1	Zero Waste Communities Presented to Palo Alto Zero Waste Task Force February 10, 2005 by Gary Liss, Loomis, CA 916-652-7850, Gary@GaryLiss.com www.GaryLiss.com
2	Zero Waste A Policy, Path, Direction A Target, Process, Way Of Thinking Recognizes 71 Tons “Upstream” For Every Ton MSW From Waste Management To Resource Management Redesigning Products and Processes for Clean Production New Vision For A New Century
3	Zero Waste is like . . . Zero Emissions (Air, Water) Zero Defects (TQM) Zero Inventory (Just in Time) Zero Cut (National Forests) Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Forestry Sustainable Cities
4	Definition of Zero Waste* Zero Waste is a goal that is both pragmatic and visionary, to guide people to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are resources for others to use. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to reduce 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 may be a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.
5	ZERO WASTE SYSTEM
6	Is Zero Waste Attainable ? Nature Is The Model Zero Waste, Or Darn Close Businesses Have Achieved >90% Waste Diversion
7	Zero Waste Businesses www.GRRN.org Amdahl Corp. Battery Council International Brewers of Ontario Collins & Aikman Epson (OR) Fetzer Vineyards Hewlett-Packard (Roseville, CA) Interface Mad River Brewery Namibian Breweries (South Africa) Pillsbury Xerox Corp Zanker Road
8	Governments on their Way to Zero Waste New Zealand 1^st Nation to Adopt 1/2 Of New Zealand Cities Winter Olympics 2002 Seattle, WA Halifax, Nova Scotia Candon City, Philippines Canberra, Australia CA Adopted In CIWMB Strategic Plan San Francisco, CA San Luis Obispo County, CA Del Norte County, CA Santa Cruz County, CA Burbank, CA
9	Will ZW Cost More? No Not A Centralized Public Works Project Businesses Save $ Through Product & Process Improvements, Redesigns & More Recycling
10	Typical Business Throughput Pie^™ The inescapable logic of “zero emissions” for efficiency
11	US Municipal Discards 1960-2000
12
13	What if We Don’t Design for Zero Waste ? Mining & Manufacturing Impacts Continue Landfill Impacts and Liabilities Continue
14	Examples of Zero Waste Communities San Luis Obispo County, CA San Francisco, CA
15	San Luis Obispo County, CA Population 245,200 51% Diversion Rate in 1998 Keys to Zero Waste: As easy to recycle as to waste Cost effective program Incentives and Policies C&D Drop Sites & Ordinance Schools Curriculum Schools Grants Model Office Public Area Recycling Resource Recovery Park
16	SLO Waste & Recycling Residential “Pay As You Throw” in 20, 32, 64 or 96 gal. carts Commerical 2 cubic yards of commingled recycling and/or greenwaste as part of “garbage” service Additional recycling or greenwaste collection offered at 25% the cost of garbage service Technical assistance to commercial customers to establish recycling/greenwaste service
17
18	San Francisco, CA Zero Waste by 2020 75% Landfill Diversion by 2010 Highest and Best Use of Materials Consumer and Producer Responsibility Precautionary Principle for Purchasing Urging State to Adopt Similar Policies
19	San Francisco, CA Zero Waste by 2020 75% Landfill Diversion by 2010 Highest and Best Use of Materials Consumer and Producer Responsibility Precautionary Principle for Purchasing Urging State to Adopt Similar Policies
20	San Francisco, CA Zero Waste by 2020 75% Landfill Diversion by 2010 Highest and Best Use of Materials Consumer and Producer Responsibility Precautionary Principle for Purchasing Urging State to Adopt Similar Policies
21	Strategies For Food Diversion
22	Key Policies and Programs Adopt a Zero Waste Goal Define objectives and policies, including interim goals for 2010 and a target year to achieve Zero Waste, or darn close. Plan for Zero Waste Involve residents and businesses in planning Prioritize policies, incentives and programs Select other “best practices” Build alliances and share successes
23	Key Policies and Programs End Subsidies for Wasting Level the playing field Adopt policies and economic incentives to reduce wasting in: Ordinances Contracts and franchises Permits and zoning General Plans Garbage rate structures Support state and federal policies to enhance Zero Waste
24	Key Policies and Programs Build Infrastructure Beyond Recycling Support and expand existing reuse, recycling and composting businesses and non-profits Develop locally owned and independent infrastructure on an open, competitive basis Retailers take back products and packaging (ex., for problem materials not included in residential recycling programs) Develop local and regional resource recovery parks to provide locations for expansion of reuse, recycling and composting businesses
25	Key Policies and Programs Ask local businesses to Adopt Zero Waste goals Develop Zero Waste plans Adhere to Zero Waste Business principles* Meet waste diversion targets Source separate designated materials Recycle construction, demolition and land-clearing debris, and deconstruct existing Specify contractors and developers develop LEED-certified Green Buildings
26	Key Policies and Programs Encourage Clean Production Develop clean processes & products Adopt Triple Bottom Line Take financial or physical responsibility for their products and packaging Include end-of-life services in product pricing Use Supply Chain Management and Reverse Logistics to recover products and packaging
27	Key Policies and Programs Funding for Zero Waste Fund community Zero Waste initiatives with fees levied on the transport, transfer and disposal of wastes Support new Statewide levies on landfills and incinerators to fund Zero Waste initiatives Leverage investments of the private sector
28	Key Policies and Programs Planning for Zero Waste Identify Resources Materials Disposed Service Voids Adopt “Best Practices” Select Incentives and Policies Not Business as Usual Develop Facilities and Programs Resource Recovery Parks New Rules for Landfills
29	Key Policies and Programs for Zero Waste Communities* Know Your Waste Evaluate 12 Master Categories ** Determine how and where materials discarded Identify service voids and alternatives needed
30	Key Policies and Programs for Zero Waste Communities* Design It Out Zero Waste = design criterion Use environmentally preferable purchasing Reduce resource use and cut air/water emissions Consider ZERI approach (www.zeri.org)
31
32
33
34
35	Nelson, British Columbia Zero Waste Plan Adopt a Zero Waste Strategy Zero Waste Coordinator & Budget Know Your Waste Build on Existing Investments Existing Services and Service Needs Policies and Incentives Design Out Waste Reuse, Recycle, Compost Resource Recovery Park Landfills as Last Resort
36	Planning for Zero Waste in Palo Alto Multi-Level Analysis (Resources, Policies, Programs, Sectors, Locations) Identify Resources (Materials, Services, Models) Review Menu of Policies (e.g., Contracts, Incentives, EPR, EPP, Precautionary Principle) Consider New or Expanded Programs Food Waste Composting Options Expanded Paper Recycling Environmental Service Center (Size, Services?) Resource Recovery Park (Local and/or Regional) Reuse and Used Building Material Facilities
37
38	Palo Alto Resources Organics 68.1% of Commercial 73.8% of Residential Paper 35.7% of Commercial 27.4% of Residential Food 18.7% of Commercial 20% of Residential
39	Palo Alto Resources Top 4 Businesses with Most Disposal 16.8% = Retail Trade – Restaurants 16.3% = Services – Medical/Health 11.2% = Retail Trade – Other 7.8% = Services – Business Services Subtotal = 52.1% of 52,939 Tons Disposed by Businesses in 1999 2002 Waste Diversion Rate is 55%*
40	Palo Alto Next Steps Analyze Resources (Materials, Services) Input from Large and Small Businesses on How They Can Get to Zero Waste Prioritize New, Expanded Programs and Facilities (including public vs. private; local vs. regional; locations) Prioritize New Policies Needed and Phasing with Programs and Results