is a 100% zero waste future really possible?

Guy DaunceySeptember 2016

Is 100% Zero WasteReally Possible?

Victoria’s Solid Waste History

19th century Waste dumped on land1892-1958 Waste loaded into barges and

dumped at sea1955-1975 Local dumps and burning1975 Hartland Landfill bought by

CRD1990 Lake drained to increase size

of landfill. 6% diversion rate. 2014 369 kg non-diverted per person

(52% diversion rate). New BC target is 350 kg per person by 2020.

Provincial average is 500 kgg

Capital Region District Solid Waste, 1989-2014

100% Zero Waste

Santa Monica, California

San Francisco – 80% recycling rate (with provisos)

650 tons of composted food and yard waste a day

When all material is sent to the correct bins, San Francisco’s diversion rate can increase from 80% to 90%, assuming promotion of best practices, including waste prevention, recycling and composting.

To achieve 100% zero waste, they need state legislation for producer responsibility, requiring producers to design better products and to take responsibility for the entire life-cycle of a product, including take-back and recycling.

Zero Waste UK

Landfill Gas

Methane traps 34 x heat as CO2 over 100 years84 times as much over 20 years

2014 520 kg municipal solid waste

per person.

BC provincial waste disposal target:

350 kg per person by 2020

British ColumbiaCVRD = 74%

Sue Maxwell, 2013

232 Municipalities4.8 million people

Parma, Italy

190,000 populationRecycling stagnant at 45%

2012 citizen-led zero waste initiative

By 2015: Recycling up to 72%

More labour intensive, but city has saved €453,736

By end of 2016: 80% recycling

100 kg per person residual waste

Capannori, near Lucca, Tuscany, ItalyPopulation 47,000

“Don’t BurnThe Future”

2007 commitment to zero waste to landfill

by 2020

By 2010: 82% recycling

• 2004 -2012: Waste generated per person fell by 39%

• Unseparated residual waste fell by 57%, from 340 to 146 kg per person per year in 2011

• Compared to Denmark’s 409 kg per person

Capannori Public Education Campaigns

• Increase use of tap water rather than bottled

• Do away with disposable cutlery and flatware in public buildings, including schools

• Distribute cloth shopping bags to all 17,800 households, and 5,000 to businesses

• Stock reusable diapers and sanitary products in pharmacies.

Proactive political nudges, leading to residents becoming more aware, able to change consumption habits.

Landfill savings and earnings from sale of materials saved council over €2m in 2009.

Savings are ploughed back into waste reduction infrastructure, reducing fixed waste tariffs for residents by 20%.

It has also funded the recruitment of 50 employees, boosting employment in the region.

Capannori

1. Highly informed, engaged, supportive citizens 2. Active local non-profit + council3. Detailed curbside source separation4. Pay-As-You-Throw introduced in 2012

What are the Secrets?

Municipalities working towards Zero Waste


Commit to residential collection programs for recyclables and organics by a given date

Consider all wastes generated in the municipality.

Advocate for the redesign of problem materials that are not recyclable or compostable.

Report progress annually toward Zero Waste Plan milestones.

Implement a pay-as-you-throw rate structure or other financial incentives to encourage people to waste less and recycle more.


Establish a Zero Waste Advisory Board involving residents, businesses, staff or elected officials, Zero Waste experts and NGOs to develop and implement a Zero Waste Plan Conduct audits of discarded materials every 5 years or less to analyze progress, define future strategies and campaigns. Provide feedback to manufacturers, and work with them to redesign problem materials, products and packaging that are not reusable, recyclable, or compostable.


Oppose any kind of combustion technologies that operate above 93°C. Communities with incinerators must commit to phase out all burning. Define quantitative 10 year and 20-year targets with a residual waste reduction target (e.g. “less than 50 kgs per person by 2020) or a reduction within 10 years (e.g. “reduce remaining discards by 80%”), or adoption of “darn close to Zero”. Include these actions in a formal Zero Waste resolution, plan or strategy signed by the Mayor, Council, or Regional District.

Population 1,7002003: Set goal to become Japan’s first Zero Waste community by 2020No garbage trucksWaste self-sorted into 34 categories2015: 80% recycling rate, 20% landfill

China-Italy Twinning ProgramEco Canton, based in Guangzhou, South-East China,

member of the China Zero Waste Alliance.

ParmaCapannoriKamikatsu80%

This is the amount of material that households in Bristol recycle every week.

Dotted lines show the amount that COULD be recycled.

This is the amount of material that households in Bristol recycle every year.

Shadow area shows the amount that COULD be recycled.

Bio-methane from Bristol's sewage treatment (UK) 300 km on a tank of gas.

Well-to-wheel, biomethane produces 95% less CO2 than diesel

Guy Dauncey 2015www.earthfuture.com

Zac Noyle

The Ocean Clean Upwww.theoceancleanup.com

Guy Dauncey 2015www.earthfuture.com Boyan Slat

www.theoceancleanup.com

EU Circular Economy ProposalBy 2030: Recycling 65% of municipal waste

75% of packaging waste Reduce landfill waste to max 10%

Amsterdam’s Vision of becoming a Zero Waste, Circular Economy City

Dream itPlan itDo it

YouTube just search on “Guy Dauncey”

www.journeytothefuture.ca

Guy Dauncey 2013 www.earthfuture.com

Guy Dauncey

www.earthfuture.com

is a 100% zero waste future really possible?

Environment