Application of Life Cycle Assessment to Waste

Management

Christina SeidelExecutive Director

What is Life-Cycle Assessment?

LCA: Quantify total burdens of a productor project including everything from:

-upstream effects of sourcing materials, to

-downstream effects of disposal after the project or product is finished.

“CRADLE to GRAVE”

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

What is Life-Cycle Assessment?

PRODUCTLIFE CYCLE

Core Activity

S Emissions_ Functional Unit

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Design

Supportable, reliable decisions must be made between alternative projects or designs based on Real Environmental Consequences

Life Cycle Assessment now provides a broadly accepted framework for complex decisions involving direct and indirect (societal) costs.

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

The Common Link:Life-Cycle Thinking

Product / project evaluation including upstream and downstream burdens and/or costs associated with your project / product even if they are paid elsewhere.

Using Life Cycle Thinking to improve design and/or make a better decision between options.

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

History of LCA (1)

1969: Coca-Cola commissioned the first “REPA”

(Resource and Environmental Profile Analysis)

What’s the best pop container?

A re-usable glass bottle or a recyclable steel can?

(Note that both alternatives are long obsolete)

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

History of LCA (2)

Following the Coca-Cola study:REPA studies focus on solid waste and recycling

Mobil Chemicals, (plastics manufacturer), compared plastic meat trays vs. pulp trays

SOME RESULTSMAY NOT BE

AS EXPECTED !

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

History of LCA (3)

1975 - 88: Corporate Focus on product improvement

Companies applied REPA for product design.

1970's energy crisis spurred interest in “full fuel cycle analysis”.

What is the actual environmental cost to switch

10 million cars from petroleum gasoline to natural gas ? • Or to battery electric ? • Or to synthetic fuel?

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

History of LCA (4)

1990 : LCA is BornSociety of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) : “Life-Cycle Assessment” (LCA)

Emphasis on life cycle thinking for new chemicals … Resources, Manufacture, Deployment, Use, Disposal, Fate

History of LCA (5)

Complexity of LCA work and data scarcity led to a desire for standards.

1994: Canadians were involved early, leading to …

CSA Z760-94 Life Cycle Assessment

CSA PLUS 1107 User's Guide to Life Cycle Assessment: Conceptual LCA in Practice

Credit: Dr. David Checkel

History of LCA (6)

ISO added LCA to their series of environmental standards …

1997 ISO 14040: LCA - Principles and framework

11 pages with two references

1998 ISO 14041: LCA - Goal & Scope Def. and Inventory Analysis

2000 ISO 14042: LCA - Life Cycle Impact Assessment

2000 ISO 14043: LCA - Life Cycle Interpretation

2000 ISO 14049: LCA - Examples of ApplicationCredit: Dr. David Checkel

LCA Outputs – Paper Recycling

Input Unit Quantity

Recyclable paper unsorted kg 1.30E+03

Diesel kg 7.74E+00

Fuel (Oil) kg 1.45E-02

   

Electrical Energy kWh 3.64E+00

Output    

Recyclable paper sorted kg 1.21E+03

Cardboard packaging kg 8.80E+01

Dust ppm 2.34E+00

LCA Outputs – Paper Recycling Thus you have to consider the emissions coming from that 3.64 kWH electricity consumption so based on that inventorised process for electricity production ( Ökoinventare für Verpackungen; Band I und II; Schriftenreihe Umwelt Nr. 250/I. Switzerland) , the calculations are as follows:

