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Transitioning to Zero Waste

Transitioning to Zero Waste. Colorado Chapter American Planning Association October 5, 2012 Kris Holstrom and Walter Wright EcoAction Partners. EcoAction Partners formerly The New Community Coalition. Formed in 2007 through a grass roots citizen effort Funding partners in 2012:

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Transitioning to Zero Waste

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  1. Transitioning to Zero Waste Colorado Chapter American Planning Association October 5, 2012 Kris Holstrom and Walter Wright EcoAction Partners www.ecoactionpartners.org

  2. EcoAction Partnersformerly The New Community Coalition Formed in 2007 through a grass roots citizen effort Funding partners in 2012: Town of Telluride, San Miguel County,Town of Mountain Village Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, The Faraway Foundation, Ouray, Ridgway, Ouray County Past and Present Grants received from: Telluride Foundation, Body Shop Foundation, CDPHE, et al. www.ecoactionpartners.org

  3. Our MissionRevised late 2011 • To inspire, initiate, and support collaborative community actions that enhance resilient economic, environmental, and social systems. www.ecoactionpartners.org

  4. EcoAction Staff • Kris Holstrom - Regional Sustainability Coordinator, Executive Director Part time Staff Coordinators: • Walter Wright – Zero Waste Coordinator • Kim Wheels – Community Energy Coordinator • Emily Kuehn – Food Systems Coordinator • Fiona Smith - EcoAction Initiative Coordinator • Sophia Cinnamon - Part time OSM/VISTA (Office of Surface Mining, Volunteer in Service to America) • Plus community members, interns and volunteers www.ecoactionpartners.org

  5. Board Members • Elaine Fischer, San Miguel County Commissioner • John Howe, Mountain Village Town Council • Brian Werner, Telluride Town Council • Audrey Morton, At-Large - (Alpine Bank and Norwood area rep) • Todd Brown, At-Large (Business consultant) • Angela Dye, At-Large (Architect) • Kathy Green, At-Large (Contractor) www.ecoactionpartners.org

  6. Some History • 2005 - A grass roots group formed and suggested the three governments fund a ‘one stop shop for sustainability information’. • 2005-2006 - Governments agreed and hired ICLEI to first create a Sustainability Inventory for the region. • 2007 – Non-profit formed, first employees hired. Focus on Energy, Green Building, Local Economy, Local Food, Recycling and Zero Waste and Education www.ecoactionpartners.org

  7. Current Focus Areas • Energy and Green Building • Waste as Resource - Recycling/Zero Waste • Supporting Local Food Emphasizing education and systems approach in all areas www.ecoactionpartners.org

  8. Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health. Definition of Zero Waste* * www.zwia.org/standards.html

  9. Waste as a One-Way Flow www.ecoactionpartners.org

  10. Waste as a System • The Plant in Chicago - http://youtu.be/zMBxJTQqnRI www.ecoactionpartners.org

  11. Why Zero Waste? If you’re not for Zero Waste, how much waste are you for? www.ecoactionpartners.org

  12. Landfills are one of the largest sources of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Methane is 21-105x more potent than CO2 Zero Waste & Global Warming • 71 Tons “Upstream” For Every Ton MSW Wasteberg

  13. Advantages of PursuingZero Waste • Address citizen and employee concerns • Financial • Environmental • Health impacts • GHG reduction • Less virgin material mined • No waste of landfill space • Marketing advantage • Increase local jobs www.ecoactionpartners.org

  14. What does Zero Waste mean?andHow Do We Get There? • Reduce • Reuse/Repurpose • Recycle • Refuse • Rethink • Don’t forget the infrastructure! www.ecoactionpartners.org

  15. Reduce/Refuse • Encourage & educate to reduce wasteful consumption • Educated shopping • less packaging, less toxins • know where product comes from • Know where product is going – is it reusable or recyclable? • Refuse to buy non-compliant, overpackaged or non-recyclable products • Don’t forget the infrastructure! www.ecoactionpartners.org

  16. Reuse/Repurpose • Encourage purchasing reusable over single-use (even compostable) • Facilitate exchanges of goods through new businesses like: • Freecycle network • Streetbank – neighborhood sharing • Repurposed materials (.com) www.ecoactionpartners.org

