Impact of Waste Reduction & Diversion on Climate Change

Impact of Waste Reduction &

Diversion on Climate Change

James GoldsteinTellus Institute

Boston, MA

MassRecycle R3 Conference

Boxborough , MA

April 1, 2013

MassRecycle R3 Conference 2

4/1/2013 slide 3MassRecycle R3 Conference

Study Framework

Study focused on the U.S. and includes:

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D)

Did not include other wastes (industrial, agricultural, sludge)

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Base Case Scenario vs. Green Economy Scenario

Base Case Scenario (“business as usual”)Recent trends continue: per person waste generation remains stable; population grows; recycling & composting increase modestly

Green Economy Scenario (75% diversion rate)Same assumptions re: waste generation and population; enhanced national recycling & composting program implemented


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Key Findings

Achieving 75% waste diversion in 2030, in tandem with supportive policies to encourage domestic manufacturing:Creates 2.3 million jobs (1.1 million more than Base Case)Significantly lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissionsReduces conventional and toxic pollutants impacting human & ecological healthOther benefits

- reduces pressure on non-renewable resources

- conserves energy

- improves economic resiliency


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U.S. MSW Management 2008


U.S. MSW Management2008

(1000 tons)

22,1009%

135,19054%

31,55013%

60,77024%

Diversion Recycled

Diversion Composted

Disposal Landfill

Disposal Incineration

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GHG, Other Pollution & Employment Drivers

Size of waste stream

Composition (material types/characteristics)

Management practices: disposal and recycling/ composting have different labor intensities & different pollution profiles


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MSW Waste Flows2030 Scenario Comparison


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C&D Waste Flows2030 Scenario Comparison


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Job ImpactsBase Case vs. Green Economy Scenario


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Environmental Emissions Impacts

Measured life-cycle material and energy inputs and downstream outputs of wastes and pollution:

- Upstream phase – resource extraction, materials refining, and product manufacturing

- Use phase – product use

- End-of-life phase – management of product discards


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GHG ReductionsBase Case vs. Green Economy Scenario


Green Economy Scenario GHG reductions equivalent to closing about 72 coal-fired power plants or taking 50 million cars off the road

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Total U.S. GHG Emissions from MSW


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Policies for Green Economy Scenario

DiversionPay As You Throw (PAYT) pricingResource Management (RM) ContractingMaterials disposal bans (e.g., C&D)Mandatory recycling/compostingEnhanced container legislationExtended Producer Responsibility legislation (“product stewardship” - e.g., packaging, batteries, electronics)

Domestic ManufacturingInvestment tax credits for manuf. equipment using recyclablesGovernment support for infrastructure & market developmentClimate change legislation


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National Study Conclusion

Strong evidence that an enhanced recycling and composting strategy in the U.S. can significantly and sustainably address critical national priorities including lasting job creation, climate change, and improved health.



Tellus Study for MassDEP’s 2010 Master Plan

Assessment of Materials Management Options for the Solid Waste Master Plan Review

Summarized existing studies comparing lifecycle environmental and economic impacts of:- source reduction and materials reuse, recycling, and composting;

- alternative technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion; and

- disposal in municipal waste combustors and landfills.

Applied study results to MA data to explore alternative future vision for materials management in terms of environmental and economic benefits. - Incorporated recommendations for how options fit together to form a

cost-effective materials management system that maximizes resource and economic values of materials formerly viewed as wastes.


Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

Raw Materials Acquisition

Materials Manufacture

Product Manufacture

Product Use or Consumption

Final Disposition – Landfill,

Combustion, Recycle or

Reuse

Energy Energy EnergyEnergyEnergy

Wastes & Pollution

Wastes & Pollution

Wastes & Pollution

Wastes & Pollution

Reuse

Product Recycling

One or limited number of return cycles into product that is then disposed – open-loop recycling. Repeated recycling into same or similar product, keeping material from disposal – closed-loop recycling.

Raw Materials Acquisition

Materials Manufacture

Product Manufacture

Product Use or Consumption

Final Disposition – Landfill,

Combustion, Recycle or

Reuse

Energy Energy EnergyEnergyEnergy

Wastes & Pollution

Wastes & Pollution

Wastes & Pollution

Wastes & Pollution

Reuse

Product Recycling

One or limited number of return cycles into product that is then disposed – open-loop recycling. Repeated recycling into same or similar product, keeping material from disposal – closed-loop recycling.


Energy Use: Recycled & Virgin Content Products (MJ/kg)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Recycled

Virgin


Energy Savings: Recycling vs Incineration (MJ/kg)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Recycling

Incineration


CO2 Emissions: Recycled &VirginContent Products (kg eCO2/kg)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Recycled

Virgin


CO2 Emissions: Composting vs Disposal (kg eCO2/kg)

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

Composting

Incineration

Landfill

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Study for MA DEP 2010 Master PlanConclusions re: GHGs

From a lifecycle environmental emissions perspective, source reduction, recycling and composting are the most advantageous management options for all (recyclable/compostable) materials in the waste stream.

From a lifecycle net energy perspective, waste diversion provides the most benefit (3-4x incineration, gasification, pyrolysis)

After maximizing diversion, appropriate to continue to monitor alternative waste management technologies.

Preference among alternative technology options based on environmental performance is dependent on the relative importance placed on CO2 emissions versus other pollutants.- Modern landfills with efficient gas capture systems reduce more CO2

than other alternatives.

- Landfills are worse than alternative technologies for most other pollutants.


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Questions?


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Impact of Waste Reduction & Diversion on Climate Change