Grassroonts Recycling Grassroonts Recycling NetworkNetwork

National Recycling and Zero National Recycling and Zero Waste ConferenceWaste Conference

Devens Massachusetts• October 2009

by Peter Anderson, Executive DirectorCenter for a Competitive Waste Industry

The Next StepThe Next Step

GLASS6.0%

METALS7.1%

PLASTICS16.3%

ORGANICS66.3%

OTHER4.3%

All Materials

Paper38.1%

Food25.8%

Yard11.0%

Other25.1%

Organics Only

Disposed of in the U.S. After Recycling - 2005

Muncipal Solid Waste Composition

Source: EPA, MSW Generation, Recycling & Disposal in the U.S..: 2005

20%

35%

50%

75%

Base Recycle

Yard Trimmings

Extra Recycle

All Organics

Path to Zero Waste

Food31%Paper*

23%

P&D16% Lumber

15%

Textiles11%

Other 5%

(other than yard trimmings and recycled paper)

Residential Organic Discards

* Paper excludes portion recycled

Different Collection Strategies for Separate Collection of Source Separated Organics

Material Streams CollectionFrequency

I Wet (Garbage except forrecyclables)

*Dry(Recyclables)

Weekly

II Rubbish Recyc lables O rganics** Weekly

III

Rubbish Biweekly

Recyc lables O rganics** Weekly

IV

Rubbish Recyc lables Biweekly

O rganics** Weekly

V Rubbish Recyc lables O rganics** Biweekly

Collection Collection StrategiesStrategies

Collection Collection Strengths and Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

Coll Costs Habits Proc Costs Net Costs0

1

2

3

4

5

Collection Strategies I II III IV V

Strategies by Critical CriteriaRanking Among Different Collection

Collection Collection ContainersContainers

MAJOR GROUPS OF ORGANICPROCESSING SYSTEMS

Aerobic Anaerobic

Windrows In-Vessel Digesters

Open turned piles Static aerated piles Covered -Pod Covered - Fabric

Shipping conta iner Silo Tunnel Channel Rotating drum

Sewage plant digesters Wet digesters Dry digesters

Different Types of Different Types of ProcessingProcessing

Ag Bag Ag Bag CompostingComposting

at Jepsen Prairieat Jepsen Prairie

Windrows In-Vessel Digesters

Cost ComplexityCapability

Impact of Greater Impact of Greater TechnologyTechnology

($0.32)

$0.00 $0.19

($0.13)

($2.31)

$3.75

$0.76

$2.20

ProcessingAvoided Collection

Avoided LF & GHGNet

Incrememtal

Quantum-Mon

Organics from LandfillsNet Costs of Diverting

(Excluding the costs to collect separated organics)

Contact InformationContact Information

Peter AndersonCenter for a Competitive Waste

Industry313 Price Place ∙ Suite 14Madison, WI 53705-4964

(608) 231-1100Fax (608) 233-0011Cell (608) 444-2817

Toll Free (800) 449-1010anderson@competitivewaste.org