Energie Source Unit Petroloeum Gas Bituminous Coal Lignite Hydro    [kWh] [kWh] [kWh] [kWh] [kWh]Primary Energy Carriers            Raw Lignite for delivery kg 3.21E-03 8.71E-04 5.96E-03 1.48E+00 0.00E+00Crude gas Nm³ 1.39E-02 2.41E-01 7.14E-03 1.30E-03 0.00E+00Crude Bituminous Coal for preparation kg 2.42E-03 5.51E-02 6.13E-01 4.41E-03 0.00E+00Crude Oil from Borehole kg 2.75E-01 6.22E-04 8.47E-03 1.69E-03 0.00E+00Uranium from Ore g 2.18E-04 5.92E-05 4.05E-04 3.99E-04 0.00E+00Potential Hydro Energy kWh 3.92E-03 1.06E-03 7.25E-03 7.14E-03 1.31E+00Wood kg 2.37E-05 6.71E-04 5.94E-03 4.33E-05 0.00E+00  kWh 2.69E+00 1.93E+00 2.53E+00 3.03E+00 3.06E-01           Air Emissions            Dust/PM g 3.76E-01 6.52E-02 1.73E+00 2.02E+00 0.00E+00Benzol g 2.51E-03 4.13E-03 1.31E-04 3.31E-05 0.00E+00PAH Polyzyklische Arom. KW g 1.90E-05 9.97E-05 1.37E-05 1.26E-05 0.00E+00Aromatische KW g 6.24E-03 2.03E-03 1.29E-02 1.51E-02 0.00E+00Halon H1301 g 6.57E-05 1.48E-07 2.02E-06 4.03E-07 0.00E+00Halogenierte KW g 5.69E-09 1.55E-09 1.06E-08 1.04E-08 0.00E+00Methane g 1.10E+00 1.76E+00 4.26E+00 2.62E-01 0.00E+00NMVOC g 2.18E+00 1.23E-01 1.00E-01 3.01E-02 0.00E+00CO2 fossil g 8.80E+02 7.67E+02 9.79E+02 1.35E+03 0.00E+00CO g 2.23E-01 2.67E-01 1.25E-01 1.33E-01 0.00E+00Ammonia g 7.56E-04 1.94E-04 5.84E-03 5.05E-04 0.00E+00Hydroflouric acid g 9.73E-04 5.28E-05 3.19E-02 2.28E-02 0.00E+00Nitrous Oxide g 1.94E-02 5.58E-03 6.06E-03 6.86E-03 0.00E+00Hydrochloric acid g 9.69E-03 6.19E-04 3.00E-01 2.19E-01 0.00E+00 SO2 g 9.30E+00 2.65E-01 4.02E+00 6.86E+00 0.00E+00 NO2 g 1.96E+00 1.49E+00 2.52E+00 1.97E+00 0.00E+00Lead g 5.18E-04 3.61E-06 1.83E-04 4.94E-05 0.00E+00Cadmium g 5.96E-05 2.29E-07 4.66E-06 2.16E-05 0.00E+00Manganese g 1.58E-04 2.96E-06 1.11E-04 3.83E-05 0.00E+00Nickel g 4.52E-03 4.88E-06 4.64E-04 6.63E-05 0.00E+00Mercurt g 2.79E-06 1.46E-05 3.85E-05 5.03E-05 0.00E+00Zink g 3.79E-04 5.82E-06 3.50E-04 3.35E-04 0.00E+00Metalle g 2.70E-02 1.23E-03 7.90E-02 6.28E-02 0.00E+00radioact. Substanzen kBq 1.90E+01 5.15E+00 3.52E+01 3.47E+01 0.00E+00

LCA Outputs – Paper Recycling Energie Source Unit Petroloeum Gas Bituminous Coal Lignite Hydro    [kWh] [kWh] [kWh] [kWh] [kWh]

Primary Energy Carriers            

Raw Lignite for delivery kg 3.21E-03 8.71E-04 5.96E-03 1.48E+00 0.00E+00Crude gas Nm³ 1.39E-02 2.41E-01 7.14E-03 1.30E-03 0.00E+00

Crude Bituminous Coal for preparation kg 2.42E-03 5.51E-02 6.13E-01 4.41E-03 0.00E+00

Crude Oil from Borehole kg 2.75E-01 6.22E-04 8.47E-03 1.69E-03 0.00E+00Uranium from Ore g 2.18E-04 5.92E-05 4.05E-04 3.99E-04 0.00E+00Potential Hydro Energy kWh 3.92E-03 1.06E-03 7.25E-03 7.14E-03 1.31E+00

