Current pattern in waste management
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Transcript of Current pattern in waste management
Current pattern in waste management
Current pattern in waste management
Local Governments bear brunt of management – especially for household wastes.
Small levels of support from state government; even smaller from the federal level.
Manufacturers, Retailers, etc., provide almost no support.Complexity and size of waste stream increasing.As new products appear, “new” waste streams also appear
over time.Larger, more affluent communities tend to be better able to
run programs for special waste (e.g., HHW).
Electronics Recovery: Key Issues
Electronics Recovery: Key Issues
Are diversion programs “necessary?”Who will be responsible?What are the recovery options? Which are
the best?How much will it cost?Who will pay?
National Estimates of Electronics Generation (in tons)
National Estimates of Electronics Generation (in tons)
0
50,000100,000
150,000200,000
250,000
300,000350,000
400,000450,000
500,000
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Total Units Shipped Estimated Waste Curve?Extrapolated from US EPA’s MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES: 1999
FACTS AND FIGURES
Time for a change?Time for a change?
Should local governments be solely responsible – financially and logistically – for electronics recovery?
Is there merit in working to change the old patterns?
What specific means are available to local (and state) governments to change the pattern?
Idea of Product Stewardship
Idea of Product Stewardship
Environmental impacts should be carefully managed from production through disposal.
Industry, in particular, should exercise greater responsibility and play a greater role in end-of-life issues.
European initiatives (e.g., German packaging laws) have formalized industry responsibility.
Related ideas: Extended Producer Responsibility, product take-backs, design-for-environment, etc.
Why a National Product Stewardship Strategy is
Needed
Why a National Product Stewardship Strategy is
NeededCoordinate Multiple State and Regional
Initiatives EfficiencyOne Set of RegulationsOne Set of Meetings (or Coordinated Meetings)
Strength in Numbers/Political MomentumShare Information (Laws, Regulations, Policy,
Programs)
National Product Stewardship Forum
National Product Stewardship Forum
December 6-7, 2000 in Boston1st Time Gathering of State/Local Officials
Product Stewardship Principles and PoliciesProduct-Specific Waste Management Strategies
Focus: Electronics, Mercury-Containing Products, Pesticides, Paint, and Carpet
Laid Foundation for National Dialogues on Specific Products
Product Stewardship Institute
Product Stewardship Institute
Established to be the “voice” for state and local governments on product stewardship issues
Coalition of 20 States and 8 municipalities Clearinghouse on product stewardship issues.Primary initial focus on electronics –
coordinating government group.Other materials/products to be taken on over
time
Product Stewardship Institute
Product Stewardship Institute
Interim Steering CouncilCoalition Members
20 States: CA, FL, IA, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, WA, WI
NEWMOA (CT, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) 8 Local Agencies from CA, MN, OR, WA
Primary Mission of the Product Stewardship
Institute
Primary Mission of the Product Stewardship
InstituteThe Product Stewardship Institute assists
state and local government agencies in establishing cooperative agreements with industry and developing other initiatives that reduce the health and environmental impacts from consumer products.
Secondary Mission of the
Product Stewardship Institute
Secondary Mission of the
Product Stewardship Institute
The Institute seeks out the active input from, and cooperates with, environmental groups, business interests, academic institutions, the federal government, and related organizations to achieve product stewardship goals.
PrinciplesPrinciplesResponsibility
Should be shared among industry, government, and consumersThe greater the ability to minimize impact, the great the
responsibility for addressing impactsInternalizing costs
All health and environmental impacts should be included in the total product cost
Costs should be minimized to local and state governments (and shifted of manufacturers and consumers)
Manufacturers should have direct financial incentive to redesign products to reduce costs
Principles (continued)Principles (continued)Incentives for Cleaner Products and Sustainability
PS policies should create manufacturer incentives toward cleaner design, less energy use, less waste, and participation in recovery.
Flexible Management StrategiesThose responsible for reducing environmental impacts of products
should be given flexibility but be measured against goals.Roles and Relationships
Industry should provide leadership in realizing these principlesGovernment should lead through procurement practices, technical
assistance, addressing regulatory barriers, and other actions.
Specific PSI activitiesSpecific PSI activitiesCoordinating government coalition in the National
Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative.Reaching out to industry groups, trade organizations,
academic institutions, and govt. agencies to promote product stewardship.
Tracking product stewardship initiatives, building clearinghouse, working on procurement issues.
Building coalition, formalizing governance, putting up permanent website.
Working with membership to identify next products for PSI activity.
National Electronics Product Stewardship
Initiative (NEPSI)
National Electronics Product Stewardship
Initiative (NEPSI)Government Participants (at table)
CA, FL, IA, MA, MN, MO, NJ, OR, SC, WASnohomish County, WASolid Waste Management Coordinating Board, MNNortheast Waste Management Officials Assoc.
ME, VT, NH, NY, CT, RI (MA, NJ)Product Stewardship InstituteU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Government Observers NC, PA, NE, TN, MD, VA, WV + Others
Government Role in NEPSI
Government Role in NEPSI
Initiated Dialogue with IndustryDeveloped Proposed Issues and
Expectations DocumentsCreate Political Momentum for National
Solution
Product Stewardship: A New Product
Management Paradigm
Product Stewardship: A New Product
Management Paradigm
VOLUNTARY MANDATORY
NEGOTIATED
Linkage to other Organizations
Linkage to other Organizations
Solid Waste Association of North America developing a product stewardship policymay adopt PSI principles
National Recycling CoalitionActive on electronic issuesmay adopt PSI principles
North American Hazardous Materials Management Association
Adopted the PSI PrinciplesNorthwest Product Stewardship Council
Adopted the PSI Principles
Joining PSIJoining PSI
Currently, no costs to join PSILevel of involvement totally optional, from
basic membership to working on task groups.Simple process to join – exchange of letters
between Mass./PSI and your jurisdiction
BenefitsBenefitsCoalition = CloutWorking to change in the old pattern of waste
management.Over time and through joint action, responsibility
pushed “up the chain” and shared more broadly.Dialogue and networking with fellow agenciesAccess to policy and other information
Contact InformationContact InformationScott Cassel, DirectorProduct Stewardship InstituteUniversity of Massachusetts/LowellPinanski Hall, Room 303One University AvenueLowell, MA 01854
(978) 934-4855 (ph)(978) 934-3050 (fax)[email protected]
How will you (we) manage electronic
“wastes?”
How will you (we) manage electronic
“wastes?”