Food Zero Waste Sustainability Paul Connett Ph D

Food, Zero Waste & Sustainability Paul Connett, Ph. D Executive Director American. Health. Studies. org pconnett@gmail. com Brussels, Oct 28, 2010

n n I consider myself a pro bono waste consultant in the public interest Since 1985, I have given over 3000 presentations on waste to communities in 54 countries, including n 49 states in the US, n 7 provinces in Canada, n 189 cities in Italy…

Paul Connett ha parlato in 189 citta’

OUTLINE 1. A few words about Sustainability 2. The Zero Waste 2020 Strategy 3. Zero Waste steps around the world 4. Linking Zero Waste to Sustainability

We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to

Sustainability We would need FOUR planets if every one consumed as much as the average American n We would need TWO planets if every one consumed as much as the average European n Meanwhile, India, China etc. are copying our consumption patterns n Something has got to change and the best place to start is with waste n

Waste is the evidence that we are doing something wrong Landfills BURY the evidence Incinerators BURN the evidence We need to face the real problem…

Our real task is to fight over-consumption

“The world has enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed” Mahatma Gandhi

Not only is over-consumption giving us a local waste crisis but also…

A Global Crisis: Since the Industrial Revolution we have imposed a linear society on a planet that functions in circles

A LINEAR SOCIETY

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction Production

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction Production Consumption

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction Production Consumption Waste

Advertising/TV Extraction Production Consumption Waste

Over-advertising produces Over-consumption

By the time a high school student leaves school, he or she will have watched over 350, 000 TV commercials. Paul Hawken The Ecology of Commerce.

Myth versus Reality THE MYTH: n The more you consume the happier you become n THE REALITY: n The more you consume the fatter you become! n And the more waste you produce n

Man

Modern Man!

A LINEAR SOCIETY ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials

A LINEAR SOCIETY ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

How do waste management practices affect this picture? ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

LANDFILLS ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

INCINERATION ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

RECYCLING OF MATERIALS ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

REUSE OF OBJECTS ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

COMPOSTING ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide ENERGY Production of Manufactured items Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Consumption Discarded Materials GLOBAL WARMING

COMPOST

The importance of Composting 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Retains carbon (vs. Global warming) Returns nutrients to the soil Increases soil’s retention of water Makes it easier for cities to handle the recyclables (jobs and businesses!) But to use compost in agriculture you MUST have it clean – which means you MUST have DOOR-TO-DOOR collection.

Organic Fraction heirarchy 1) Food to humans (in time marketing, Prof. Andrea Segre, Facolta di Agraria, U. Bologna) 2) Food to animals (bones, meat etc) 3) Backyard composting 4) Community composting (e. g. Zurich, Switzerland) 5) Co-composting with local farmers 6) Centralized composting facility.

2. The ZERO WASTE 2020 strategy

ZERO WASTE IS A NEW DIRECTION

THE NO BACK to INCINERATORS END OF WASTE MANAGEMENT NO to LANDFILLS

THE NO BACK to INCINERATORS END OF WASTE MANAGEMENT NO to LANDFILLS THE FRONT END OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN & POST-CONSUMERISM

The Waste problem will not be solved with better technology n But with n Better organization n Better education n and better industrial design

Zero Waste can be approached with a series of simple steps n which are n Practical n Cost effective and n Politically acceptable

1. Source Separation & 2. Door-to-door collection

“The Fantastic 3” The San Francisco system

I “Fantastici 4” Capannori, Italia

Capannori LUNEDI ORGANICO MARTEDI MULTIMATERIALE MERCOLEDI CARTA GIOVEDI FRAZIONE RESIDUA VENERDI ORGANICO SABATO MULTIMATERIALE

3. Composting

1 Composting Facility 2 3

Composting plant for San Francisco

Local farmers are using the compost to grow fruit and vegetables for San Francisco

4. Recycling

1 Composting Facility 2 Materials Recovery Facility 3

MATERIALS RECOVERY FACIILITY at Pier 96

5. Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction

Value of Los Angeles discarded materials Reusable items

Reuse, Repair & Deconstruction Urban Ore, Berkeley, California

n Urban Ore operating for 30 years Grossing $3 million per year n 27 full-time well-paid jobs n

VIDEOS ONLINE n www. americanhealthstudies. org n Examples of Reuse and Repair Centers from California, Vermont, Nova Scotia and Australia

Reuse and Repair Centers Can be used for: 1. Job training (Burlington, Vermont, see video) 2. Community education 3. Community building 4. Support High St. Charity Shops

HIGH STREET CHARITY SHOPS BUILDING MATERIALS YARD R REPAIR E JOB U TRAINING S E COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES R E S E A R C H COMMUNITY COMPOST/ COMMUNITY GARDENS

1 Composting Facility 2 Materials Recovery Facility Reuse, Repair, & Community Center 3 Residual Fraction

$We have to minimize the residual fraction with… 1) Waste reduction initiatives 2) Economic$

We have to minimize the residual fraction with… 1) Waste reduction initiatives 2) Economic incentives

6. Waste Reduction Initiatives

Ireland n Government put a 15 cent tax on plastic shopping bags n reduced use by 92% in one year!

Italy In time collection of food from supermarkets and restaurants Prof. Andrea Segre Agriculture Dept. , U. of Bolgna andreasegre@unibo. it

Italy n Several supermarket chains are providing dispensers which allow customers to refill shampoo and detergent bottles…

Italy EFFECORTA, Capannori

L’esperienza effecorta www. effecorta. it a cura di Pietro Angelini, scio fondatore ed ideatore effecorta Capannori, 23 -01 -2010

95% of products come from within 70 km of store

60 dispensing systems for solids

60 taps for liquids

No plastic used for shopping bags

• Un pizzico di creatività a monte può far risparmiare milioni a valle

7. Economic Incentives

The “ Pay by bag” system 1 2 3

The “ Pay by bag” system 1 free 2 3

The “ Pay by bag” system 1 2 free 3

The “ Pay by bag” system 1 free 2 free $ The more you make, the more you pay!