Wood kg 2.37E-05 6.71E-04 5.94E-03 4.33E-05 0.00E+00

  kWh 2.69E+00 1.93E+00 2.53E+00 3.03E+00 3.06E-01Water Emissions            BOD g 6.01E-04 1.95E-05 1.39E-04 6.59E-06 0.00E+00COD g 1.07E-02 2.49E-04 4.35E-03 1.61E-04 0.00E+00AOX als Cl- g 4.76E-05 1.18E-07 1.52E-06 3.02E-07 0.00E+00material suspended g 7.86E-01 2.20E-01 3.63E-02 6.78E-03 0.00E+00Phenole g 1.98E-03 3.86E-05 6.62E-05 1.19E-05 0.00E+00Toluol g 1.63E-03 3.73E-05 5.04E-05 1.01E-05 0.00E+00polycyclical aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) g 1.79E-04 9.15E-07 5.53E-06 1.10E-06 0.00E+00Aromatic Hydrocarbons g 1.17E-02 4.19E-04 3.63E-04 7.34E-05 0.00E+00Chlorinated Hydrocarbons g 1.21E-05 3.38E-06 4.92E-07 8.77E-08 0.00E+00Fats oils g 3.64E-01 9.35E-03 1.13E-02 2.27E-03 0.00E+00DOC g 8.02E-06 3.55E-03 2.18E-05 1.36E-05 0.00E+00TOC g 1.07E-01 2.39E-01 4.94E-03 1.64E-03 0.00E+00Ammonium g 1.38E-02 6.64E-04 1.42E-03 1.86E-04 0.00E+00Nitrat g 9.27E-03 5.27E-05 2.35E-02 2.22E-04 0.00E+00Nitrogen org. geb. g 1.33E-03 9.19E-06 7.05E-05 1.67E-05 0.00E+00Total Nitrogen g 1.35E-02 5.66E-05 5.43E-04 1.18E-04 0.00E+00Arsenic g 1.90E-05 1.78E-04 1.97E-03 1.44E-05 0.00E+00Chlorid g 7.38E+00 6.31E-01 6.30E+00 1.25E-01 0.00E+00Cyanid g 5.28E-05 6.85E-05 6.28E-06 5.98E-07 0.00E+00Phosphat g 3.69E-04 5.33E-03 5.85E-02 4.22E-04 0.00E+00Sulfat g 2.74E-01 4.62E-01 4.35E+00 5.02E+00 0.00E+00Sulfid g 4.21E-04 6.48E-05 1.40E-05 2.83E-06 0.00E+00Anorg. Salts and acids g 5.33E+00 4.02E-01 3.40E+00 5.26E+00 0.00E+00Aluminium g 3.99E-03 8.90E-02 9.75E-01 7.15E-03 0.00E+00Barium g 3.48E-02 7.19E-03 7.91E-02 7.74E-04 0.00E+00Lead g 4.13E-05 4.48E-04 4.90E-03 4.34E-05 0.00E+00Cadmium g 1.50E-05 4.49E-06 5.07E-05 4.86E-07 0.00E+00Chrom g 1.56E-04 9.11E-04 9.77E-03 7.16E-05 0.00E+00Iron g 8.27E-03 2.82E-02 3.03E-01 2.37E+00 0.00E+00Cooper g 4.41E-05 4.45E-04 4.89E-03 3.56E-05 0.00E+00Nickel g 5.83E-05 4.48E-04 4.93E-03 3.60E-05 0.00E+00Mercury g 1.65E-07 7.82E-07 1.39E-06 1.75E-08 0.00E+00Zink g 1.59E-04 8.94E-04 9.82E-03 7.23E-05 0.00E+00Metalle g 8.47E-02 9.24E-03 1.02E-01 1.27E-03 0.00E+00radioact. Substanzen kBq 1.81E-01 4.74E-02 3.25E-01 3.19E-01 0.00E+00

LCA Outputs – Paper Recycling Production 1 Kg Diesel from the gas station The sorting process uses 7.74 Kg Diesel therefore:

