Zero Waste OC 2013 Ready for nothing? The time is now. The possibilities exist (or should/could, with our leadership). The reasons are clear. Introduction To Waste-Management and Materials-Recovery Program Design Concepts and Methods The Orange County Sustainability Collaborative March 1, 2013 Marialyce Pedersen, Adjunct Faculty, Golden West College

Mind the hierarchy! reduce (waste prevention or “source reduction”) reuse recycle compost anaerobic digestion Waste-to-energy (incineration) disposal Difficult/More Sustainable Easiest/Least Sustainable MAXIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT NO ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT

Easy BUT businesses must pay for service and seldom reap benefits from recyclables. May take extra effort to set up collection systems and locate processors, but businesses directly reap financial and “closed loop” (return of materials) benefits. Subscribe to a recycling service that may include mixed waste processing that yields diversion results comparable to source separation. Arrange for the pickup of recyclable materials or self-haul to recyclers.

Business Waste Composition (US EPA)

preventing waste is the top of the hierarchy plastic bag bans are good. but what about all the other single-use plastics in all of our lives? easy individual solutions: duplex copying; minimizing paper super-portable reusable bags reusable utensil kits water bottle reusable mug (10 cent savings!) patronizing businesses that utilize reusable dishware encouraging those that don’t yet to provide reusable dishware

Reuse is the Second Priority There are Treasures in our Waste Stream Reuse is about extracting the highest value possible from used items – preserving and even enhancing the integrity of materials through imagination, creativity and intelligence. From designers breathing new life into vintage fabrics, to developers working on downtown revitalization, there is an increasing recognition of reuse—not just as a concept, but as a movement. The Renaissance of Reuse Reuse Alliance is building a community of like-minded individuals and organizations across the country that is revolutionizing the way we look at waste.

Recycling & Composting Are Third (US EPA)

Add It Up: Avoided Disposal, Reuse & Recycling Savings Avoided disposal Free recycling collection Reduced cost collections $$ savings

ITEM/ ACTIVITY Reuse/ donation tons Recycling tons Collection + disposal costs/ton* Less processing costs Estimated savings Food Bank donations 4.5$77None$ Grasscycling 12,000$77None$924,000 Bottle and can recycling 10$200 $1,000 Furniture donations 300$200 $48,000

1 Conduct visual waste assessment, facility walk-through; dialogue with leadership & employees; make personal observations. 2 Identify waste prevention and reuse initiatives (e.g., packaging take-back requirements in contracts, electronic information distribution, reusable mug incentives, duplexing, etc.). 3 Identify additional potential diversion of currently unrecovered recyclable and compostable materials. 4 Select best service option(s) for currently unrecyclable and uncompostable materials.

Business Waste Assessment Steps  Target central trash collection areas  Conduct Visual Audit for all container types  Document/Record –Map Location –Assess major discard-streams, opportunities –Estimate Volumes/Weights  Photograph your findings  Create discard analysis report (columnar)  Highest & best use recommendations  Existing costs, estimated cost savings  Develop Recommendations for improvements

Potential Diversion Opportunities Assessment MaterialCurrent Recovery (tons, % of total) Estimated Additional Recovery Potential Proposed Management Plan Improve existing program Create new program (internally, w/ local gov’t, private service providers) Cardboard Paper Plastic (bottles) Plastic (film) Metal Glass Wood Landscape Food scraps Etc.

Now, Calculate Your GhG (and other environmental) Savings!