Sustainable

Living

SUSTAINABILITY

WASTE DIVERSION

&

City of Chicago

Table of Contents

1. Our Problem 2

i. Introduction 3

ii. Plastic Oceans 7

iii. Why the Confusion? 9

iv. What Is In Our E-Waste? 13

2. Why Don’t We Recycle? 18

i. What is the root cause? 19

3. Our Goal Our Plan 22

i. Goal: Zero Waste 23

ii. Plan: Copy and Refine 25

References

"Scripps Study Finds Plastic in Nine Percent of 'Garbage Patch' Fishes. "Scripps

Study Finds Plastic in Nine Percent of 'Garbage Patch' Fishes. N.p., 30 June 2011. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.

"Climate Change and Waste." Climate Change and Waste. USEPA, n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2016

McLinden, Steve. "Buying Property That Was Literally A Dump | Bank rate.com." Buying Property That Was Literally A Dump | Bank rate.com. Bankrate.com, 26 Feb. 2012. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.

Waste Characterization Study. Chicago, IL: SCS Engineers, 1987. Chicago De-partment of Environment. 2 Apr. 2010. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.

"“Circuits of Misery” -Problem of Electronic Waste Disposal." The Sane Age. N.p., 28 Aug. 2015. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.

"About Blue Cart Recycling." City of Chicago. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016

"The Swedish Recycling Revolution." Official Website of Sweden. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2016. <https://sweden.se/nature/the-swedish-recycling-revolution/>.

Bentley, Chris. "What Really Happens to Chicago's Blue Cart Recycling? "What Re ally Happens to Chicago’s Blue Cart Recycling? Curious City, 1 July 2015.

Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

HOW CAN THIS BE

IMPLEMENTED?

The countries and cities that divert the most waste from landfills have implemented

strict laws that enforce the recycling and diversion programs. These government

bodies have also found ways to raise extra funds for other projects, or plans. As

stated before, Sweden imports trash from England and other countries that have a

hard time implementing an efficient program, and they are able to heavily charge

these countries for their exports.

Is there anything new in this system? Absolutely not. We have to make an action

plan, and enforce it, in order to make our city more livable for the future. It is pro-

jected that the amount of waste that will be added to landfills annually will double

by the year 2050. This will put a huge strain on current landfills, and will force us to

increase the amount of land used for landfills. This will cause longer travel times for

the waste industry, and will cause a larger carbon footprint if we do not take action.

This problem is so large, we decided to attack it from the root of the cause. That

root is ourselves. We are our own worst enemy, and we have the ability to change

the way we do things. So therefore, our plan is to:

INCENTIVES

Through the gamification process, data can be accumulated so we can implement

an incentive system. This plan has not been drawn out, but through the increase in

recycled, re-used, and power and heat production through incineration, this pro-

gram could be funded

Another option might be to allow for tax credits. This tax credit would be through

the city or state, and would probably require a raise in taxes. This would be the

least wanted incentive system. Yet, it is still an option.

Psychological studies have shown that incentive based reinforcement causes better

results than punishment. This incentive based system could help with the efficiency

of the sorting of recycling, before the recycled load makes it to the recycling plant.

Comparative cost analysis would allow for waste management companies to come

up with the incentive program that would allow for continued profits.

Ou

r Pro

ble

m

Introduction

Waste is caused by the overconsumption of our society. It really

relates back to the 1950s, where the idea of plastic containers, and

utensils became a regular item that you could find on the shelves

at every market. Plastic producing companies have heavily

influenced this idea of waste, and the seemingly never ending

cycle of purchase and simply throw out since the late 1950s and

early 1960s. Anything from the packaging of simple microwave

meals, to the plastic bags used at grocery stores in order to

transport food from the market to your home, to the packaging

used in most products we buy; this idea of waste is commonplace

in today’s society, and is a true waste of finite resources.

GAMIFICATION What is gamification? And why will it help?

Currently, energy suppliers compare your energy usage to other peoples energy

usage around you. This allows for competition with your surrounding neighbors,

and makes individuals more self-conscious of their energy usage.

How could this be implemented into the waste industry? Currently, when compa-

nies collect recycling, they check the bins to determine whether or not the bin is

completely recyclable. If it is not, the people are given warnings, and the can is

marked to be picked up by the waste collectors. We could have the collecting ma-

chines weigh both waste and recycling bins for each home, and log the information.

This logged information can be compared and contrasted with surrounding neigh-

bors and neighborhoods every week or every month in order to allow for competi-

tion. Competition in the energy industry has been highly successful in reducing

wasted energy. Why not employ the same idea in the recycling industry?

