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ChicagoChicago’’s Working Towards s Working Towards Zero Waste Zero Waste

SWANA Florida Sunshine Chapter SWANA Florida Sunshine Chapter 2008 Senior Managers Conference2008 Senior Managers ConferenceSt. Augustine, FloridaSt. Augustine, Florida

Chris Martel, P.E., BCEE, LEED APChris Martel, P.E., BCEE, LEED APPrincipal EngineerPrincipal EngineerPast President Past President –– Illinois SWANA ChapterIllinois SWANA Chapter

January 22, 2007January 22, 2007

Why Zero Waste?Why Zero Waste?

!Mayor Richard M. Daley announced his vision for Chicago to be “the greenest City”

!Stagnant recycling percentages!Apathetic public sentiment

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City of Chicago Zero Waste InitiativesCity of Chicago Zero Waste Initiatives

! Zero Waste Strategy ! Separate Recyclables Collection! HHW & E-Waste Recycling Facility! Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance ! Multi-unit Residential Recycling! Stadium Recycling! Food Waste Composting! Materials Exchange Website! Tire Bounty Days! Turn Green Into Blue Program

CDM-Assisted Projects in Gold

Zero Waste Strategy Zero Waste Strategy -- ApproachApproach

! Define “Zero Waste” for Chicago! Assess waste/recycling quantities ! Identify opportunities for infrastructure

improvement! Identify business opportunities and job creation! Propose regulatory reform and incentives! Proposals to advance community commitment! Identify stakeholders! Assess waste recovery technologies

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Redefining Waste Management as Redefining Waste Management as Resource ManagementResource Management

! Zero landfilling is a piece of a greater zero waste concept

! Zero waste planning requires a new way of looking at waste

Continued Refocusing on Source Continued Refocusing on Source Reduction Leads to Zero WasteReduction Leads to Zero Waste

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Residential - 26%

Commercial - 15%

Industrial - 4%

C&D - 55%2006 Waste/Recycling Rates2006 Waste/Recycling Rates

50.7%3,362,3006,633,000Total91.1%445,000488,300Other

3%2,00066,300ElectronicsN/AN/A119,300TextilesN/AN/A218,800Roofing ShinglesN/AN/A156,300Drywall5.8%30,000520,500Food Waste36.6%145,000396,400Wood74.3%931,0001,252,500Concrete/Brick/Rock33.5%116,000346,700Landscape waste83.6%1,263,0001,510,400Metals1.5%6,000390,800Plastic51.9%80,000154,100Glass34.2%344,0001,004,500Paper

PercentRecycled

Recycled(tons/yr)

Generated(tons/yr)Waste Type

Zero Waste Strategy Zero Waste Strategy –– Waste to EnergyWaste to Energy! SWMP and ordinance prohibit incineration ! Request for Information issued for alternative

technologies! Evaluated on technological viability,

environmental impact and financial feasibility! Gasification came to the forefront! Site specific

analysis lacked economic feasibility

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Zero Waste Strategy Zero Waste Strategy –– FindingsFindings

!Zero Waste Goal unlikely without food/yard waste infrastructure and WTE

!Reduce each waste stream regardless of inherent value

!Education must be executed early in the process and should evolve with the strategy

!Lead by example!Efforts constrained by low tip fees!Provide incentives and disincentives to align

economics

Prioritized ImplementationPrioritized Implementation

Note: The size of the data point is relative to the corresponding material’s toxicity and/or longevity in a landfill.

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Separate Recycling CollectionSeparate Recycling Collection

!City collects half of Chicago's residential waste

!2006: Blue Cart program was piloted in 8,000 homes

!2007: Expanded to 80,000 homes

!2008+: City wide rollout to 600,000 households

!Participation increased to 80% during initial pilot

!New education campaign in 2008

Separate Recycling CollectionSeparate Recycling Collection

! Conversion from “Blue Bag” to “Blue Cart”

! Reassess collection routes (wards vs. zip codes)

! Consider other methods for increased collection efficiency

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Goose Island HHW/Electronics Goose Island HHW/Electronics Recycling FacilityRecycling Facility

Why is this facility any different than Why is this facility any different than the rest?the rest?

