Loading ...We found this ‘Environmentally Preferable Paper Purchasing Toolkit’. It claims to be a “straightforward, comprehensive resource to make it easier to implement a cost-effective, responsible paper policy at any sized institution.”
For those folks in the purchasing arm of local government this link may be of use.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guidance:
–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–
Washington, DC - May 14, 2009.
Green Seal has released “GS-46, Environmental Standard for Restaurants and Foodservices”. The standard is a result of extensive research in all areas of a restaurant’s environmental impact, with input from over one hundred stakeholders including industry trade groups, operators, suppliers, academia and environmental and health organizations. It is based on life-cycle research, involving the comprehensive evaluation of the sources of environmental impacts including such things as food, energy and water use, and waste. The results of the research that Green Seal conducted and included in the new standard will help operators prioritize where to focus their greening efforts. Green Seal’s standard development process is ANSI-accredited and Green Seal standards are cited widely by governments, purchasers, and other standards including LEED.
Food production contributes between 17-32% of all global human-induced greenhouse gas emissions GS-46 focuses on responsible food purchasing and waste reduction to reduce the impact from food.
GS-46 applies to all types of food service operations - including full-service, limitedservice (e.g. fast-food, quick-casual), non-commercial, and catering operations. The standard has three levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Operators are encouraged to use the standard as a guide to implementing sustainable practices, and apply for certification online. All documentation required is outlined on the Green Seal website. Fee schedules, reference guides, templates, and standards are all available on, and downloadable from, the website.
For more information, call (202) 872-6400 or visit www.greenseal.org.
–From the Herald-Citizen–
PUTNAM COUNTY — Putnam County is hoping to find money in the recent economic stimulus to help upgrade several county buildings to make them more energy efficient. County Executive Kim Blaylock told the land and facilities committee recently, “There is grant money available through the stimulus for energy projects. I think we need to move forward if at all possible.”
Putnam County spends $458,000 per year in utilities. An energy audit by Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. estimates changes in the lighting systems and possible upgrades to mechanical systems could save the county $81,901 each year. See the full article in the Citizen Herald here.
–From the Greeneville Sun–
The Greene County Commission voted Monday to enter into an agreement with a national energy company to explore the possibility of generating power with a water wheel at the dam. The dam is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority. See the full story here.
–Forwarded by Larry Christley, TDEC–
PAYT is the SMART (Save Money And Reduce Trash) solution that entrepreneurial cities around the country and the world are using to provide the ” 3 Es ” (i.e., Environmental Sustainability, Economic
Stability and Equitable Services) to their citizens.
In today’s tough economic climate, U.S. cities and states are struggling to pay for vital services while also trying to create jobs and curb their Climate Footprints. But, is it possible for states to generate
environmental sustainability and economic stability in a fair and equitable way for their citizens? Good News…Yes!
Watch this short video to learn how all of us “Recovering Waste-aholics” can cost-effectively conserve both natural and fiscal resources.
Learn valuable tips about the proven formula for states to be SMART (i.e., Save Money And Reduce Trash) by employing the dynamic duo of a robust education campaign in combination with clear, market-based price signals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr_RIIb2CYg
If your city cannot politically afford to raise taxes to pay for the rising costs of municipal services… consider this successful economic incentive that has spread exponentially to over 7,000 cities nationwide.
Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) charges for garbage services like a utility rather than out of the tax base or a flat fee.
This simple program has been proven to be the most environmentally and fiscally effective way to reduce wastes, cut our greenhouse gases and save cities millions of dollars. Learn more at <www.epa.gov/payt>
Please forward the video to your city officials and environmental organizations for distribution.
Enjoy and All the Best,
Jan Canterbury, PAYT Project Manager
Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division
USEPA
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin’s DRAFT Zero Waste Plan takes into consideration Austin’s current and planned public and private solid waste infrastructure, and the city’s Climate Protection Program. Their goal is to reduce by 20% the per capita solid waste disposal to landfills by 2012 and zero waste by 2040.
See the City’s Plan here
and view the City’s Web site for a number of useful related documents.
The CTAS blog has been on hiatus over the holidays, but it is now past time to get back in gear. No doubt 2008 was a tough year for our local government, state, and private sector programs. We experienced a wide spread economic down turn resulting in budget shortfalls, tightened recycling markets, volatile fuel and transportation costs, and wide spread credit restrictions.
Today we are challenged to provide the same necessary local government services but with fewer resources. I’d like to encourage all of you to continue to share your successes and your hardships. In my time with the University of Tennessee and CTAS I’ve met some of the most resourceful and innovative professionals in our state. Hopefully we can see this cycle through to better days.
Some Recent News….
