The Key Step to Zero The Key Step to Zero Waste Waste

Paul Connett, PhDPaul Connett, PhDExecutive Director Executive Director

American Environmental Health Studies American Environmental Health Studies ProjectProject

AmericanAmericanHealthHealthStudies.orgStudies.orgpconnett@gmail.com

San Diego, July 30, 2011San Diego, July 30, 2011

10 steps to Zero Waste10 steps to Zero Waste

Waste Waste ReductionReductionInitiativesInitiatives

RecyclingRecyclingReuse, Repair Reuse, Repair & Community& Community

CenterCenter

SourceSourceSeparationSeparation

Door to DoorDoor to DoorCollectionCollection CompostingComposting

Residual Residual Separation & Separation &

ResearchResearch CenterCenter

EconomicEconomicIncentivesIncentives

Temporary LandfillTemporary Landfill 20202020

Industrial Industrial Responsibility Responsibility

The Key Step to Zero The Key Step to Zero WasteWaste

8. Residual8. ResidualSeparation &Separation &

ResearchResearchFacilityFacility

RESIDUAL SEPARATION &RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH FACILITY RESEARCH FACILITY 1. Built at entrance to landfill1. Built at entrance to landfill 2. No material can enter landfill without it 2. No material can enter landfill without it

being separated and screenedbeing separated and screened 3. More material recycled3. More material recycled 4. Toxics removed and identified4. Toxics removed and identified 5. Dirty organics biologically stabilized5. Dirty organics biologically stabilized 6. Non-recyclable materials STUDIED6. Non-recyclable materials STUDIED 7. It deliberately adds a feedback 7. It deliberately adds a feedback

mechanism to the Production-Waste systemmechanism to the Production-Waste system

MORE TOXICS

RESIDUAL SCREENING FACILITY

MORE RECYCLABLES

DIRTYDIRTYORGANIC ORGANIC FRACTIONFRACTION

INTERIM LANDFILL

BIOLOGICAL STABILIZATION

OPERATINGOPERATING IN IN

NOVA NOVA SCOTIASCOTIA

MORE TOXICS

NON-RECYCLBLE FRACTION

RESIDUAL SCREENING & RESEARCH& RESEARCH FACILITY

MORE RECYCLABLES

DIRTYDIRTYORGANIC ORGANIC FRACTIONFRACTION

INTERIM LANDFILL

BIOLOGICAL STABILIZATIONRESEARCH RESEARCH

CENTERCENTER

NON-RECYCABLE MATERIALS

Local Local UniversityUniversity

Or Or Technical CollegeTechnical College

RESEARCH RESEARCH CENTERCENTER

CompostingCompostingFacilityFacility

MaterialsMaterialsRecoveryRecovery

FacilityFacility Zero WasteZero WasteResearchResearch

CenterCenterMaximizeMaximize

Capture rateCapture rateReuse & RepairReuse & Repair

1 2 $

& Deconstruction& Deconstruction

WasteWasteReductionReductionInitiativesInitiatives

CompostingCompostingFacilityFacility

MaterialsMaterialsRecoveryRecovery

FacilityFacility Zero WasteZero WasteResearchResearch

CenterCenterDirectory ofDirectory of

Best PracticesBest PracticesReuse & RepairReuse & Repair

1 2 $

& Deconstruction& Deconstruction

WasteWasteReductionReductionInitiativesInitiatives

CompostingCompostingFacilityFacility

MaterialsMaterialsRecoveryRecovery

FacilityFacility

Zero WasteZero WasteResearchResearch

CenterCenterReuse & RepairReuse & Repair

1 2 $

& Deconstruction& Deconstruction

WasteWasteReductionReductionInitiativesInitiatives

Find local usesFind local uses for some for some materialsmaterials

CompostingCompostingFacilityFacility

MaterialsMaterialsRecoveryRecovery

FacilityFacility

Zero WasteZero WasteResearchResearch

CenterCenterReuse & RepairReuse & Repair

1 2 $

& Deconstruction& Deconstruction

WasteWasteReductionReductionInitiativesInitiatives

RecommendRecommendBetterBetter

Industrial Industrial designdesign

CompostingCompostingFacilityFacility

MaterialsMaterialsRecoveryRecovery

FacilityFacility

Zero WasteZero WasteResearchResearch

CenterCenterReuse & RepairReuse & Repair

1 2 $

& Deconstruction& Deconstruction

WasteWasteReductionReductionInitiativesInitiatives

ResearchResearchFor CleanFor CleanProductionProduction

The Message to The Message to Industry:Industry:

