Transcript Document
Stephanie Barger, Executive Director Earth Resource Foundation www.earthresource.org Reduce Reuse Recycle = Zero Waste GOING BEYOND RECYCLING 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. * www.zwia.org/standards.html Pillars of Zero Waste Upstream Downstream Green Businesses and Jobs Wasteberg Municipal Waste tip of the “wasteberg” Upstream manufacturing waste is 70 times greater Source; Kevin Drew, San Francisco Green Businesses and Jobs Expand, attract, and support green businesses and green collar jobs Reserve sufficient land for Zero Waste infrastructure Buy green goods and services Recycling Industry = Size of Auto Industry 10,000 tons of SW = Landfill - 1 job Composting – 4 jobs Recycling – 10 jobs Reuse – 75 –250 jobs Source: www.ilsr.org California Green Job Corps Program Overview Environmental Stewardship Career Exploration Civic Responsibility Zero Waste Community Service Life Skills and Workforce Preparation Skills Technical Skills Training The Zero Waste Economy Designing a Full-Cycle system – Upstream and Downstream Expand City Outreach & Technical Assistance and Lead by Example Provide Incentives Before Ban or Mandate Eliminate Waste by Designing Out of Products and Processes Jobs from Design & Discards Foster Sustainable and Green Businesses Resource Recovery Park Retailers Take Back Difficult to Recycle Materials Producer Responsibility Empowered Consumer © Copyright Eco-Cycle, 2004 with text modifications by permission. www.ecocycle.org/zerowaste/zwsystem Is Zero Waste Attainable ? Nature Is The Model Zero Waste, Or Darn Close Businesses Have Achieved Over 90% Waste Reduction Picture: Methane Earth; Credit: GISS, NASA SO WHO’s DOING ZERO WASTE? And WHY? Zero Waste Businesses are Leading the Way (>90% Waste Diversion) Anheuser-Busch, Fairfield, CA Apple Computer, Elk Grove, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds Epson (OR) Fetzer Vineyards Frankie’s Bohemian Café, SF Greens Restaurant, SF Hewlett-Packard, Roseville, CA Mad River Brewery NUMMI, Fremont, CA Pillsbury Playa Vista, LA, CA Ricoh Electronics, Inc Toyota San Diego Wild Animal Park Scoma’s Restaurant, SF Vons-Safeway Xerox Corp Yost Printer, Monrovia, CA Presented at the Zero in on Zero Business Conference Source: www.green.org Ricoh’s “Recipe for Success” •Objectives •Leadership •Benchmarking •Organization •Project plan •Training & Promotion •Use of 5R Concept •Verification •Continuous Improvement = Total Participation Recipe for Success 7: Use of 5R Concept Partnership With Suppliers Green Procurement RESPECT REDESIGN REFUSE REDUCE RETURN REUSE RECYCLE Reduce total cost within Supply Chain If you’re not for Zero Waste, how much waste are you for?