Thursday, June 12, 2008

USA- Climate report advocates zero waste concept

Stop Trashing the Climate - published by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and Eco-Cycleprovides - claims that preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting programs - that is, aiming for zero waste - is one of the fastest, cheapest, and most effective strategies available for combating climate change. This report offers a roadmap for how to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within a short period.

Significantly decreasing waste disposed in landfills and incinerators will reduce greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent to closing 21% of U. S. coal-fired power plants. This is comparable to leading climate protection proposals such as improving national vehicle fuel efficiency. Indeed, preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting are essential to put us on the path to climate stability.


The report advocates 12 measures:

1. Establish and implement national, statewide, and municipal zero waste targets and plans
2. Retire existing incinerators and halt construction of new incinerators and landfills
3. Levy a per-ton surcharge on landfilled and incinerated materials
4. Stop organic materials from being sent to landfills and incinerators
5. End state and federal "renewable energy" subsidies to landfills and incinerators
6. Provide policy incentives that create and sustain locally-based reuse, recycling, and composting jobs
7. Expand adoption of per-volume or per-weight fees for the collection of trash
8. Make manufacturers and brand owners responsible for the products and packaging they produce
9. Regulate single-use plastic products and packaging that have low or nonexistent recycling levels
10. Regulate paper packaging and junk mail and pass policies to significantly increase paper recycling
11. Decision-makers and environmental leaders should reject climate protection agreements and strategies that embrace landfill and incinerator disposal
12. Better assess the true climate implications of the wasting sector



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2 comments:

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