Input Quantity Unit Quantity Unit

Energetic resources usedExpenditure of Energy        Expenditure of Energy - Not Renewable 1.33E+01 kWh/kg 1.03E+02 kWh Expenditure of Energy - Not RenewableExpenditure of Energy - Renewable 9.50E-03 kWh/kg 7.36E-02 kWh Expenditure of Energy - RenewableExpenditure of Energy - Others 1.76E-02 kWh/kg 1.36E-01 kWh Expenditure of Energy - OthersExpenditure of Energy - Sum 1.33E+01 kWh/kg 1.03E+02 kWh Expenditure of Energy - SumRaw Materials from fossil sitesExpenditure of Materials      Expenditure of Materials-Not Renewable 2.32E+01 g/kg 1.80E+02 gExpenditure of Materials- Renewable 3.55E+02 g/kg 2.75E+03 gExpenditure of Materials- Others 2.54E+00 g/kg 1.97E+01 gExpenditure of Materials- Sum 3.81E+02 g/kg 2.95E+03 g

OutputAir EmissionsSO2 2.29E+00 g/kg 1.77E+01 gNOx 1.58E+00 g/kg 1.23E+01 gHCl 1.12E-02 g/kg 8.68E-02 gHF 9.04E-04 g/kg 7.00E-03 gStaub 2.33E-01 g/kg 1.81E+00 gCO 6.10E-01 g/kg 4.73E+00 gNMVOC 7.95E-01 g/kg 6.16E+00 gH2S 4.73E-07 g/kg 3.66E-06 gNH3 6.68E-05 g/kg 5.18E-04 gCO2 3.88E+02 g/kg 3.00E+03 gCH4 3.57E+00 g/kg 2.77E+01 gN2O 7.96E-03 g/kg 6.16E-02 gPerfluormethane 3.85E-07 g/kg 2.98E-06 gPerfluorethane 4.84E-08 g/kg 3.75E-07 g

ResiduesAshes 2.96E+00 g/kg 2.29E+01 gflue-gas desulfurization plant-Residues 5.65E-01 g/kg 4.37E+00 gSludge 8.92E-01 g/kg 6.91E+00 gWaste production 3.96E+00 g/kg 3.06E+01 gSpoil 1.39E+02 g/kg 1.08E+03 gResidues highly active 8.19E-05 g/kg 6.35E-04 gN 2.14E-06 g/kg 1.65E-05 gAOX 6.71E-08 g/kg 5.20E-07 gCOD 2.33E-01 g/kg 1.80E+00 gBOD 6.53E-03 g/kg 5.06E-02 ganorg. Salts 1.76E-05 g/kg 1.37E-04 g

Heavy metalsAs 2.46E-05 g/kg 1.91E-04 gCd 6.17E-05 g/kg 4.78E-04 gNi 2.51E-03 g/kg 1.94E-02 gCr 3.07E-05 g/kg 2.38E-04 g

What is Waste?And How Should We Manage it?

What is Waste?

Represents system failure/ inefficiency

Design to eliminate waste

Zero Waste movement

Zero Waste Definition

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."

Zero Waste International Alliance

Cradle to Cradle

Biological nutrientsOrganics

Designed to return safely to the environment

Technological nutrients

Closed loop recycling

Sources of Waste Materials generated in Alberta

Residential33%

Industrial, Commercial

& Institu-tional40%

Construc-tion & Demo-

lition27%

Source: Stats Canada

Composition of Residential Waste

Paper25%

Food & Yard

Waste35%

Glass3%

Metal6%

Plastic7%

Other Mixed25%

Source: Action on Waste, % composition by weight

~ 50 % of paper is newsprint

• Meat & fish waste

• Diapers• HHW

• Textiles• Dust

ICI Waste Composition

Paper54%

Food Waste13%

Plastic7%

Glass4%

Metals7%

Other15%

Source: Action on Waste, % composition by weight

• HHW• Misc. Organics • Yard Waste

C&D Waste Composition

Asphalt8%

Brick/Stone5%

Concrete8%

Drywall6%

Metal12%

Roofing13%

Wood19%

Other29%

Source: CRD Waste Characterization Study, CH2M Gore & Storrie Ltd.

