Report of recycling and waste minimization efforts on Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav Response Actions

 Introduction  Summary of Disposal and Recycling Data  Summary of Disposal and Recycling Practices  Other Response Green Practices  Lessons Learned about the difficulties incorporating green practices  Guidelines for future large event response actions

Cleaning Products ● ● Oven cleaners ● ● Drain cleaners ● ● Wood & metal cleaners & polishes ● ● Toilet cleaners ● ● Tub, tile, shower cleaners ● ● Bleach (laundry) ● ● Pool chemicals ● ● Oven cleaners ● ● Drain cleaners ● ● Wood & metal cleaners & polishes ● ● Toilet cleaners ● ● Tub, tile, shower cleaners ● ● Bleach (laundry) ● ● Pool chemicals Indoor Pesticides ● ● Ant sprays & baits ● ● Cockroach sprays ● ● Flea repellents & shampoos ● ● Bug sprays ● ● Houseplant insecticides ● ● Moth repellents ● ● Mouse & rat poisons ● ● Ant sprays & baits ● ● Cockroach sprays ● ● Flea repellents & shampoos ● ● Bug sprays ● ● Houseplant insecticides ● ● Moth repellents ● ● Mouse & rat poisons Workshops / Paint ● ● Adhesives & glues ● ● Furniture strippers ● ● Oil / enamel paint ● ● Stains & finishes ● ● Paint thinners ● ● Paint strippers ● ● Photography chemicals ● ● Fixatives / solvents ● ● Adhesives & glues ● ● Furniture strippers ● ● Oil / enamel paint ● ● Stains & finishes ● ● Paint thinners ● ● Paint strippers ● ● Photography chemicals ● ● Fixatives / solvents Lawn & Garden ● ● Herbicides ● ● Insecticides ● ● Fungicides / wood preservatives ● ● Herbicides ● ● Insecticides ● ● Fungicides / wood preservatives Automotive ● ● Motor oil ● ● Fuel additives ● ● Cleaners / solvents ● ● Transmission, brake, starter fluids ● ● Antifreeze ● ● Motor oil ● ● Fuel additives ● ● Cleaners / solvents ● ● Transmission, brake, starter fluids ● ● Antifreeze Flammable Products ● ● Propane tanks ● ● Kerosene ● ● Home heating oil ● ● Diesel fuel ● ● Gas / oil mixtures ● ● Lighter fluid ● ● Propane tanks ● ● Kerosene ● ● Home heating oil ● ● Diesel fuel ● ● Gas / oil mixtures ● ● Lighter fluid

● ● Debris ● ● Fluorescent Bulbs ● ● Light Ballasts ● ● Mercury/Switches ● ● Refrigerators ● ● White Goods ● ● Debris ● ● Fluorescent Bulbs ● ● Light Ballasts ● ● Mercury/Switches ● ● Refrigerators ● ● White Goods Compressed Gas Cylinders ● ● Propane ● ● Acetylene ● ● Various Industrial Gases ● ● Propane ● ● Acetylene ● ● Various Industrial Gases Abandoned Vehicles ● ● Motor Oil ● ● Gasoline/Diesel Fuel ● ● Lead Batteries ● ● Antifreeze ● ● Oil Filters ● ● Motor Oil ● ● Gasoline/Diesel Fuel ● ● Lead Batteries ● ● Antifreeze ● ● Oil Filters E-Waste ● ● Computers ● ● Audio Equipment ● ● Televisions ● ● Computers ● ● Audio Equipment ● ● Televisions Buildings

Conventional Disposal   Advantage   Conventional disposal is almost always more cost effective   Disadvantage   Large event responses creates regional short term burden on disposal facility capacity   Pricing increase could be shared by all generators during surge   Facility backups could create   Public safety and environmental issues Recycling   Protective of environment   Less Landfills results in less leaching   Less leaching preserves groundwater   E-waste recycling minimizes source of leachable lead   Preserves Resources   Over 7 mil lbs of organic waste converted to energy   Scrap steel results in cost recovery   E-waste recycling preserves precious metals, plastic and glass

