Stephanie Barger, Executive DirectorEarth Resource Foundation

www.earthresource.org

ReduceReuse

Recycle = Zero Waste

GOING BEYOND RECYCLING

Definition of Zero WasteDefinition of Zero Waste** 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.

* www.zwia.org/standards.html

Pillars of Zero WastePillars of Zero Waste

UpstreamDownstream

Green Businesses and Jobs

WastebergWastebergMunicipal

Wastetip of the

“wasteberg”

Upstream manufacturing waste is 70 times greater

Source; Kevin Drew, San Francisco

Green Businesses and JobsGreen Businesses and Jobs

Expand, attract, and support green businesses and green collar jobs

Reserve sufficient land for Zero Waste infrastructure

Buy green goods and

servicesRecycling Industry =

Size of Auto Industry

10,000 tons of SW =Landfill - 1 jobComposting – 4 jobsRecycling – 10 jobsReuse – 75 –250 jobs

Source: www.ilsr.org

Life SkillsLife Skills

andand

Workforce Workforce Preparation Preparation

SkillsSkills

California Green Job Corps California Green Job Corps Program OverviewProgram Overview

Community Community ServiceService

Technical Technical Skills Skills

TrainingTraining

Zero Zero WasteWaste

Provide Incentives Before Ban or Mandate

Eliminate Waste by Designing Out of Products and Processes

Foster Sustainable and Green Businesses

Retailers Take Back Difficult to Recycle Materials

Resource Recovery Park

Producer Responsibility

Expand City Outreach & Technical Assistance and Lead by Example

Jobs from Design & Discards

© Copyright Eco-Cycle, 2004 with text modifications by permission.www.ecocycle.org/zerowaste/zwsystem

Empowered Consumer

The Zero Waste EconomyDesigning a Full-Cycle system – Upstream and Downstream

Is Zero Waste Attainable ?Is Zero Waste Attainable ?

Nature Is The Model

Zero Waste, Or Darn Close

Businesses Have Achieved Over 90% Waste Reduction

Picture: Methane Earth; Credit: GISS, NASA

SO WHO’s DOING ZERO WASTE?SO WHO’s DOING ZERO WASTE?

And WHY?And WHY?

Zero Waste Businesses are Zero Waste Businesses are Leading the WayLeading the Way ( (>90% Waste Diversion)>90% Waste Diversion)

Anheuser-Busch, Fairfield, CA Apple Computer, Elk Grove, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds Epson (OR) Fetzer Vineyards Frankie’s Bohemian Café, SF Greens Restaurant, SF Hewlett-Packard, Roseville, CA Mad River Brewery

NUMMI, Fremont, CA Pillsbury Playa Vista, LA, CA Ricoh Electronics, Inc Toyota San Diego Wild Animal Park Scoma’s Restaurant, SF Vons-Safeway Xerox Corp Yost Printer, Monrovia, CA

Presented at the Zero in on Zero Business Conference

Source: www.green.org

Ricoh’s “Recipe for Success”Ricoh’s “Recipe for Success”

= Total Participation= Total Participation

•Objectives•Leadership•Benchmarking•Organization•Project plan

•Training & Promotion•Use of 5R Concept•Verification•Continuous Improvement

Partnership With SuppliersPartnership With SuppliersGreen Procurement

RETURN REUSERECYCLE

REFUSE REDUCE

Recipe for Success 7: Use of 5R Concept

Reduce total cost within Supply Chain

REDESIGN RESPECT

If you’re not for Zero Waste,

how much waste are you for?