MSW Waste Composition

Paper29%

Wood, Rubble, Leather, Textiles

25%

Food & Yard23%

Plastic9%

Glass6% Metals

8%

Municipal solid waste composition in Alberta (1994)Source: Alberta Environment, SOER for Alberta

Waste Management Hierarchy

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Recover

Landfill

3Rs

Residuals Management

Disposal Options

3Rs Hierarchy

ReduceSource reduction can be achieved by purchasing durable, long-lasting goods, as well as seeking products and packaging that represent a reduction in materials, energy consumption or toxicity

ReuseReusing involves the use of a product more than once without altering its form, either for the same or for a different purpose

RecycleDiverting products from disposal at the end of their useful lives, sorting, transporting and processing them to produce secondary sources of materials that are subsequently used in the production of new goods

Mobius Loop

collection

remanufacture

resale

Net GHG Emissions from MSW Management Options

(tonnes eCO2/tonne)

Material Source Reduction

Recycling/ Composting

Anaerobic Digestion

Thermal Treatment

Landfill

Newspaper (3.81) (2.81) (0.49) (0.05) (1.22)

Fine Paper (5.93) (3.33) (0.34) (0.04) 1.18

Cardboard (5.22) (3.34) (0.32) (0.04) 0.29

Aluminum Cans

(4.55) (6.49) 0.01 0.01 0.01

Steel (1.95) (1.15) 0.01 (0.99) 0.01

Glass (0.40) (0.10) 0.01 0.01 0.01

HDPE (2.74) (2.27) 0.01 2.85 0.01

PET (3.50) (3.63) 0.01 2.13 0.01

Computers NA (1.59) 0.01 0.41 0.01

Food Waste NA (0.24) (0.10) 0.02 0.80

Yard Waste NA (0.24) (0.15) 0.01 (0.33)

Energy Use: Recycled & VirginContent Products (MJ/kg)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Recycled

Virgin

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

CO2 Emissions: Recycled &VirginContent Products (kg eCO2/kg)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Recycled

Virgin

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

Energy Savings: Recyclingversus WTE Incineration (MJ/kg)

0

50

100

150

200

250

Recycling

WTE Incineration

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

CO2 Emissions: Recycling versus Disposal (kg eCO2/kg)

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

Recycling

WTE Incineration

Landfill+Energy

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

CO2 Emissions: Composting versus Disposal (kg eCO2/kg)

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

Composting

WTE Incineration

Landfill+Energy

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

Value of Pollution Reductions from Recycling & Composting

Discard Type Environmental Value (US$/metric ton)

Newspapers $363-367

Cardboard 467-496

Mixed Paper 172-197

Glass Containers 61

PET Plastics 639-712

HDPE Plastics 224-310

Other Plastics 224-310

Aluminum Cans 1,607

Ferrous Cans & Scrap 18-72

Food Scraps 62-107

Yard & Garden Debris 61-74

Compostable Paper 52-78

Source: Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management

Beyond LCA

Genuine progress indicator (GPI) developed in 1995

GDP inadequate measure of a nation’s health

needed a more comprehensive measurement system to monitor the total well-being of society

more than just economic output

Genuine Wealth (well-being) model developed by Mark Anielski to assess the overall economic, social, health and environmental well-being of communities.

VALUES

Processes(technology)

Source: The Interface Model based on Ray C. Anderson. 1999, Mid-Course Correction.: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model. Interface Inc. modelMark Anielski

capitalpeople

suppliers

raw materials

$$

products

market

customers

Typical Company of the 20th Century

Source: The Interface Model based on Ray C. Anderson. 1999, Mid-Course Correction.: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model. Interface Inc. model

VALUES

Processes(technology)

capitalpeople

suppliers

raw materials

$$

products

market

customers

EARTH’S LITHOSPHERE

COMMUNITY

empl

oyee

s

Wag

es $

law

s

Taxe

s $

Inve

stm

ents

$

divi

dend

s $

EARTH’S BIOSPHERE

was

te

emis

sion

swaste materialswaste to landfill or incinerator

orga

nic

inor

gani

c

Closing the Waste Loop

x

xx

x

Solar energy

x

x x

SUSTAINABILITY LINK

TECHNICAL CYCLE

TECHNICAL CYCLE

x

xx

NATURAL CYCLE

NATURAL CYCLE

Compostable productsnatural m

aterials

x

The Genuine Wealth process examines the life-cycle of the relationships of your organization to other stakeholders

