Post on 06-Aug-2015
Littleton Zero Waste Day
Brian Balukonis – ZWBA Littleton Sustainability Committee,
bbalukonis@icloud.com
“Zero Waste” Definition
• “Zero Waste is a goal that is both pragmatic and visionary, to guide people to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are resources for others to use. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that may be a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”
From: Zero Waste International Alliance
Simplified Definition
United States Zero Waste Business Council
• Created the first third-party Zero Waste Business Certification program for facilities that meets the Zero Waste Principles of the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA). Our facility certification program goes beyond diversion numbers and focuses on the upstream policies and practices that make Zero Waste successful in an organization.
Initial Flyer
Final Flyer
Vendor Listing
Vendor Recycle or Reuse Materials Collected
Electronics Recycling International (ERI)
Recycle Electronic waste
Liberty Recycle Rims and Tires
EL Harvey (ELH) Recycle Confidential Paper Shredding
Bay State Textiles Reuse Textiles
More Than Words Reuse Books, DVD`s, CD`s, Tapes
Veolia Recycle Mixed Batteries
Home Goods Recycling Reuse Household Goods
Lowell Wish Reuse Household Goods
Boston Building Resources Reuse Building Materials
Marketing Methods
• Flyers
• Newsprint
• Town`s websites
• Local Cable TV
• Signage
• Word of mouth
Newsprint
Signage At Transfer Facility
Logistics for Drop-off Area
Volunteers
• Approximately 50 helpers
• Two shifts
• Many school age including scouts and local sport teams
• Provided food and beverages for nourishment generously donated by local business`s
Vehicles in Cue for Drop-off
Greet & Survey
“Welcome to our first Zero Waste Day event! Thank you for your participation. You are car number X. Shortly you will be driving into the drop-off area and a group of volunteers will be unloading your car, but first a very quick survey:
1)What town are you from? 2)How did you hear about this event? 3)Did you have any trouble figuring out what
to bring today?”
“Controlled Chaos”
Electronic Waste – Most Popular
ERI
Batteries and Tires
Veolia Liberty
Textiles, Building Materials, Books
Bay State
Textiles
More Than
Words
Boston Building
Resources
Survey Results
• 174 vehicles participated
• Many towns participated
– 74% from Littleton
– 14% from Westford
• Most common method to get message
– Newsprint, flyers, church
Donations for Loaves & Fishes
Results Vendor Materials Collected
Weight (lbs)
Electronics Recycling International (ERI)
Electronic waste 20,738
Liberty Rims and Tires 3,000
EL Harvey (ELH) Confidential Paper Shredding
4,000
Bay State Textiles Textiles 2,500
More Than Words Books, DVD`s, CD`s, Tapes
3,200
Veolia Mixed Batteries 261
Home Goods Recycling Household Goods
2,700
Lowell Wish Household Goods
2,700
Boston Building Resources Building Materials
1,700
Summary
• 40,799 pounds collected for reuse & recycling
• 0 pounds collected for trash
• 804 pounds food collected for Loaves & Fishes
• $125 collected for Littleton Scholarship Fund via Bay State Textiles
• Diversion rate 100% which met the Zero Waste International Alliance definition of a successful zero waste event