Solid Waste Management Beyond 2010: Planning for a Sustainable Future

1. Solid Waste Management Beyond 2010: Planning for a Sustainable Future South Texas Resource Recovery Roundtable Conference

2. Presentation Overview The case for action Climate change, emission reductions and energy benefits Increasing waste generation Stagnant recycling rates Planning for a sustainable future (2010 and Beyond) Texas focused resources

3. The Case for Action Alarming climate change trends Long term rising fuel prices and national security concerns over dependence on foreign oil Multiple opportunities for reducing GHG emissions and fuel use through changing solid waste management and production/ consumption practices Climate Change is really happening Fuel prices are rising over the long term Dependence on Foreign oil creates national security concerns GHG emissions and energy useClimate Change is really happening Fuel prices are rising over the long term Dependence on Foreign oil creates national security concerns GHG emissions and energy use

4. Emission Reduction Benefits Upstream Reduced CO2 emissions from energy use in material acquisition and manufacturing stages Increased carbon storage in soils when organics are composted and applied to the soil Downstream Avoided landfill methane emissions Avoided CO2 emissions from combustion Source: EPA Region 4

5. Energy Benefits Decreased demand for raw materials Less energy consumed with raw materials extraction Less energy needed for manufacturing and transportation Energy produced from landfill gas, WTE & emerging technologies Source: EPA Region 4

6. U.S. MSW Generation Trends

7. U.S. MSW Generation Trends

8. Declining Recycling RatesExample: Oregon 2006: Total waste generation reached record high 5.75 million tons – 3.9% increase from 2005 Slight decrease seen in 2007, but still substantially higher than 2005 and all previous years 2007: 46.7% recovery rate - down from 47.5% in 2006 “Rising solid waste generation is keeping the State’s recycling rate from growing.”

9. Declining Recycling RatesExample: Maine 13-year trend of increased recycling (in tons) Decreased from 42% in 1997 to 35% in 2007 “The growth in waste generation prevents the recycling rate from increasing despite greater tonnages being recycled…Our recycling rate cannot keep pace with waste generation.” Source: Maine State Planning Office

10. Declining Recycling RatesExample: Florida From 2002 to 2006: MSW (burned, buried or recycled) has increased from 1.76 to 1.91 tons/capita/year Recycling rate decreased over 4% - from 28% down to 24% “Florida communities are seeing declining recycling rates in spite of recycling program expansions.”

11. Our Consumer Culture Waste generation is directly related to consumer behavior Roughly half of U.S.-related GHG emissions are associated with production and transportation of goods (US EPA)  Sustainable consumption must be promoted to reduce waste and GHG emissions.

12. Consequences of Non Action Solid waste generation rate likely to rise again as economy improves Waste generation may continue to outpace recycling and composting Majority of all “waste” generated will still need to be landfilled Natural resource depletion continues world wide

13. Planning for a Sustainable Future (2010 and Beyond) Re-define vision and goals Re-structure roles Key solid waste strategies for 2010 (and beyond) Goals - tie vision and goals to broader established environmental and economic goals emphasize opportunities through the stimulus more Goals - tie vision and goals to broader established environmental and economic goals emphasize opportunities through the stimulus more

14. 1. Re-define Vision and Goals: Resource vs. Waste Management Example - Connecticut’s vision: Transform system into one based on resource management and collective responsibility Shift from a throwaway society towards system that reduces generation and toxicity of trash and treats wastes as valuable resources Manage wastes through a holistic and comprehensive approach, resulting in resource conservation, less waste and pollution, and supply of valuable raw materials Transform system into one based on resource management through collective responsibility for production, use, and end-of- life management of products and materials in the state Shift from a throwaway society towards system that reduces generation and toxicity of trash and treats wastes as valuable raw materials and energy resources, rather than as useless garbage or trash Manage wastes through holistic and comprehensive approach, resulting in conservation of natural resources and creation of less waste and pollution, while supplying valuable raw materials to boost manufacturing economies Transform system into one based on resource management through collective responsibility for production, use, and end-of- life management of products and materials in the state Shift from a throwaway society towards system that reduces generation and toxicity of trash and treats wastes as valuable raw materials and energy resources, rather than as useless garbage or trash Manage wastes through holistic and comprehensive approach, resulting in conservation of natural resources and creation of less waste and pollution, while supplying valuable raw materials to boost manufacturing economies