PLAN: Through education programs and gamification, we can

implement a culture of competition and knowledge in our city.

This will help with our current sorting process, and will make

the recycling system a more efficient, and more transparent

system. In the long run, it will help bring down the cost of the

recycling system, and will allow for less waste to end up in landfills

EDUCATION ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING

RECYCLING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE

UNEDUCATED. PEOPLE HAVE VERY

LITTLE IDEA OF EXACTLY WHAT IS

RECYCLABLE AND HOW TO RECYCLE IT

Public and private elementary schools should make an effort to show kids

exactly what is recyclable and how to recycle it. This will inform the next

generation of the issues we face, and the potential solutions we can implement

Exhibits and workshops could also help raise awareness on our current waste issues

Informative commercials and huge ad campaigns focused on the city of Chicago

should be used in order to help educate the general public. Even though this may

come at a large cost, in the end, with the amount of recycled goods that will be

added to the system, it will help fund and pay off the initial cost in time.

THE AVERAGE AMERICAN PRODUCES

4.5 POUNDS OF WASTE DAILY

POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO

INCREASE 25% BY 2050 AND

WASTE IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE CHEMICALS FROM BLEACH, AND

AMMONIA END UP IN LANDFILLS AND

CAN PRODUCE TOXIC GAS, WHICH CAN

EFFECT THE QUALITY OF AIR AROUND

THE LANDFILLS CLEANING CHEMICALS MIX TO-

GATHER AND FORM A TOXIC FLUID.

WILDLIFE WILL INGEST THIS FLUID

AND PLANTS AFFECTED BY THESE

CHEMICALS CAUSING PAINFUL

DEATH AND DISRUPTIONS IN THE

FOOD CHAIN IN CHICAGO, AN ESTIMATED 5%

OF ALL GREENHOUSE GAS

EMISSIONS ARE CONTRIBUTED

BY THE WASTE SYSTEM

WHY is there a

PROBLEM?

Heavy metals, and chemicals make their way back to

the underground aquifers. And eventually will make

it’s way into our own water used for drinking and

agriculture. Essentially, we are poisoning

ourselves with the way we handle our trash.

Beverage Containers—milk and juice cartons/boxes, coated, water bottles—.8% HHW—Latex paint, oil paint, plant/organism/pest control/growth, used oil/filters, automotive fluids, mercury-containing items, sharps and infectious waste, ash, sludge, industrial processed waste, sewage solids—.2% Inorganics—Televisions, computer monitors, computer equipment/peripherals, electronic equipment, lead-acid batteries, other batteries, tires, household bulky items, fluorescent lights—1.1% Glass—Recyclable glass bottles and jars, flat glass, other glass—4.9% Metals—Aluminum cans, other aluminum, HVACs ducting, tin cans, other ferrous metals, other non-ferrous metals, other metals—3.9% Textiles—Carpet, carpet padding, clothing, etc.—6.2% Plastics—#PET containers, #2HDPE clear, and non clear containers, #6 Polystyrene packaging, all #3-#7 plastics, including, other rigid plastics, grocery bags, trash bags, commercial film, other film, other composite plastic—12.5% Organics—Yard waste (compostable and hardwood), food scraps, bottom fines and dirt, diapers, other organic waste—29% Construction & Demolition—Clean dimensional lumber, clean engineered wood, wood pallets, painted wood, treated wood, con-crete, reinforced concrete, asphalt, rock, bricks, painted and unpainted gypsum board, housing shingles, roofing materials, ceramics, porcelain, etc.—12% Paper—Newsprint, high grade office paper, magazines/catalogs, uncoated OCC/Kraft, boxboard, mixed paper (recyclable and com-postable) etc.—29.5%

In 2010, Food Waste was the single

LARGEST COMPONENT

of municipal solid waste to reach landfills

OVER 70% OF ALL WASTE CAN BE

RECYCLED OR REPURPOSED

TRANSPARENCY

CHICAGO IS THE LEAST TRANSPARENT MAJOR CITY

IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING.

The only easily accessible data available is

from a 2009/2010 EPA statistical analysis of

Chicago’s waste system.

In the Sustainable Chicago Action Agenda,

Chicago makes claims that we have a cur-

rent recycling rate of 45%. Yet, they only

took statistical data from industry, and

any homes that the city of Chicago is

“responsible for”

The city of Chicago states that buildings of 4 or

less homes are of their concern, and any mu-

nicipalities of a greater amount of households

is the landlord’s issue to supply recycling ser-

vices.

I BELIEVE CHICAGO’S STATISTICS ARE DECEPTIVE AND NONTRANSPARENT

PLAN: Be truthful, and upfront about the statistical data. Give monthly

numbers, and keep people up-to-date with recycling data.

Without numbers being easy to find, and without numbers

continuously reminding us of the progress we have made, we

become unaware, and stop caring about our initiative.

OUR PLAN:

COPY &

REFINE

40%

OF FOOD IN

AMERICA GOES

UNEATEN

33.8 MILLION TONS OF FOOD WAS

WASTED IN 2010 IN THE

U.S.

ALL OF THIS WASTED FOOD COULD

BE COMPOSTED, AND USED TO

REPLENISH THE FARMING LAND OF

THE NECESSARY NUTRIENTS & MINER-

ALS NEEDED TO GROW CROPS AND

SUSTAIN OUR EVERGROWING FOOD

DEMAND

THE GREENHOUSE GASES PRODUCED FROM THE

ROTTING OF WASTED FOOD GENERATED 140

MILLION METRIC TONS OF CARBON

DIOXIDE, AND 175 MILLION

METRIC TONS OF METHANE.

METHANE HAS A GLOBAL

WARMING EFFECT 21 TIMES THAT OF CARBON DIOXIDE

ABOUT 12 METRIC TONS OF

CO2 IS PRODUCED TO MEET

THE AVERAGE ANNUAL

ENERGY DEMAND OF A TYPI-

CAL AMERICAN HOUSHOLD

PLASTIC OCEANS

192 COUNTRIES BORDER THE ATLANTIC, PACIFIC, AND INDIAN OCEANS, AND THE

MEDITERANIAN AND BLACK SEAS. 2.5 BILLION METRIC TONS OF SOLID WASTE WAS

PRODUCED IN 2010 BY THESE COUNTRIES. AN ESTIMATED 8 MILLION MET-

RIC TONS OF PLASTIC ENTERED THESE MAJOR BODIES OF WATER IN THAT SAME YEAR

EVEN THOUGH CHICAGO IS NOT NEAR

ONE OF THESE MAJOR BODIES OF WATER,

IT GOES TO SHOW THE COMPLETE MIS-

MANAGEMENT OF THE CURRENT WASTE

SYSTEM WORLDWIDE. ONLY 5% OF PLASTIC

WATER BOTTLES ARE

RECYCLED IN THE

CHICAGOLAND AREA.

IT TAKES 450 YEARS FOR PLASTIC BOTTLES TO BIODEGRADE

Annually, the plastic bottles produced,

that ended up in landfills, if lined up

from end to end, would circle the earth

4 TIMES

THE RECYCLING OF PLASTIC IS CONFUSING, AND A

LABOR STRICKEN PROCESS FOR ALL PARTIES IN-

VOLVED. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF

PLASTIC. AND ONE KIND OF PLASTIC CANNOT BE

RECYCLED WITH ANY OTHER KINDS OF PLASTIC,

WHICH MAKES THIS PROCESS MORE DIFFICULT, AND

ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGING.

THE GOLD

STANDARD

Why is Sweden the leader in waste diversion? Not

only do they divert almost all of their own waste

from landfills, but they import a considerable amount

of waste. What are they doing differently?

950,000 HOMES ARE

HEATED USING TRASH

ANOTHER 260,000 HOMES ARE SUPPLIED

ELECTRICITY FROM INCINERATED WASTE

There is a problem, not only in Sweden, but in Germany, Denmark and many other

European countries. That problem is, they are running out of trash to help power

and heat homes. Therefore, Sweden has been importing trash. In fact,

800,000 tons every year to help meet energy demands.

START

Sweden has the

most efficient waste

diversion system in

the world. Their

system should be

copied world-wide.

There are ways to

make the system

more efficient, but

the ultimate goal of

zero-waste ultimately

relies on our ability

to emulate Sweden

ZERO WASTE

Sweden is the gold standard for waste diversion. They recycle 47% of all waste,

incinerate 52% of waste. This means 1% of waste ends up in landfills. Sweden im-

ports 800,000 tons of trash every year.

Norway is RUNNING OUT OF TRASH. They incinerate a considerable amount of

trash for power production

The cities in the U.S. that have an incredibly high diversion rate use these same

tactics. The recycling rate is only about 35-40%. The rest is composted or inciner-

ated for power.

Chicago is the least transparent when it comes to recycling rates. The Chicago Recycling

Coalition states that it is extremely difficult to find any waste information for Chicago

GOAL:

A Scripps study,

performed at UC

San Diego, showed

that 9.2% of all mid-

water fish studied

1000 miles off the

coast of California

contained some

form of plastic in

their stomachs. As

explained in the

study, this figure is

too low, because

it did not take into

account for the fish

that had died from

plastic ingestion, nor

did it account for

any fish that had

already completely

digested the plastic.

www.abc.net.au

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/the-new-plastics-economy-rethinking-the-future-of-plastics-infographics

WHY THE

CONFUSION?

The confusion is caused by the numerous amounts of plastic that are available on

the open market. The different numerical values are used by the recycling man-

agement system to separate the different kinds of plastic from one another. This

is a tedious system, and mistakes can happen at any given time. When a mistake

is made, and different plastics are melted down for reuse, the entire batch of

melted down plastic is then ruined.

There is something utterly deceptive

about this simplistic value for the

“other” plastic. This “other” plastic has

to be further separated, and has the

exact same recycling issues as the first 6.

These are just a few of the major issue with the recycling system. Most people

don’t know that there are multiple types of plastic being used by each container

you purchase. Water bottles contain both PETE, and HDPE. The PETE is the con-

tainer itself, and the HDPE is the cap, and the locking mechanism used for the cap.

Also plastic bags are virtually impossible to recycle. Recycling plastic bags is

economically impossible due to the fact that it costs $4000 to recycle 1 ton of

plastic bags and it only sells for $32 per ton.

OU

R G

OA

L OU

R P

LAN

This infographic shows that we really don’t have a true understanding of what we

can recycle. Also, when we don’t know what is recyclable, we don’t take the

time to look it up before throwing it in the garbage bin.

Our biggest issue is lack of knowledge, and lack

of information. Also, most people do not have a

true understanding of the benefits of recycling.

We have to make a concerted

effort to not only inform

ourselves, but to inform future

generations on the importance

of recycling and repurposing.

http://www.upworthy.com/here-are-the-top-5-reasons-people-do-and-dont-recycle

THESE ARE THE TIPICAL BOTTLES THAT YOU WILL SEE IN EVERY

CONVENIENT STORE. THE BLUE TOP IS USUALLY MADE OF HDPE, WHILE

THE BOTTLE ITSELF IS MADE OF PETE. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO

REMOVE THE LOCKING MECHANISM (WHICH IS MADE OF HDPE) FROM

THE BOTTLE. IF THE TWO DIFFERENT PLASTICS ARE NOT SEPARATED,

THE PLASTIC WHEN MELTED DOWN WILL LOOK DISCOLORED, AND THE

POLYMER STRUCTURE IS THEN RUINED. TO SUM IT UP, THIS RUINS ANY

PLASTIC THAT IS MIXED. THIS PROCESS IS DONE BY HUMAN WORKERS,

THEREFORE THE SORTING PROCESS HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE, AND

A LOW EFFICIENCY.

NEARLY

OF GLASS ENDED UP IN LANDFILLS

LAST YEAR IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO

100% RECYCLABLE, AND CAN BE

RECYCLED

USING RECYCLED GLASS RATHER THAN NEW PRODUCES

AND

less AIR

less WATER

GLASS IS

RECYCLING 1000 TONS OF GLASS

CREATES ROUGHLY 8 JOBS.

IN CHICAGO ALONE, THIS

WOULD HAVE CREATED

3008 TOTAL JOBS THERE ARE MORE THAN 5000 PEOPLE

LIVING ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO

DUE TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. WE

COULD THEORETICALLY SOLVE THIS

ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR 60% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION

The largest contributor to weak

recycling statistics is that a recycling

plant isn’t easily accessible. This is

huge in multi-residential buildings.

The city of Chicago is extremely

poor when it comes to recycling

rates, and statistical information is

difficult to find.

NATION-WIDE STATISTICS

The recycling rate for Chicago’s Blue Cart Program was 10.23% in 2015. This only

accounts for buildings of 4 separate housing units or less. According to the nation-

wide statistics, if we use the same ratio, then buildings of 5 housing units or more

would have a recycling rate of about 4%.

http://www.upworthy.com/here-are-the-top-5-reasons-people-do-and-dont-recycle

WHAT IS

THE ROOT

CAUSE?

There is a huge correlation between education, age, and location to recycling hab-

its. Even so, the fact that the highest rate of recycling is college graduates, AND a

little bit less than 3 in every 5 recycle daily, is worrisome.

Another surprising fact is that people understand the benefits of recycling. A much

higher percentage of people understand that there are positives to the recycling

process, yet many of us do not make the effort to recycle. Why is that?

http://www.upworthy.com/here-are-the-top-5-reasons-people-do-and-dont-recycle

http://www.upworthy.com/here-are-the-top-5-reasons-people-do-and-dont-recycle

THE AMOUNT OF METAL THAT ENDED UP IN CHICAGO LANDFILLS LAST YEAR

ABOUT 25% OF THAT METAL

WAS FROM ALUMINUM CANS

OR

75,000 TONS

THIS INFOGRAPHIC SHOWS THAT

THE RECYCLING AND CONSERVA-

TION OF ALUMINUM IS AN ISSUE

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

ALUMINUM IS 100% RECYCLABLE

AND HAS NO LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT

OF TIMES THAT IT CAN BE RECYCLED

http://infographiclist.com/2013/10/27/the-power-of-aluminum-infographic/

WHAT IS IN OUR

ELECTRONIC

WASTE?

LAST YEAR, OVER 84,000 TONS OF

ELECTRONICS ENDED UP IN LANDFILLS. THIS

REPRESENTS JUST 1.1% OF ALL WASTE, YET

ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF ALL TOXIC WASTE.

BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS

ARE USED IN CIRCUIT BOARDS AND

PLASTIC CASTINGS. THESE DO NOT

BIODEGRADE EASILY AND BUILD UP

IN THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CATHODE RAY TUBES USED

IN MONITORS AND TELEVISION SETS

SOLD WORLDWIDE CONTAIN TENS

OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF LEAD.

CADMIUM

USED IN RECHARGEABLE COMPUTER BATTERIES, CONTACTS AND SWITCHES. CADMIUM CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND IS

HIGHLY TOXIC

MERCURY, USED IN LIGHTING

DEVICES AND FLAT-SCREEN

DISPLAYS, EVENTUALLY WILL MAKE

ITS’ WAY INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY

HEXAVALETN CHROMIUM,

USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF

METAL HOUSINGS ARE HIGHLY

TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC TO

LIVING ORGANISMS POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) IS A PLASTIC

USED IN SOME ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS AND FOR

INSULATION ON WIRES AND CABLES.

CHLORINATED DIOXINS AND FURANS ARE

RELEASED WHEN PVC IS PRODUCED OR DISPOSED

OF BY INCINERATION. THESE CHEMICALS ARE

HIGHLY PERSISTENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT

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WH

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YCLE?

HOW ARE WE AFFECTING OURSELVES?

THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT TOXIC CHEMICALS SUCH AS LEAD, CADMIUM, CHROMIUM, BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS, AND A NUMBER OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS CAN ENTER THE HUMAN BODY. DIRECT EXPOSURE, INHALATION OF TOXIC FUMES, AND ACCUMULATION OF THESE CHEMICALS IN SOIL, WATER AND FOOD

Exposure to these toxic elements has significant health consequences. Some prevalent health im-pacts of electronic waste exposure include:

Alterations in the function of the thyroid

Lung function can be affected from exposure to chromium, manganese, and nickel

Adverse birth outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and congenital malfor-mations)

Height and weight are significantly lower in e-waste exposed populations

Behavioral alterations

Alterations in cellular levels and function, including DNA damage

PCB, and PBDE exposure can cause an in-creased risk of certain cancers of the digestive tract, liver and skin. Can also cause reproduc-

tive deficiencies, reduced growth rates, re-tarded development, and other neurological defects. Can also have adverse effects on the immune system.

Lead and cadmium exposure may alter bone development, and increase the risk of osteo-porosis later in life.

Environmental and occupational exposure to mercury has been associated with nephrotoxi-city and neurological, cardiovascular, and immune system alterations.

Significantly higher levels of lead were found in the blood and placenta of residents who live in an e-waste recycling town in compari-son to non-exposed populations.

Yet, for some reason, we have had little to no regu-lation by government bodies, when it comes to e-waste. Even worse, we do very little to educate ourselves on the adverse effects of the way we dispose our old electronics

https://thesaneage.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/circuits-of-misery-problem-of-electronic-waste-disposal/

JUST IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE, IN 2010, WE THREW AWAY 135 MILLION CELL PHONES, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR:

2680 LBS. OF PALLADIUM

7150 LBS. OF GOLD

74500 LBS. OF SILVER

2,680,000 LBS. OF COPPER

THIS IS EQUAL TO

$173 MILLION IN PRECIOUS METALS FROM CELL PHONE WASTE ANNUALLY.

For every 10,000 tons

of solid waste going to

landfills, just 1 job is created

FOR THAT SAME AMOUNT OF WASTE BEING KEPT

OUT OF LANDFILLS, 10 RECYCLING JOBS, OR 75

MATERIALS REUSE JOBS CAN BE CREATED

All according to the U.S. EPA Using these statistics, the city of Chicago could realistically create a total of anywhere from

5,000 to 35,000 new jobs.

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681368/visualizing-the-worlds-e-waste-problem