TheThe Environment Environment and and Plastics Plastics IndustryIndustry Council Council [EPIC] [EPIC]
“The Application of ISO 14001 to the Management of Municipal Waste: Canadian Case Example”
PRESENTATION for OECD Workshop October 28 & 29, 1999 PRESENTATIONPRESENTATION OVERVIEW OVERVIEW
1. Introduce EPIC, its Mission and Mandate
2. Example of the application of ISO 14001, as one tool for ESM
3. Future directions for the OCDE EPICEPIC IS IS A Canadian plastics industry council committed to the responsible use and recovery of plastics resources. The Council’s members are plastic resin manufacturers, processors, converters and recyclers EPIC’SEPIC’S MISSION MISSION To be a leader in identifying and encouraging environmentally sound and cost efficient resource conservation throughout the entire life cycle of plastic products ManagementManagement of of Processes Processes of of Recovery Recovery
● The environmental benefits of various recovery operations are achievable only if the operations are managed in an environmentally sound way.
– ISO 14001 is one tool:
Individual unit processes
The entire waste management system in the community
– Examples exist in Canada of municipalities whose waste management system is ISO 14001 certified. ““GuideGuide to to ISO ISO 14001 14001 ImplementationImplementation in in the the MunicipalMunicipal Waste Waste Management Management Section Section
PARTNERSHIP:
● Government ● Industry ● Municipalities ImplementationImplementation Guide Guide
● KeyBenefitsofISO14001 ● Guidance on establishing baseline – Relevant Environmental Legislation – Checklist for Conducting a Gap Analysis ● Assistance in Environmental Policy Development ● How to review operations – Identification of Environmental Aspects – Assessing Significance of Environmental Aspects – Supports use of tools (e.g. EPIC/CSR Integrated Waste Management Computer Model) IdentificationIdentification of of Environmental Environmental Aspects Aspects MaterialsWaste Energy
Collection Air Emissions Materials Energy Composting Recovery Recovery Landfill Facility Facility Facility Water Discharges Gas Reprocessing Recovery
Inert Waste
Recycled Compost Energy Material EnvironmentalEnvironmental Performance Performance Indicators Indicators ● Energy consumption
● Greenhouse gases (CO2,CH4) ● Acid gases (NOx, SOx and HCl) ● Smog precursors (NOx, PM and VOCs) ● Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Hg) & trace organic (dioxins) ● BOD ● Residual solid waste TheThe Utility Utility Of Of The The EPIC/CSR EPIC/CSR Model Model
● Establishes a municipality’s baseline environmental performance ● Determines the environmental effects of proposed changes ● Allows a municipality to undertake a cost/benefit analysis of proposed capital expenditures ● Helps municipalities in ‘State of the Environment’ reporting ImplementationImplementation Guide Guide (cont (cont’’d)d)
● Setting Environmental Objectives - focusing on top significant impacts ● Help on Implementation – Environmental Training Needs – Examples of Written Procedures ● Monitoring and Measuring Progress – Records – Corrective actions BenefitsBenefits
● Provides opportunity for compliance “plus” ● Shows how to identify environmental performace and ways to improve ● Formalizes monitoring and measurement activities ● Improves environmental record keeping ● Heightens awareness of operational and emergency procedures ● Reduces liability ● Key: – Non-prescriptive and flexible – Provides a structure for ESC – Focuses on continual environmental improvement AssistanceAssistance to to Non-OECD Non-OECD Countries Countries ● Developing nations might require assistance in developing and promoting ESM for Waste Management Operations ● OECD members should consider how to provide assistance and promote ESM – One tool is ISO 14001 – Other means of doing this is demystify ISO 14001 through development of guides of “good practice”. – Examples of these might be: Guide to env. sound handling of used tires Guide to env. sound recycling, recovery of plastics Guide to env. sound operation of municipal composting AssistanceAssistance to to Non-OECD Non-OECD Countries Countries
● A guide for the handling of plastic wastes is under development for the Basel Convention. Its table of contents includes topics such as: – Common types of polymers and their composition – Sources of plastic waste – Safe handling,compaction,transport,storage & shipping – Health and safety issues – Plastic wastes and fire – “Second life” applications for plastic wastes – Energy recovery from plastics wastes – Plastic waste disposal – Comments on environmentally sound waste management – etc. AssistanceAssistance to to Non-OECD Non-OECD Countries Countries
● The knowledge to prepare these guides exists within OECD. It behooves all of us to transfer this knowledge.