Rhonda RollinsEPA Region 4

EPA Region 4

Recycling in Region 4

2012

The State of Garbage in the South

StateMSW Landfilled / WTE

(tons/yr)

Alabama 4.8 M

Florida 20.9 M

Tennessee 5.1 M

North Carolina 7.4 M

Kentucky 4.9 M

South Carolina 3.4 M

GeorgiaTotal

14.6 M61.1 M tons

*Sources: “The State of Garbage in America,” Oct. 2010, & Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 2009 Solid Waste Annual Report2

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Energy Savings: Recycled & Virgin Content Products (million BTUs/ton)

Source: Morris, Dr. Jeffrey, 2008. Measuring the Environmental Impacts of Discards Management: Models, Methods, & Results. EPA West Coast Webinar on Climate Change, Waste Prevention, Recovery, & Disposal.

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Why Should We Care about Recycling? – It’s a Regional Thing

EPA Region 4 disposes of $1.2 billion dollars worth of recyclables EVERY YEAR, yet

Georgia is home to the world’s largest Aluminum recycler

NC is home to the world’s largest PET plastics (#1) recycling plant

AL is home to world’s largest HDPE plastics (#2) recycler

TN has 11 pulp/paper mills, and 12 facilities that rely on recycled steel and aluminum

EPA / SERDC Economic Impact

Study

http://www.serdc.org/regionalresources

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www.serdc.org/regionalresources

Economic Power of Recycling in the Southeast

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Economic Aspect of Sustainability

Tennessee is home to 30 manufacturers who rely on recycled content feedstock.

These companies:

Make more than $4.3 billion in yearly sales

Employ more than 6,500 Tennessee citizens directly in the manufacture of recycled content products

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MRFs in the Southeast

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What About Processors/Convertors?

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TN-Specific Success StoriesTDEC reduced/recycled 780 tons, saving

the State $52,499 (2011)

FedEx, Memphis recycled 7,085 tons, for cost savings of $11.9 million, mostly waste prevention efforts (2011)

UT – Knoxville recycled 2,130 tons, saved $233,674 (2011)

TN Galvanizing (Jasper) recycled 142 tons, saved $409,750 (2011)

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City of Athens, Public Works recycled 3,632 tons, saving $22,731 (2010)

Ball Corporation (Dandridge) recycled 416 tons, saving $71,837 (2010)

Guy Brown Products, (Brentwood) - 67 tons, saved $6,000, & implemented “lights out day-lighting” (2009)

Frito-Lay, Fayetteville – recycled/composted 7,903 tons, saved $594,070 (2009)

Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corp – 2.5 tons, saved $400. (2009)

What’s Next?

Municipal Government Toolkit

www.epa.gov/region4/recycle

Follow the Link to the Toolkit

Draft Bill in Congressional Subcommittee to gather more info on recycling.

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Remember,

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Rhonda RollinsEPA Region 4

Materials Management Section

404-562-8664Rollins.rhonda@epa.gov