EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge & Organics Projects PROP

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 R3 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 eCycling 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 Food facts: almost half of US food goes to waste (50M tons & 100B 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 R3/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 – 60K per year on average – Available to nonprofits/govt – Examples: 5k 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? – RecycleMania 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 26 Old Dominion University Villanova University

Region 3 Resources Region 3 composting facility directory Technical support Recognition from EPA State & network contacts www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/solidwastecomposting.htm Interested in working with EPA? 27

Contacts EPA Region 3 Municipal Solid Waste Program: www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/ solidwaste.htm David Iacono, [email protected] 215-814-3231 Donna McGowan, [email protected] 215-814-5197 Questions? 28