSeparationFacility

Residuals must not go directly to a landfill but to a residual separation facility built but to a residual separation facility built in front of the landfill in front of the landfill

MORE TOXICS RESIDUAL SEPARATION FACILITY MORE RECYCLABLES DIRTYORGANICFRACTION INTERIM LANDFILL BIOLOGICAL STABILIZATION Operating in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Built in front of landfill

Two improvements on the Nova Scotia system

DIRTY ORGANIC FRACTION DIRTYORGANICFRACTION HYDROPULPER HEAVY ITEMS ANAEROBICDIGESTION METHANE PLASTICS INTERIM LANDFILL SOLID RESIDUE

MORE TOXICS NON-TOXIC, NON-BIODEGRADABLE FRACTION & RESEARCH RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH FACILITY MORE RECYCLABLES DIRTYORGANICFRACTION INTERIM LANDFILL HYDROPULPER RESEARCHCENTER

NON-RECYCABLE MATERIALS RESEARCH RESIDUAL SCREENING & RESEARCH FACILITY Local University Or Technical College RESEARCHCENTER

RESEARCH CENTER Maximize capture rate Maximize capture rate Research and promote waste reduction initiatives Research and promote waste reduction initiatives Look for local uses of some material Look for local uses of some material Recommend better industrial design to industry Recommend better industrial design to industry Link zero waste research to other aspects of sustainability Link zero waste research to other aspects of sustainability

The Message to Industry: If we can’t reuse it, recycle it or compost it, If we can’t reuse it, recycle it or compost it, Industry shouldn’t be making it! Industry shouldn’t be making it! We need better industrial design for the 21st Century We need better industrial design for the 21st Century

The Research Center is the“laboratory for sustainability”

Institute for Zero Waste & Sustainability Research centers

Institute for Zero Waste & Sustainability 1) Research for better industrial design 2) Link Zero Waste with other aspectsof sustainability

Zero Waste & Sustainability Zero Waste & Sustainability Too important to be left to “waste experts” Too important to be left to “waste experts” We need all sectors involved if we are to move towards a sustainable society We need all sectors involved if we are to move towards a sustainable society As far as sustainability is concerned the waste problem is a fabulous place to start As far as sustainability is concerned the waste problem is a fabulous place to start

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture BetterIndustrialDesign

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture Composting BetterIndustrialDesign

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture Composting Research Center BetterIndustrialDesign

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture Composting Research Center Deconstruction BetterIndustrialDesign

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture Composting Research Center Deconstruction Anaerobic AnaerobicDigestion BetterIndustrialDesign

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture Composting Research Center 100’s of “green boxes” Deconstruction Anaerobic AnaerobicDigestion BetterIndustrialDesign

Rifiuti Zero 2020 Education For Sustainability Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Community development Sustainable Energy Sustainable industries & Jobs Sustainable Architecture Composting Research Center Reuse & RepairCenters 100’s of “green boxes” Deconstruction Anaerobic AnaerobicDigestion BetterIndustrialDesign

The antidote to over- consumption (a life built around the accumulation of objects)…

Is community development (a life built around the expansion of human relationships).

“Make Friends, Not Waste”

Reuse & Repair Center

Reuse, Repair & Community Center Center

Material consumption Standard of Living Current Situation

Solar Power Material consumption Standard of Living Change 1

Zero Waste Zero Waste Solar Power Solar Power Standard of Living Change 2

Zero Waste Zero Waste Quality of life Solar Power Change 3

We have decouple quality of life from material consumption Quality of life Material consumption

Summary of the Zero Waste 2020 strategy

SourceSeparation

SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection

SourceSeparation Collection Composting

Recycling SourceSeparation Collection Composting

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling SourceSeparation Collection Composting

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling SourceSeparation Collection Composting Reuse, Repair & Community Center

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection Composting EconomicIncentives Reuse, Repair & Community Center

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection Composting EconomicIncentives Reuse, Repair & Community Center ResidualSeparation,& Research Center

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection Composting EconomicIncentives Reuse, Repair & Community Center BetterIndustrialDesignResidualSeparation,& Research Center

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection Composting EconomicIncentives Temporary Landfill Reuse, Repair & Community Center BetterIndustrialDesignResidualSeparation,& Research Center

WasteReductionInitiativesRecycling Reuse, Repair & Community Center SourceSeparation Door to Door Collection Composting BetterIndustrialDesign EconomicIncentives Temporary Landfill 2020 ResidualSeparation,& Research Center

Zero Waste 2020 is an idealistic goal which can be approached through a series of simple and practical steps

San Francisco Population = 850,000 Population = 850,000 Very little space Very little space 50% waste diverted by % waste diverted by % waste diverted by % waste diverted by % waste diverted by % waste diverted by 2008 GOAL: 75% waste diverted by 2010 GOAL: 75% waste diverted by 2010 GOAL: 100% waste diverted by 2020 GOAL: 100% waste diverted by 2020 Zero Waste or darn close! Zero Waste or darn close!

Italy 2000 communities have achieved over 50% diversion using “porta a porta” collection systems 2000 communities have achieved over 50% diversion using “porta a porta” collection systems Treviso (pop. = 860,000) > 66% diversion Treviso (pop. = 860,000) > 66% diversion Novarra (pop. = 100,000) 70% diversion in 18 months. Novarra (pop. = 100,000) 70% diversion in 18 months. Villafranca d’Asti (pop. 30,000) 85% diversion Villafranca d’Asti (pop. 30,000) 85% diversion

VIDEOS “On the Road to Zero Waste” “On the Road to Zero Waste” Part 1: Nova Scotia Part 1: Nova Scotia Part 2: Burlington, Vermont Part 2: Burlington, Vermont Part 3: Canberra, Australia Part 3: Canberra, Australia Part 4: San Francisco Part 4: San Francisco Zero Waste: Idealistic Dream or Realistic Goal? Zero Waste: Idealistic Dream or Realistic Goal? Pieces of Zero: Creativity versus Waste Pieces of Zero: Creativity versus Waste

3. Concluding Remarks

Moving towards sustainability is going to be the greatest challenge of the 21 St Century and it is going to take good leadership

We need leaders who have A big vision Imagination Creativity Perseverence and WHO ARE NOT BORING! GOOD LEADERSHIP GOOD LEADERSHIP

HUMAN BORINGS Have no vision Have no vision Have no imagination Have no imagination Have no sense of humor Have no sense of humor Are obsessively tidy Are obsessively tidy Confuse being clever with being wise Confuse being clever with being wise Think that technology can solve every problem Think that technology can solve every problem Think that man is the center of the universe Think that man is the center of the universe And a woman’s place is in the kitchen! And a woman’s place is in the kitchen!

BORING EXPERTS BORING EXPERTS Think with the wrong end of their bodies Think with the wrong end of their bodies

A BACK END THINKER… 1. A CUP 2. A BUCKET 3. A FOOT PUMP 4. AN ELECTRIC PUMP

A FRONT END THINKER…

Our only hope to move towards sustainability in time, is to move to the front end of the problem

NO to INCINERATORS NO to LANDFILLS THE BACK END OFWASTEMANAGEMENT

NO to INCINERATORS NO to LANDFILLS THE FRONT END OFRESOURCEMANAGEMENT&BETTERINDUSTRIALDESIGN THE BACK END OFWASTEMANAGEMENT

WITH INCINERATION WE CONVERT 3 TONS OF TRASH into : into : 1 ton of ASH That nobody wants!

WITH THE ZERO WASTE 2020 STRATEGY WE CONVERT 3 TONS OF TRASH into : into : 1 ton of compostables 1 ton of recyclables 1 ton of recyclablesand 1 ton of EDUCATION!

Conclusions We do not need mega-landfills or incinerators! We do not need mega-landfills or incinerators! There is a better strategy which is There is a better strategy which is Better for our health, Better for our health, Better for the local and national economy, Better for the local and national economy, Better for our children, and Better for our children, and Better for the planet! Better for the planet!

Three final messages 1. To citizens - don’t let the experts take your common sense away 1. To citizens - don’t let the experts take your common sense away 2. To politicians - put your faith back in people 2. To politicians - put your faith back in people 3. To activists - 3. To activists - HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Godrecycles, The devil burns

Postscript

Detoxifying our lives Get lead out of gasoline Get lead out of gasoline Get mercury out of products, vaccines and our mouths Get mercury out of products, vaccines and our mouths Get PVC out of commerce Get PVC out of commerce Get incineration out of waste management Get incineration out of waste management Get “waste” out of the dictionary Get “waste” out of the dictionary Get aspartame out of soft drinks Get aspartame out of soft drinks Get soft drinks out of our schools Get soft drinks out of our schools Get scientific integrity back into our regulatory agencies Get scientific integrity back into our regulatory agencies Get fluoride out of our water Get fluoride out of our water

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