Suppliers

Market

Customers

Biosphere

Community

Lithosphere

Natural Materials Waste to Landfill

Solar Energy

Raw Material

$ $

Products

Organic & Inorganic

Source: Based on Interface Inc. model

Waste Emissions

EmployeesWagesInvestmentsTaxesLaws and ValuesServiceSensitivityExpectations

SocialCapital

NaturalCapital

ProducedCapital

FinancialCapital

HumanCapital

Alberta Stewardship Program Full Cost Accounting Assessment

Study Purpose: An accounting of the full range of economic, social and environmental benefits, costs and impacts of Alberta’s waste stewardship programs for beverage containers, electronics, tires and used oil materials.

Intended Use: To assess the true societal value of these stewardship programs to Albertans, and to serve as an accounting framework for assessing the sustainability of waste stewardship programs.

Research Process

Used Genuine Wealth Assessment full cost benefit accounting tool

Itemized the costs and benefits

Monetary estimates assigned where data exists

Estimates: low, medium (average), high

Net value then calculated

Result: relative “return” on a per unit recycled, per Albertan basis

Genuine Wealth Accounting Framework for Alberta’s Stewardship Programs

•Time-use spent in cleaning, sorting, delivery and transportation of recycled materials.

•Direct and indirect employment (employees, contractors, suppliers)

•Full-time vs. part-time employment•Productivity•Creativity and entrepreneurship•Workplace safety•Training and professional development•Personal self-development

•Health effects (raw material extraction and waste management)•Civic pride and responsibility (e.g. participation rates as a proxy)•Equity and fairness: the equitable distribution of costs and benefits of programs amongst various stakeholders.

•Improved overall quality of life (e.g. perceived value of cleaner/healthier environments)

*Customer relationships (value, loyalty and commitment by customers)*Supplier relationships (value and commitment by suppliers)*Reputation *Work place climate (e.g. Employee interrelationships, meaningful work, workplace stress, teams and team spirit)

*Workplace equity (incomes, age-sex distribution, women in management)

*Employee family quality of life*Financial investment/giving/donations to the community

•Reduced landfill and incineration•Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions•Energy consumption•Reduction in pollutants to air, land and water.

•Environmental quality risk •Ecosystem integrity/environmental protection

•Local disamenity (odor, vermin, traffic)

• Buildings• Machinery and equipment• Technology • Patents• Brands• Intellectual property (ideas,

innovations)• Management processes• Production processes• Databases

•Sales of recovered/recycled materials•Program Administration and Operating Costs, Investment Costs, Amortized Costs and Aftercare Costs:

• Alberta Used Oil Mgmt. Assoc.• Beverage Container Mgmt. Board• Alberta Recycling Mgmt. Authority

•Government spending on services and support•Industry/retail sector costs (fee collection and other financial costs)

•Household costs (direct costs associated with cleaning, sorting, delivery, and transportation)

•Transportation costs: fuel costs to transport wastes to collection points.

•Market disruption costs (due to reduced competition and costs incurred by industry)

•Savings (forgone operating costs) from extended landfills

•Avoided costs from siting and operational costs•Financial Liabilities: Debt and Accounts payable

HumanCapital

0

50

100

BuiltCapital

Natural Capital

Financial(Economic)

Capital

SocialCapital

Note: Items marked with an asterisk and italicized are items that are part of the Genuine Wealth framework for businesses but which will not necessarily be assessed for the Alberta Stewardship Program evaluation due to data limitations.

The benefits side of the GPI “income statement”:

Value of recovered materials in end markets.

