Path to Zero

Jeanne Roy Earth Leadership Center Introduction

⚪ The Center for Earth Leadership ⚪ The potential for reducing waste in the U.S. ● Americans represent less than 5% of the world’s population but consume 25-30% of resources. ● Americans create waste at twice the rate of Germans. Status of Waste Discarded in Oregon Introduction

⚪ Individual household waste

● How much waste do you create each week?

● What are your choices?

⚪ Size of garbage can

⚪ Frequency of service Four Steps to

1. Recycle curbside

2. Recycle depots

3.

4. Precycle Recycle Curbside

⚪ Motivation ● Save resources ● Save energy ● Avoid pollution

FACT: In Oregon, amount of energy saved by is equivalent to taking 670,000 cars off the road. Recycle Curbside

⚪ Paper ● What is accepted/What is not

⚪ Plastic ● What is accepted/What is not

⚪ Metal ● What is accepted/What is not

⚪ Glass ● Keep separate

Recycling Depots for Plastics

⚪ #6 plastics and styrofoam ● Agilyx in Tigard ● Flair Plastics on NW Davis ⚪ Plastic bags ● Fred Meyer stores ● Safeway stores

Note: Crinkly bags are garbage. Recycle Depots

⚪ Other depots ● Fluorescent bulbs ● Packaging peanuts ● Household batteries ● Electronic equipment ● Cloth ● Athletic shoes ● Construction wood Recycling Depots

NOTE: If you have taken steps 1 and 2, you’ve probably diverted 35% of your waste. Compost

⚪ Motivation

● Remove wet garbage from your can

● Avoid using disposal

● Return nutrients to the soil Compost

⚪ Yard Debris

● Use yard debris service

● Make your own and have compost

⚪ Attend a Metro composting workshop

⚪ Visit a compost demonstration center

⚪ Make or buy a bin Compost

⚪ Yard debris ● The right size – 1 cubic yard ● Proper mix – greens and browns ● Chop it small ● Air ● Water Compost

⚪ Food curbside (Portland only) ⚪ Food on site (no meat or dairy) ● Feed to chickens ● Bury in soil ● Include in yard debris bin ● Buy or make a worm bin

NOTE: You’ve now eliminated 70% of waste. Precycle

⚪ Motivation ● Save 100% of embedded resources and energy

FACT: Every ton of cardboard reused (boxes not purchased) saves over

5 tons of CO2. Recycling saves only about 3 tons. Precycle

⚪ Packaging ● Take your own bag ● Buy in bulk ● Prefer recyclable packaging ● Avoid

⚪ Individual packages

⚪ Multi-material packaging

⚪ Non-recyclable plastic

⚪ Excess packaging Precycling

⚪ Alternatives to disposables ● Single-use cups ● Bottled water ● Paper towels and napkins ● Paper plates ● Plastic baggies ● Plastic wrap Analyze What’s Left

? Path to Zero Waste

Jeanne Roy, Co-Director Earth Leadership Center [email protected] (503) 244-0026 www.earthleaders.org