Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Recycling

1
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Recycling

• 2009 National Tribal Forum
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2
Climate Change and Waste

• Greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the
  manufacture, distribution, and use of everyday
  products this includes how we manage the
  resulting waste.
• Solid waste reduction and recycling can help
  address global climate change.
• Reducing methane emissions, saving energy, and
  increasing forest carbon sequestration are a
  direct result of waste reduction, prevention, and
  recycling.

3
What are Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

• Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that trap heat
  in our atmosphere.
• Some greenhouse gases occur naturally, such as
  carbon dioxide however they are also caused by
  human activities.
• Other greenhouse gases are only caused by human
  activities (fluorinated gases).
• The principle greenhouse gases caused by human
  activities are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
  oxide, and fluorinated gases.

4
How Does Solid Waste Disposal Create Greenhouse
Gas Emissions?

• Anaerobic decomposition of waste in landfills
  produces methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more
  potent than carbon dioxide.
• Carbon dioxide is created as a by-product of
  waste incineration.
• Transporting waste for disposal causes greenhouse
  gas emissions from the fuel combustion of the
  transport vehicles.
• The cycle of production to waste to production
  also causes emissions from fossil fuels for
  acquiring and manufacturing of items.

5

6
Waste Management to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

• Waste prevention, recycling, and composting
  divert organic wastes away from landfills
  lowering methane gas created from decomposition.
• Waste prevention and recycling reduces emissions
  from incinerators.
• Recycling saves energy thus reducing emissions.

7
Voluntary Recycling Program

• Pechanga Environmental Department and
  Chámmakilawish School began a volunteer recycling
  program in January 2008
• The program began at the School and Government
  Center where each office was given a recycle bin
  for paper. Multi-use areas have bins for paper,
  cans, plastic, and glass
• The students picked-up the recycling every two
  weeks and put in the main recycling bins outside.

8
Voluntary Recycling Program

• Request approval for recycling program
• Outreach
• Community
• Interdepartmental
• Other Tribal Facilities
• Involve Youth
• Present info at afterschool program or in
  newsletter
• Encourage volunteer participation of youth groups

9
Voluntary Recycling Program Cont.

• Bi-weekly pick-ups were not enough so the
  cleaning crew now picks-up the recycling and dump
  into the outside bins which have been changed
  from a once month pick-up to once a week.
• The program expanded quickly to include all other
  facilities on the main reservation. The Resort
  and Casino have been recycling for several years.
• Bins were also handed out to the Tribal Members
  at the 2008 Annual Tribal Earthday.

10
(No Transcript)
11
Voluntary Recycling Program Cont.

• Recycling includes mixed paper, cardboard, cans,
  bottles, and plastic.
• Developed a list of office supplies made from
  recycled materials pens, paper, binders, etc.
• Developed an additional list of items made from
  recycled and/or recyclable materials tissue,
  cups, utensils, etc.
• The program also includes the pick-up of
  household appliances, computer technology, tires,
  batteries, light bulbs, paint, junk cars, etc.

12
Voluntary Recycling Program Cont.

• Household Appliances
• VCRs, DVD CD players
• Sound and stereo systems
• MP3 players, Cassette players, and Gaming systems
  
• Telephones cell phones
• Microwave ovens
• Dishwashers
• Washers dryers
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Lamps
• Toasters
• Fans
• Air conditioners
• Vacuum and steam cleaners
• Electric generators
• Adapters and batteries

• Computer Technology
• Computer towers, Speakers, Keyboards, Monitors,
  etc.
• Microphones, Headsets, Webcams, etc.
• External hard drives
• Printers, Scanners, Computer instruments
• Spare parts
• Laptops, Servers
• CRT Video Devices
• LCD monitors, LCD TV
• Plasma devices
• DLP projection TVs
• Projectors, Console TVs

13
Greening TribalResorts and Casinos

• More and more Tribal Resorts and Casinos are
  forming Green Teams to implement and promote
  recycling, sustainability, and energy
  conservation.
• Get approval to begin a greening program.
• Planning Concepts that can be used in all areas
  of the reservation Identify Issues, Plan
  Solution, Act on Plan.
• Conduct a waste characterization study, develop a
  waste reduction plan which will show cost and
  energy savings.

14
Greening TribalResorts and Casinos Cont.

• Evaluate potential environmentally friendly
  activities.
• Implement to complement existing Tribal
  Facilities and Economic Development planned for
  future proposed projects.
• Highlight the benefits at all levels
• - Tribal Level Recycling cuts cost of
  disposal
• - Casino Level Good public relations
• - Community Level Recycling creates jobs and
  protects natural resources for future
  generations

15
Greening TribalResorts and Casinos Cont.
16
Hotel and Resort Recycling

• Cardboard
• Glass mix
• Plastic mix
• Tin food cans
• Paper mix
• Aluminum Cans
• Steel, aluminum, and plastic scrap

17
Ideas for Future Recycling

• Change-out fluorescent bulbs for efficient LEDs
• Composting
• Solar power
• Bio-fuel
• Replace appliances with energy star appliances

18
Websites

• Climate Change and Waste http//www.epa.gov/cli
  matechange/wycd/waste/index.html
• WasteWise
• http//www.epa.gov/wastewise
• Green Business Program
• http//www.greenbiz.org
• Environmental Management System
• http//www.epa.gov/ems/info/index.htm

19
Websites Cont.

• USEPA Waste Reduction http//www.epa.gov/osw/re
  cycle.htm
• Waste Reduction Tips for Hotels and Casinos in
  Indian Country http//www.epa.gov/tribalmsw/odf
  txt/casinotips.pdf
• USEPA Wastes
• http//www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm
• Tribal Case Studies http//www.epa.gov/epawaste
  /wycd/tribal/tribprog.htm