GLOBAL WARMING...IS A WASTE!GLOBAL WARMING...IS A WASTE!

WasteWise Update

INSIDE

WASTEWISE:CHANGING WITHTHE CLIMATE . . 2

THE CLIMATE-WASTECONNECTION . . 4

SOLUTIONS:CORPORATE,COMMUNITY, ANDSTATE ACTIONS . . 7

CALCULATING THECOOLING EFFECTSOF WASTEREDUCTION . . 10

THE WASTEWISECLIMATE CHANGEINITIATIVE: A NEWCAMPAIGN TO HELPPARTNERS . . 13

EPA PUBLICATIONS . . 15

The mention of any company, product, or process in this publication does not constitute or imply endorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

WasteWise Update 2

WasteWise: Changing withthe Climate

Many WasteWise partners are already achieving substantial waste reductions

throughout their entire operations and are moving beyond waste prevention

and recycling towards reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other global

sustainability efforts.

To better serve partners and offer a more cutting-

edge program, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) is upgrading its

efforts to incorporate climate change educa-

tion and technical assistance throughout

the WasteWise program. Today, more and

more organizations are interested in the

global environmental impacts of our col-

lective actions and in opportunities for

reducing our ecological footprint in ways

that boost our economy.

3 WasteWise Update

As part of that nationwide effort,WasteWise has committed to launching anational education campaign on the linkbetween climate change and waste andserving as a vehicle for partners toenhance, measure, and obtain recognitionfor their proactive achievements. Toaccomplish these goals, WasteWise willpublicize the climate and waste messagethrough publications and events and pro-vide tools, technical assistance, and volun-tary incentives to help partners apply newtechnologies and the power of the market-place to achieve GHG reductions.

As a first step in helping your organiza-tion understand and utilize the climatemessage, this WasteWise Update exploresthe connection between solid waste andclimate change, describes waste-related cli-mate impacts, identifies ways to reduceGHG emissions and minimize global cli-mate change, and introduces the newWasteWise Climate Change Initiative andClimate Change Award.

PREVENTING 500 TONS OF... EQUALS A REDUCTION OF...WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT

TO REMOVING THIS MANY CARS FROM

THE ROAD FOR ONE YEAR

402 MTCE

1,247 MTCE

68 MTCE

244 MTCE

257 MTCE

307 cars

952 cars

52 cars

186 cars

196 cars

RECYCLING 500 TONS OF... EQUALS A REDUCTION OF...WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT

TO REMOVING THIS MANY CARS FROM

THE ROAD FOR ONE YEAR

339 MTCE

2,055 MTCE

38 MTCE

192 MTCE

354 MTCE

259 cars

1,569 cars

29 cars

147 cars

270 cars

Simple Actions, Real Results

Waste reduction can significantly reduce GHG emissions. Each individual action—from double-sided printing to recycling asoda can—contributes to real GHG reductions. The chart below demonstrates the cumulative results of reusing or recyclingeveryday materials.

*For an explanation of the values for aluminum and corrugated cardboard, please see “WARM Calculations” on page 11.

BTU - British Thermal Unit

CH4 - Methane

CCP - Cities for ClimateProtection

CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

DOE- U.S. Department ofEnergy

EPA - U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency

HDPE - High DensityPolyethylene

GHG - Greenhouse Gas

ICLEI - International Councilfor Local EnvironmentalInitiatives

WARM - Waste ReductionModel

LDPE - Low DensityPolyethylene

LMOP - Landfill MethaneOutreach Program

MSW - Municipal Solid Waste

MTCE - Metric Tons of CarbonEquivalent

MTCO2E - Metric Tons ofCarbon Dioxide Equivalent

NAS - National Academy ofSciences

NCEPI - National Center forEnvironmental Publications &Information

N2O - Nitrous Oxide

PAYT - Pay-As-You-Throw

PET - PolyethyleneTerephthalate

RCRA - Resource Conservationand Recovery Act

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Paper

Aluminum*

Glass

HDPE

Corrugated cardboard*

Paper

Aluminum*

Glass

HDPE

Corrugated cardboard*

WasteWise Update 4

The Changing ClimateAccording to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS),

the federal government’s scientific advisory society, GHGsare accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of humanactivities, causing global mean surface air temperature andsubsurface ocean temperature to rise. Rising global tempera-tures are expected to raise sea levels and change precipitationand other local climate conditions. Changing regional cli-mate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. Itcould also affect human health, animals, and many types ofecosystems. Deserts might expand into existing rangelands,and features of some of our National Parks might be perma-nently altered. Most of the United States is expected towarm, although sulfates might limit warming in some areas.Scientists currently are unable to determine which parts ofthe United States will become wetter or drier, but there islikely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitationand evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.Unfortunately, many of the potentially most importantimpacts depend upon whether rainfall increases or decreases,which cannot be reliably projected for specific areas.

NAS also found new and stronger evidence that most ofthe warming during the last 50 years is attributable tohuman activities that have altered the chemical compositionof the atmosphere through the buildup of GHGs, primarilycarbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide(N2O). CO2 is released to the atmosphere by the burning offossil fuels, wood and wood products, and solid waste. CH4is emitted from the decomposition of organic wastes inlandfills, the raising of livestock, and the production andtransport of coal, natural gas, and oil. N2O is emitted dur-ing agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during

The Climate-WasteConnection

Lots of people know that waste reduction is good for the environment and can also help

an organization’s bottom line. What many people do not realize is that solid waste pre-

vention and recycling also help reduce climate change impacts. Creating less waste

decreases the amount of heat-trapping GHG emissions linked to everyday trash. This

introduction explains the science behind the greenhouse effect and global climate

change, illustrates the connection between solid waste and climate change, and explains how your

waste prevention and recycling programs can help reduce climate change.

Learn More!

Interested in learning more about the connectionbetween climate change and solid waste? Want tosee what organizations are doing to mitigate theeffects of solid waste management on the Earth’s climate? Watch WWhhyy ““WWaassttee”” aa CCooooll PPllaanneett:: MMSSWWSSoolluuttiioonnss ttoo GGlloobbaall CClliimmaattee CChhaannggee!!

This two-hour satellite forum video explores globalclimate change by focusing on the role municipalsolid waste (MSW) management plays in this phe-nomenon.

Other EPA-sponsored satellite forum videos include:

• Buying Recycled: The Real Story About Cost,Availability, and Quality

• Communities: Setting Trends in Waste Preventionand Recycling

• Solid Waste Gets a Higher Education: A Collegeand University Waste Reduction Satellite Forum

• Waste Prevention Pays: Businesses Cut Costs byCutting Waste

To order a free copy of any of these videos, call theWasteWise Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473) ore-mail .

mailto:ww@cais.net

5 WasteWise Update

combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. In 1997, theUnited States emitted about one-fifth of total globalGHGs.

1

Climate change poses real risks. The exact nature of theserisks remains uncertain. Ultimately, this is why we have touse our best judgement—guided by the current state of sci-ence—to determine what the most appropriate response toclimate change should be. Fortunately, many of the activitiesthat can be taken to mitigate climate change, such as reduc-ing waste, increasing energy efficiency, or conserving forests,are beneficial for other reasons.

From MSW to GHGsEvery stage of a product’s life cycle—extraction, manufac-

turing, distribution, use, and disposal—indirectly or directlycontributes to the concentration of GHGs in the atmos-phere and affects global climate. At most stages, the energyexpended during the transport and production processes isthe main source of GHG emissions. Disposing of organicmaterials like food, paper, and yard waste in landfills canalso lead to CH4 emissions from decomposition. In addi-tion, cutting down trees to extract wood or other raw mate-rials decreases carbon storage, the ability of plants to absorb

and store carbon from CO2.

Whether you are the manufacturer or user of a product,you can analyze the entire product life cycle to determinewhere your organization can make changes, such as prevent-ing waste, recycling, or buying or manufacturing recycled-content products, to reduce its impact.

For manufacturers, life cycle analysis might uncoveropportunities for producing goods using less material, whichmeans that less energy is needed for extracting, transporting,and processing raw materials and for transporting end prod-ucts. Manufacturing goods from recycled materials is alsobeneficial because it typically requires less energy than pro-ducing goods from virgin materials. If energy demanddecreases, so does the burning of fossil fuels and the emis-sion of GHGs to the atmosphere. At the same time, energyand raw materials savings usually produce cost savings.

To produce high-grade office paper, for example, a papermanufacturer uses gasoline-powered machinery to cut downtrees (which store carbon), diesel trucks to carry the lumberto the paper mill, fossil fuels or wood products to power themill, and more diesel trucks to distribute the product tocustomers. By increasing the amount of recycled-content inthe paper, the manufacturer can eliminate GHG emissions

INSIDE THE GREENHOUSE

Understanding the atmospheric phenomenon knownas the greenhouse effect is critical to understandingglobal climate change. The atmosphere that sur-rounds the Earth contains many types of gases,including those known as “greenhouse gases”—water vapor, CO2, CH4, and N2O. GHGs regulatethe Earth’s climate by absorbing and holding heatfrom the sun in an atmospheric blanket around theplanet’s surface.

In the first step of the process, shortwave energy fromthe sun, or solar radiation, passes through theatmosphere. Most of the radiation is absorbed by theEarth’s surface and serves the life-sustaining func-tions of heating the ground, melting ice and snow,evaporating water, and powering plant photosynthe-sis. Some of the energy, however, reflects off theEarth’s surface back into space in the form of long-wave, or infrared, radiation. Atmospheric GHGs trapsome of the outgoing energy, retaining heat some-what like the glass panels of a greenhouse. For moreinformation on how the greenhouse effect works, visit

on EPA’s Global Warming Site.

1 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2000, U.S. EPA, Office of Atmospheric Programs, April 2002. EPA236-R-02-003.

http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/index.html

WasteWise Update 6

associated with extraction and transport of wood needed tomake the paper. The manufacturer can similarly reduceemissions by improving resource efficiency in its productionprocess to make the same amount of paper with less rawmaterial.

A product user also has many opportunities to reducewaste. If an organization is a buyer of high-grade paper itcan practice waste reduction techniques like purchasingrecycled-content paper or instituting a double-sided copyingpolicy. Purchasing recycled-content paper would eliminatethe extraction and transport of some of the raw materialsneeded to make the paper, and double-sided copying wouldhalf the amount of paper used along with its associated energy consumption.

Overall, waste reduction has significant potential fordecreasing GHG emissions. EPA estimates that simplyincreasing our national recycling rate from its current levelof 30 percent to 35 percent would reduce GHG emissionsby another 10 million tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE).That amount is equal to the average annual emissions fromthe electricity consumed by roughly 4.6 million households.By recycling all of its paper, plastic, and corrugated card-board waste generated in one year, an office building of7,000 workers could reduce GHG emissions by 2,287MTCE. This amount is equivalent to taking about 1,677cars off the road that year. If just one household generated 5percent less waste—including newspapers, aluminum, steelcans, and plastic containers—and then recycled whatremained, it could reduce 367 pounds of carbon equivalent.2

Data Made Easy: GHGInventories

The federal government and an increasing numberof states are developing reports known as “GHGInventories.” These inventories provide annual GHGemissions data by sector (e.g., energy, agriculture,waste), source (e.g., transportation emissions,manure management), and gas (e.g., CO2, CH4).The official U.S. government GHG inventory is cur-rently available on the Web at .Thirty-eight states and Puerto Rico have completedinventories in partnership with EPA’s State and LocalOutreach Program, and another two states haveinventories in progress. Summaries of all these inven-tories are available on the Web at.

2 Figures based on 1999 EPA WARM emissions factors.

WASTEWISE PARTNERSREDUCE GREEHOUSE GASES

Across the country, WasteWise partners are reducing,reusing, and recycling waste, and reducing GHGs atthe same time. Highlights include the following:

By Preventing

The SSeeyyddeell CCoommppaanniieess, Georgia-based chemicalmanufacturers, work hard to prevent plastic waste.Through packaging waste reductions and changes totheir manufacturing processes, Seydel prevented thedisposal of 813 tons of high density polyethylene(HDPE), reducing GHG emissions by approximately400 MTCE.

By Recycling

In 2001, the PPuubblliicc SSeerrvviiccee EEnntteerrpprriissee GGrroouupp ((PPSSEEGG)),a utility company based in Newark, New Jersey, used31,000 tons of coal combustion by-products, such asfly ash, as a replacement for virgin materials. PSEGused these by-products as Portland cement replace-ments, roofing-shingle manufactured components,blasting grits, and surface abrasives. The manufactureof each ton of Portland cement with coal fly ash pre-vented approximately 1 ton of CO2 from being emit-ted into the atmosphere.

By Educating

To accomplish its waste reduction goals, BBaatttteelllleeMMeemmoorriiaall IInnssttiittuuttee, of Columbus, Ohio, implementeda comprehensive employee education campaign thatincludes an extensive internal Web site, quarterlynewsletters, daily bulletins, promotional signs, andhelpful reference labels. These outreach activitieshave helped Batelle report WasteWise emissionsreductions of 443 MTCE, and its efforts to encourageemployees to reduce waste at home and educateother community members should lead to evengreater GHG reductions.

By Reusing

KKeesssslleerr CCoonnssuullttiinngg,, IInncc.. of Tampa, Florida, maintainsan internal reuse system for folders, standard andlegal size paper, and files and envelopes, encourag-ing employees to reuse office materials rather thanpurchase new ones. In 2000, Kessler reported pre-venting several tons ofmixed paper frombeing sent to thelandfill, where itwould decom-pose and emitGHGs.

http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/emissions/national/index.htmlhttp://yosemite.epa.gov/globalwarming/ghg.nsf/emissions/StateAuthoredInventories

What Are Stakeholders Doing?Many different types of organizations are working to bet-

ter understand and respond to the challenge of climatechange. Actions include increasing energy efficiency, pursu-ing renewable energy sources, decreasing transportationemissions, and conserving forests and planting trees toincrease carbon storage. Many stakeholders are also explor-ing ways to mitigate climate change by reducing waste, andthey are finding that their efforts pay multiple dividends.

Large corporations are conducting environmental auditsand product life-cycle assessments to learn how to reduceGHGs through better product design, resource manage-ment, and manufacturing processes. As a result they are dis-covering operational efficiencies, reduced energy costs, andincreased market share—all things that contribute to ahealthier bottom line. Small businesses are assessing theimpacts of their waste disposal and purchasing habits andare finding easy ways to simultaneously reduce emissionsand save money.

Cities and states across the country are preparing GHGinventories and developing programs that tackle GHG emis-sions by increasing recycling, capturing landfill gas, and edu-cating community members. The outcome is cleaner air, lesswaste, and new energy sources. Overall, these cities andstates are providing smarter growth, making their communi-ties more attractive and their economies more competitive.

These examples prove that stakeholders can achieveimpressive results when they are given the flexibility andopportunity to explore and implement solutions that fittheir unique needs and capabilities.

Innovative PartnershipsProduce “Win-Win” Results

EPA and other federal agencies support the types of activ-ities mentioned above by engaging stakeholders in voluntarypartnership programs. By providing flexibility, technicalassistance, and recognition, partnership programs leverageinnovation and outstanding environmental performancewhile preserving economic health. In addition toWasteWise, several other partnership programs facilitatewaste-related emissions reductions:

• In communities with Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) pro-grams (also known as unit pricing or variable-rate pricing),residents pay for MSW collection based on the amount theythrow away. Communities with PAYT programs havereported significant increases in recycling and reductions inwaste due primarily to the direct economic incentive to recy-cle more and generate less waste. The City of Gainesville,Florida, a WasteWise partner, saw an 18 percent decrease insolid waste collected and a 25 percent increase in recyclablesrecovered after switching to a PAYT program. AnotherWasteWise partner, the City of Dover, New Hampshire,

7 WasteWise Update

Solutions: Corporate,Community, andState Actions

From boardrooms and factories of major corporations to

state governments and local communities, real action to

reduce climate change is taking place. In many cases,

these actions reflect stakeholders’ decisions to voluntarily

help mitigate the climate change problem. EPA and other

federal agencies champion this approach by engaging businesses, states, and

localities in voluntary “win-win” partnerships that address the challenge of

global climate change while strengthening the economy and improving communities.

reduced total annual residential solid waste by a remarkable65 percent, while simultaneously cutting its annual solidwaste budget from $1.2 million to $878,000. In addition tolowering waste management costs, the increased recyclingand waste prevention activities that PAYT encourages resultsin reduced GHG emissions associated with the manufacture,distribution, use, and subsequent disposal of products. See for more information on the PAYTprogram.

• EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is avoluntary assistance and partnership program that helpsfacilitate and promote the use of landfill gas as a renewableenergy source. Landfill gas emitted from decomposinggarbage is a reliable and renewable fuel option that remainsuntapped at many landfills in the United States, despite itssignificant value. By controlling landfill gas instead of allow-ing it to migrate into the atmosphere where it is a powerfulGHG, LMOP helps businesses, states, and communitiesprotect the environment and build a sustainable future.Participation also leads to cost savings and helps meet energydemand. Several WasteWise partners also participate inLMOP. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) makes land-fill gas a key component, along with solar and wind power,of its Green Power Switch program, which produces electric-ity from cleaner, renewable sources. TVA’s Middle PointLandfill in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, currently produces 2.6megawatts of generating capacity and expects to increase

capacity in the future. Other WasteWise partners that par-ticipate in LMOP include Detroit Edison Company,General Motors, International Truck & Engine, the LosAngeles Department of Water and Power, theMassachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,and Northeast Utilities. See for moreinformation on the LMOP program.

• Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) is a global cam-paign of the International Council for Local EnvironmentalInitiatives (ICLEI). More than 475 local governmentsworldwide participate in the campaign, including more than100 cities and counties in the United States. The CCP cam-paign goal is to reduce GHG emissions from fossil fuelburning and other human activities that contribute to airpollution. Emissions reduction efforts focus on two primaryGHGs—CO2 and CH4. Local governments can play a keyrole because they directly influence and control many of theactivities that produce these emissions, such as burning fossilfuels and managing landfill methane emissions. Local deci-sions regarding land use and development, investments inpublic transit, energy-efficient building codes, waste reduc-tion, and recycling programs affect local air quality and liv-ing standards as well as global climate.

CCP recently initiated a Waste Challenge and Peer MatchProject that promotes innovative waste management projectsthat reduce GHGs. Nine cities, including WasteWise part-ner the City of San Francisco, were selected for this special

WasteWise Update 8

Packaging Changes Decrease GHGs

There is a reason why AAlllleerrggaann,, IInncc.. has been named a WasteWise Large Business Program Champion 3 years in a row. In2000, not only did the pharmaceutical company prevent 760 tons of boxboard waste and 400 MTCE of GHGs, but it incorpo-rated an innovative new waste reduction process into the design of all products.

Allergan performs a full assessment of potential waste during new product development, evaluating the environmental impactof each step in a product’s life cycle. To assess all potential waste, Allergan includes the impact of product packaging in eachproduct’s overall environmental profile. The company also evaluates existing products for opportunities to minimize packaging.During each assessment, Allergan focuses on:

• RReedduucciinngg—Minimizing product packaging by reducing the layers or weight of packaging materials• RReeuussiinngg—Creating reusable packaging• RReeccyycclliinngg—Increasing the recycled content in packaging material and ensuring the packaging itself can be recycled

Mike Whaley, Allergan’s director of environmental health and safety, attributes much of his knowledge about the relationshipbetween MSW and global warming to WasteWise. “Allergan was aware indirectly through various EPA reports and other pub-lished articles that reducing waste also reduces GHGs. The WasteWise estimates of GHG emissions reductions were the firstquantifications we received directly attributable to our actions,” he said.

To reduce GHG emissions through packaging:

• Prevent waste before it is created• Purchase products with the least amount of packaging• Purchase products with packaging containing recycled material• Purchase products that can be recycled or whose packaging can be recycled• Ship and purchase products in bulk to prevent packaging waste

http://www.epa.gov/lmophttp://www.epa.gov/payt

9 WasteWise Update

project and will receive targeted assistance from ICLEI andEPA staff to design, implement, and quantify advancedwaste and GHG reduction projects. The CCP campaign isan excellent opportunity for cities and counties to take prac-tical steps to reduce GHG emissions and generate multiplebenefits for their communities. Other CCP partners that arealso active WasteWise partners include Alachua County,Florida; the City of Chicago, Illinois; the City of Durham,North Carolina (2001 Program Champion); King County,Washington (2001 Program Champion); Los AngelesDepartment of Water and Power (2001 ProgramChampion); the City of Meza, Arizona; and the City of SanDiego, California. See for more infor-mation on ICLEI and the CCP program.

• Climate Leaders is a voluntary EPA-industry partnershipthat encourages partners to develop long-term, comprehen-sive greenhouse gas reduction. Climate Leaders establishGHG reduction goals and report to EPA annually on theirprogress. To set a GHG reduction goal, an organization firstdetermines its GHG emissions using either the Departmentof Energy 1605b Voluntary GHG Emissions ReportingProtocol or the GHG Emissions Inventory Protocol devel-oped by the World Resources Institute and World BusinessCouncil for Sustainable Development. Because each compa-ny has a unique mix of GHG emissions and potential reduc-tion opportunities, each partner might use a slightlydifferent approach to mitigating its greenhouse has emis-sions footprint. All partners report their direct emissionsfrom onsite fuel consumption and waste incineration,process-related emissions, and indirect emissions from elec-tricity use. Additionally, companies can broaden their initia-tives to include optional activities, such as reduction andrecycling, product transports, employee commuting, busi-ness travel, or investments that offset emissions. WasteWisepartners Bethlehem Steel, General Motors, and PSEG arecharter Climate Leaders. For more information about theClimate Leaders program, visit .

In all of the above programs, participants have receivedtargeted technical assistance and the flexibility to developcustom-tailored goals and activities. As a result, participantsachieve meaningful and quantifiable results that are good forthe environment and the economy. As part of high-profile,nationally recognized partnership programs, participants alsobenefit by being recognized as environmental stewards thathave voluntarily undertaken special actions to improve theirenvironmental performance. See the resources list on page15 to learn where to find more information on these exciting programs.

CCP Program ParticipantGets WasteWise ValueRecently, the LLooss AAnnggeelleess DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff WWaatteerraanndd PPoowweerr ((LLAADDWWPP)), a member of CCP, notedthat many of its ideas for waste reduction activi-ties came from its involvement in WasteWise. In2000, LADWP prevented approximately 16,000tons of CO2 emissions through its recycling pro-gram! The department recycles materials such asoffice paper, yard trimmings, plastics, and wood,and boasts a recycling rate of 76 percent. Theorganization also promotes waste preventionactivities such as donation programs, office sup-ply swaps, and double-sided copying.

Several of LADWP’s waste reduction activitiesreduce GHG emissions. LADWP tracks estimatedGHG emissions reductions using the formulasprovided by the WasteWise program and is cur-rently working with recycling vendors to obtainaccurate information about the types of materialsbeing diverted from the landfill. The departmentuses the information gathered from its WasteWiseactivities to constantly assess and improve itswaste reduction activities. To decrease future CO2emissions, LADWP plans to expand its recyclingprogram to ensure that even the smallest of thedepartment’s 300 sites recycles.

“WasteWise reminds us that we are not just recy-cling for the department, but also for the com-munity at large,” says Recycling Manager KarenHiggins. “Tracking the data helps us determine ifwe are in line with the recycling program goalsand are actually increasing diversions, as well asreducing GHG emissions.”

http://www.iclei.org/co2http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders

WasteWise Update 10

Calculating the CoolingEffects of Waste Reduction

In the mid 1990s, EPA created WARM—the Waste Reduction Model—

to calculate the climatic benefits of preventing waste, recycling, and

composting along with the impacts of landfilling and combustion.

WARM estimates GHG emissions associated with producing and

managing 27 different materials and mixed material categories.

Communities and organizations across the United States have been

using WARM to quantify waste reduction benefits and plan for the

future. This section:

• Explains how EPA developed WARM

• Describes WARM measurement units and calculations

• Introduces the online and Microsoft Excel© versions of the tool

• Provides examples of how WasteWise partners use WARM results

WARM GHG Emission FactorsIn 1994, EPA recognized the connection between solid

waste and climate change and called for accelerated sourcereduction and recycling. The Agency then realized thatquantifying GHG emissions reductions associated with theseactivities would be extremely valuable and began to developemission factors for 11 different types of materials andwastes including aluminum cans, HDPE plastic, and corru-gated cardboard.

EMISSION FACTOR = GHGs EMITTED INPRODUCING AND MANAGING 1 TON

OF A SPECIFIC MATERIAL

Using life cycle assessment methodology, EPA examinedeach material from cradle to grave to determine all theGHG emissions and sinks associated with each commodity.For example, analysts determined the GHG emissions andthe energy required to produce and dispose of 1 ton of alu-minum cans. They evaluated each step in the productionprocess, beginning with aluminum ore extraction, andexamined each waste management option—waste preven-tion, recycling, landfilling, and combustion. Finally, they

converted energy use into GHG emissions. The cradle-to-grave emission factors for aluminum waste prevention andrecycling are -2.49 and -4.11 MTCE per ton. The GHGemission factors for landfilling and combustion are 0.01 and0.02 MTCE per ton. These numbers indicate that wasteprevention and recycling reduce GHG emissions while land-filling and combusting release GHGs.

After extensive peer review and public comment, theoriginal GHG emission factors and project methodologyappeared in EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions FromManagement of Selected Materials in Municipal Solid Waste(EPA530-R-98-013). EPA then released emission factors foradditional materials, and, in 2002, the Agency publishedSolid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-CycleAnalysis of Emissions and Sinks (EPA530-R-02-006) toexplain the emission factors for all 27 materials and mixedmaterial categories. For a free copy of this report, visit or contact EPA’s RCRA CallCenter at 800 424-9346.

http://www.epa.gov/mswclimate

WARM CalculationsWARM uses emission factors to calculate GHG emissions

generated by managing specific quantities of each material.For example, WARM uses the following equation to calcu-late GHG emissions associated with recycling:

QUANTITY RECYCLED (TONS) X RECYCLING EMISSION FACTOR (MTCE/TON) =

GHG EMISSIONS (MTCE)

For example, the recycling emission factor for HDPE is -0.38 MTCE per ton. In other words, recycling 1 ton ofHDPE reduces GHG emissions by 0.38 MTCE. Supposethat an organization recycles 2 tons of HDPE; according tothe WARM equation, the organization reduces 0.76 MTCE.

2 TONS HDPE X -0.38 MTCE PER TON = -0.76 MTCE

WARM demonstrates that, in general, waste preventionand recycling reduce GHG emissions. WARM also demon-strates that waste prevention usually reduces more GHGsthan recycling. Landfilling 1 ton of office paper releases 0.62MTCE, for example, while recycling 1 ton reduces 0.68MTCE. Preventing 1 ton of office paper waste reduces 0.80MTCE.

Occasionally, WARM shows that recycling reduces moreGHGs than waste prevention. According to WARM, forexample, recycling 1 ton of aluminum cans reduces 4.11MTCE while preventing 1 ton of aluminum waste onlyreduces 2.49 MTCE. For the waste prevention emission fac-tor, EPA analysts assumed that each ton of aluminum wastecontains some recycled content because the average alu-minum can contains almost 50 percent recycled material.3

The analysts therefore calculated the energy required to pro-duce 1 ton of 50 percent recycled-content aluminum. Forthe recycling emission factor, EPA analysts evaluated energyproduction costs for virgin aluminum rather than recycled-content aluminum, assuming that if a can is not recycled, itmust be replaced entirely with virgin material. Consequently,WARM shows that recycling aluminum has a greater climaticimpact than waste prevention. The same logic holds true forcorrugated cardboard. Recycling 1 ton of corrugated card-board reduces 0.71 MTCE while preventing 1 ton of corru-gated cardboard waste only reduces 0.51 MTCE.

Two Versions of WARMEPA created two versions of WARM: a Web-based tool

and a Microsoft Excel© spreadsheet. Both versions contain

many of the same features and are available through theWARM Web page . Each ver-sion asks users to enter information about baseline and alter-native waste management practices, then calculates theGHG emissions associated with different waste managementstrategies, allowing users to quantify past achievements andplan for the future.

For each material, users input the quantity generated andwaste management practice employed. For example, in2001, WasteWise partner Amtrak recycled 115 tons of cor-rugated cardboard. WARM calculated that this activity pre-vented 81.7 MTCE, which is equivalent to taking morethan 60 cars off the road for a year. The baseline alternative,landfilling, would have released 9.2 MTCE.

WARM also asks users to define transportation distances.Suppose a recycling facility is 100 miles away, but a landfillis only 10 miles away. Do the climatic costs of transporta-tion outweigh the climatic benefits of recycling? WARM cananswer this question by calculating GHG emissions due totransportation.

Another WARM feature relates to landfill gas recovery.Organic wastes decompose in landfills, releasing CH4 andother GHGs. Some landfills capture these gases, offsettingclimactic impacts. WARM users can specify if their locallandfill recovers gas, and WARM will factor GHG recoveryinto emission calculations.

Online WARM

Web-based WARM is quick and straightforward. Userssimply visit the online WARM Web page, follow theprompts, and click “Create Summary” to view their WARMreport. Figure 1 is a sample Online WARM SummaryReport.

11 WasteWise Update

WARM results appear in several types of units. British ther-mal units (BTUs) describe energy the same way feet ormeters describe length. One BTU is approximately equal tothe energy released by burning a wood match. Climate sci-entists use a standard conversion factor to translate energyuse (BTUs) into GHG emissions, which are measured interms of MTCE—a unit that represents the atmosphericwarming potential of greenhouse gasses. Metric tons of car-bon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) is a similar term for mea-suring emissions, which is related to MTCE by the formula:[MTCE = 12/44 * MTCO2E].

WARM MEASUREMENT UNITS

3 Source: Can Manufacturer’s Institute .

http://www.epa.gov/mswclimatehttp://www.cancentral.com/brochure

WasteWise Update 12

WARM Spreadsheet

To access the Microsoft Excel© spreadsheet versionof WARM, users must first download it from theWARM Web page. The spreadsheet contains three tabsthat access different worksheets. Users input data intothe first worksheet and click on the other tabs to viewWARM results.

An added benefit to using the spreadsheet version ofWARM is that users can save and circulate an electroniccopy of the final WARM report.

WasteWise uses the WARM spreadsheet to calculateGHG emissions reductions for program partners. Whenpartners submit an annual report, they receive a WARMreport that demonstrates the climatic benefits of theirwaste prevention and recycling activities.

If you have questions about the WARM emission fac-tors or need assistance using WARM, please call theHelpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473).

Consumers WARM up to WasteWise Partner Achievements“We plan to use WARM results to inform employees, commu-

nity leaders and members, and consumers of our efforts toreduce greenhouse gases. We hope to inspire them to reduce wasteand greenhouse gas emissions.”

—Don Curran, Resource Recovery Recycling ManagerVirco Mfg.

WasteWise partners commit to reducing waste whileprofiting from the publicity as environmental stewards.WARM quantifies GHG emission reductions resulting fromwaste prevention and recycling. It also makes it easy to edu-cate stockholders, employees, consumers, and communitiesabout the environmental benefits of waste reduction.Climate change is a hot topic and consumers respond tocompanies that prove they are reducing GHG emissions.

In 2001, WasteWise partner Virco Mfg. prevented 48tons of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste andrecycled 1,022 tons of corrugated cardboard. In combina-tion, these activities reduced GHG emissions by 755MTCE. The company is preparing signs and newspaper arti-cles to publicize its achievement. Like Virco Mfg.,WasteWise partner Allergan received a WARM report quan-tifying GHG emission reductions from companywide wasteprevention and recycling activities. Allergan circulated thereport, sending it to corporate and environmental healthand safety managers. In addition, the company promotedthe connection between solid waste and climate change atan Earth Day event.

WasteWise partner Public Service Enterprise Group

(PSEG) took an innovative approach to promoting WARMresults. Customer bills include an environmental label,which benchmarks PSEG’s GHG emissions against otherenergy providers. The company Web site lists GHG emis-sion reductions achieved through waste prevention and recy-cling. PSEG also shares WARM calculations through pressreleases and by working with the regulatory community.

In 2001, the City of Clifton, New Jersey, recycled nearly245,000 tons of materials. Corrugated cardboard aloneaccounted for 8.3 percent of the total with 20,350 tonsrecycled, reducing GHG emissions by 14,449 MTCE. Thisreduction is equivalent to removing more than 10,000 carsfrom the road for a year. Al Du Bois, recycling coordinatorfor the City of Clifton, used the connection between climatechange and waste to reinvigorate a community recyclingprogram, taking the message to local school children anddeveloping a special presentation on the topic for the public.During the presentation, community members viewed EPA’ssatellite forum video titled Why Waste a Cool Planet: MSWSolutions to Global Climate.

WARM empowers solid waste managers and organiza-tions to make educated decisions. It allows them to predictthe climatic impacts of different waste management strate-gies and quantify GHG emission reductions associated withwaste reduction. WARM reports communicate waste pre-vention and recycling achievements to stockholders, employ-ees, consumers, and the community. For more information,contact your WasteWise representative or the WasteWiseHelpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473).

Figure 1: Sample Online WARM Summary Report

13 WasteWise Update

The WasteWise ClimateChange Initiative: A NewCampaign to Help Partners

Many partners have expressed their apprecia-

tion for the WasteWise WARM reports—

an important resource that helps them

communicate the importance of

their waste reduction activities

and demonstrate their commitment to tackling the cli-

mate change challenge. Many partners have also voiced

interest in increasing WasteWise’s emphasis on climate

change impacts. As the program moves forward and

keeps partners on the cutting edge of waste reduction

issues, WasteWise is committed to continuing to help

partners understand how they can help reduce the risk of

climate change and obtain recognition for their activities.

This commitment is embodied in the new WasteWise

Climate Change Initiative, a concerted effort to promote

waste-related climate change reductions. Through the initiative,

EPA will go beyond providing WARM numbers to:

• Highlight the relationship between waste and climatechange as a key element of the WasteWise message.

• Deliver new climate change tools for planning and imple-menting effective “win-win” solutions.

• Provide additional recognition and publicity to partnersfor their waste-related GHG reductions.

EPA believes this forward-looking approach will helppartners that are already emphasizing the connectionbetween waste and climate change by providing opportuni-ties for greater recognition and publicity and innovative newideas for achieving and measuring GHG reductions.

Partners that have not yet focused on this connection willreceive focused technical assistance to help them understandand implement cost-effective methods for reducing wasteand GHG emissions.

As the WasteWise Climate Change Initiative proceeds,WasteWise’s publications, events, and outreach efforts willfocus on helping partners understand how their activitiesimpact global climate and how they can take action to miti-gate that impact. In addition, WasteWise is developing aseries of special outreach and educational materials, whichEPA hopes will lead to even more impressive waste andGHG reductions.

“The Seydel Companies and itsaffiliates are dedicated to mak-

ing products that favorablyimpact our environment throughthe reduction of GHGs and the

redeployment of municipalwaste materials. We are appre-

ciative of the very favorableimpact that the WasteWise pro-gram has in incentivizing thesegoals and ambitions for us and

for our neighbors. “

—Scott SeydelThe Seydel Companies

WasteWise Update 14

These materials include the following:

• Climate Change and Waste Toolkit. This toolkit will con-tain several useful materials for understanding and achievingwaste-related GHG reductions. It will include detailed buteasy-to-follow guidance on how to plan and measure effec-tive waste reduction projects that reduce GHGs. Each kitwill also include tools for publicizing your efforts (e.g., asample press release and a conversion guide for presentingyour achievements in relevant terms), employee educationmaterials, and a list of resources you can access for addition-al information.

• Climate Change and Waste Slide Show Presentation. Thisfact-filled PowerPoint© slide show presentation will explainthe link between solid waste and GHG and show how wastereduction can lead to benefits such as lower material andenergy costs and improved corporate image. It will describethe opportunities available to businesses and will be anexcellent tool for communicating your efforts to manage-ment, customers, employees, and other stakeholders.WasteWise partners will be able to download the presenta-tion, which will include talking points, from the Web site orobtain it on CD. You will also be able to customize it andadd additional information about your particular efforts.

• GHG Reduction Success Stories. This series of success sto-ries will highlight partner achievements showing significantGHG emissions reductions through innovative solid wastemanagement practices. Each success story will focus on theaccomplishments of a single partner, emphasizing the appli-cation of cutting-edge technologies relevant to corporatematerials management.

• Climate Change Pilot Projects/Technical Assistance.WasteWise is embarking on a pilot program to provide lim-ited technical assistance to help companies understand thelinkage between solid waste management and climatechange, calculate the GHG impacts associated with theiractivities, anticipate future GHG reductions, and communi-cate the climate-waste message to their employees and stake-holders.

• Climate Change Partner of the Year Award. A new awardcategory recognizes outstanding efforts by partners who havereduced GHG emissions through waste reduction activitiesand conducted outreach activities that educate employees,suppliers, customers, or other stakeholders about the con-nection between their WasteWise activities and climatechange. In evaluating applicants, WasteWise will use theWARM model to estimate the level of GHG reductionsresulting from reported waste prevention and recycling activ-ities. Partners can apply for the award as part of the normalWasteWise reporting and awards application process.WasteWise will present the award at the program’s annualrecognition ceremony in Washington, DC.

You can expect to hear more about these resources in theWasteWise Bulletin and on the WasteWise list server. If youwould like more information now or are interested in beinginvolved in the development of these items, please contactyour WasteWise representative or call the Helpline at 800EPA-WISE (372-9473). Likewise, WasteWise understandsthat partners are the optimal source of innovative ideas andbest management practices and invites any suggestions fornew activities, expert insight, or general feedback that canadvance the goals of the initiative.

Becoming Climate Neutral—The Ultimate Achievement

In an era of creative collaboration and innovative solutions,forward-thinking organizations are challenging the belief thatpollution is an inevitable part of conducting business.Organizations across the country are rising to the challengeof mitigating their climate footprint by taking strides tobecome “climate neutral.” Defined as having a net zeroimpact on the Earth’s climate, the concept involves first reduc-ing and then offsetting an organization’s GHG emissionsthrough internal changes and external investments.

The Climate Neutral Network, a non-profit network of corpo-rate pioneers, environmental leaders, and other diversestakeholders based in Underwood, Washington, developedthe climate neutral concept. The organization’s primary activi-ties include certifying products or enterprises as “climate neu-tral” based on design principles established by respectedstakeholders; providing technical assistance to organizationsthat strive toward this goal; and facilitating networkingamong various stakeholders around collaborative climateneutral initiatives. Organizations can engage in the network’sprograms by purchasing other organizations’ climate neutralproducts, obtaining certification for climate neutral productsof their own, or by becoming a completely climate neutralenterprise—offsetting the emissions of their entire operation.

To become a climate neutral enterprise, an organization mustfirst take steps to reduce energy use and GHG emissions ineach stage of its production life cycle, from gathering rawmaterials to product manufacture, distribution, use, and finalend-of-life management. Upgrading equipment, improvingprocess efficiency, and using renewable energy are all exam-ples of internal reduction activities. Second, organizationsmust offset remaining GHG emissions by investing in tech-nologies or developing projects that reduce atmosphericGHGs in settings outside of their own operations. An organi-zation might invest in renewable energy projects, high-effi-ciency vehicles, or energy-efficient lighting in public schools,for example. Or, it might develop a GHG sequestration pro-ject such as conserving or managing a threatened forest orplanting trees in a public park or urban setting.

What began as a simple dialog among diverse stakeholdersthree years ago has now engaged leading environmentalorganizations and corporations to develop profitable, climateneutral innovations and partnerships. The concept is spread-ing quickly as organizations realize the benefits of voluntarilytaking steps to improve the environment for future genera-tions. For more information about the Climate NeutralNetwork, visit the Web site at .

http://www.climateneutral.com

15 WasteWise Update

EPA Publications:

The following publications on climate change and solid waste are available online and through EPA’s RCRA CallCenter, unless otherwise noted. To order, call 800 424-9346 (or 800 553-7672 TDD for the hearing impaired). InWashington, DC, the number is 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323. The RCRA Call Center is open Mondaythrough Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

Climate Change and Waste: Reducing Waste CanMake a DifferenceEPA530-E-99-002, 1999

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/cc-waste.pdf

Rising levels of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere are causingnoticeable climate changes, and some of these gases can betraced to solid waste. This publication describes the link betweenclimate change and MSW management and contains the two factsheets listed below.

• Pay-As-You-Throw: A Cooling Effect on ClimateChangeEPA530-E-99-002a, 1999

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/payt/pdf

This fact sheet describes EPA’s Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT)Program and how it helps reduce GHG emissions by creat-ing incentives for residents to reuse and recycle more oftheir solid waste.

• WasteWise: Climate Benefits from ReducingSolid WasteEPA530-E-99-002b, 1999

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/wastewise.pdf

This fact sheet describes EPA’s WasteWise Program and howit helps reduce GHG emissions by motivating organizationsto prevent and recycle solid waste.

Estimating Greenhouse Gas Reduction from StateActionswww.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/stmit.pdf

This reference document is for states planning to incorporateMSW management actions into statewide GHG mitigation actionplans. It includes a sample plan for waste management mitiga-tion actions.

Note: This document is only available online.

Evaluating the Greenhouse Gas Impacts ofNational Waste Prevention Activities: The U.S.Experiencewww.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/oecd.pdf

This document outlines EPA’s Climate Change and WasteProgram by describing the program’s research and technicalassistance, program implementation, and outreach and educa-tion activities.

Note: This document is only available online.

Global Warming and Our Changing ClimateEPA430-F-00-001, 2000

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/gw_faq.pdf

This document gives answers to frequently asked questions aboutglobal climate change.

Note: This document is available through EPA’s National ServiceCenter for Environmental Publications and Information (NSCEPI) at800 490-9198.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Management ofSelected Materials in Municipal Solid WasteEPA530-R-98-013, 1998

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/greengas.pdf

This publication integrates a wealth of information on GHGimplications of various MSW management options, such assource reduction, recycling, composting, combustion, and landfill-ing. It also provides GHG emission factors for specific materialsand mixed materials.

Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions andSinks: 1990-2000EPA236-R-02-003, 2001

This publication provides an overview and detailed description ofall greenhouse gas sources and sinks in the United States. It alsoincludes background data on several key concepts and discussesthe primary drivers of the growth in emissions.

Note: This document is available through NSCEPI at 800 490-9198.

Other EPA Resources:

Calculatorswww.epa.gov/globalwarming/tools/calculators.html

Several online interactive calculators are available online to assistyou with estimating greenhouse gas emissions of specific activitiesand evaluating emission reduction opportunities. The calculatorsare arranged by sector, and a brief description of each is provid-ed to help users determine which one best suits their needs.

EPA’s Global Warming Sitewww.epa.gov/globalwarming

Climate change programs and activities are an integral part ofEPA’s mission and purpose. With the Global Warming Site, EPAstrives to present accurate information on the very broad issue ofclimate change and global warming in a way that is accessibleand meaningful to all parts of society—communities, individuals,businesses, public officials, and governments.

http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/gw_faq.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/cc-waste.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/payt.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/greengas.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/wastewise.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/stmit.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/tools/calculators.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarminghttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/oecd.pdf

1EPAUnited StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency(5306W)Washington, DC 20460

EPA530-N-02-007September 2002

Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use $300

Other EPA Resources (cont’d):

EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Programwww.epa.gov/lmop

This site contains information on EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), a voluntary assistance and partnership programthat helps facilitate and promote the use of landfill gas as a renewable energy source.

EPA’s Pay-As-You-Throw Web Sitewww.epa.gov/payt

This site contains information on EPA’s Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) Program, which promotes residential collection programs that chargeresidents based on the amount they throw away.

EPA’s State and Local Outreach Kitwww.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/statekit.html

This kit provides information for the general public about global warming. It focuses on voluntary strategies, solutions, policies, andtechnologies that can help states, communities, and individuals save money, improve air quality, and lower risks to human health.

Other Web Resources:

Center for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo (CICERO): www.cicero.uio. no/index_e.asp

Climate Change and Waste Satellite Forum Video: www.epa.gov/globalwarming/actions/waste/index.html

Global Warming Information Page: www.globalwarming.org

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): www.ipcc.ch

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: www.unfccc.int

U.S. Global Change Resource Information Office: www.gcrio.org

World Bank Global Climate Change: www-esd.worldbank.org/cc

WasteWise Update 16

2 Printed on paper that contains at least 50 percent postconsumer fiber.

If you have received this publication in error or want to be removed from the WasteWise Update mailing list, please call the WasteWise Helpline at800 EPA-WISE (372-9473) or send a copy of this page, with the mailing label, back to WasteWise at the address below. Many WasteWise publications,including the WasteWise Update, are available electronically on the WasteWise Web site at .

http://www.epa.gov/lmophttp://www.epa.gov/paythttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/statekit.htmlhttp://www.cicero.uio. no/index_e.asphttp://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/actions/waste/index.htmlhttp://www.globalwarming.orghttp://www.ipcc.chhttp://www.unfccc.inthttp://www.gcrio.orghttp://www-esd.worldbank.org/cchttp://www.epa.gov/wastewise

WasteWise Update: Global Warming...Is a Waste!WasteWise: Changing with the ClimateThe Climate-Waste ConnectionAcronyms and Abbreviations

Solutions: Corporate, Community, and State ActionsCalculating the Cooling Effects of Waste ReductionThe WasteWise Climate Change Initiative: A New Campaign to Help PartnersEPA PublicationsOther EPA ResourcesOther Web Resources----------------------------------IntroductionOffice of Solid WasteAlphabetical Listing of TitlesABCDEFGHIJLMNOPQRSTUVWY

Topical Listing of TitlesBackyard BurningBuying Recycled/ProcurementCharacterization of Solid WasteClimate Change and WasteCoal Combustion ProductsCompostingEn EspañolEnvironmental CareersEnvironmental EducationFull Cost Accounting [Municipal Solid Waste] Hazardous Waste ManagementHome Health CareHousehold Hazardous WasteInformation Resources LandfillingMunicipal Solid Waste ManagementOil and GasPay-As-You-ThrowProduct Stewardship/Life Cycle ManagementPublic Participation RCRA–General InformationResource Conservation ChallengeReuse and RecyclingSource Reduction/ Pollution Prevention/ Waste MinimizationTribal Waste ManagementUsed Motor OilVoluntary Partnerships

YouthKids (Grades K-5)Students (Grades 6-8)Teens (Grades 9-12)Environmental Careers

En EspañolVoluntary PartnershipsGlossariesScreen Saver