Best Practices, Lessons and Challenges State Panel Ameripen June 2, 2016
Cradle to Cradle
Recycling & Composting Requirements Technical NutrientsBiological Nutrients
… Curbside recycling provided to Seattle residents 1988 City of Seattle adopts a recycling goal of 60% 1989 Yard Waste banned from residential garbage 1989 Expanded the yard waste cart to include food waste 2005 Yard Waste banned from commercial garbage 2005 Paper and cardboard banned from commercial garbage 2005 All recyclables banned from residential garbage 2005 City of Seattle adopts Zero Waste Resolution Mandatory curbside food and yard waste service for single-family 2009 Polystyrene Foam Ban 2009 Recyclable or Compostable Food Service Packaging Required 2011 Mandatory food and yard waste service for multi-family 2011 Plastic Bag Ban Effective 2012 All recyclables banned from commercial garbage 2014 Food Waste banned from residential and commercial garbage 2015
Everyone has to do it! ResidentsBusinessesApartments
Monthly cost of a 96 gallon cart COMPOST $11/month GARBAGE $100/month RECYCLING Free 96 gal example: 35” deep x 41” tall X 78” wide Other Garbage Rates: 12 gal. mini can = $ gal. min can = $ gal. can = $ gal. cart = $68.00 Other Compost Rates: 13 gal mini-can = $ gal container = $8.50 f
Significant Investment in Outreach, Technical Assistance, Inspections, Stakeholder Work
Results Recycling Rates (2014) Overall (doesn’t include C &D) = 57.1% 2015 overall goal is 60% Combined Residential = 60.0% Single Family = 71.1% Multi Family = 34.6% Commercial = 62.2%
The Rest of the Story Incoming contamination. Increasing residuals. Commodity cross contamination at MRFs. Plastic bags collected curbside clogging MRF equipment. Serious contamination at compost facilities. Confusion about what can be recycled and composted – some of this confusion caused by manufacturers of packaging. Ruling: Cannot sort through garbage to determine compliance.
Defining Your Role The 3 BMPS strategies identified by Ameripen are essentially what you think others should do: about 20,000 local governments each with own decision making. How long will it take with incremental change, government by government? While working to get under performing areas started, work to make the places that look successful actually successful. Scale up efforts for real impact. Get rid of green washing and confusing packaging labeling/images. Learn from and emulate EPR activities in Canada.
Thank you! Sego Jackson Waste Prevention & Product Stewardship
Innovation Driver and the Compostable Product Market Recyclable - if Clean of Food Compostable
What does it mean? “Bio” “Earth” “Natural”, Green Restaurant Assoc, Chasing Arrows?
Compostable or Recyclable?