16. 1. Re-define Vision and Goals:  Aim for Zero Waste

17. 2. Re-Structure and Re-define Roles:  Integrate with Environmental/ Sustainability Programs CIWMB - reorganized non-regulatory activities (over 250 staff) into new Sustainability Program Massachusetts - created 16-agency coordinating council to run state sustainability program addressing defined environmental priorities in integrated fashion City of El Paso – developed citywide sustainability plan, coordinated at a citywide level

18. 2. Re-Structure and Re-define Roles:  Use Partnership Based Approach Leverage public and private sector resources Identify barriers to realizing opportunities Bring together the right stakeholders to overcome these barriers State of California working with private companies to develop new markets for used tires. Responsibilities are broader than waste managed directly: also to be addressed is role of citizens and businesses as producers and generatorsResponsibilities are broader than waste managed directly: also to be addressed is role of citizens and businesses as producers and generators

19. 3. Key Solid Waste Strategies for 2010 and Beyond Best management practices (BMPs) for solid waste management Infrastructure and market development EPP procurement and leading by example Policies/regulation Financing

20. BMPs – Upstream and Recovery Education/outreach - social marketing to achieve behavior change – promotion of sustainable consumption; critical to ensure existing programs provide maximum return Reuse and recycling - as convenient as waste disposal C&D debris – waste prevention and on site recovery, followed by central processing Composting – food waste plus yard debris (then reduce waste collection) Recycling and compost market development - to feed local, regional and global economies There is a shift in focus to promoting use of best practices as opposed to measuring attainment of numeric goals. There is a shift in focus to promoting use of best practices as opposed to measuring attainment of numeric goals.

21. Collection of Three Streams

26. BMPs - Disposal with Recovery In Mind Integration of materials recovery in transfer stations and disposal sites Preprocessing of waste prior to landfill/WTE Bioreactor landfills Methane recovery from landfills

28. Infrastructure and Market Development Help optimize recovery and processing infrastructure by promoting regionalization MRFs developed to operate regionally RE: market development, employ: General (cross-material) strategies Material-specific strategies Aimed at overcoming market inefficiencies and barriers

29. EPP and Leading by Example: Design & Run Green Facilities and Operations LEED/green buildings and facilities construction EPP procurement for furniture, supplies, and equipment Operation and maintenance to minimize waste (e.g., in house programs for waste prevention, recycling, and composting)

30. Policies/Regulation Disposal bans Mandatory recycling Building codes and permitting requirements Product stewardship Many policy initiatives are low cost to government. NCTCOG developed recycling ordinance guidelines.

31. Example: Product Stewardship in Ontario Ontario law mandates that "Stewards" of residential "Blue Box Waste" fund 50% of net cost of Ontario's municipal recycling programs 2008 fees: $66,524,000. 80% allocated to municipalities; 20% for continuous improvement fund Additional $2.4 million from stewards of plastics to aggressively increase Blue Box plastics recycling Similar industry-funded programs developed for municipal hazardous and electronic waste Growing expectation that EPR legislation in the United States is a matter of when, not if.

32. Financing (Direct and Indirect) Full cost accounting - identify true costs Re-design of program financing to eliminate dependence on waste for income Incentives to achieve higher waste reduction and diversion rates Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) Raising cost of disposal to increase waste reduction and recycling Emissions reduction credit systems (Cap and Trade) Eliminate subsidies that favor use of virgin materials and generation of waste Product stewardship Economic stimulus funds Economic stimulus funds – a source of funding for state programs. Economic stimulus funds – a source of funding for state programs.

33. Texas Focused Resources Houston-Galveston Area Council Recycling 101 and 102 workshops Transfer Station Best Management Practices Workshop Organic Waste Best Management Practices Workshop North Central Texas COG C&D Waste Minimization Strategies Study C&D MRF Feasibility Study Regional Recycling Rate Benchmarking Study Recycling Contract Negotiation Guidebook Recycling Ordinances and Building Design Guidelines Capital Area Planning COG Market Analysis of Recovered Materials

34. Scott Pasternak, Senior Director R.W. Beck, Inc. Austin, Texas Telephone: 512-651-6405 E-mail: spasternak@rwbeck.com www.rwbeck.com