• If we can’t If we can’t reuse itreuse it, , recycle itrecycle it or or compost itcompost it,,

• Industry shouldn’t be making it Industry shouldn’t be making it • We need better industrial design for We need better industrial design for

the 21st Centurythe 21st Century

Why is the Residual Why is the Residual Separation and Separation and

Research Facility the Research Facility the key step to Zero key step to Zero

Waste?Waste?

The Residual Separation The Residual Separation & Research Facility& Research Facility

1) It is the NEXUS between community 1) It is the NEXUS between community responsibility and industrial responsibility.responsibility and industrial responsibility.

2) It integrates HIGHER EDUCATION into Zero 2) It integrates HIGHER EDUCATION into Zero Waste SolutionsWaste Solutions

3) It has the potential to link zero waste 3) It has the potential to link zero waste solutions with other aspects of solutions with other aspects of sustainabilitysustainability

4) It has the potential to attract very creative 4) It has the potential to attract very creative designers (Waste is a design problem)designers (Waste is a design problem)

5) It is key alternative to the “magic machine”5) It is key alternative to the “magic machine”

RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH FACILITIES. Progress Report:FACILITIES. Progress Report:

1. Residual separation facilities operating 1. Residual separation facilities operating in Nova Scotia (see video)in Nova Scotia (see video)

2. Zero Waste Research Center 2. Zero Waste Research Center announced for Capannori, Italy Jan 23, announced for Capannori, Italy Jan 23, 20102010

3. An exciting meeting planned for 3. An exciting meeting planned for Coventry, UK Sept 8-9, 2011Coventry, UK Sept 8-9, 2011

4. A private company (VAR) maybe 4. A private company (VAR) maybe already doing something like this in the already doing something like this in the Netherlands.Netherlands.

VAR (Netherlands)VAR (Netherlands) http://www.var.nl/

““When we visited VAR, they sent about two When we visited VAR, they sent about two percent of their waste for incineration. percent of their waste for incineration.  They are located on a 75 hectare site and  They are located on a 75 hectare site and have an inert landfill.  They were have an inert landfill.  They were processing 1.3 million tonnes of waste per processing 1.3 million tonnes of waste per annum.  They are a private company that annum.  They are a private company that had to compete with incineration had to compete with incineration companies that were slashing their gate companies that were slashing their gate fees to try and attract waste because fees to try and attract waste because there was over capacity in the incineration there was over capacity in the incineration business.” (Richard Lord, Guernsey)  business.” (Richard Lord, Guernsey)  

Iniziative Iniziative RiduzioneRiduzione

rifiutirifiutiRiciclaggioRiciclaggio

Separazione Separazione alla alla

sorgentesorgenteRaccoltaRaccolta

Porta a PortaPorta a Porta CompostaggioCompostaggio

ResidualResidual Separation &Separation &

ResearchResearchFacilityFacility

Industrial Industrial Responsibility Responsibility

IncentiviIncentiviEconomiciEconomici

INTERIM LANDFILLINTERIM LANDFILL 20202020

RiutilizzoRiutilizzoRiparazione eRiparazione eCentro per la Centro per la

Comunita’Comunita’

70 - 80%70 - 80% COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITYCOMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

Iniziative Iniziative RiduzioneRiduzione

rifiutirifiutiRiciclaggioRiciclaggio

Separazione Separazione alla alla

sorgentesorgenteRaccoltaRaccolta

Porta a PortaPorta a Porta CompostaggioCompostaggio

Separazione Separazione del residuo edel residuo e

Centro diCentro di ricercaricerca

migliore migliore design design

industrialeindustrialeIncentiviIncentivi

EconomiciEconomici

INTERIM LANDFILL INTERIM LANDFILL 20202020

RiutilizzoRiutilizzoRiparazione eRiparazione eCentro per la Centro per la

Comunita’Comunita’

70-80%70-80%COMUNITY RESPONSIBILITYCOMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

20-30%20-30%INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL

RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY