Development of a Recycling ProgramA Melding of Law, Grassroots, and Environmental Champions

Pamela Egan

September 28, 2016

2016 NMRC Conference

NASA White Sands Test Facility

• Las Cruces, NM.

• Built early 1960s.

• Aerospace testing,

includes hazardous

materials (RCRA).

• Current Population

approximately 600.

Early Days (1980 – 2000)

Recycling by Mandate...

• 1976 RCRA - EPA wants recycling of hazardous materials. WSTF

basically recycling what is required: scrap metal, spent batteries,

spent solvents, used oil.

• 1993 Executive Order (E.O.) 12873, 1998 E.O. 13101 - Clinton

orders all federal agencies to make recycling (and buying green)

part of daily activities.

• Add to the list: white paper

Note: WSTF is involved in many other required environmental stewardship activities,

but for purposes of this talk the focus is on recycling only.

Early Days (1980 – 2000)

RCRA recycling stirs other ideas, small network of

dedicated recyclers, beginnings of grassroots movement

Employee Volunteers:

• Collect plastic bottles and transport to city center.

• Collect shredded paper and donate to animal shelter.

• Donate unused items to education institutions.

• Collect eye glasses for Lions Club.

Early Days (1980 – 2000)

Desired Behavior

Challenges Solutions

Compliance with Environmental

Law andPresidential

E.O.s

• Major change, slow start.

• E.O. slow trickle down, enforcement weak, compliance soft.

• Decentralized responsibility.

• No recycling infrastructure.

• Reporting.

• Centralized responsibility.

• Developed collection areas (primitive).

• Identified vendors.• Started monitoring

and measuring.• RCRA Training.• Add white paper and

cardboard.

Growth & Development (2000-2015)

Milestone in 2000, WSTF implements an Environmental

Management System (EMS):

2000 E.O. 13148 – Clinton orders all federal agencies to

incorporate environmental management into overall

management.

WSTF EMS certified to ISO 14001.

- In-house program.

- Enforceable.

- Continual improvement.

Growth & Development (2000 – 2015)

• Natural Resources, Water, Energy Use.

- Materials Management (WSTF Logistics).

- WSTF Energy Manager appointed.

Assessment of Environmental Impacts

Environmental

Management Programs

(EMPs)

Growth & Development (2000-2015)

Another milestone in 2005, a team is created...

WSTF Energy Manager creates WSIT (WSTF Sustainability

Initiative Team) to help raise site awareness. Team leader

researches energy mandates, determines WSTF not on track

with many E.O.s. (Energy, Water, P2, Buying Green).

2006 – EMP for Sustainability initiated, WSIT mission

broadened to encompass all Green E.O. requirements. Lowest

hanging fruit – recycling program.

2007 - E.O. 13423, Bush orders government agencies to

implement recycling programs & increase diversion solid waste.

Recycling takes off!

Growth & Development (2000-2015)

2009 - E.O. 13514 and in 2015 – E.O. 13693, Obama

orders federal agencies to operate sustainably, goals set,

targets (50% solid waste diversion by 2015), adds food

waste, compostables, C+D, and anything else that

makes sense.

Growth & Development (2000 - 2015)

WSIT becomes KEY in developing WSTF’s Recycling

Program:

Recycling awareness training.

• Recycling improvement ideas.

• Recycling incentives, awards, and events.

• Takes WSTF recycling beyond requirements.

WSIT Accomplishments

WSIT are the Environmental Champions at WSTF:

Assumed oversight of WSTF solid waste contract in 2012, single

stream and C+D added.

Partnering with WSTF Logistics for more recycling and

repurposing.

Successfully petitioned management for site recycling center.

Management of recyclables; grass roots, ED techs, to maintenance

department.

Became an officially recognized WSTF Team, able to work with

various NASA boards.

Participated with South Central Solid Waste

Authority (SCSWA) Committees, city SS curb-

side recycling, glass recycling.

Asphalt &

Concrete Grinding,

Wood Chipping

Project

WSIT Accomplishments

Electronics recycling with

UNICORE, wood and plastic

donations to local high schools

WSIT Accomplishments

Recycling Station

Upgrade Project

← Before

After →

WSIT Accomplishments

Incentives, Awards, and

Initiatives:

• Get Caught Recycling.

• Quarterly Green Star Award.

• Pledge to Recycle.

• Kick the Can.

WSIT Accomplishments

WSIT Accomplishments

Batteries (all types)

Chemicals (8)

Construction Materials (10)

Electronics/Lamps (7)

Fluids, Used Petroleum (5)

Food Grease

Metals (12)

Misc. (10)(bar soap to

Fire extinguishers to

Yard Waste)

Office Supplies (6)

Paper (all types)

Peacekeeper Missiles

Plastics (8)

Single Stream Material

Space Shuttle (fuel

Cells)

Vehicle, oil filters, and

tires

Items currently recycled...

WSIT Accomplishments

With the help of WSIT, WSTF has reached above

and beyond their requirements...

Year Total Recyclables Solid Waste Diversion

2000 70,380 lbs 12%

2015 2,897,872 lbs 94%

15 Year Total 31,262,069 lbs 83%

Growth & Development (2000-2015)

Desired Behavior Challenges Solutions

• Top to bottom awareness.

• Recycling part of life at WSTF and why.

• Recycling process knowledge.

Aware of recycling goals.

• Brag about program.

• Negative attitudes.• Resistance to

change.• Management

interest shifts.• Funding.• Who picks it up?• Re-purposing ideas.• Federal Property

Rules.

• Better tracking of E.O.s.

• ISO vehicle.• Dedicated recycling

team (WSIT).• High profile

Awareness Program.• Maintenance

contractor picks it up.

• Formal training (new hire briefing, annual training classes).

• Improved tracking and reporting system.

• Beautified stations to draw attention.

Looking to the Future...2016 & Beyond

Desired Behavior Challenges Solutions

• Input from all departments.

• More accountability for all departments.

• Recycle more items, capture more metrics.

• Deepen recycling and sustainability mindset.

• Management buy-in (employees have great ideas).

• Funding.• Finding advocates

other than WSIT members.

• Formed Site-wide Sustainability Working Group (S2WG).

• S2WG supported under ISO.

• Funded for 1 year.• Developing database

for site-wide use.• “Cort’s List”.

Recycling is not just an Environmental Department

function...it is everybody's business.

Summary

Basic RCRA recycling + Grass roots efforts formed foundations of

program.

ISO 14001 EMS brings recycling to management spotlight, programs

initiated, resources are dedicated.

Biggest contributor to program success is the WSIT – never

underestimate the power (and patience) of a small group of dedicated

people.

E.O.s allow us the argument, “But we have to do it”, developed with

time; more commitment, specificity, and accountability through reporting

requirements.

WSTF behavior changes from simple compliance to above and beyond

recycling to doing it because it is right for the environment.

Full circle – across departments, to Environmental Department, back to

across departments with S2WG

Awards

• NMRC Federal Facility Award in 2010 – work with SCSWA in

getting Electronics Recycling.

• EPA's Federal Green Challenge Award in 2014 –

asphalt/concrete/wood chipping project.

• NMRC Recycling Innovation Award in 2014 – Space Shuttle Fuel

Cell Precious Metal Reclamation & Recycling.