! Seeking USGBC LEED Gold Certification

! Renovation of former city animal incinerator

! Electronics training center

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Green AspectsGreen Aspects! 52% of site (non-building area) was

restored! Native plantings decrease watering

needs by 50%! Use of ultra low-flow lavatories and

low-flow shower reduced building water consumption by 23%

! Exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 Energy consumption requirements by 27%

! Heat Recovery Ventilation improves HVAC efficiency by up to 77%

! Built out of existing building and maintains 79% of the existing shell and structure

! 83% of demolition and construction waste was recycled

Green Roof InstallationGreen Roof Installation

! Green roof over 58% of roof surfaces! Permeable paving, a green roof, bioswales and

cistern reduces runoff rate by 25%

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Reduce Energy ConsumptionReduce Energy Consumption

! Exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 energy consumption requirements by 27%

! Heat Recovery Ventilation improves HVAC efficiency by 77%

! Solarwall Air Heating Technology reduces HVAC costs by 20% per year

ExEx--Offender Electronics Recycling Offender Electronics Recycling Training ProgramTraining Program

! 20-30 trainees per session! 4-week training sessions! Successful job placement! Classroom and hands-on

training in electronic deconstruction and rebuilding

! Refurbished computers designated for Computers for Schools program

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C&D Debris RecyclingC&D Debris Recycling

! Construction or Demolition Site Waste Recycling Ordinance - 50% in 2007

! Enforced via building permits! CDM assessed the infrastructure available to

support the new ordinance

Recycling at MultiRecycling at Multi--Unit Residential Unit Residential BuildingsBuildings

! Recycling rates between 5% and 10%

! Chicago awarded $40k Resource Conservation Challenge Grant!Development of a

Recycling Plan and a Resource Kit

!Pilot Projects!Revisions to recycling

ordinance

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Recycling at StadiumsRecycling at Stadiums

! Large quantity of waste generated “on-the-go” in parks, public venues, and on transit systems

! Sport stadiums host millions of spectators per year

! Typically 10% recyclables recovered

! Chicago awarded $20k Resource Conservation Challenge Grant! Audits and pilot projects at participating

stadiums! Development of BMPs and a Stadium

Recycling Standard

Organic Waste Composting PilotOrganic Waste Composting Pilot

! Reuse of Northwest incinerator site! Feasibility assessed best technology and cost/regulatory

implications! In-vessel technology ! Initial capacity: 45 tons/month organic waste from

restaurants and yard waste! Start up - Summer 2008

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Chicago Materials Exchange WebsiteChicago Materials Exchange Website

!Website created to facilitate matching of excess construction materials with project sites.

!Targeted materials include soils, landscape materials, fencing.

!Website will track quantities of material, cost savings and GHG emission savings

!Funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

! Initial launch to City Departments and Sister Agencies in October 2007 with expansion to private sector in 2008.

Chicago Materials Exchange WebsiteChicago Materials Exchange Website

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Other City Waste Reduction ProgramsOther City Waste Reduction Programs

! Tire Bounty Days – Program gives incentive to clean up abandoned tires throughout the city

! Turn Green Into Blue Program – City annually collects Christmas trees for chipping into mulch

! Green Certification – Developing program programs to “certify” restaurants and hotels based on operations

! Incentive-Based Recycling – Developing program to encourage residential recycling

ConclusionsConclusions

! View waste as a commodity! Set realistic definition of “Zero”! Set realistic timeline for implementation! Implement “low-hanging fruit” programs first! Start working on tougher battles now! Use regulatory reform & incentives/disincentives

to changes economics ! There is no magic bullet program! Tie benefits to GHG and climate change to help

support initiative

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Questions??????Questions??????

"Christopher M. Martel, P.E., BCEE, LEED AP

Principal Engineer

email: martelcm@cdm.com

phone: (312) 346-5000consulting • engineering • construction • operations