1. EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge & Organics Projects
1/16/ :31 AM
EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge & Organics Projects
PROP Composting Training
Dec 6, 2006
David Iacono, P.E.
Iacono

2. Overview EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge Organics components
4 focus areas
Organics components
EPA/Regional Activities
Questions

3. Unfinished Business of RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act)
1/16/ :31 AM
Unfinished Business of RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act)
Hazardous waste Nonhazardous waste
Regulations Voluntary programs
“Cradle to grave” “Cradle to cradle”
Iacono

4. What is the Resource Conservation Challenge?
1/16/ :31 AM
What is the Resource Conservation Challenge?
EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) is a national effort to find more flexible, yet protective ways to conserve natural resources and energy.
Iacono

5. Framework for the RCC Voluntary, non-regulated projects
Partnering with state/local govts, federal facilities, industry and others
R3 has created a Municipal Solid Waste Team with its States
Iacono

6. RCC Goals Conservation of energy/resources
1/16/ :31 AM
RCC Goals
Conservation of energy/resources
Prevention of pollution and promoting of reuse and recycling of materials
Reduction of toxic chemicals through product substitution
Iacono

7. MSW Management in US How MSW is Managed: Land Disposal 54.3%
1/16/ :31 AM
MSW Management in US
How MSW is Managed:
Land Disposal
54.3%
Combustion
13.6%
Recovery
32.1%
Source
(EPA data)
Iacono

8. 1/16/ :31 AM
Total MSW Generation
Iacono

9. 4 National RCC Priorities
1/16/ :31 AM
4 National RCC Priorities
Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials
Priority and Toxic Chemical Reduction
Green Initiatives – Electronics
Municipal Solid Waste Recycling
Iacono

10. RCC National Priority Area: Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials
1/16/ :31 AM
RCC National Priority Area: Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials
Iacono

11. Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials
1/16/ :31 AM
Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials
Definition: Use or reuse of a material that would otherwise become waste
Use instead of virgin materials
Coal Combustion Byproducts
Foundry Sands
Construction & Demolition Debris
Iacono

12. RCC National Priority Area: Priority and Toxic Chemical Reduction
1/16/ :31 AM
RCC National Priority Area: Priority and Toxic Chemical Reduction
Iacono

13. National Partnership For Environmental Priorities (NPEP)
Goal: Achieve 10% reduction of 31 priority chemicals by 2008
Sector Strategies
Naphthalene
Lead
Mercury (Implement the Mercury Challenge)
Petroleum
Federal Facilities

14. NPEP Recognition Events
1/16/ :31 AM
NPEP Recognition Events
Baldwin Hardware
Iacono

15. RCC National Priority Area: Green Initiatives-Electronics
1/16/ :31 AM
RCC National Priority Area: Green Initiatives-Electronics
Iacono

16. 1/16/ :31 AM
Electronics Programs
Reduce/Eliminate higher risk materials at the source
Plug-In To eCycling
EPEAT
Federal Electronics Challenge
Iacono

17. RCC National Priority Area: Municipal Solid Waste Recycling
Iacono

18. Specific Municipal Solid Waste Goals of the RCC:
1/16/ :31 AM
Specific Municipal Solid Waste Goals of the RCC:
By 2008:
Increase the national recycling rate to 35% (32% in ’05)
Maintain the national average MSW generation rate <4.5 lbs/person/day
Iacono

19. EPA Region 3/States Municipal Solid Waste Team
Focused on waste streams with greatest additional diversion potential:
Food: 12% of solid waste stream (26 million tons destined for landfills each year)
Paper: 34% of the solid waste stream
Iacono

20. Reduce/Recover Surplus Food
1/16/ :31 AM
Reduce/Recover Surplus Food
Food facts:
almost half of US food goes to waste (50M tons & $100B in value)
< 3% food waste is recovered
Ref
Iacono

21. Surplus Food Hierarchy
1/16/ :31 AM
Surplus Food Hierarchy
Ref
Iacono

22. EPA Region 3 Municipal Solid Waste Team
Primary Functions:
Network Promotion/Outreach
EPA R3/State MSW Team
2) Grant Initiatives
Special Projects w measurable results
3) Showcasing of State/local program successes
Iacono

23. Region 3/State Activities
Promote networking
MACREDO/ILSR
Organics Summits
Beltsville MD, 11/30/06
Spring 2007 in PA, details TBD
Others
Urban Recycling Conference, 2007

24. Region 3/State Activities
EPA Project Grants
<$60K per year on average
Available to nonprofits/govt
Examples:
$5k to Philabundance for food waste diversion to feed hungry
Funds for recycling education at community level
Grants to MACREDO for network support, program tools, research, etc.
Funds to USDA for in-vessel composter

25. Region 3/State Activities
Projects:
Midatlantic Food & Paper Waste Diversion Team
Targeting largest waste generators
Seeking diversion accomplishments
Examples:
Partnering w Trammell Crowe property managers
Partnering w Aramark (U Penn)
GIS plotting of PA composters?
RecycleMania challenge for colleges

26. Region 3/State Activities
1/16/ :31 AM
Region 3/State Activities
Competition among colleges & universities to collect most recyclables over a 10-week period
Jan 28, 07 to April 7, 07
“Keystone Cup” challenge from Villanova for PA schools
Some 2005 participants:
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon
Chestnut Hill College
Dickinson College
Juniata College
Millersville University
Old Dominion University
Villanova University
2005
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon
Chestnut Hill College
Dickinson College
Goucher College
Juniata College
Millersville University
Old Dominion University
Towson University
University of Richmond
Villanova University
Iacono

27. Region 3 Resources Region 3 composting facility directory
Technical support
Recognition from EPA
State & network contacts
Interested in working with EPA?

28. Questions? Contacts EPA Region 3 Municipal Solid Waste Program:
David Iacono,
Donna McGowan,
Questions?
Iacono