Policy Workshop- The Bigger Sustainability Picture- Impact of Reduction of Consumption & Waste on Climate Change: James Goldstein, Tellus Institute, shares the positive effects on environment, economy and infrastructure if MA commits to 75% waste diversion by 2030.

1. Impact of Waste Reduction &
Diversion on Climate Change
James Goldstein
Tellus Institute
Boston, MA
MassRecycle R3 Conference
Boxborough , MA
April 1, 2013

2. MassRecycle R3 Conference 2

3. 4/1/2013 slide 3MassRecycle R3 Conference
Study Framework
Study focused on the U.S. and includes:
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D)
Did not include other wastes (industrial, agricultural,
sludge)

4. 4/1/2013 slide 4
Base Case Scenario vs.
Green Economy Scenario
Base Case Scenario (“business as usual”)
Recent trends continue: per person waste generation
remains stable; population grows; recycling & composting
increase modestly
Green Economy Scenario (75% diversion rate)
Same assumptions re: waste generation and population;
enhanced national recycling & composting program
implemented
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5. 4/1/2013 slide 5
Key Findings
Achieving 75% waste diversion in 2030, in tandem with
supportive policies to encourage domestic manufacturing:
Creates 2.3 million jobs (1.1 million more than Base Case)
Significantly lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Reduces conventional and toxic pollutants impacting human
& ecological health
Other benefits
- reduces pressure on non-renewable resources
- conserves energy
- improves economic resiliency
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6. 4/1/2013 slide 6
U.S. MSW Management 2008
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U.S. MSW Management
2008
(1000 tons)
22,100
9%
135,190
54%
31,550
13%
60,770
24%
Diversion Recycled
Diversion Composted
Disposal Landfill
Disposal Incineration

7. 4/1/2013 slide 7
GHG, Other Pollution &
Employment Drivers
 Size of waste stream
 Composition (material types/characteristics)
 Management practices: disposal and recycling/ composting
have different labor intensities & different pollution profiles
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8. 4/1/2013 slide 8
MSW Waste Flows
2030 Scenario Comparison
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9. 4/1/2013 slide 9
C&D Waste Flows
2030 Scenario Comparison
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10. 4/1/2013 slide 10
Job Impacts
Base Case vs. Green Economy Scenario
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11. 4/1/2013 slide 13
Environmental Emissions Impacts
 Measured life-cycle material and energy inputs and
downstream outputs of wastes and pollution:
- Upstream phase – resource extraction, materials refining, and
product manufacturing
- Use phase – product use
- End-of-life phase – management of product discards
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12. 4/1/2013 slide 14
GHG Reductions
Base Case vs. Green Economy Scenario
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Green Economy Scenario GHG reductions equivalent to closing about 72
coal-fired power plants or taking 50 million cars off the road

13. 4/1/2013 slide 15
Total U.S. GHG Emissions
from MSW
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14. 4/1/2013 slide 16
Policies for
Green Economy Scenario
Diversion
Pay As You Throw (PAYT) pricing
Resource Management (RM) Contracting
Materials disposal bans (e.g., C&D)
Mandatory recycling/composting
Enhanced container legislation
Extended Producer Responsibility legislation
(“product stewardship” - e.g., packaging, batteries, electronics)
Domestic Manufacturing
Investment tax credits for manuf. equipment using recyclables
Government support for infrastructure & market development
Climate change legislation
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15. 4/1/2013 slide 17
National Study Conclusion
Strong evidence that an enhanced recycling and
composting strategy in the U.S. can significantly
and sustainably address critical national priorities
including lasting job creation, climate change, and
improved health.
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16. 4/1/2013 slide 18MassRecycle R3 Conference
Tellus Study for MassDEP’s
2010 Master Plan
 Assessment of Materials Management Options for the Solid Waste
Master Plan Review
 Summarized existing studies comparing lifecycle environmental
and economic impacts of:
- source reduction and materials reuse, recycling, and composting;
- alternative technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic
digestion; and
- disposal in municipal waste combustors and landfills.
 Applied study results to MA data to explore alternative future
vision for materials management in terms of environmental and
economic benefits.
- Incorporated recommendations for how options fit together to form a
cost-effective materials management system that maximizes resource
and economic values of materials formerly viewed as wastes.

17. 4/1/2013 slide 19MassRecycle R3 Conference
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

18. 4/1/2013 slide 21MassRecycle R3 Conference
Energy Use: Recycled & Virgin
Content Products (MJ/kg)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Recycled
Virgin

19. 4/1/2013 slide 22MassRecycle R3 Conference
Energy Savings:
Recycling vs Incineration (MJ/kg)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Recycling
Incineration

20. 4/1/2013 slide 23MassRecycle R3 Conference
CO2 Emissions: Recycled &Virgin
Content Products (kg eCO2/kg)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Recycled
Virgin

21. 4/1/2013 slide 25MassRecycle R3 Conference
CO2 Emissions:
Composting vs Disposal (kg eCO2/kg)
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
Yard
Debris
Food
Scraps
Paper
Composting
Incineration
Landfill

22. 4/1/2013 slide 26
Study for MA DEP 2010 Master Plan
Conclusions re: GHGs
 From a lifecycle environmental emissions perspective, source
reduction, recycling and composting are the most advantageous
management options for all (recyclable/compostable) materials in
the waste stream.
 From a lifecycle net energy perspective, waste diversion provides
the most benefit (3-4x incineration, gasification, pyrolysis)
 After maximizing diversion, appropriate to continue to monitor
alternative waste management technologies.
 Preference among alternative technology options based on
environmental performance is dependent on the relative
importance placed on CO2 emissions versus other pollutants.
- Modern landfills with efficient gas capture systems reduce more CO2
than other alternatives.
- Landfills are worse than alternative technologies for most other
pollutants.
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23. 4/1/2013 slide 27
Questions?
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