EPAs Resource Conservation Challenge Organics Projects PROP Composting

EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge & Organics Projects PROP Composting Training Dec 6, 2006 David Iacono, P. E.

Overview • EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge – 4 focus areas • Organics components • EPA/Regional Activities • Questions 2

Unfinished Business of RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act) • Hazardous waste Nonhazardous waste • Regulations Voluntary programs • “Cradle to grave” “Cradle to cradle” 3

What is the Resource Conservation Challenge? EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) is a national effort to find more flexible, yet protective ways to conserve natural resources and energy. 4 www. epa. gov/rcc

Framework for the RCC • Voluntary, nonregulated projects • Partnering with state/local govts, federal facilities, industry and others • R 3 has created a Municipal Solid Waste Team with its States 5

RCC Goals • Conservation of energy/resources • Prevention of pollution and promoting of reuse and recycling of materials • Reduction of toxic chemicals through product substitution 6

MSW Management in US How MSW is Managed: Land Disposal 54. 3% Combustion 13. 6% Recovery 32. 1% 7 (EPA data)

Total MSW Generation 8

4 National RCC Priorities • Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials • Priority and Toxic Chemical Reduction • Green Initiatives – Electronics • Municipal Solid Waste Recycling 9

RCC National Priority Area: Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials

Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials • Definition: Use or reuse of a material that would otherwise become waste • Use instead of virgin materials • Coal Combustion Byproducts • Foundry Sands • Construction & Demolition Debris 11

RCC National Priority Area: Priority and Toxic Chemical Reduction

National Partnership For Environmental Priorities (NPEP) • Goal: Achieve 10% reduction of 31 priority chemicals by 2008 • Sector Strategies • • • Naphthalene Lead Mercury (Implement the Mercury Challenge) Petroleum Federal Facilities 13

NPEP Recognition Events Baldwin Hardware 14

RCC National Priority Area: Green Initiatives-Electronics

Electronics Programs • Reduce/Eliminate higher risk materials at the source • Plug-In To e. Cycling • EPEAT • Federal Electronics Challenge 16

RCC National Priority Area: Municipal Solid Waste Recycling

Specific Municipal Solid Waste Goals of the RCC: By 2008: • Increase the national recycling rate to 35% (32% in ’ 05) • Maintain the national average MSW generation rate <4. 5 lbs/person/day 18

EPA Region 3/States Municipal Solid Waste Team • Focused on waste streams with greatest additional diversion potential: – Food: 12% of solid waste stream (26 million tons destined for landfills each year) – Paper: 34% of the solid waste stream 19

Reduce/Recover Surplus Food facts: • almost half of US food goes to waste (50 M tons & $100 B in value) • < 3% food waste is recovered 20

Surplus Food Hierarchy 21

EPA Region 3 Municipal Solid Waste Team • Primary Functions: 1) Network Promotion/Outreach EPA R 3/State MSW Team 2) Grant Initiatives Special Projects w measurable results 3) Showcasing of State/local program successes 22

Region 3/State Activities • Promote networking – MACREDO/ILSR – Organics Summits • Beltsville MD, 11/30/06 • Spring 2007 in PA, details TBD • Others – Urban Recycling Conference, 2007 23

Region 3/State Activities • EPA Project Grants – <$60 K per year on average – Available to nonprofits/govt – Examples: • $5 k to Philabundance for food waste diversion to feed hungry • Funds for recycling education at community level • Grants to MACREDO for network support, program tools, research, etc. • Funds to USDA for in-vessel composter 24

Region 3/State Activities • Projects: – Midatlantic Food & Paper Waste Diversion Team • Targeting largest waste generators • Seeking diversion accomplishments Examples: • Partnering w Trammell Crowe property managers • Partnering w Aramark (U Penn) – GIS plotting of PA composters? – Recycle. Mania challenge for colleges 25

Region 3/State Activities • Competition among colleges & universities to collect most recyclables over a 10 -week period • Jan 28, 07 to April 7, 07 www. recyclemaniacs. org Some 2005 participants: • “Keystone Cup” challenge from Villanova for PA schools Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon Chestnut Hill College Dickinson College Juniata College Millersville University Old Dominion University 26 Villanova University

Region 3 Resources • • Region 3 composting facility directory Technical support Recognition from EPA State & network contacts www. epa. gov/reg 3 wcmd/solidwastecomposting. htm Interested in working with EPA? 27

Contacts • EPA Region 3 Municipal Solid Waste Program: www. epa. gov/reg 3 wcmd/solidwaste. htm David Iacono, iacono. david@epa. gov 215 -814 -3231 Donna Mc. Gowan, mcgowan. donna@epa. gov 215 -814 -5197 Questions? 28