Reduced landfill development and operational costs

Reduced environmental contamination and associated health risks of environmental impairment

Reduced environmental risks

Reduced costs of extraction/processing of virgin materials for products

Overall value of a cleaner/healthier environment

Employment benefits of a growing recycling industry

Avoided greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants

Resource conservation

Increased employment

Economic spin-offs such as tourism

Reduced liability

Energy savings

The cost side of the GPI “income statement”:

Program administrative and operational costs (direct and indirect)

Costs to government in the oversight role of Stewardship Programs

Costs to other parties (i.e., retail sector to collect eco-fees, public/household participation)

Any increased environmental impacts associated with the programs

Disruptions to the marketplace

Operating and amortized capital costs, including costs associated with collection, transportation, storage, recycling, reuse, and recovery of materials

Reduced employment

Nuisance or increased risk management costs

Energy use

Other unaccounted environmental and social costs

Summary of Monetized Costs / Benefits

Recycling Program Costs and Benefits (fiscal year 2004-2005)

COSTS Low Medium High

Program operating costs

Recycling incentives

Administration incl. amortization

Recycling development and promotion

Government support

Retail sector program support

Disruption in marketplace

Total Costs

BENEFITS Low Medium High

Reduction in GHG emissions

Avoided raw material use

Extended landfill life

Avoided siting and operational costs

Reduced environmental and human health liability

Direct employment

Indirect employment

Expanded economic activity

Community investment

Total Benefits

GHG Savings Through Recycling Beverage Containers

Material

Net Recycling Emissions vs

Landfill (MTCE/ tonne)*

Tonnes Diverted

(2004)

Net Emissions

(MTCE)

Glass (recycled) -0.12 35,021 -4,203

Glass (reused) -0.38 36,199 -13,756

PET -3.64 6,854 -24,947

HDPE -2.29 228 -523

Other plastic -1.82 44 -81

Aluminum -6.51 9,813 -63,883

Steel -1.16 253 -293

Polycoat -1.82 1,755 -3,194

Total System     -110,878

GHG Benefits from Tire Recycling

Estimated GHG $ reduction benefits

Low estimate ($27/tonne CO2)

European Carbon Trading Market

Value

Medium estimate

($85/tonne CO2)

High estimate ($142/tonne CO2)

Stern Review (Britain)

GHGs avoided (low impact scenario) 21,000 21,000 21,000

Total benefit $576,000 $1,776,000 $2,975,000

Benefit per tire recycled $0.14 $0.43 $0.72

       

GHGs avoided (high impact scenario) 138,000 138,000 138,000

Total benefit $3,788,000 $11,669,000 $19,549,000

Benefit per tire recycled $0.91 $2.81 $4.70

Tire Program CostsProgram Operating Costs

Program operating costs $19,190,287

Recycling incentives $11,555,722

Administration incl. amortization $862,042

Recycling development and promotion $6,772,523

Other Non‑Program Societal Costs

Government support $50,433

Retail sector program support $34,323

Disruption in marketplace $0

Total Program Costs $19,275,043

Tire Program Benefits

Low Medium HighSocietal Benefits

Reduction in GHG emissions $576,000 $10,063,000 $19,549,000

Avoided raw material use $7,500,000 $7,500,000 $7,500,000

Extended landfill life $12,800,000 $16,160,000 $19,520,000

Avoided siting and operational costs

$25,000 $62,000 $99,000

Reduced environmental and human health liability

$600,000 $2,000,000 $2,900,000

Direct employment $465,537 $728,667 $1,588,899

Indirect employment $498,561 $780,357 $1,701,612

Expanded economic activity — — —

Community investment $2,101,000 $2,101,000 $2,101,000

 Total Societal Benefits $24,566,098 $39,395,024 $54,959,511

Tire Program Net Benefits

Low Medium High

Net Annual Costs/Benefits $5,291,055 $20,119,981 $35,684,468

Net Annual Costs/Benefits per tire $1.27 $4.84 $8.58

Net Annual Costs/Benefits per Albertan**

$1.62 $6.18 $10.96

56

Recycling in Alberta

2004 Provincial Trends

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Generated Disposed Diverted

Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Quebec

Ontario

Manitoba

Sasksatchewan

Alberta

British Columbia

Data from the territories and PEI are not provided due to confidentiality reasonsSource: Statistics Canada 2006

