Illinois: Moving Towards Zero Waste

Lake County Green 2015 Jennifer Nelson, Seven Generations Ahead

Seven Generations Ahead Fourteen-year old non-profit working to promote sustainable and healthy communities

-sustainability planning and implementation -educational conferences and forums -farm to school program -zero waste program

What does it mean to be Zero Waste? Zero Waste = Zero Garbage

• Eliminate waste at its source (source reduction)

• Increase recycling

• Convert food scraps to compost

• Teach about sustainability Waste = Resource

• Identify opportunities for cost savings

Getting to Zero Waste is a journey. You need to start somewhere.

Planning for Zero Waste

37% FOOD & YARD WASTE

1. Sort Food Scraps

2. Haul to a Compost Facility

4. Use Finished Compost

3. Compost in Windrows

COMMERCIAL COMPOSTING

Sustainable Communities Take on Food Scrap Composting SEEKING

POLICY CHANGE

Residential curbside collection

Schools

Businesses

Institutions

Events

Zero Waste Ambassadors ZWA curriculum

Report card

Collaboration Pilot programs

Zero waste event training

Residents

CATALYSTS FOR

CHANGE

Community Sustainability Planning

GreenTown Educational Conferences

Illinois Food Scrap Coalition

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVLEOPMENT

Zero Waste Residents

Residential Curbside Organics Collection Pilot

Residential Food Scrap Collection Program

2012 Pilot – select area in Oak Park

10% participation (110 homes)

Weekly pickup of food scraps with yard waste

Cost to resident is max of $14/month (can be offset by reduced landfill bill as well as not needing to buy yard waste stickers)

2013 - expanded to entire village

Zero Waste Schools

Zero Waste Ambassadors

Curriculum

Chicago Public Schools • Commercial compost pilot (5 schools in 2014-2015) • Breakfast waste reduction program (25 schools in 2011-2012) • ZW plans implemented at individual schools

Oak Park • D97 - 8 elementary schools and 2 middle schools • D200 Oak Park River Forest HS

Kenilworth • Lunchroom composting (2013-14)

Highland Park D112 • ZW survey of all schools (2011-12) • Lunchroom composting (2012-13)

Naperville • 1 elementary school (2008-09)

Schools with ZWA Programs

Waste Sorting Stations

classroom sorting hallway sorting

lunchroom sorting sorting station & equipment

School Composting Methods

Tumbler-Beye

Earth Tub-Holmes

3 Bin System-Hatch

Commercial compost off site

Worm bins-many schools

39%

10% 16%

13%

22%

Carl von Linne Elementary School Launch Day Waste Assessment 5/6/15

Compost

Recycling

Liquid

Uneaten fruit

Landfill

Commercial Composting = Students Compost ~40% of Waste

School Composting Makes the News

Afternoon Shift and All Things Considered - Monday 6/2 The story on food waste in Chicago Public Schools and CPS Blaine Elementary and the Commercial Composting Pilot http://soundcloud.com/.../north-side-school-reducing-food Morning Shift - Tuesday 6/3 The discussion this morning on commercial food scrap composting in CPS and Oak Park D97 https://soundcloud.com/morningshiftwbez/compost-food-waste-a-growing

Zero Waste Businesses and Institutions

WeCompost

WeCompost

• Restaurants • Hotels • Hospitals • Breweries • Universities • Museums

Zero Waste Events

Event Training

Events

Zero Waste Event Training

Seven Generations Ahead has provided training on How to Hold a Zero Waste Event.

Training manual 2-part training (seminar and

onsite tour of ZW event)

Micro Brew Micro Waste

Seven Generations Ahead and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild co-produce the annual Oak Park Micro Brew Review

Over 100 craft beers from more than 50 breweries

4,000 attendees Zero waste event

Sustainable Practices Zero Waste

No plastic water bottles served

Reusable tasting glasses

Compostable serving ware

All purchasing decisions made through sustainable lens Resource Recovery Stations were used to collect the 6,000 plates,

3,000 eco-spoons and 4,000 napkins (all compostable) and therefore diverted from the landfill

Zero Waste Policy and Education

Illinois Food Scrap Coalition

Illinois Food Scrap Coalition

The Illinois Food Scrap Coalition is a group of solid waste agencies, counties, and community and government organizations dedicated to advancing food scrap composting in Illinois through program implementation, policy, and advocacy.

IFSC Forums and Report

www.illinoiscomposts.org

Incorporating Zero Waste

1. Assess current system and opportunities for waste reduction

2. Partner with hauler (and compost facility) 3. Plan and prioritize 4. Educate and engage on every level 5. Implement 6. Measure and report success 7. Communicate…communicate…

communicate

Thank You!

Jen Nelson, Seven Generations Ahead jennifer@sevengenerationsahead.org http://www.sevengenerationsahead.org http://www.illinoiscomposts.org