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Zero Waste
Omar FreillaGreen Worker CooperativesZero Waste Network Action
ConferenceAugust 27, 2004
for Economic and Environmental Justice
A WASTEFUL SOCIETY A WASTEFUL SOCIETY NEEDS NEEDS
A DUMPING GROUNDA DUMPING GROUND
Garbage Mantra No. 1
DISPOSAL FOLLOWS THE PATH OF LEAST
RESISTANCE
Garbage Mantra No. 2
Factors Affecting Siting Decisions
land value
strength of local
opposition
incomeracial
segregation
geography
facility location
Demographics of Waste in Demographics of Waste in NYCNYC
NYC has 53 waste transfer stations handling a total of 47,000 tpd
52% of City’s waste is handled in two neighborhoods:
Greenpoint/Williamsburg (Brooklyn) Hunts Point/Port Morris (The Bronx)
Also home to wastewater treatment, sludge pelletizing, radioactive waste, and thousands upon thousands of diesel trucks
The ConsequencesThe ConsequencesAsthma South Bronx asthma rate 2nd highest in United StatesLocal pollutants correlated with respiratory diseases and
other health problems
11,000 people
11,000 truck
trips
OdorsWastewater Treatment &Sewage Sludge pelletizingin Hunts Pointspreads foul odors over 4 sq
mi area
Heavy Truck Traffic
in Hunts Point
MORE & MORE MORE & MORE COMMUNITIES REFUSE TO COMMUNITIES REFUSE TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES SACRIFICE THEMSELVES
The modern environmental justice movement has grown since it’s southern origins in 1979
Environmental Justice & WasteEnvironmental Justice & Waste
Pre-Origins1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black
Sanitation Workers Strike – Memphis, TN
Origins in Trash1979 – Houston, TX - sanitary landfill protests
1983 – Warren County, NC - PCB landfill protests
1983 – US GAO study on haz waste landfill siting
1987 – Toxic Waste & Race study
1990 – Dumping in Dixie published
Fair Share Fair Share equal distribution of pollution equal distribution of pollution
Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction eliminate the threat before harm occurseliminate the threat before harm occurs shift burden of proof to pollutersshift burden of proof to polluters based on public health model of preventionbased on public health model of prevention
Extended Producer ResponsibilityExtended Producer Responsibility producer is responsible for a product’s consequences producer is responsible for a product’s consequences
throughout it’s entire life-cyclethroughout it’s entire life-cycle Full Public InvolvementFull Public Involvement Worker SafetyWorker Safety
EJ Family ValuesEJ Family Valuesmore than just NIMBYmore than just NIMBY
But what about the jobs?
Facing a pressing need for work in NYC South Bronx unemployment rate of 24%
highest in NYC (2000) NYC unemployment
from 5.7% (2000) to 8.5% (2003)
48% of Black Males out of work (2003)* 12% increase since 2000
*based on employment-population ratio, Community Service Society study
*graph prepared by AFL-CIO
*graph prepared by AFL-CIO
Yes! We want jobs but…Yes! We want jobs but…
Community & environmental health tradeoff Experience is that few local residents are ever
hired for facility operation or construction Hiring for all positions occurs mostly through personal
contacts – “It’s about who you know” Operations Jobs
Positions often require experience and skill training unavailable to community
Local jobs relegated to most dangerous, least paid, and temporary – with no benefits
Construction Jobs Local residents unrepresented by predominantly white unions
the Zero Waste Alternativethe Zero Waste Alternative
Reduces waste Creates new jobs Preserves natural
resources Reduces pollution
impacts associated with harvesting virgin materials
Mission: to promote economic and environmental justice
by creating worker-owned manufacturing cooperatives in the South Bronx that reduce
pollution and improve the environment
DeconstructioDeconstructionna tool for zero waste
What is Deconstruction?What is Deconstruction?