  17. Recycle • Don’t just recycle – but purchase recycled products • Know what is recyclable • Buy items that can be and are recycled (in your local system) • Know where your local recyclables GO! Follow the trail. Ex: #3-7 mostly go overseas for “processing” www.ecoactionpartners.org

  18. RE-THINK • Roles for: • Government • Citizens • Schools • Private business www.ecoactionpartners.org

  19. Rethink Government’s(potential) role: • Lead by example • Purchasing recycled materials • Construction recycling on government projects • Proactive resolutions, ordinances and zoning • Supporting Infrastructure – Compost Facility, Recycle Ctr… • Strong contracts with haulers or rules if govt. run • Rate structures should support Zero Waste goals (trash should NOT be cheap!) • Track, gather and report DATA ! • Contamination rules • Haulers have educational requirement in contract • Educate community and visitors www.ecoactionpartners.org

  20. Rethink • Citizens • Need to be educated and informed – Ex: recycle challenge • Whys and Hows • Need to advocate for their community • Schools • Systems set up in schools carry over to home – lead by example • Develop zero waste habits at early age • Kids are the best advocates and teachers – Ex: YES Club • Must have buy-in, participation and support from Administration www.ecoactionpartners.org

  21. Rethink • Businesses: Including HOAs, Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, Non-profits, Professional, etc. • Educated product purchasing • Educate customers, constituents and members (they’ll talk about you & want to return!) • Have infrastructure in place • Staff education and training! www.ecoactionpartners.org

  22. Our Local ZERO WASTE Journey STARTED WITH: Mountain Village and our organization partnering to bring in Gary Liss as ZW consultant Zero Waste Action Plan completed Mountain Village passes Zero Waste Resolution Town of Telluride Zero Waste Goals & Initiative www.ecoactionpartners.org

  23. RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCILTOWNOF MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, COLORADOTO ESTABLISH THE GOAL OF ZERO WASTE FORTHE TOWN MOUNTAIN VILLAGE BY 2025RESOLUTION NUMBER: 2008-1016-12 WHEREAS, the placement of materials in waste disposal facilities, such aslandfills and incinerators, is costly to taxpayers, causes environmental damage, wastesnatural resources, and transfers liabilities to future generations; and,WHEREAS, a resource management-based economy will create and sustainmore productive and meaningful jobs; and,WHEREAS, a Zero Waste Action Plan has been developed for the Town ofMountain Village, Town of Telluride, and San Miguel County, dated August 8, 2008, thatdetails a plan to reduce and eliminate waste and pollution resulting from land filling, NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Town Council of the Town ofMountain Village, hereby supports the adoption and implementation of Zero WasteAction Plan, dated August 8,2008 and endorses a Zero Waste or Darn Close goal by2025, with interim goals of 50% diversion of solid waste from landfills and incineratorsby 2011,75% diversion by 2018, and 90% or greater diversion by 2025.This Resolution adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Mountain Village,Colorado, at a public meeting held on the & day of October 2008. www.ecoactionpartners.org

  24. Plastic Bag Ban Campaign • David Allen, citizen advocate, presented idea of a plastic bag ban to Town of Telluride. • MUCH discussion and controversy! • Challenge issued to other ski resort towns • 2008 – a friendly challenge between Aspen and Telluride • Telluride wins • Year two – 31 towns participate in challenge promoted by • Colorado Association of Ski Towns • Basalt wins – efforts of participants save 5.3 million • Single use bags from the landfill. • Bag It movie • Telluride adopts Plastic Bag Ban in 2010 • In 2012 Mountain Village follows (their version) www.ecoactionpartners.org

  25. COMPOSTING • COMPOSTING – & EcoAP’s CRT Services • CRT (compost, recycle, trash) • History with festivals • CDPHE grant for in-vessel • Compostable Products • CRT Contracts for EcoAP • Developing mandatory ZW for Events www.ecoactionpartners.org

