What we learned last week: What waste really is Waste is a problem on many different scales How it affects the landscape in our own backyard The institutional structure that works to help mitigate this here in Josephine County - Roles of The Environmental Public Health Department, The Solid Waste Agency, and the DEQ

TO BAG OR TO BOX? What was your choice? And why did you make it? Activity and statistics adapted from Dorothy Atwood’s Zero Waste Workshop

Things are not always so simple… Cardboard Box Plastic Bag RecyclabilityWaste prevention due to lower weight (less room for void fill, i.e. packing peanuts) Recycled contentCould last longer But what are the numbers?

Pounds of Solid Waste Source: DEQ Packaging Study

Pounds of CO2 Emissions Source: DEQ Packaging Study

What does this show us? The weight of the material is important More than just one part of the a product’s life cycle needs to be analyzed for an accurate assessment Upstream waste impacts are usually greater than downstream impacts Making environmentally conscious decisions is not always so simple!

How is our recycling collected? Who collects it? What can we recycle locally? What happens to it after it is collected? How is it processed? What is it made into? What happens to it if it is not recycled and goes to the landfill? Today’s Focus

Steps for Successful Recycling 1.Source separation 2.Collection 3.Processing 4.Manufacturing and marketing 5.Purchase of products with recycled content (closing the loop)

Franchised Waste Haulers Private companies who have “franchise agreements” with the local government to serve defined areas. Service includes curbside trash and recycling collection as well as depot and transfer station availability. Our local waste haulers: Southern Oregon Sanitation, Trent Carpenter, Operations Manager Allied Waste Services, Julie Jackson, Recycling Representative

Competition: What goes Where Three categories of materials (1 point for each correct): 1.In the blue curbside bin 2.Recyclable, but not in the curbside bin 3.Not recyclable anywhere locally ½ Point for additional information for each material: Special preparation instructions for materials to go in curbside bin (i.e. rinsed) If the material is recyclable locally but not in the curbside bin, where can it be taken? If something is not recyclable, can it be DISPOSED of at certain special events? *YOUR GROUP HAS 15 MINUTES TO DECIDE!*