achieving a low waste society

1. Achieving a Low WasteAchieving a Low Waste
SocietySociety

2. ACHIEVING A LOW-WASTEACHIEVING A LOW-WASTE
SOCIETYSOCIETY
 U.S. citizens have kept many incinerators,U.S. citizens have kept many incinerators,
landfills and hazardous waste treatmentlandfills and hazardous waste treatment
plants from being built in their local areas –plants from being built in their local areas –
NIMBYNIMBY (not in my back yard)(not in my back yard)
 Risk is low overall, but not if found near youRisk is low overall, but not if found near you

3. ACHIEVING A LOW-WASTEACHIEVING A LOW-WASTE
SOCIETYSOCIETY
 Environmental justiceEnvironmental justice – everyone is entitled– everyone is entitled
to protection from environmental hazardsto protection from environmental hazards
without discrimination –without discrimination – NIABYNIABY (not in(not in
anyone’s back yard) oranyone’s back yard) or NOPENOPE (not on planet(not on planet
earth)earth)
 Environmental racismEnvironmental racism – placement of low– placement of low
income or minority residents nearincome or minority residents near
environmentally hazardous or degradedenvironmentally hazardous or degraded
environmentsenvironments

4. Environmental Justice,
Explained
Environmental Racism
Explained

5. We Can Encourage Reuse andWe Can Encourage Reuse and
RecyclingRecycling
 Factors that hinder reuse and recycling:Factors that hinder reuse and recycling:

Market prices do not include harmful costsMarket prices do not include harmful costs

Economic playing field is uneven – extractingEconomic playing field is uneven – extracting
industries get more tax breaks than recyclingindustries get more tax breaks than recycling
industriesindustries

Demand for recycled products fluctuatesDemand for recycled products fluctuates
 Governments can pass laws requiringGovernments can pass laws requiring
companies to reuse and recycle, increasecompanies to reuse and recycle, increase
subsidies and tax breaks for reuse andsubsidies and tax breaks for reuse and
recycling, decrease them for use of virginrecycling, decrease them for use of virgin
resources – ex: bottle bills, fee-per-bagresources – ex: bottle bills, fee-per-bag

6. Reuse, Recycling, & CompostingReuse, Recycling, & Composting
Present Economic OpportunitiesPresent Economic Opportunities
 Freecycle network – yard sales, thrift stores,Freecycle network – yard sales, thrift stores,
CraigslistCraigslist
 Upcycling – recycling materials to productsUpcycling – recycling materials to products
with higher valuewith higher value
 Dual-use packaging – can be used overDual-use packaging – can be used over

7. Global Outlook: International Action toGlobal Outlook: International Action to
Reduce Hazardous WasteReduce Hazardous Waste
 Basel ConventionBasel Convention ––
international treaty to baninternational treaty to ban
developed countries fromdeveloped countries from
shipping hazardous wasteshipping hazardous waste
to developing countriesto developing countries
without permissionwithout permission

19891989

182 states and EU, signed182 states and EU, signed
but not ratified by U.S.but not ratified by U.S.

8. Global Outlook: International Action toGlobal Outlook: International Action to
Reduce Hazardous WasteReduce Hazardous Waste
 Stockholm Convention on PersistentStockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic PollutantsOrganic Pollutants - international treaty to- international treaty to
phase out use of harmful POPsphase out use of harmful POPs

POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat -POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat -
biomagnifybiomagnify

Almost every person on earth has detectableAlmost every person on earth has detectable
levels of POPs in their bloodlevels of POPs in their blood

179 countries party to treaty, U.S has not ratified179 countries party to treaty, U.S has not ratified

10. Making the Transition to a Low-WasteMaking the Transition to a Low-Waste
Society: A New VisionSociety: A New Vision
 Norway, Austria, and the NetherlandsNorway, Austria, and the Netherlands

Committed to reduce resource waste by 75%Committed to reduce resource waste by 75%
 Everything is connectedEverything is connected
 There is no “away” for the wastes weThere is no “away” for the wastes we
produceproduce
 Dilution is not always the solution to pollutionDilution is not always the solution to pollution
 The best and cheapest way to deal withThe best and cheapest way to deal with
wastes are reduction and pollution preventionwastes are reduction and pollution prevention

11. Case Study: Industrial Ecosystems –Case Study: Industrial Ecosystems –
Copying NatureCopying Nature
 Biomimicry – redesigning manufacturing toBiomimicry – redesigning manufacturing to
mimic how nature deals with wastemimic how nature deals with waste

Observe how natural systems respondObserve how natural systems respond

Apply to human industrial systemsApply to human industrial systems
 Resource exchange websResource exchange webs

Waste from one process becomes raw materialWaste from one process becomes raw material
for nextfor next

Ecoindustrial parks – exchange waste ouputsEcoindustrial parks – exchange waste ouputs