© product stewardship institute, inc. june 2009 recommendations for collection and recycling...

© Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.June 2009

Recommendations for Collection and Recycling Performance Metrics

Jennifer NashDirector, Policy and Programs

Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.

Driving Results Through Performance MeasurementNational Product Stewardship Forum/

2009 NW Hazardous Materials ConferenceJune 3, 2009


Why Measure Performance?• Motivate performance improvement• Facilitate comparison and learning• Demonstrate commitment to program

outcomes• Satisfy regulatory requirements

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Characteristics of Sound Performance Metrics

Relevant: Measure progress toward stated goals High Quality: Underlying data are credible and reliable Easy to Use: No huge investment of time and resources

required Transparent & Accessible: Data and assumptions are

available for public analysis and debate Widely Accepted: Enable comparison among programs Adaptable: Can be updated as more is learned


Recommended Performance IndicatorsAdapted from Stratos. 2007. Performance Measurement and Reporting for Extended Producer Responsibility Programs

Performance Category Key Indicator

Convenience/Accessibility Proximity of target population to collection drop-off

Product collection •Absolute collection relative to baseline

•Collection rate•Absolute collection per capita

Post-collection management Recycling rate

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Performance Category: Convenience/AccessibilityRefers to proximity of collection points to intended service population

Measures potential of program to achieve results

Location of Medical Sharps collection points in MA, 2008

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Performance Category: Absolute CollectionRefers to total amount of product collected

Measures performance relative to base year

RBRC Recycling Performance (pounds collected), 1996-2008

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Performance Category: Collection Rate

Refers to: Amount collected

Amount available for collection

Measures program effectiveness in capturing products that can harm environment and health

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Batteries: Approaches to calculating number available for collection

Proponent Data source Assumptions & PerformanceEnvironment Canada

Per capita sales data from German manufacturers; Global Industry Analysts

Battery weights, lifespans, and consumer hoarding behavior. Recycling rate (2005) = 2% for primary batteries, 6% for rechargeables

EU Battery sales data from national organizations of battery manufacturers and importers

3-year average of battery sales are an appropriate proxy for batteries available for collection. Collection rate (2005) = 52% in Belgium, 23% in France, 3% in Hungary

RBRC The total mass of batteries disposed as determined from landfill deposit samples

•All rechargeable batteries that are not recycled eventually reach the MSW stream•Analysis of landfill deposits is a credible and reliable way to measure disposal. Batteries comprise about .14% of the municipal solid waste stream in the US and Canada, .02% in Europe

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Fluorescent Lamps:Approaches to calculating number available for collection

(Source: NEMA Special Statistical Report for MA)

Data source Assumptions

Historic national sales data, provided by manufacturers through NEMA

Average lifespans of: •Commercial linear lamps (5 years)•Residential linear lamps (15 years)•Residential CFLs (6 years)

Recycling rate in Massachusetts = 44%

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Mercury Thermostats: Approaches to calculating number available for collection

Proponent Data source AssumptionsMaine DEP US Census: # of

residential and commercial buildings

•Residential buildings contain 1.5 thermostats and commercial buildings contain 1.25 thermostats•Thermostat lifespan is 30 years•83 % of thermostats contain mercury

PSI Frost & Sullivan: # of thermostats sold for replacement

•50-90% of thermostats contain mercury (precise percentage to be determined through PSI contractor survey)

King Co, WA Survey of commercial buildings in King County

•Thermostat lifespan is 50 years

Collection rate varies from .01 to 15%

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Performance Category: Absolute Collection per capitaRefers to total amount of product collected relative to size of target population

Measures program reach

StateTRC Mercury Thermostat

Collections (2007) Per Capita ReturnMaine 4656 0.3534

Minnesota 10795 0.2077Washington 3398 0.0525

Pennsylvania 6175 0.0497Connecticut 839 0.0240California 5750 0.0157New York 2396 0.0124Colorado 490 0.0101Arkansas 122 0.0043Georgia 44 0.0005


Performance Category: Post-Collection ManagementRefers to ultimate fate of products collectedMeasures environmental impact of program

• Post-collection management (reuse, recycling, incineration, and landfill) is a critical performance dimension for batteries, paint, electronics, and carpet…

• Less contentious for lamps and thermostats, although that may be changing…

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Conclusions• Performance measurement is necessary and possible• Performance measurement motivates program improvements and enables

comparison and competition • Convenience/accessibility, product collection, and post-collection

management are all critical to robust performance assessment– But the value of multiple metrics should not distract from the necessity of measuring

collection and recycling rates

• “Waste-to-sales” is emerging as a metric of choice for calculating collection rates for many products

– Requires assumptions about product use, lifespan, and consumer hoarding behavior– EU states assess manufacturer collection fees based on their share of product sales. In

these jurisdictions, PSOs have ready access to sales data

• Metrics should be adaptable as experience evolves and conditions change

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For more information…

Jennifer Nash, Director of Policy and ProgramsProduct Stewardship [email protected] 236-4853

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© product stewardship institute, inc. june 2009 recommendations for collection and recycling...

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