kg/capita/year

Provincial Waste Disposal

Source: Stats Can 2008

Provincial Waste Disposal

Source: Stats Can 2008

Provincial Waste Diversion

Source: Stats Can 2008

Provincial Waste Diversion

Source: Stats Can 2008

City of Calgary

Blue Cart RecyclingService for single family homes

Community Recycling DepotsService for multi-family homes

Network of over 50 depots

Calgary Recycling Depot

Edmonton

Blue bag, curbside pickup of recyclables

Co-composter composts organics contained in the general waste stream

Depots for drop-off of multi-family recyclables

New program for blue bag collection of multi-family

Year-round EcoStation household hazardous waste drop-off

Edmonton Program

Airdrie

First Alberta community to implement “user-pay” garbage systemResidents assigned bag limit of 5 Bags in 1992

Annual reductions bag limit now 2

Drop-off depot for collection of recyclablesOpened new Westside recycling facilityParticipation rate – 72%

Population ~38,091

Strathcona County

Rural Alberta

Primarily drop-off depot collection of recyclables

Varied levels of service

Bag limits, user-pay and landfill bans common tools used to promote waste reduction

Edson & DistrictRecycling Depot

“[Packaging] stewardship is a concept by which industry, governments, and consumers assume a greater responsibility for ensuring that the manufacture, use, reuse, recycling, and disposal [of packaging] has a minimum impact on the environment.”

CCME Stewardship Definition

OECD defines EPR as an environmental policy approach in which a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle.

Extended Producer Responsibility Definition

Beverage Containers

Scrap Tires

Used Oil Materials

Electronics

Paint

Alberta Stewardship Programs- Regulated

Pesticide Containers (http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/protenf/pesticide/news/wastefacts98.html)

Dead Drugs (Envirx)

Portable Rechargeable Battery Collection (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation)

Covers Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) and Small Sealed Lead (Pb) rechargeable batteries.

Alberta Stewardship Programs - Non-Regulated / Voluntary

Beverage Container Recycling

Return system established in 1972

Containers are returned for deposit at over 278 collection sites in Alberta (216 bottle depots for all products and 62 retail locations for beer only)

1.6 billion containers collected and recycled in 2008 (77% return rate)

Beverage Container Management System

Deposit paid at retail level on ready to drink beverage containers (including milk)

10 cents on containers up to and including one litre

25 cents on containers larger than one litre

10 cents for beer bottles and cans

Container Recycling Fee (CRF) shown visibly on till slips – non-refundable

Scrap Tires

Program launched in 1992

Regulated retail advance disposal surcharge - $4.00

Program administered by non-profit stakeholder board (Alberta Recycling Management Authority – Tire Recycling Program)

Dedicated Fund

Board Funding StrategyPay for resultsValue-added products

Used Oil Management Program

Environmental Handling Charge (EHC) on new oil materials (oil, filters, plastic containers)

Industry-established non-profit, AUOMA, governs funds

Return Incentive (RI) paid for collection / transport to recyclers

Similar program in effect in BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario

Alberta’s Electronics Recycling Program

Launched October 2004

Environmental fees collected on the sale of new eligible electronics in Alberta. More than 300 collection sites across Alberta

Some communities hold e-waste roundup events

Over 2,800,000 units or 53,500 tonnes of electronic components recycled  

Paint Recycling Program

Launched April 1, 2008

Over 225 collection sites have been established throughout Alberta

Over 3.8 million litres of paint and 480,000 aerosol containers have been recycled

Stewardship Summary

Stewardship programs have been successful in diverting waste

Regulation provides level playing field to producers

Dedicated funds ensure targeted programs

DAOs maintain “arm’s length” from government

Recycling Council of Alberta

VisionZero Waste

Extended Producer Responsibility

Social Conscience

MissionTo Promote and Facilitate Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Resource Conservation in Alberta

Christina SeidelExecutive Director

403.843.6563

info@recycle.ab.ca

www.recycle.ab.ca