LESS IS LESS: GARBAGE IN AMERICA

MSW GENERATION RATES

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: POPULATION GROWTH 1990: million tons (actual)1990: million tons (actual) 2010: million tons (actual)2010: million tons (actual) 2010: million tons (projected)2010: million tons (projected) 2010: 8.1 million ton shortfall2010: 8.1 million ton shortfall

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: PRIOR DECADE GROWTH 1990: million tons (actual)1990: million tons (actual) 2010: million tons (actual)2010: million tons (actual) 2010: million tons (projected)2010: million tons (projected) 2010: 78.3 million ton shortfall2010: 78.3 million ton shortfall

WHY LESS WASTE? Recession?Recession? Recycling/composting?Recycling/composting? Evolving ton?Evolving ton? Source reduction?Source reduction? Zero waste?Zero waste?

THE EVOLVING TON Less paperLess paper More plasticMore plastic ElectronicsElectronics Future products?Future products?

ELECTRONICS

MANAGEMENT TRENDS

RECOVERY RATES

RECYCLING: 2000 – 2011 Packaging recycling 51% recycling ratePackaging recycling 51% recycling rate Up from 32.6%Up from 32.6% Printed paper recycling rate 74%Printed paper recycling rate 74% Up from 42%Up from 42%

ORGANICS Composting tonnage up 4,250,000 tonsComposting tonnage up 4,250,000 tons Composting rate up 26%Composting rate up 26%

ORGANICS Edible foodEdible food Animal feedAnimal feed Anaerobic digestionAnaerobic digestion Residential/commercial collectionResidential/commercial collection

SOURCE REDUCTION EPA 1996: 23.2 million tons less: Avoiding the curbAvoiding the curb LightweightingLightweighting ReuseReuse

ZERO WASTE “Zero waste” means?“Zero waste” means? 100+ communities100+ communities Smart capitalismSmart capitalism

COMPANIES KrogerKroger Honeywell System SensorHoneywell System Sensor MillerCoorsMillerCoors General MillsGeneral Mills SubaruSubaru General MotorsGeneral Motors AB InBevAB InBev DellDell UnileverUnilever Proctor & GambleProctor & Gamble FordFord VolvoVolvo ToyotaToyota BridgestoneBridgestone Southern Tier BrewingSouthern Tier Brewing WalmartWalmart NY State LegislatureNY State Legislature Kona BrewingKona Brewing

SUBSTANCE Increase diversion to 65% by 2013Increase diversion to 65% by 2013 Defect rate down by 80%Defect rate down by 80% No waste to landfillNo waste to landfill Donated food waste…decreased overall generation by 40%Donated food waste…decreased overall generation by 40% Auto production plant landfill freeAuto production plant landfill free Zero waste to landfill at 116 facilities, 45 in North AmericaZero waste to landfill at 116 facilities, 45 in North America Reduce packaging use by 100,000 tons annually by 2017Reduce packaging use by 100,000 tons annually by 2017 Waste-free packaging by 2020Waste-free packaging by 2020 Reduced waste by one million household binsReduced waste by one million household bins Zero waste to landfills at 45 factoriesZero waste to landfills at 45 factories Five year plan to reduce waste by 40% per vehicleFive year plan to reduce waste by 40% per vehicle Zero waste to landfillZero waste to landfill 95% reduction in waste to landfills all North American plants, averaged over 3 years95% reduction in waste to landfills all North American plants, averaged over 3 years Two tire manufacturing plants zero waste to landfillTwo tire manufacturing plants zero waste to landfill Spent brewery grains to animal feed instead of landfillSpent brewery grains to animal feed instead of landfill 80 percent waste reduction, increase use of recycled plastic80 percent waste reduction, increase use of recycled plastic Publish bills electronically, not on paperPublish bills electronically, not on paper 11% lighter glass beer bottles11% lighter glass beer bottles

FUTURE: SOURCE REDUCTION Limits of lightweighting?Limits of lightweighting? New materials or products?New materials or products? Reuse?Reuse? Do we care about reduce?Do we care about reduce?

FUTURE: RECYCLING More mandatory recycling: commercial and multi-familyMore mandatory recycling: commercial and multi-family More C&D recyclingMore C&D recycling More “dirty” MRFs?More “dirty” MRFs? Less paper, more plastic at MRFsLess paper, more plastic at MRFs On-line shoppingOn-line shopping

FUTURE: ORGANICS More food waste diversionMore food waste diversion More compostingMore composting Anaerobic digestion?Anaerobic digestion? Landfill gas?Landfill gas?

FUTURE: OVERALL Less wasteLess waste Less disposalLess disposal Evolving material mixEvolving material mix Continued zero waste by industryContinued zero waste by industry

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Chaz Miller