Zero Waste at Disney
City of Glendale Zero Waste Workshop
September 27, 2010
Marialyce Pedersen
© Disney
Senior Research & Content Development Representative
Disney Environmental Beginnings
© Disney
Disney environmental and animal
stewardship history dates back to
Walt Disney himself in the 1940s50s, well before current era of
corporate responsibility.
– True Life Adventures
– Smokey the Bear forest fire
prevention campaigns
– Mass transportation
(Monorail)
– Early “eco-village”: EPCOT
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY TODAY
Disney Corporate Responsibility team formed, 2007
Companywide Environmental Council established, 2007
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Develops internal and external sustainability strategy
Sets and tracks goals and medium-term targets
Guides policy and program development
Manages international labor relations
Oversees corporate giving
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Disney’s first annual CR Report was published (on-line only) in March 2009
•Interim update with progress against targets published in Spring 2010
In March 2009, Disney published its first greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory of
all facilities from 2006
•Disney has since completed inventories for 2007, 2008 and 2009
•$7 million Climate Solutions Fund investment in forestry conservation,
$1.5 million investment in emissions credits
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Disney Aspirational Goals, 2008
• Zero net direct greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduce indirect greenhouse gases from electricity
consumption
• Zero waste
• Net positive impact on ecosystems
• Minimize water use
• Minimize product footprint
• Inform, empower and activate employees, business
partners and consumers to take positive action for the
environment
Zero Waste
No discard left unexamined for repurposing!
The term “zero waste” is both pragmatic and visionary, and
suggests that the entire concept of waste be eliminated by
emulating sustainable natural cycles, whereby all discarded
materials are resources for use by others.
“If you’re not for zero waste, how much waste are you for?”
© Disney
Zero waste is defined as eliminating discards entirely where
possible through waste prevention initiatives, and diverting at
least 90% of discarded materials away from landfills (and
incinerators), pursuing the most efficient processing of those
materials, via reuse, recycling, composting or other technologies.
Economics of Sustainability
Mind the hierarchy!
reduce
(waste prevention
or “source
reduction”)
reuse
SOME
ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFIT
NO ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFIT
recycle
compost
anaerobic
digestion
Waste-to-energy
(incineration)
disposal
Easiest/Least Sustainable
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SIGNIFICANT
ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFIT
Difficult/More Sustainable
MAXIMUM
ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFIT
Economics of Sustainability
Sample avoided disposal and recycling savings
Based on US EPA data that average US trash collection and disposal costs are $70 to $200 per ton.
ITEM/
ACTIVITY
Food Bank
Reuse/
donation
tons
4.5
Grasscycling
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Bottles and
cans
Furniture
donations
Recycling
tons
300
Collection +
disposal
costs/ton*
Less
processing
costs
Estimated
savings
$77
None
$346
12,000
$77
None
$924,000
10
$200
<$1,000>
$1,000
$200
<$12,000>
$48,000
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Driving Cast Member Involvement
Don’t Talk Trash: Recycle! Recycle cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, cell phones,
electronics, electronic media (DVD, CD), landscape waste and construction
debris.
Reduce & Refill! Eliminate individual plastic water bottle use in backstage
operations and offices.
Double Up! Print and make copies using both sides of the page.
Branch Out! Use a minimum of 30% recycled-content paper for everyday printing
and copying.
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Take a Power Break! Turn off unnecessary lights.
Be a Low-Rider! Minimize driving alone during work hours by using
environmentally friendly options such as teleconference, videoconference,
carpools and public transit.
Venue: Request that the meeting or event venue complete and return an
environmental assessment checklist in advance of planning.
Education: Educate staff, exhibitors and attendees to ensure participation in
environmental initiatives that are in place at the event or meeting.
Communication: Avoid printing materials and disseminate information
electronically via email or a designated website.
Product: When promotional products are necessary, choose recycled-content or
reusable options. As an attendee, accept only giveaways that you will use.
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Recycling: Provide highly visible recycling bins. As an attendee, look for
opportunities to recycle.
Food and Beverage: Request that food and beverages be served in bulk containers
(e.g. condiments). Do not pre-pour beverages; offer pitchers or individual servings.
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Achieving high event diversion
Three-way collection: trash, recycling AND compost!
Company Travel: Minimize business travel by conducting virtual meetings
whenever possible.
Ground Transportation: When commuting on business trips, choose one of
the following alternatives:
Mass transit or shuttle-service
Carpool or shared taxi
Hybrid or low-emission rental or car service
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Lodging: Choose Disney-preferred lodging that is closest in proximity to your
business destination
Hotel Room Practices: During your stay, turn off unnecessary lights,
electronics, and air conditioning; reuse linens and towels; and recycle.
Reduce: Take only the napkins, condiments, and other disposable
items that you will actually use.
Reuse: Choose reusable food ware when dining at a commissary
or in your break room, where available.
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Recycle and Compost: Sort your waste into the appropriate
containers, including recycling, composting and trash, where
available.
Food Waste: Reduce food waste through careful consideration of
your servings when choosing or ordering meals and snacks.
Measuring Results: Quarterly Impact Reports
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Emissions (GHGs)
Electricity use
Waste
Green Standard:
– Awareness
– Water bottle usage
– Office paper use (virgin v. recycled)
– Business travel
– Average vehicle ridership (ridesharing) rates
Top 10 Recycled Materials, 2009
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Item
Tons
C&D
35,482
Asphalt
25,344
Biosolids
17,903
Grasscycling
14,126
Food Waste (donated, composted)
11,330
Landscaping/Yard Waste
4,949
Cardboard (loose and baled)
15,262
Animal Waste
7,554
Concrete
6,245
Paper (loose, shredded, mixed)
4,663
© Disney
External recognition for sustainability efforts
Marialyce Pedersen
Senior Research & Content Development Representative
Corporate Environmental Affairs
818/567-5096
Marialyce.pedersen@disney.com
© Disney
http://disney.go.com/crreport/home.html