  26. Zero Waste Task Force • Multijurisdictional, business and citizen involvement • Infrastructure, Education, Policies = Key Components • FOCUSED efforts on specific challenges • Paper • Glass • Construction • To-go containers • Composting • Common Tracking System • Education www.ecoactionpartners.org

  27. SMARTS ParkSan Miguel Area Resource Recovery Transfer Station • San Miguel County – no landfill within its borders. Closest landfills are in Montrose County – at least 70 miles from county seat of Telluride • No governmental involvement or ownership in waste facilities though county operates one transfer station in region. S.U.N.R.I.S.E. – private company. Contracts with local waste hauler for recycling services in the region. Rural, remote locations have tough time with economics of recycling. Became non-profit entity in summer 2012 to facilitate grants, donations and other means to help balance financial equation. www.ecoactionpartners.org

  28. Considerations / Challenges / Solutions • CARBON FOOTPRINT – help govts achieve goals. "Waste reduction - the forgotten solution to climate change" - Friday, October 12 in Denver put on by Colorado Climate Network • MARKETS & SHIPPING COSTS – Distance markets and high shipping costs. Develop Local markets for products of recycling! Ex: Glass cullet used for pipe underlayment and foundation backfill. Needs govt support through building codes and ordinances. • VOLUME / SCALE for VIABILITY – Small rural markets have trouble competing - lower volumes, greater distances, etc. • INFRASTRUCTURE – Missing and/or Expensive - Investment is required. • SYSTEM DESIGN – From efficient routes to having enough space for compost, recycling and trash containers. Include architects and Design Review Boards in education. www.ecoactionpartners.org

  29. Considerations / Challenges / Solutions(continued) • BEARS – A particular challenge in mountain towns – Bear-proof containers, in home composting? • VISIBILITY & PUBLIC PERCEPTION – Visitors can’t find receptacles. Some public still thinks recycling just goes to landfill. Education once again! Field trips – videos of local recycling in action? • CONTAMINATION – Decreases market value, high labor costs to sort. Customer pre-sorting could help. Fines or not picked up if to contaminated? • THE TEAM – Who is involved? Government, private companies, non-profits, citizens • NUMBERS – Data is essential for baseline and subsequent measurable outcomes. Haulers must be educated as to what data is needed and importance of timely reporting. www.ecoactionpartners.org

  30. Pathways moving towards Zero Waste for your community • Work with Government staff and elected officials • Govt contracts – must include baseline info • Address increase in work load to obtain info • Streamline and coordinate with multiple jurisdictions if possible • Zero Waste Task Force - Encourage task force formation – a group to stay on target – requires good leader • Revisit and report on regular basis • Finding funds • Build funding mechanism into trash contracts or trash bills • Grants • Mil Levy/Green Tax • Income from Resource Recovery/Innovations www.ecoactionpartners.org

  31. EcoAction Partners Current ZW Efforts • Zero Waste Task Force – reporting back to governments on 7 areas including specific recommendations for governments identifying barriers and potential policy changes • Compost/Recycling/Trash – At festivals and events. Most fee for service. Some (4th of July) is a community service. • Consulting – With local businesses & homeowners for carbon footprint reduction including reducing waste. • Education – Always and Forever. Events, programs, displays, Print, Radio, TV… Contest: Recycling Challenge – How would you do? www.ecoactionpartners.org

  32. Ques www.ecoactionpartners.org

  33. 4th of July Picnic Compost Volunteers www.ecoactionpartners.org

  34. Pro Cycling Challenge and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival- CRT mgt. August, 2012 Telluride Bluegrass Festival www.ecoactionpartners.org

  35. Thank You! Questions? www.ecoactionpartners.org

  36. Resources • EcoAction Partners – www.ecoactionpartners.org • Gary Liss & Associates – www.garyliss.com/ • Mountain Village - www.mountain-village.co.us/ • Town of Telluride – www.telluride-co.gov/ • BagIt – www.bagitmovie.com/ • SMARTS Park - www.smartsparkfoundation.org/ • Freecycle Network - www.freecycle.org • Streetbank - www.streetbank.com • Repurposed Materials - www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/ www.ecoactionpartners.org

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