Action: WR RcycBus
ACTION PLAN DETAIL SHEET
Action Full Name: Business Recycling
Date: __12/16/09___ Work Group: ___FAWM___
Recommended Action: Increase recycling in the business sector
Action Overview
Interrelationships: Composting, Zero Waste Government
Goal/Effect: When organic matter is placed in landfills, it decomposes anaerobically, producing methane. Methane is a
GHG 21 times more powerful than CO
2
. Recycling organic materials, like office paper, paperboard, and corrugarted cardboard, prevents these emissions. Recycling consumes less energy than producing products from raw materials, cutting emissions that would have been used to produce that energy.
This action will:
1) Increase recycling of recyclables by 50% by 2015, 100% by 2020 and 500% by 2050.
2) Decrease land-filling of recyclables by 25% by 2015, 50% by 2020 and 90% by 2050 for all types of recyclables
3) Minimize energy consumption: Recycling conserves energy (5% for aluminum from scrap vs. ore, 26% for steel from scrap vs. iron ore, 30% for paper from scrap vs. trees)
4) Conserve material resources: 5708 Tons by 2015, 7610 Tons by 2020 and 19,025 Tons by 2050.
Strategies (high level activities/steps/tasks to implement the Action):
1. Conduct and publish initial audit/survey of monthly/yearly material amounts being recycled by volume for a representative sample of local businesses to establish a baseline number and to demonstrate the financial advantages to businesses of reducing land-filled waste and increasing recycling.
2. Inform all local businesses of the results of audit/survey, reduction goals and recommended actions.
3. Reduce: Evaluate suppliers of local companies for improvement opportunities in making packaging materials more recyclable. This will enhance value-chain upward relationships and reduce waste going out.
4. Reuse: Identify & Develop companies/industries that use recycled materials to create local value-added business opportunities.
5. Recycle: Secure a regional single stream recyclables Resource Recovery Park.
-Establish a Recycling Coop or City/County sponsored program in Durango for education, support and to connect businesses with needed resources to make their recycling efforts financially feasible.
6. Develop and implement Green Certification Program or Sustainability Rating System.
7. Continue measuring performance process each year for 5-10 year period or until goal is achieved.
Coverage: La Plata County businesses.
Responsibility: City of Durango, La Plata County and Private Businesses
Coordination/Support Required to Implement Action Plan:
Entity / Function Name
Scott Shadid
Phone
769-8523
Email Date contacted to discuss feasibility of action plan
Southwest Waste
Solutions
City of Durango, Dept. of
Sustainable Resources
Durango Compost
Greg Caton /
Mark Williams
Jenny Craig
375-5019
799-7614 scott@swwastesolutions.
com catongl@ci.durango.co.us
WilliamsML@ci.durango.co.
us jenny@durangocompost.
com
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File: WR_RcycBus.pdf

Action: WR RcycBus
ACTION PLAN DETAIL SHEET
Action Full Name: Business Recycling
SASCO
Phoenix Recycling
Southern Ute Tribe
Terry Woodward 816-803-
8470
Mark & Alex
Peter Diethrich
375-1300
563-0135 ext.
Dick White
Ed Lacy
Jack Lewelan
2238
382-8504 terryw@cosmoquest.com
pdieth@southernute.nsn.us rwhite@gobrainstorm.net
SASCO
New Ice Packaging
Durango Chamber
San Juan Basin
Recycling Association
Bondad Landfill/WCA
Waste Management
Bill Rose 505-634-
2510
Dennis Gallegos 505-327-
6284 wrose@wcamerica.com
dgallegos@wm.com
Implementation Opportunities, Barriers and Strategies
Educational (Training/Awareness) Strategies: \. Radio or Newspaper ads suggested.
Newspaper, Industry Publications, Internet Ads, E-mail campaigns, & Event participation needed
Implementation Mechanisms : (Law/Policy/Code Changes; Incentives (Economic, Payments, Market, nonmonetary); Livelihood and Business Opportunities; Other (explain). Provide specifics
-La Plata County Zero Waste Initiative and Resource Recovery Park are necessary for success of Action
-Business stewardship commitment to sustainability through greener supply chain practices, operational efficiencies, and Reduce/Reuse/Recycle/Compost philosophy & practices
-Opportunity for business that provides waste consulting service or employment as Sustainability Coordinators
- http://epa.gov/region4/recycle/businessrecycling.htm
Potential Barriers to Consensus and Suggested Alternative Solutions: Businesses may not be cooperative or responsive because they feel it will increase expenses or add to the work load for employees, but ultimately recycling results in reduced operating expenses. Adopting sustainable business practices by maximizing recycling means less waste being land filled and leads to an environmentally/socially responsible business.
The vendors hauling the trash may not want to lose revenues, but they could create positive publicity where consumers see them as providing more cost effective services and being more environmentally responsible by trying to divert waste from land-fills.
Potential Implementation Barriers and Suggestions to Overcome Barriers:
A lack of interest, cooperation or fear of additional expenses/work loads.
Durango has a small population and limited space for recycling center.
Create ways for businesses to advertise their success stories through Green Certification or Sustainability Rating System by increasing recycling volumes and use the positive publicity to showcase how they are doing their part to minimize the impact their business has on the environment and their commitment to sustainable business practices in waste.
Suggested Funding Mechanism:
Seek funding through 4CORE to increase awareness and advertise services.
Seek interns to conduct surveys and audits and to record recycling volumes.
Seek recycling incentive programs or tax credits from City of Durango and La Plata County
Collateral Benefits: Recycling can generate jobs at recycling facilities; Recycling reduces demand for limited natural resources used to manufacture products
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Action: WR RcycBus
Precedent(s) of Successful Implementation
Example/Story of Successful Precedent of Implementation (if available): http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2008rpt.pdf
http://wastewise.tms.icfi.com/re-trac/Volume-to-WeightConversionFactors.pdf
http://www.scan.org/Energy%20&%20Conservation%2008.pdf
Documentation of CAPPA inputs:
CAPPA Parameter
Waste Diverted from Landfill
(lbs/person/yr)
2015-L
269
2015-M
336
2015-H
403
2020-L
358
2020-M
447
Durango City Population
Percent of Recycled Material
Aluminum
Percent of Recycled Material Plastic
Percent of Recycled Material Steel
Percent of Recycled Material Glass
Percent of Recycled Material Paper
Percent of Recycled Material
Cardboard
ACTION PLAN DETAIL SHEET
Action Full Name: Business Recycling
17611 19434
1
1
2
19
43
34
21426 18509 21457
2020-H
536
Start
Date Source
Mark Williams
24839
Mark Williams
Mark Williams
Mark Williams
Mark Williams
Mark Williams
Mark Williams
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File: WR_RcycBus.pdf