Bob Gedert, Director

Solid Waste Services

City of Austin

Bob.Gedert@ci.austin.tx.us

Austin Zero Waste

Zero Waste is a goal that is both pragmatic and visionary, to guide people to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are resources for others to use.

Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.

Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that may be a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.

Definition of Zero Waste*

* www.zwia.org/standards.html

A Policy, Path, Direction

A Target, Process, Way Of Thinking

From Waste Management To Resource Management

Redesigning Products and Processes for Clean Production

Community–Based Investments

Zero Waste

World Environment Day in SF 2005

100 Largest Cities Asked to Adopt

Zero Waste by 2040 is one of the Accords

City of Austin as co-signer

Contracted Gary Liss and Rick Anthony

Urban Environmental Accords

2009 adopted Zero Waste Plan

(City Council Commitment)

2010-11 develop Master Plan

(Implementation Roadmap)

Process through Community

Involvement (SWAC)

HDR: Inventory of Resources &

Options

Austin Zero Waste

Chemicals

0%

Metals

6%

Glass

3% Ceramics

2%

Paper

37%

Wood

4%

Soils

1%

Putrescibles

19%

Plant Debris

10%

Textiles

4%

Polymers

11%

Reuse

3%

Know Your Discards -Example

Market Categories

(City of Los Angeles)

% Tons/Year $/ton $

1.Reuse 2.0 72,000 550 39,600,000

2.Paper 22.0 792,000 20 15,840,000

3.Plant Debris 5.5 198,000 7 1,386,000

4.Putrescibles 17.0 612,000 7 4,284,000

5.Wood 4.0 144,000 8 1,152,000

6.Ceramics 13.0 468,000 4 1,872,000

7.Soils 10.0 360,000 7 2,520,000

8.Metals 4.0 144,000 40 5,760,000

KNOW YOUR DISCARDS VALUE

Community Driven Values

Upstream – Redesign

Midstream – Reuse

Downstream – Upcycling to Highest and Best Use

Innovation and Local Jobs

through Green Businesses

Pillars of Austin Zero Waste

EPR – Extended Producer Responsibility

Product Redesign – design the toxics out and design for reuse and recyclability

Disposal bans if necessary

Incentives – Rate Structure Adjustments, Rebates, Recognition

Upstream

Reuse products and packaging, retaining their original form and function

Ensure the highest and best use of products and packaging at the end of their useful lives

Entrepreneur Opportunities

Midstream

Recycle or compost materials that are not reduced or reused

Ensure the highest and best use of products and packaging at the end of their useful lives

Universal Recycling Ordinance

Residential, Commercial, and Industrial – regardless of hauler

Downstream

Organics - Yard trimmings, Food scraps, Multi-layer approach

C&D – Deconstruction, Reuse & Recycling

“ECO-Centers” –Neighborhood Reuse Sites

Glassphalt and Tire Shreds

Downstream Programs

Waste Stream Analysis

Resource Identification

Gap Analysis

Coalition / Cooperatives

Business / Education

Innovation / Technology

Austin Zero Waste

Residential Waste Stream35% in 201050% by 201360% by 201670% by 202080% by 202590%+ by 2030

Austin Zero Waste

Collection Services

More recycling routes

More Yard Trimmings

Reduction in trash routes

Downsizing carts

Austin Zero Waste

Operations Support

New MRF in 2012

Private/Public Partnership

Weekly/Bi-Weekly Service

Targeted Districts (Educ)

Austin Zero Waste

Disposal “Repurposing”

HH Toxic Alternatives

EPR / Retailer Take backs

FM 812 Landfill Closure

Resource Recovery Park

Tire-cycling / Glass-phalt

Austin Zero Waste

ZW Strategic InitiativesMaster Plan DevelopmentWRAP: Business / Commercial / InstitutionalGoodwill / Sierra Club / KAB /Non-Profits AlliancesMarketing / CampaignsInterlocal AgreementsPlanning / Research

Austin Zero Waste

Paradigm ShiftResource SharingGreening EquipmentGreening OperationsSustainability PracticesLiving by ExampleCommunity BuildingPartnerships

Austin Zero Waste

Future = Change

A Community Investment

Continuity gives us roots;

change gives us branches,

letting us stretch and grow

and reach new heights.

~Pauline R. Kezer

Zero Waste & YOU

New Mission- New Vision - New logo… Zero Waste

New business model… Conservation, Public Service, Economic Viability, and Mission Driven

New relationship with the community…Partnerships

New relationships within our organization… Restructuring

Austin – Zero Waste: Our Future

Bob Gedert, Director

Solid Waste Services

City of Austin

Bob.Gedert@ci.austin.tx.us

Austin Zero Waste