The “ Pay by bag” system 1 free 2 free $ The less you make, the more you save!

1 Composting Facility 2 $ Waste Reduction Initiatives Materials Recovery Facility Residuals ? Reuse & Repair & Deconstruction

8. Residual Separation & Research Facility

RESIDUAL SEPARATION & RESEARCH FACILITY 1. Built at entrance to landfill n 2. No material can enter landfill without it being separated and screened n 3. More material recycled n 4. Toxics removed and identified n 5. Dirty organics biologically stabilized n 6. Non-recyclable materials STUDIED n

RESIDUAL SCREENING FACILITY MORE RECYCLABLES MORE TOXICS This type of facility is currently running in NOVA SCOTIA, Canada DIRTY ORGANIC FRACTION BIOLOGICAL STABILIZATION INTERIM LANDFILL for non-recyclable and stabilized organic fraction

RESIDUAL SCREENING & RESEARCH FACILITY MORE RECYCLABLES MORE TOXICS DIRTY ORGANIC FRACTION NON-RECYCLABLE FRACTION RESEARCH CENTER INTERIM LANDFILL BIOLOGICAL STABILIZATION

NON-RECYCABLE MATERIALS Local University Or Technical College ZERO WASTE RESEARCH CENTER

Zero Waste Research Center TASKS: n Improve capture rate of reusables, recyclables and clean compostables n Recommend improved waste avoidance strategies for local businesses n Develop local uses for some materials n n Recommend better industrial designs to industry on packaging and products

The Message to Industry: • • • If we can’t reuse it, recycle it or compost it, Industry shouldn’t be making it We need better industrial design for the 21 st Century

Zero Waste Research Center started in Capannori, Italy Jan 23, 2010

FRAZIONE RESIDUA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 - Capannori Porta a Porta Tessili e cuolo Pannolini Materiale organico da cucina Altra plastica: non imballo Imballaggi cellulosici poliaccopiati Imballaggi poliaccopiati in plastica Imballaggi flessibili in plastica Materiale organico da giardino Imballaggi rigidi in plastica (non bottiglie) Giornali (quotidiani e riviste) 16. 52 % 13. 95 % 10. 56 % 9. 98 % 8. 05 % 7. 45 % 6. 81 % 4. 64 % 3. 23 % 2. 54 %

• FRAZIONE RESIDUA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 – Capannori 16. 52 % Pannolini 13. 95 % Materiale organico da cucina 10. 56 % Altra plastica: non imballo 9. 98 % Questa e’poliaccopiati l’analisi del Imballaggi cellulosici 8. 05 % Imballaggi in plastica dopo 17%poliaccopiati che rimane 7. 45 la % Imballaggiseparazione flessibili in plastica dell’ 6. 81 % Materiale organico da giardino 83% del materiale 4. 64 % Imballaggi rigidi in plastica (non bottiglie) 3. 23 % raccolto porta a porta Giornali (quotidiani e riviste) 2. 54 % Tessili e cuoio

SUMMARY 10 steps to Zero Waste

Source Separation Door to Door Collection Composting Recycling Reuse, Repair & Community Center Waste Reduction Initiatives Economic Incentives Residual Separation & Research Center Better Industrial Design Temporary Landfill 2020

Separazione alla sorgente Raccolta Porta Compostaggio 70 - 80% Riutilizzo Iniziative Riparazione e Riduzione Riciclaggio Centro per la COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY rifiuti Comunita’ Incentivi Economici Residual Separation & Research Facility INTERIM LANDFILL Better Industrial Design 2020

Separazione alla sorgente Raccolta Porta Compostaggio 70 -80% Riciclaggio COMUNITY Incentivi Economici INTERIM LANDFILL Riutilizzo Iniziative Riparazione e Riduzione Centro per la RESPONSIBILITY rifiuti Comunita’ 20 -30% Separazione migliore del residuo e design Centro di INDUSTRIAL industriale ricerca RESPONSIBILITY 2020

Industrial Responsibility 1. Design for sustainability 2. Clean production 3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

3. Progress towards Zero Waste around the world

NEW ZEALAND Over 70% of communities have declared a Zero Waste strategy

San Francisco Population = 850, 000 n Very little space n 50% waste diverted by 2000 n 63% waste diverted by 2004 n 70% waste diverted by 2008 n 72% waste diverted by 2009 n 75% waste diverted by 2010 n GOAL: 100% by 2020 (or very close!) n

Italy n Over 2000 communities in Italy are achieving over 50% diversion using “door to door” collection systems n Over 200 communities achieving over 70% diversion

Italy n Novara - (a city near Turin, population = 100, 000) achieved 70% diversion in just 18 months!

Italy n Salerno (near Naples, pop 145, 000) 18% to 72% diversion in one year!

Italy n The Treviso region - 22 communities averaging 76% diversion (Priula consortium)

Italy n Villafranco d’Asti (Piedmont, population = 30, 000) has reached 85% diversion

Spain n Usurbil in Basque Country n Has gone from 28% to 86% in 7 months

Belgium In Flanders they have achieved 75% diversion with reuse, recycling, composting etc – VERY CREATIVE programs

4. Linking Zero Waste to Sustainability

Institute for Zero Waste and Sustainability 1) Research for better industrial design 2) Linking zero waste with other key developments needed for sustainability

Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable industries & Jobs Education For Sustainability Sustainable Architecture Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Community development Sustainable Economic development Sustainable Energy