Zero Waste Sector

Seattle Carbon NeutralSeptember 14, 2010

2006

6 days/week

2010

6 days/week

20301 day/week

www.seattlepi.com/local/323082_trashtrain10.html

How• Many small actions will add up• Shift to “cradle to cradle” – production,

transport, and reuse/recycling• 3 over-arching concepts:

– recycling/composting, – reduction at source, – producer responsibility

• Wastewater

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/323082_trashtrain10.html

Seattle Recycling/ Composting

1980’s goal60%

2006 actual43%2009 gain51%

Zero wastegoal

>>80%

Aluminum

Newspaper

Mixed Paper

Wood

Cardboard

Sound Resource Management. 2009. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Management Strategies with a Zero Waste Objective

Greenhouse gas emissions per ton(recycle versus use of virgin materials)

Methane Emissions• Landfills are 2nd largest source of anthropogenic methane gas in US

• 23 percent of all methane emissions in 2007

~50% of garbage in 2009 was recyclable or compostable

• Food waste/food-soiled paper110,000 tons

• Recyclable paper38,000 tons

• Cans, bottles and other common recyclables

34,000 tons

Many recyclables sent overseasOverseas:82% newspaper100% mixed paper70% cardboard100% HDPE100% PETDomestic:100% mixed glass100% aluminum cans100% steel/tin cans

www.seattle.gov/util/About_SPU/Recycling_System/History_&_Overview/index.asp

Beef-up “Reduce”

Reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill

2006 = 438,000 tons2009 = 352,000 tons

Phonebooks

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/07/13/my-just-in-time-contribution-to-councilman-mike-obriens-phone-book-collection

Paperless Billing (and City!)

http://greenpages.indoff.com/Weblog/Archive/2009/2/6/12_Tips_to_Reduce_Paper_Consumption_in_the_Office

Excess Food

The average family wastes $600 worth of food each year. Can we change?

August 17, 2010 (www.bundle.com/everybodysmoney)

Producer recovery fee for excess packaging

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/technology/08packaging.html?_r=1

WA State Residential Waste Stream

July 2010: 2009 Washington Statewide Waste Characterization Study

Producer ResponsibilityCarpet

ecolocalizer.com/2008/02/29/san-Francisco-carpet-recycling

Tires

http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/02051/Tires.htm

Mattresses

http://www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/hcst/content.hcst?lang=en&&dDocName=033661

Used Painthttp://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/07/oregon_paint_recycling_program_leads_the_nation.html

WastewaterGreywater

Reclaimed Water

In Sum

• 100% recycling• Beef up “reduce”• Producer responsibility• Reuse wastewater

www.uoregon.edu/~recycle/edu_promo.htm

Thank you