18 christopher - what is zero waste

8/7/2019 18 Christopher - What is Zero Waste

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What is Zero Waste?

Definition and Dialogue forMunicipal Zero Waste

Managers

Linda Christopher

Ruth Abbe


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What is waste?

ProblemMaterials

23%

Recyclable Paperand Cardboard

18%

OtherRecyclableMaterials

21%

PotentiallyRecyclableMaterials

4%

CompostableMaterials

34%

Figures derived from Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste for the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, 2001


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Potentially Recyclable Materials

Materials that dont have vibrant markets

Hardback books

Window glass

Some plastics Textiles

Asphalt roofing

Clean gypsum board


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Problem Materials Materials that dont have markets

Composite materials (things stuck to other things) Treated wood

Some plastics

Diapers

Hazardous materials and some electronics


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Example Zero WastePractitioners

75% by 2010

Zero waste by 2020

Berkeley

75% by 2013

Zero waste by 2022

San Jose

75% by 2010Zero waste by 2020

San Francisco


Palo Alto


Oakland


Marin County


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"Zero Waste is a goal that is both pragmatic and visionary, to guide

people to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discardedmaterials 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."

-- www.zwia.org


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Zero Waste is a philosophyand a design principle forthe 21st Century;

it is not simply aboutputting an end tolandfilling because aimingfor Zero Waste is not anend-of-pipe solution.

That is why it heraldsfundamental change


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Aiming for zero waste means designingAiming for zero waste means designing

products and packaging with reuse andproducts and packaging with reuse andrecycling in mind.recycling in mind.

It means ending subsidies for wasting. ItIt means ending subsidies for wasting. Itmeans closing the gap between landfillmeans closing the gap between landfill

prices and their true costs.prices and their true costs.

It means making manufacturers takeIt means making manufacturers take

responsibility for the entire lifecycle ofresponsibility for the entire lifecycle of

their products and packaging.their products and packaging.


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Zero waste efforts, just like recycling effortsbefore, will change the face of solid wastemanagement in the future.

Instead of managing wastes, we will manageresources and strive to eliminate waste.

-- Institute for Local Self-Reliance


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Zero Waste

A primary strategy is to look upstream andredesign products, materials, and systemsof resource use to keep them from enteringthe waste stream.


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Extended Producer Responsibility

The purpose of EPR is product redesign,not simply producer responsibility forphysical or financial burden of crush &

grind recycling.


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Measuring Success


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3) Zero Waste to landfill or incineration We divert more than90% of the solid wastes we generate from Landfill and Incinerationfrom all of our facilities.

No more than 10% of our discards are landfilled. No mixed wastesare incinerated or processed in facilities that operate above ambientbiological temperatures (more than 200 F.) to recover energy ormaterials.

www.grrn.org/zerowaste/businesswww.zeroheroes.biz

18 christopher - what is zero waste

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