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.