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Zero Waste is a design principle and planning approach for the
environmental management of resources. It aims to prevent waste by design
rather than manage it after the fact. Sierra Club’s Zero Waste policy
addresses not only the quantity of waste we generate, but also its
toxicity, its contribution to climate change, and the important links
between waste reduction and corporate responsibility.
The Sierra Club’s policy for reducing waste is based on Zero Waste. The goals of
our this policy integrate social,
environmental, and economic outcomes:
- Protecting public health and the environment from pollution and
greenhouse gas production.
- Conserving raw materials and energy in the production,
transportation, and disposal of goods.
- Reducing over-consumption by encouraging the consumer to eliminate
the purchase of unnecessary goods and packaging, especially single use,
disposable items.
- Facilitating community economic development and local jobs in
repair, refurbishing and recycling.
- Internalizing environmental and social costs in the prices of
products and services.
- Encouraging "Cradle to Cradle" design and management systems that
cycle all materials safely back into the environment or the marketplace.
DEP Announces Shift in Waste Policy (Dec. 11, 2009)
The
Administration announces a waste policy shift that emphasizes waste
reduction instead of waste disposal."
Click here for more.
Landfill Gas
New landfill regulations are needed, as current gas-to-energy policy
worsens global warming. Common practices at commercial LFGTE (landfill
gas-to-energy) facilities increase methane release to the atmosphere,
where it contributes to global warming. Landfill gas is a mix of gases
(methane, carbon dioxide, and other toxic compounds in much smaller
amounts). Methane forms only in moist, airless spaces. In landfills, more
moisture means more methane. Oxygen, on the other hand, prevents methane
from forming. Therefore, the proportion of methane in landfill gas depends
on the percentage of moisture and the absence of oxygen in any given
landfill, or portion of a landfill, at any given time.
Click here for a landfill gas
factsheet.
 Incineration
On December 11, 2009, the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
announced that Massachusetts will retain the moratorium on additional
incineration capacity. The statement further outlined a plan to reduce
burning and burying by new approaches that will increase recycling.
Click here for more.
Massachusetts
has had a moratorium on increasing incineration capacity since 1989.
However, the Mass Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had been considering lifting the state moratorium, which would
have opened the
door for harmful incineration technologies promoted now
in Massachusetts. Click here for more
about incineration and its health consequences.
Landfill
Advisory--Tool for Change
Here in Massachusetts, there are many advocates of incineration
instead of landfilling. But as long as we have incineration, we will
need landfills to dispose of the ash from combustion. The incinerator
bottom ash is sent to landfills as daily cover and isn't counted in
the tonnage of permitted waste. For example, in 2007 the
Southbridge landfill took in more "daily cover" than "waste," and
17,570 tons of it was bottom ash. If we are opposed to
incineration, what's the best we can do with our discards as we're
transitioning to Zero Waste? In this Advisory the national Sierra Club
Zero Waste Committee outlines measures that can be taken in every region
of the country to reduce the volume and toxicity of landfilled waste.
These practices. are more protective of public health and the
environment than what is occurring in the U.S today.
This document was
developed for concerned citizens to use along with state and local
officials as a guideline for what can and must be done to address local
and global impacts of landfilling. Questions? Contact
Lynne.Pledger@sierraclub.org
Wondering how to deal with landfills along the road to Zero Waste?
Recommendations for activists, landfill neighbors, planners, health board
members, other local officials, and county or state regulators.
Click
here.
Southbridge Dump Information
Southbridge Landfill is about to become the largest raw garbage landfill in
Massachusetts. Casella Waste Systems plans increase the permitted raw
garbage to over 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste - raw garbage - there
each year including Boston and Springfield’s trash. Boston's trash would
comprise about 60% of the materials. At a mere 12%, Boston's recycling rate
is among the lowest in the commonwealth.
For More Information
 Concern
on Waste and Climate Change
Published by Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA). A report on waste
and climate change calls for Zero Waste strategies to address global
warming and rejects the false solutions of incinerators and landfill gas
collection.
Click here to view the report. |
 Stop Trashing the
Climate
A new report that provides compelling evidence that aiming for zero
waste is one of the fastest, cheapest, and most effective strategies for
combating climate change.
Click here for more. |
Composting
Information from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Single-serving packaging
Of all the garbage we generate, 1/3 is packaging that gets thrown away
immediately. When we buy in bulk or in a concentrate form when possible, and
avoid excessive packaging layers, we reduce waste. Our habits should include
avoiding disposable products such as juice boxes or single serving snacks,
and since almost all products require some packaging, we should choose ones
with packaging that is recyclable.
Gone
Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage
An award winning short 19-minute documentary about recycling and waste in
the US. By renowned author Heather Rogers. The film entertaining and
informative. It exposes the myth that recycling will solve all problems.
It also points out the real problems, over-production and industrial
pollution. Plus it explains corporate greenwashing and our economic system
of 'built-in obsolescence.'
The Story of Stuff
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our
lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden
from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look
at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of
Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and
social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just
world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may
change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Click here.
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