Path to Zero Waste
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 Zero Waste
1. Recycle curbside
2. Recycle depots
3. Compost
4. Precycle Recycle Curbside
⚪ Motivation ● Save resources ● Save energy ● Avoid pollution
FACT: In Oregon, amount of energy saved by recycling 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