Roane County Kingston Plant Accident: TVA and Roane County have made national news recently with the coal ash accident that occurred in late December. The web has provided a number of resources for community and interested parties. We commend the TVA and TDEC for sharing in depth information quickly with the public. Here are a couple of the sites that are being updated regularly:
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/kingston/index.shtml
Jackson County, NC Biodiesel Project Scrapped: Jackson County commissioners unanimously voted Nov. 17 to discontinue creation plans for biodiesel fuel production facility at the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Officials cite volatile markets and competitive pricing for restaurant grease as major setback. See full link here.
http://www.maconnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3750&Itemid=34
Some Events and Opportunities…
2009 TRC Conference: The Annual Tennessee Recycling Conference will be held February 4th through the 6th in Middle Tennessee. This is a great opportunity to network with recycling professionals in Tennessee and across the southeast. See the link to the conference site to register.
TRC Registration Link
Job Opportunities: The folks at Waste Connections have two job announcements they would like us to share.
Territory Sales Representative—Clarksville, TN Description here.
District Managers—Memphis and Cleveland Description here.
Some Resources….
Green Government: NACO has another great resource posted on the NACO GREEN INITIATIVES website. This NACO publication addresses recycling and e-waste from the County perspective and looks like an excellent primer for County Commissioners and new Solid Waste Board Members. See the link to the document here:
E-Waste Progress: A group of recycling stakeholders, including EPA, has developed the “Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers” to promote better environmental, worker safety, and public health practices for electronics recyclers.
The identified principles help electronics recyclers ensure that materials are handled safely and legally in the U.S. and foreign countries. The document recommends establishing a management system for environmental and worker safety; developing a policy that promotes reuse and material recovery over landfill or incineration; and using practices that reduce exposures or emissions during recycling operations. The guidelines are found by visiting
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/r2practices.htm
Renewable Energy Potential Map: EPA has identified and released comprehensive data listing thousands of sites throughout the U.S. that hold potential to become renewable energy production sites. The site focuses on properties with environmental contaminants or other permitting restrictions limiting site development.
Tennessee Potential Wind Energy Map
Tennessee Potential BioPower Energy Map
Tennessee Potential Biorefinery Map
More on the EPA Program can be found here.
EPA Releases 2007 Garbage and Recycling Data: Among the findings in the 2007 survey: Americans generated 254.1 million tons of garbage in 2007. This is a slight decrease in garbage generation from the agency’s revised data for 2006 when 254.2 million tons of trash were generated. Recycling and composting increased to 85 million from 82.2 million tons in the previous year. Per capita waste generation is at 4.62 pounds per person per day, down from 4.65 in 2006. Download the short version here. If you need yet more reading material download the long version here!
Keep those ideas for posts coming, Happy New Year, and may 2009 be a Good Year for you all!
Looking for Green Holiday options? Check out the Consumer Reports Roundup for more information to help choose environmentally friendly products this season.
On November 27th the Memphis Commercial Appeal published an article outlining possible initiatives to promote revitalized neighborhoods, energy-efficient buildings and streets that serve bikers, walkers and cars.
The work is part of “Sustainable Shelby,” County Mayor A C Wharton’s seven-month old “green” initiative designed to combat urban sprawl, promote energy efficiency and build more livable communities. See the full article here.
–Copied in Entirety from SWANA Members Newsletter –
The Emergence of Regional and Local Product Stewardship Programs John H. Skinner, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO
In 2001, SWANA issued a technical policy on product stewardship[1]. The purpose of that policy was to establish guiding principles for SWANA and its members to use in developing programs to safely and cost-effectively manage products at the end of their useful life. To achieve that result, product stewardship efforts should aim to encourage product manufacturers to take increasing responsibility to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of their products and packaging through improved product design and end-of-life management of the products they produce. In that policy, SWANA committed to promote product stewardship in an advocacy role as a voice for its members in the solid waste management profession.
Since that time SWANA has featured product stewardship in its various educational programs. Product stewardship efforts in Canada have been around for several years with the British Colombia product stewardship program dating back to 1992. However, in the last year we observed the start of product stewardship or producer responsibility programs in several states in the U.S.
A number of state-level organizations are drafting generic or framework legislation that would give state agencies the authority to establish product stewardship requirements for various classes of products. One goal of these efforts is to shift the product waste management system from one focused on government funded and ratepayer financed waste disposal to one that relies on producer responsibility. The intent of this is to reduce public costs, increase accessibility to services, attain higher environmental benefits and drive improvements in product design that promote environmental sustainability.
SWANA will continue to track these efforts and report on them in the educational programs for our members. Below I have provided a summary and references to some notable product stewardship efforts in the Canada and the U.S. including a description of two non-governmental organizations that promote this concept.
Product Stewardship in British Columbia, Canada. The first product stewardship program in British Columbia started in 1992 and required that all sellers of oil take back used oil, at no charge to the consumer (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/recycling.) In 1994 the province required producers and consumers of consumer paints to take responsibility for management of their wastes and provide consumers with a safe and convenient method to manage unwanted and waste paints. In 1997 producers of solvents, flammable liquids, domestic pesticides, gasoline and pharmaceuticals were required to take responsibility for the management of their wastes and establish a province-wide depot network. Also in 1997 the province required all beverage producers to establish a province-wide return collection system for beverage containers under a deposit-refund system. The regulation established the goal of a minimum 85 percent recovery rate and required that redeemed containers be either refilled or recycled.
