Stop Trashing the Climate Brenda Platt Institute for Local Self-Reliance BioCycle West, San Diego April 15th, 2008 Brenda Platt Institute for Local Self-Reliance BioCycle West, San Diego April 15th, 2008 Wasting and Climate Change: The Connections Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self-Reliance presented at the Zero Waste Conference Devens, Massachusetts, October 19, 2009

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? % of waste goes to landfills, a top source of methane emissions

Wasting Trend in U.S.

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? % of waste is landfilled 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas % of waste is landfilled 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas

Landfill greenhouse gas emissions, % of total Total 2005 = 7,260 megatons CO 2 equiv.

The global warming potential concept CO 2 Methane year time horizon, 21 times more potent than CO 2 Methane - 20 yrs, 72 times more potent CO 2 Methane year time horizon, 21 times more potent than CO 2 Methane - 20 yrs, 72 times more potent

Landfill greenhouse gas emissions, % of total, 20 yr time horizon Total 2005 = 8,754 megatons CO 2 equiv.

Disposal sector emissions, 8.1% of total, 20 yr horizon

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 10. Landfills are a top source of methane 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 8. Incinerators are bad for the climate 10. Landfills are a top source of methane 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 8. Incinerators are bad for the climate

Waste incinerators are NOT good for the climate

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 10. Landfills are a top source of methane 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 8. Incinerators are bad for the climate 7.Incinerators require wasting 10. Landfills are a top source of methane 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 8. Incinerators are bad for the climate 7.Incinerators require wasting

Incinerators require waste and wasting

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 10. Landfills are a top source of methane 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 8. Incineration is bad for the climate 7.Incineration requires wasting 6.Trash is not renewable 10. Landfills are a top source of methane 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 8. Incineration is bad for the climate 7.Incineration requires wasting 6.Trash is not renewable

The Wasteberg For every ton of municipal trash, 71 tons of waste are produced during manufacturing, mining, oil and gas exploration, agriculture, and coal combustion.

Upstream = 71 x MSW Waste

Waste of Energy (WOE) 3 to 5 times more energy can be saved by recycling Burning materials for their Btu value is a waste of resources 3 to 5 times more energy can be saved by recycling Burning materials for their Btu value is a waste of resources

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked

Biogenic emissions are not climate neutral X X X X X X X X

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4.Pay as you throw not widespread 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4.Pay as you throw not widespread

Unit-based Pricing Sends a Clear Message Worcester, MA Population 173,000 San Francisco, CA Population 775,000 Unit based pricing is just a different way of paying for waste Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions,

Worcester, MA: PAYT Results Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions,

Overall Waste Generation Decrease 20+% Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions,

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4. Pay as you throw not widespread 3. Competes with expanding composting and anaerobic digestion systems 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4. Pay as you throw not widespread 3. Competes with expanding composting and anaerobic digestion systems

Organics Diversion: Core Climate Protection Strategy  Prevents landfill methane emissions  Stores carbon  Improves soil’s ability to store carbon  Substitutes for energy-intensive fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides  Improves plant growth, and thus carbon sequestration  Reduces energy use for irrigation  Anaerobic digestion offsets fossil fuel consumption

U.S. municipal waste disposed Source: US EPA, 2007 data ( million tons in 2007

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4. Pay as you throw not widespread 3. Competes with expanding composting and anaerobic digestion systems 2. Unchecked consumption 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4. Pay as you throw not widespread 3. Competes with expanding composting and anaerobic digestion systems 2. Unchecked consumption

U.S. huge contributor  4.6% of global population  Consume one-third of Earth’s timber and paper  Generate 22% of global CO 2 emissions  Produce 30% of world’s waste  4.6% of global population  Consume one-third of Earth’s timber and paper  Generate 22% of global CO 2 emissions  Produce 30% of world’s waste

Sectors impacted by wasting, % of total, 20 yr horizon

Single use has got to go

Resource Conservation Hierarchy Most Preferable Recycle & Compost Treat Avoid & Reduce Reuse Dispose Least Preferable

Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4. Pay as you throw not widespread 3. Competes with expanding composting and anaerobic digestion systems 2. Unchecked consumption 1. Prevents real zero waste planning 5. Biogenic emissions too often overlooked 4. Pay as you throw not widespread 3. Competes with expanding composting and anaerobic digestion systems 2. Unchecked consumption 1. Prevents real zero waste planning

Zero Waste Path

Aiming for zero waste is key GHG abatement strategy AbatementMegatons % of Abatement StrategyCO 2 eq. Needed in 2030 to Return to 1990 Reducing waste via prevention, reuse, recycling, composting % Lighting2406.9% Vehicle Efficiency1955.6% Lower Carbon Fuels1002.9% Forest Management1103.1% Carbon Capture & Storage952.7% Wind1203.4% Nuclear702.0% Source: ILSR, GAIA, and Eco-Cycle, Stop Trashing the Climate (2008), and McKinsey & Company, Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much and at What Cost? (2007)

Zero waste path: less coal plants By significantly reducing waste disposal, the U.S. can take the equivalent of 21% of its coal-fired power plants off the grid by X

Composting & Recycling Collection System Designed For High Diversion Recycled Paper 21% Glass and Plastic Bottles Aluminum and Steel Cans 5% Construction and Demolition Waste 25% Other 15% Food Scraps 20% Yard Trimmings 5% Compostable Paper 10% Courtesy of City of San Francisco

Easy to Understand Program Courtesy of City of San Francisco

Designed for Easy Participation Kitchen Pail Labeled Lids Wheeled Cart Courtesy of City of San Francisco

Recology’s Jepsen Prairie Organics Regional Composting Facility Courtesy of City of San Francisco

Toronto

Don’t Waste! Starve a Landfill Feed the soil Conserve resources Protect the climate Create jobs Sustain new businesses Starve a Landfill Feed the soil Conserve resources Protect the climate Create jobs Sustain new businesses

A Call to Action!  Implement zero waste targets and plans.  Stop disposing organic materials – COMPOST!  Pursue recycling-based local economic development.  Make manufacturers responsible for their products.  Regulate single-use plastics.  Reduce junk mail.  Buy recycled.  Institute pay-as-you-throw trash fees.  Implement zero waste targets and plans.  Stop disposing organic materials – COMPOST!  Pursue recycling-based local economic development.  Make manufacturers responsible for their products.  Regulate single-use plastics.  Reduce junk mail.  Buy recycled.  Institute pay-as-you-throw trash fees.

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