Definition The systematic disassembly of a structure to
recover its component materials for reuse
Levels of Deconstruction Skimming or soft-stripping Structural deconstruction Land reclamation
Benefits of DeconstructionBenefits of Deconstruction Reduces waste disposal costsReduces waste disposal costs
Avoided tipping feesAvoided tipping fees Recovered value of materialsRecovered value of materials
Reduces environmental impactsReduces environmental impacts Conserves landfill spaceConserves landfill space Reduces truck trips to distant landfillsReduces truck trips to distant landfills Conserves natural resources and the energy Conserves natural resources and the energy
used to consume themused to consume them Less heavy machinery means less dust and Less heavy machinery means less dust and
emissions, no on-site soil compaction or loss of emissions, no on-site soil compaction or loss of vegetationvegetation
Generates low-cost and hard to find Generates low-cost and hard to find building materialsbuilding materials
Creates jobsCreates jobs
Recoverable MaterialsRecoverable Materials
Items recovered for resale or reconditioning
Wood flooring, siding, trim and moldings
Clean lumber at least 4’ long Kitchen and bath cabinetry and
fixtures Unbroken windows Doors – interior, exterior,
security and screen Reusable tiles, bricks and
paving kitchen and bath sinks Bathtubs and toilets Faucets and plumbing Electrical and HVAC supplies Commercial storefront
equipment
Items recovered as scrap for recycling
Undersized or damaged wood pieces
(converted into mulch) Roofing shingles (ground for use in asphalt) Glass and metal too
damaged or small for reuse
Concrete (ground and used for fill) Bricks (crushed for use as a
mulch substitute) Unpainted drywall
Up to 85% of a building can be deconstructed or recycled*
*source: SanDecon
Deconstruction in the Deconstruction in the FieldField
The Presidio – Building 901 (1996)Location: San Francisco, CADeconstruction Partners: Beyond Waste, San Francisco
Community Recyclers, Wood Resource Efficiency Network
Materials Generated: 75,295 bf
Materials Recovered: 65,295 bf
Percent Recovered: 87%
Deconstruction cost: $53,000 Sales Revenue: $43,655 Net Cost: $ 9,345Competing Demo bid: $16,800
Deconstruction in the Deconstruction in the FieldField
Port of Oakland - Building 733 (1996)
Location: Oakland, CABuilding type: 3-acre single story wood
frameDeconstruction Partners: Beyond Waste
and the Youth Employment Partnership
Materials Generated: 643,000 bf
Materials Recovered: 450,000 bf
Percent Recovered: 70% * Deconstruction cost: $330,000 Sales Revenue: $280,000 Net Cost: $ 50,000Competing Demo bid: $150,000
* Does not include wood waste chipped for use as fuel
Deconstruction cost: $ 13,800Sales Revenue: $ 2,800 - $4,500 Net Cost: $9,000 - $10,800Estimated Demo cost: $7,000 - $10,000
Deconstruction in the Deconstruction in the FieldField
Riverdale Village Apartments (1997)Location: Baltimore County, MDBuilding type: 2,000 sq ft, 2-story pre-war brickLength of Project: 740 hoursDeconstruction Partners: Stop Corporation, National Association of Home Builders
Materials Generated: 127 tonsMaterials Recovered: 96.5 tons Percent Recovered: 76% reuse &
recycling23% reuse
Brick Vs. Wood brick requires more labor and yields less
The Green Institute Deconstruction Program
Minneapolis, MNfounded 1997 by the Green Institute Facility: 26,000 sq ft store,
3,000 sq ft warehouse Annual sales: $350,000 Launched to improve
quality and quantity of inventory at ReUse Center (founded 1995)
Due to space constraints, 60% of salvaged materials sell at deconstruction work sites or warehouse.
Green Institute formed to counter proposed waste transfer station
DECONSTRUCTION SERVICES / DECONSTRUCTION SERVICES / THE REBUILDING CENTERTHE REBUILDING CENTER
Portland, Oregonfounded 1999 by Our United Villages Facility: 62,000 sq. ft. store
24,000 sq ft building 38,000 sq ft yard Engaged in $2 million
capital campaign to expand facility
Annual Sales: $700,000 Deconstruction launched to
increase inventory at the Rebuilding Center (founded 1998)
Recycle NorthRecycle North
Burlington, Vermontfounded 2002 Facility: 10,000 sq. ft. store
Free space in city-owned building
Supplements household goods retail store
Annual Sales: $200,000
Urban Ore
Berkeley, Californiafounded 1980 Facility: 2 acre store
Free space in city-owned building Supplements household goods
retail store Annual Sales: $1.5 million Staff: 25 Developing a Recycling Industrial
Park with room for manufacturers that rely on recyclables
City and State providing support for Urban Ore Eco Park
New Life for Old StuffNew Life for Old Stuff
Vancouver Asphalt PlantLocation: Vancouver, Canada Architects: Busby & AssociatesSalvaged Material Content: 90%
A Cautionary Tale:the story of NYOFCO
NYOFCO pelletizes toxic sewage sludge into fertilizer
Handles 50% of City’s sludge
Operating 1992
Odors cover 4 sq. mile
Releases VOCs,NOx, heavy metals, and HAPs
Currently in violation of air, water, and solid waste permits
Is this Zero Waste?
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