A Win-Win for the Environment and the Economy: A History of and Update on Recycling in Florida and the U.S.

Florida Keys GLEE Green Living Expo

May 10, 2008

By Phil BreseeChair, Recycle Florida Today, Inc.http://www.recyclefloridatoday.org/

About Recycle Florida Today, Inc. (RFT) Non-profit 501(c)(6) organization founded in 1991. RFT promotes resource conservation and environmental

stewardship in Florida through sustainable waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting and legislative advocacy (includes support for Recycling Innovative Grants Programs and the Recycling Grants to small Florida counties).

Current membership of 325+ includes: Local and state government. Businesses and industry (recycling processors, end-users,

consultants, firms with commitment to environmental issues, etc.).

Institutions such as colleges and universities. Non-profit organizations.

Annual conference and annual winter issues forum.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Generation and Management in the United States MSW = Regular household and

commercial garbage. Does not include industrial wastes, mining wastes, medical wastes, etc.

US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) estimates that 245.7 million tons of MSW were generated in 2005.

MSW managed through: Landfilling = 133.3 million tons. Combustion / Waste to Energy =

33.4 million tons. Recycling / Recovery = 79 million

tons.

MSW Management in US - 2005

14%

32%

54%

Landfilling Combust/WTE Recycling

MSW Generation and Management in Florida - 2005

Florida generated 36.7 million tons of MSW in 2005.

MSW managed through: Landfilling = 23.7 million

tons. Recycling / Recovery = 9.2

million tons. Combustion / WTE = 3.8

million tons.

MSW Management in Florida - 2005

11%

25%

64%

Landfilling Combust/WTE Recycling

Source: Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection

MSW Generation and Management in South Florida - 2005

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Miami-Dade Broward Monroe

MSW Management in S. Florida - 2005

Landfilled Combusted Recycled

S. Florida MSW generation total of nearly 8.2 million tons in 2005 – up 22% from 2001.

Amount of MSW recycled decreased from 22% to 20%.

MSW Management in S. Florida - 2005

19%

20%

61%

Landfilling Combust/WTE Recycling

Sources: Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection

MSW Generation Trends in Florida and South Florida

Florida MSW Generation vs. Population Growth: 2001-2005

0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

40,000,000

MSW Generation Population

S. Florida MSW Generation vs. Population Growth: 2001-2005

01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,000

5,000,0006,000,0007,000,0008,000,0009,000,000

MSW Generation Population

MSW per capita generation rates rose 20% statewide and 16% in South Florida from 2001-2005.

Data Source: Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection.

MSW Generation Trends in Florida and South Florida

What’s behind the recent increases in MSW generation? Florida’s MSW reporting methodology. Construction and demolition debris, or “C & D”, is

major component - and less frequently recycled - of Florida and S. Florida’s MSW stream (many states do not count C & D as solid waste).

Hyper-active hurricane seasons in 2004-05. It’s the economy, stupid.

MSW generation trends frequently mirror overall economic trends.

Manufactured wastes and packaging represent 75% of total MSW.

C & D increased as part of State’s building boom in early to mid 2000’s (up 87% in S. Florida from 2001-2005).

Tourism-driven economy.

How Should MSW be Managed? US EPA developed solid waste

management hierarchy. Source, or waste reduction means

minimizing or not creating waste in the first place. Source reduction can be accomplished through: Manufacturing efficiencies and

improved product design. Less product packaging. Less product toxicity. Using reusable products vs.

disposable products. Recycling is preferred way to

manage materials once they have served their purpose.

Illustration courtesy of US EPA.

What are Recycling’s Benefits?Environmental Benefits: Conservation of natural

resources including, timber, water, petroleum, mineral ores.

Reduced energy consumption. Recycling prevents pollution

caused by manufacturing from virgin resources.

Reduces our reliance on waste to energy facilities and landfills.

Economic Benefits: Recycling can be a more cost-

effective way to handle many solid wastes.

Is value-added, creating jobs and providing raw materials for industry.

Environmental Benefits of Recycling & Waste Reduction

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted during raw materials’ life-cycles, which include extraction, manufacturing and disposal. Recycling and waste reduction can be effective tools for reducing GHG by:

Reducing / eliminating emissions from raw materials extraction.

Reducing emissions from energy consumption during manufacturing.

Reducing emissions from incinerators and WTE plants.

Reducing methane emissions from landfills.

Increases carbon sequestration (paper recycling). Illustration courtesy of US EPA

Environmental Benefits of Recycling & Waste Reduction (cont.) EPA has developed modeling that allows communities to calculate GHG reduction benefits of recycling.

Based on Nationwide recycling rate of 32% of MSW in 2005, estimated benefits were: Avoided GHG emissions of 183

million metric tons of CO2e which is equivalent to emissions from: 930,000 railcars of coal burned, or Annual electricity usage by about 23.5

million households. Energy conservation benefits equal to:

Removing 17 million cars from the road for 1 year.

Saving the use of 240 million barrels of oil.

Recycling 500 Tons Of…

= GHG Reduction Of…

Equal to Removing # of

Cars from Road for 1 Year

Paper 339 MTCE 259 cars

Aluminum 2,055 MTCE 1,569 cars

Glass 38 MTCE 29 cars

HDPE 192 MTCE 147 cars

Corrugated cardboard

354 MTCE 270 cars

Source: US EPA WasteWise Update, Global Warming is a Waste!Sources: US EPA; B. Dorn, RW Beck

Economic Benefits of Recycling According to 2001 economic study by US EPA

and National Recycling Coalition, US recycling and reuse industry accounted for: $236 billion in annual revenues. 56,000+ recycling & reuse establishments. Employment of 1.1 million with annual payroll

of $37 billion. Similar study conducted for Florida

determined: $4.4 billion in annual revenues. 3,700 recycling and reuse establishments. Employment base of 32,000 with payroll of

$765 million. Recyclables are commodities and end-

markets for them are at an all-time high.

Illustration courtesy of US EPA.

Economic Benefits of Recycling (cont.) Recycling can also be most cost-effective way to

manage many wastes. Corporate retail giants like Target have long since

recognized value of recycling. According to Target, revenues from sale of cardboard recycled through their stores exceeds the costs of managing their solid waste.

Broward County Public Schools saves $830,000 per year through recycling through avoided disposal costs.

Broward County has averaged more than $5 million annually in recycling rebates back to partner cities during the past few years.

A Brief History of Recycling in Florida Solid Waste Management Act of

1988 established that all counties reduce MSW stream (by weight) by 30% by 1994.

Act also established “minimum 4” 50% recycling goal for: Aluminum cans Glass bottles Plastic bottles Newspaper

Recycling & Education Grants funded through SWM Trust Fund $15-20 million annually

distributed to all counties based on population.

Requires counties must report MSW and recycling information to FDEP on annual basis.

Act amended several times since initial passage: In 1996 30% goal amended to

apply only to counties over 75,000.

Innovative Grants established in 1997 (replaced R&E Grants); annual totals range from $750K to $4.1 million - Legislature makes decisions.

Goals modified in 2002 including “significant portion” of any 4 materials including aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, newspaper, steel cans, cardboard, office paper & yard trash.

30% goal applies to counties with more than 100,000.

History of Recycling in Florida (cont.) Florida was early leader in recycling

with dedicated funding established by 1988 SWMA.

By 2001 Florida’s Dept. of Environmental Protection estimated that curbside recycling programs were available to 75% of State’s single-family homes.

DEP also estimated that about 70% of State’s multi-family properties had access to on-site recycling services.

Recycling drop-off sites offered in many smaller / rural counties.

Florida one of pioneering states in establishing electronics recycling programs.

Many Florida schools and institutions developed recycling programs.

History of Recycling in Florida: What Happened? As statistics illustrate, overall MSW generation is

up, MSW disposal is up, and recycling has either plateaued or decreased in Florida.

In many instances, recycling fell off of collective radar screens of policy makers, local governments, media and citizens.

Future of Recycling: It’s Bright! Driven in part by increasing

focus on global climate change and soaring energy prices, the future is bright for recycling. Recycling has become a recognized tool in battle to reduce emissions.

Governor’s 2007 Executive Orders.

Increased Legislative activity, including HB 7135 (Energy Bill) establishes 75% waste reduction goal by 2020.

Bills Addressing “Recycling”

Session Senate House

2008 18 13

2007 15 10

2006 7 9

Future of Recycling (cont.) Recycling life-cycle studies are

key part of US Senate’s Climate Security Act (Carper Amendment).

U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement identifies recycling as action signatories should take. U.S. communities beginning to identify – and quantify - recycling and waste reduction activities as part of their GHG reduction strategies. Seventy-two Florida cities have signed, including all local governments in Monroe County.

Map of cities who have signed on to US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (852 as of 5/6/2008):

Future of Recycling (cont.) Approaches to solid waste

and recycling once considered new-age now going conventional: Single-stream recycling Pay-as-You-Throw Zero-Waste goals.

Solid waste management is no longer just downstream materials management of a liability…

Conclusions Recycling is a demonstrated

environmental protection success story with environmental and economic benefits.

Is a “low-hanging fruit” for cities and counties to use to help reduce their carbon footprints.

Many environmental goals can seem abstract. However, recycling allows for hands-on and visible opportunity for citizens and businesses to help their environment.

Recycling is also seen as a “gateway” to other positive environmental behaviors.