1. 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

2. Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 10. 54% of waste goes to landfills, a top source of methane emissions

3. Wasting Trend in U.S.

4. Top Ten: Why wasting = climate change? 10. 54% of waste is landfilled 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 10. 54% of waste is landfilled 9. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas

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

6. The global warming potential concept CO 2 Methane - 100 year time horizon, 21 times more potent than CO 2 Methane - 20 yrs, 72 times more potent CO 2 Methane - 100 year time horizon, 21 times more potent than CO 2 Methane - 20 yrs, 72 times more potent

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

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

9. 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

10. Waste incinerators are NOT good for the climate

11. 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

12. Incinerators require waste and wasting

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Upstream = 71 x MSW Waste

16. 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

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

18. Biogenic emissions are not climate neutral X X X X X X X X

19. 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

20. 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, www.thewastesolution.com

21. Worcester, MA: PAYT Results Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions, www.thewastesolution.com

22. Overall Waste Generation Decrease 20+% Source: Kristen Brown, Green Waste Solutions, www.thewastesolution.com

23. 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

24. 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

25. U.S. municipal waste disposed Source: US EPA, 2007 data (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm) 169.2 million tons in 2007

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. Single use has got to go

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

31. 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

32. Zero Waste Path

33. 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, composting40611.6% 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)

34. 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 2030. X

35. 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

36. Easy to Understand Program Courtesy of City of San Francisco

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

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

40. Toronto

41. 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

42. 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.

43. ContactContact www.stoptrashingtheclimate.org www.ilsr.org bplatt@ilsr.org Brenda Platt 202-898-1610 x230 www.stoptrashingtheclimate.org www.ilsr.org bplatt@ilsr.org Brenda Platt 202-898-1610 x230