Zero Waste

Omar FreillaGreen Worker CooperativesZero Waste Network Action

ConferenceAugust 27, 2004

for Economic and Environmental Justice

A WASTEFUL SOCIETY A WASTEFUL SOCIETY NEEDS NEEDS

A DUMPING GROUNDA DUMPING GROUND

Garbage Mantra No. 1

DISPOSAL FOLLOWS THE PATH OF LEAST

RESISTANCE

Garbage Mantra No. 2

Factors Affecting Siting Decisions

land value

strength of local

opposition

incomeracial

segregation

geography

facility location

Demographics of Waste in Demographics of Waste in NYCNYC

NYC has 53 waste transfer stations handling a total of 47,000 tpd

52% of City’s waste is handled in two neighborhoods:

Greenpoint/Williamsburg (Brooklyn) Hunts Point/Port Morris (The Bronx)

Also home to wastewater treatment, sludge pelletizing, radioactive waste, and thousands upon thousands of diesel trucks

The ConsequencesThe ConsequencesAsthma South Bronx asthma rate 2nd highest in United StatesLocal pollutants correlated with respiratory diseases and

other health problems

11,000 people

11,000 truck

trips

OdorsWastewater Treatment &Sewage Sludge pelletizingin Hunts Pointspreads foul odors over 4 sq

mi area

Heavy Truck Traffic

in Hunts Point

MORE & MORE MORE & MORE COMMUNITIES REFUSE TO COMMUNITIES REFUSE TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES SACRIFICE THEMSELVES

The modern environmental justice movement has grown since it’s southern origins in 1979

Environmental Justice & WasteEnvironmental Justice & Waste

Pre-Origins1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black

Sanitation Workers Strike – Memphis, TN

Origins in Trash1979 – Houston, TX - sanitary landfill protests

1983 – Warren County, NC - PCB landfill protests

1983 – US GAO study on haz waste landfill siting

1987 – Toxic Waste & Race study

1990 – Dumping in Dixie published

Fair Share Fair Share equal distribution of pollution equal distribution of pollution

Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction eliminate the threat before harm occurseliminate the threat before harm occurs shift burden of proof to pollutersshift burden of proof to polluters based on public health model of preventionbased on public health model of prevention

Extended Producer ResponsibilityExtended Producer Responsibility producer is responsible for a product’s consequences producer is responsible for a product’s consequences

throughout it’s entire life-cyclethroughout it’s entire life-cycle Full Public InvolvementFull Public Involvement Worker SafetyWorker Safety

EJ Family ValuesEJ Family Valuesmore than just NIMBYmore than just NIMBY

But what about the jobs?

Facing a pressing need for work in NYC South Bronx unemployment rate of 24%

highest in NYC (2000) NYC unemployment

from 5.7% (2000) to 8.5% (2003)

48% of Black Males out of work (2003)* 12% increase since 2000

*based on employment-population ratio, Community Service Society study

*graph prepared by AFL-CIO

*graph prepared by AFL-CIO

Yes! We want jobs but…Yes! We want jobs but…

Community & environmental health tradeoff Experience is that few local residents are ever

hired for facility operation or construction Hiring for all positions occurs mostly through personal

contacts – “It’s about who you know” Operations Jobs

Positions often require experience and skill training unavailable to community

Local jobs relegated to most dangerous, least paid, and temporary – with no benefits

Construction Jobs Local residents unrepresented by predominantly white unions

the Zero Waste Alternativethe Zero Waste Alternative

Reduces waste Creates new jobs Preserves natural

resources Reduces pollution

impacts associated with harvesting virgin materials

Mission: to promote economic and environmental justice

by creating worker-owned manufacturing cooperatives in the South Bronx that reduce

pollution and improve the environment

DeconstructioDeconstructionna tool for zero waste

What is Deconstruction?What is Deconstruction?

Definition The systematic disassembly of a structure to

recover its component materials for reuse

Levels of Deconstruction Skimming or soft-stripping Structural deconstruction Land reclamation

Benefits of DeconstructionBenefits of Deconstruction Reduces waste disposal costsReduces waste disposal costs

Avoided tipping feesAvoided tipping fees Recovered value of materialsRecovered value of materials

Reduces environmental impactsReduces environmental impacts Conserves landfill spaceConserves landfill space Reduces truck trips to distant landfillsReduces truck trips to distant landfills Conserves natural resources and the energy Conserves natural resources and the energy

used to consume themused to consume them Less heavy machinery means less dust and Less heavy machinery means less dust and

emissions, no on-site soil compaction or loss of emissions, no on-site soil compaction or loss of vegetationvegetation