In 2002 the province created its Industry Product Stewardship Business Plan, which established the framework for existing and new stewardship programs. This regulation completed the shift to results-based, extended producer responsibility. In 2006, the electronics product category and tire product category were added to recycling regulation.
In 2007 the Ministry of Environment released the list of candidate products being considered for addition to the recycling regulation including: antifreeze and hydraulic fluid, batteries (alkaline, lithium, lead acid), mercury containing products, white goods (refrigerators, stoves, etc.), pool and photographic chemicals, furniture and textiles, construction and demolition waste, and automobiles.
Waste Diversion in Ontario, Canada. Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) is non-government corporation created in 2002 (http://www.wdo.ca.) WDO was established to develop, implement and operate programs to divert wastes from landfills for a wide range of designated waste materials. Blue box waste (waste news and containers), used tires and used oil have been designated by the Minister of the Environment. Possible future designated materials include waste electronic and electrical equipment, special waste, organic materials, pharmaceuticals and fluorescent tubes. WDO has been authorized to work co-operatively with those industries that produce and distribute designated to establish diversion programs. WDO discharges this responsibility in co-operation with Industry Funding Organizations established under the Act.
The year 2007 marked the fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Blue Box Program which has achieved 63% diversion of blue box waste and distributed over $200 million to municipalities to support recycling of printed papers and packaging. In 2007, WDO started a diversion program for waste electronics and electrical equipment, and in 2008 residents will have access to take-back facilities for computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and televisions.
The State of Minnesota. In 1999 the state of Minnesota was the first U.S. state to adopt a product stewardship policy (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/stewardship/policy.cfm.) The state has chosen to pursue the product stewardship objectives largely through voluntary efforts. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is working with the Minnesota Legislature, state agencies and other stakeholders to promote the development of product stewardship policies. In 2001, Minnesota participated in an effort with the carpet industry to develop the first national product stewardship agreement in the U.S. The agency is developing partnerships with manufacturers, retail stores and local governments to test various product stewardship models for used consumer electronics. The Agency is working with government procurement agencies and large commercial entities to incorporate product stewardship into their purchasing specifications.
The Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NSPSC). The NWPSC is a coalition of governmental organizations in Washington and Oregon whose mission is to work together to integrate product stewardship principles into the policy and economic structures of the Pacific Northwest (http:// www.productstewardship.net.) The Council is working to shift Washington and Oregon’s product waste management system from one focused on government funded and ratepayer financed waste disposal to one that relies on producer responsibility in order to reduce public costs, increase accessibility to services, attain higher environmental benefits and drive improvements in product design that promote environmental sustainability.
The Council is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives of government agencies that provide funding and staff time to NWPSC. As of May 2008 12 cities and counties in Washington and Oregon were represented on the Committee. The Council is developing regional product stewardship programs for electronics, mercury containing products, paints, packaging and beverage containers, pharmaceuticals, tires and chemical products.
The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC). The California Product Stewardship Council is an organization of local governments in California who aim to shift California’s product waste management system from one focused on government funding to one that relies on producer responsibility (www.caproductstewardship.org.) Started in 2007, CPSC has participation from 27 counties, 31 cities and 14 local government associations in the state of California. CPSC will focus efforts on implementing regulations and programs that move towards manufacturers taking full responsibility for their products at end of life, including programs that employ a phased approach with ever increasing responsibility for products over a period of time.
The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI). PSI is a national non-profit membership-based organization located in Boston, Massachusetts (http://www.productstewardship.us.) PSI works with state and local government agencies to partner with manufacturers, retailers, environmental groups, federal agencies, and other key stakeholders to reduce the health and environmental impacts of consumer products. PSI takes a unique product stewardship approach to solving waste management problems by encouraging product design changes and mediating stakeholder dialogues.
The Product Policy Institute. The Product Policy Institute is in the exploratory phase of an independent, not-for-profit research and communication institute that will promote ecological product policy (http://www.productpolicy.org.) Its goal is to bring the complex issues, fundamental to sustainable production and consumption, to a broad audience of media, decision-makers, educators, activists and the general public. Various non-governmental organizations and academic institutions are working on pieces of the agenda including producer responsibility, ending virgin material and disposal subsidies, ecological tax shifting, eco-labeling and green procurement. The project will commission original research and collaborate with researchers in existing organizations.
As more states and provinces consider product stewardship programs, SWANA believes that all participants in a product life-cycle including retailers, consumers and waste managers have important roles to play in cooperating with product designers and producers to develop the most workable and cost effective programs. Governments should provide leadership in promoting the practices of product stewardship through procurement and market development and where necessary provide regulatory incentives, disincentives and restrictions. Ultimately, the costs of product collection, reuse, recycling and disposal should be minimized to the greatest extent possible for local, provincial and state governments and shifted to the manufacturers and consumers of products.
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[1] Technical Policy 2.1 Product Stewardship has been posted on the SWANA web site (http://www.swana.org) under Technical Divisions/Technical Policies.
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