HHW Curbside Pickup and Collection

● ● 2-person Collection Crews work in defined residential areas, collect curbside waste ● ● Preliminary in-the- field waste segregation ● ● Pickup trucks lined with plastic sheeting and absorbent boom to serve as secondary containment during transport ● ● Pickup trucks fitted with storage bins to sort wastes by type ● ● Transport to waste reduction sites ● ● 2-person Collection Crews work in defined residential areas, collect curbside waste ● ● Preliminary in-the- field waste segregation ● ● Pickup trucks lined with plastic sheeting and absorbent boom to serve as secondary containment during transport ● ● Pickup trucks fitted with storage bins to sort wastes by type ● ● Transport to waste reduction sites ● ● Hydrocarbon-based wastes (oils, paints) recycled as alternative fuels for BIF facilities ● ● Compressed gases recycled at EPA- approved facilities if practicable ● ● Wastes shipped to EPA-approved TSDFs ● ● Waste shipments complied with all DOT requirements ● ● Waste documentation/ manifests prepared for all shipments ● ● Hydrocarbon-based wastes (oils, paints) recycled as alternative fuels for BIF facilities ● ● Compressed gases recycled at EPA- approved facilities if practicable ● ● Wastes shipped to EPA-approved TSDFs ● ● Waste shipments complied with all DOT requirements ● ● Waste documentation/ manifests prepared for all shipments ● ● Upon arrival, items staged, inventoried, data entered in PDAs ● ● Wastes staged by type, volume, and container condition ● ● Dedicated temporary storage cells labeled by waste type, lined with plastic & boom, spaced >20 feet apart ● ● Unknowns >5 gallons HAZCAT sampled in Level B PPE ● ● Compatible wastes bulked into DOT shippable containers ● ● Upon arrival, items staged, inventoried, data entered in PDAs ● ● Wastes staged by type, volume, and container condition ● ● Dedicated temporary storage cells labeled by waste type, lined with plastic & boom, spaced >20 feet apart ● ● Unknowns >5 gallons HAZCAT sampled in Level B PPE ● ● Compatible wastes bulked into DOT shippable containers CollectionProcessingDisposition Household Waste Management Procedures

Electronic Waste Management Procedures

Unloading Bleach Solution Wash Processing for Recycling Valley of the White Goods White Goods Management Procedures

Practice Administrative  Paper work reduction/max e-file transmission  Provide recycling boxes for plastic & paper Energy Conservation  Flex fuel vehicle  Shut down idled vehicles & equipment Environmental Impact  Minimize site clearing  Bush-hog rather than strip vegetation with dozer  Chip /grind vegetation for mulch  Preserve greenbelts along waterways Benefit  Reduces paper & ink costs  Reduces landfill volume and cost  Fuel from renewable resource  Reduces fuel consumption costs  Reduces hydrocarbon emissions  Reduces clearing cost/maximizes soil stability  Preservation of root system maximizes soil stability and reduces restoration cost  Minimizes landfill space/reuse for soil stability and organic fertilizer  Minimizes erosion control material cost/promotes water quality Other Green Practices

 1 st priority is stabilizing the situation to protect worker/public safety and environment  Monitoring, evaluation, planning, and organizing resources and tactics are key to implementing green practices  Emphasis on practices that cost effective and provide most environmental benefit  Waste minimization through chemical bulking onsite treatment, debris shredding provide substantial cost and environmental benefit  Enlisting large disposal firms to work directly at the collection facilities provides substantial cost and environmental benefit through expertise and offsite resources Lessons Learned

 Recognize green practices are a primary goal  Green practice training for site managers  Preliminary and continual evaluation of practices to incorporate/discontinue cost effective and environmentally sound solutions  Provide proper resources and working space for successful implementation  Training at worker level maximizes segregation of recyclable materials Guidelines for Establishing Green Practices on Future Events

 Green practice implementation may have difficulties but also has substantial cost and environmental benefits  Sound response management with effective training, planning, monitoring, and re- evaluation/modification of tactics are essential to implementing cost effective and environmentally sound green practices Conclusion