Generates low-cost and hard to find Generates low-cost and hard to find building materialsbuilding materials

Creates jobsCreates jobs

Recoverable MaterialsRecoverable Materials

Items recovered for resale or reconditioning

Wood flooring, siding, trim and moldings

Clean lumber at least 4’ long Kitchen and bath cabinetry and

fixtures Unbroken windows Doors – interior, exterior,

security and screen Reusable tiles, bricks and

paving kitchen and bath sinks Bathtubs and toilets Faucets and plumbing Electrical and HVAC supplies Commercial storefront

equipment

Items recovered as scrap for recycling

Undersized or damaged wood pieces

(converted into mulch) Roofing shingles (ground for use in asphalt) Glass and metal too

damaged or small for reuse

Concrete (ground and used for fill) Bricks (crushed for use as a

mulch substitute) Unpainted drywall

Up to 85% of a building can be deconstructed or recycled*

*source: SanDecon

Deconstruction in the Deconstruction in the FieldField

The Presidio – Building 901 (1996)Location: San Francisco, CADeconstruction Partners: Beyond Waste, San Francisco

Community Recyclers, Wood Resource Efficiency Network

Materials Generated: 75,295 bf

Materials Recovered: 65,295 bf

Percent Recovered: 87%

Deconstruction cost: $53,000 Sales Revenue: $43,655 Net Cost: $ 9,345Competing Demo bid: $16,800

Deconstruction in the Deconstruction in the FieldField

Port of Oakland - Building 733 (1996)

Location: Oakland, CABuilding type: 3-acre single story wood

frameDeconstruction Partners: Beyond Waste

and the Youth Employment Partnership

Materials Generated: 643,000 bf

Materials Recovered: 450,000 bf

Percent Recovered: 70% * Deconstruction cost: $330,000 Sales Revenue: $280,000 Net Cost: $ 50,000Competing Demo bid: $150,000

* Does not include wood waste chipped for use as fuel

Deconstruction cost: $ 13,800Sales Revenue: $ 2,800 - $4,500 Net Cost: $9,000 - $10,800Estimated Demo cost: $7,000 - $10,000

Deconstruction in the Deconstruction in the FieldField

Riverdale Village Apartments (1997)Location: Baltimore County, MDBuilding type: 2,000 sq ft, 2-story pre-war brickLength of Project: 740 hoursDeconstruction Partners: Stop Corporation, National Association of Home Builders

Materials Generated: 127 tonsMaterials Recovered: 96.5 tons Percent Recovered: 76% reuse &

recycling23% reuse

Brick Vs. Wood brick requires more labor and yields less

The Green Institute Deconstruction Program

Minneapolis, MNfounded 1997 by the Green Institute Facility: 26,000 sq ft store,

3,000 sq ft warehouse Annual sales: $350,000 Launched to improve

quality and quantity of inventory at ReUse Center (founded 1995)

Due to space constraints, 60% of salvaged materials sell at deconstruction work sites or warehouse.

Green Institute formed to counter proposed waste transfer station

DECONSTRUCTION SERVICES / DECONSTRUCTION SERVICES / THE REBUILDING CENTERTHE REBUILDING CENTER

Portland, Oregonfounded 1999 by Our United Villages Facility: 62,000 sq. ft. store

24,000 sq ft building 38,000 sq ft yard Engaged in $2 million

capital campaign to expand facility

Annual Sales: $700,000 Deconstruction launched to

increase inventory at the Rebuilding Center (founded 1998)

Recycle NorthRecycle North

Burlington, Vermontfounded 2002 Facility: 10,000 sq. ft. store

Free space in city-owned building

Supplements household goods retail store

Annual Sales: $200,000

Urban Ore

Berkeley, Californiafounded 1980 Facility: 2 acre store

Free space in city-owned building Supplements household goods

retail store Annual Sales: $1.5 million Staff: 25 Developing a Recycling Industrial

Park with room for manufacturers that rely on recyclables

City and State providing support for Urban Ore Eco Park

New Life for Old StuffNew Life for Old Stuff

Vancouver Asphalt PlantLocation: Vancouver, Canada Architects: Busby & AssociatesSalvaged Material Content: 90%

A Cautionary Tale:the story of NYOFCO

NYOFCO pelletizes toxic sewage sludge into fertilizer

Handles 50% of City’s sludge

Operating 1992

Odors cover 4 sq. mile

Releases VOCs,NOx, heavy metals, and HAPs

Currently in violation of air, water, and solid waste permits

Is this Zero Waste?