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GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Waste Reduction Can Make a Difference
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Climate change and municipal solid waste-
two environmental issues with an. important
underlying link.
Rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
are causing changes in the Earth's climate. The man-
ufacture and distribution of products and the sub-
sequent management of solid waste contribute to
the emission of greenhouse gases. Recycling and preventing
waste help reduce the release of greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere.
This fact sheet illustrates the link between climate change
and solid waste, explains how waste reduction can help slow
the effects of climate change, and outlines the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) efforts to address
this important issue.
WHAT \s THE GREENHOUSE
EFFECT?
The atmosphere that surrounds the Earth contains
many types of gases, including those known as
"greenhouse gases." Greenhouse gases absorb and
retain heat from the sun. They regulate the Earth's
climate by holding warmth in an atmospheric blanket
around the planet's surface. Scientists call this phenomenon
the "greenhouse effect."
Without greenhouse gases, the average temperature on
Earth would be 5°F instead of the current 60°F. Excess
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, however, raise global
temperatures.
Waste and Emergency Resr
-••';• Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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1.
2.
W THE
IUENCES OF CLIMATE
What's so bad about warm days and balmy
nights? Why try to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions? Unfortunately, increased con-
centrations of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere will not create a worldwide tropical paradise.
The Earth's atmosphere supports a balanced variety of
climates on which diverse ecosystems depend. Human
activities that thicken the gaseous "greenhouse" around the
planet threaten to disrupt that balance.
In the last 100 years, scientists have detected an increase
of 1°F in the Earth's average surface temperature. There is
international scientific concensus that human activity is
responsible for some of this increase. A rise of only a few
degrees in the Earth's average temperature could result in:
Just as a heavy coat holds in
your body heat on a winter
day, greenhouse gases retain
the Earth's heat. Imagine,
though, if you couldn't take off
your parka in August.
• Rising sea levels, causing inland and coastal flooding.
• Shifting weather patterns, affecting where crops are
able to grow.
• Increased mortality from heat stress.
• The spread of infectious diseases.
• Alterations in ecosystems, resulting in the extinc-
tion or migration of species.
Such changes could damage communi-
ties and national economies as
well as alter the natural world.
Of course, many uncertainties
remain. No one can predict the
precise timing, magnitude,
and regional patterns of
future climate change. Nor
can anyone foretell the abilities
of humankind and nature to adapt to such changes.
It is clear, however, that any climate changes will not be
easily reversed. Because greenhouse gases remain in the
atmosphere a long time, turning back climate changes may
take decades or even centuries.
How ARE EPA's WASTE
REDUCTION PROGRAMS HELPING
To REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE?
The United States is committed to reducing
greenhouse gases. In 1992, along with 160 other
signatories to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, the United
States entered into an international commitment to
address global warming. In October 1993, the Climate
Change Action Plan (CCAP) was initiated to carry out our
country's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emis-
sions. The plan outlines more than 50 initiatives designed
to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by
the year 2000.
What Are Greenhouse Gases?
Some greenhouse gases occur
naturally in the atmosphere, while
others result from human activities.
Naturally occurring greenhouse
gases include water vapor, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and
ozone. Human activities, however,
add to the levels of most of these
naturally occurring gases:
Carbon dioxide is released to the
atmosphere when solid waste, fossil
fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and
wood and wood products are burned.
Methane is emitted during the produc-
tion and transport of coal, natural gas, and
oil; the decomposition of organic wastes
in municipal solid waste landfills; and the
raising of livestock.
Nitrous oxide is emitted during
agricultural and industrial activities as
well as during combustion of solid
waste and fossil fuels.
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The Link Between Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases
Harvesting trees,
extracting oil and
ores, and trans-
porting these raw
materials emit
greenhouse gases.
Increased GHG
Emissions
Decreased GHG
Emissions
Waste prevention
and recycling delay
the need to extract
some raw materials,
lowering green-
house gases emit-
ted during
extraction
Manufacturing
products releases
greenhouse gases
during processing
and as energy is
expended.
Increased GHG
Emissions
Decreased GHG
L. Emissions
Waste prevention
means fewer prod-
ucts are made, and
making products
from recycled mate-
rials requires less
energy. Both lower
greenhouse gases
emitted during
manufacturing.
Burning waste in
an incinerator
emits
greenhouse
gases.
Increased GHG
Emissions
Decreased GHG
t Emissions
Waste prevention
and recycling
reduce the amount
of waste sent to
incinerators,
lowering the
greenhouse gases
emitted when
waste bums
are emitted
as waste
decomposes
in landfills.
Increased GHG
Emissions
Decreased GHG
Emissions
Waste prevention
and recycling
reduce the amount
of waste sent to
landfills,
lowering the
greenhouse gases
emitted as waste
decays.
EPA is implementing several initiatives aimed at lower-
ing the greenhouse gases caused by solid waste generation
and disposal. EPA estimates that waste prevention and
recycling initiatives—including composting—can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5.6 million metric
tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE) by the year 2000
and perhaps by as much as 10 MMTCE by that time. Ten
MMTCE is almost 10 percent of the total U.S. goal for
greenhouse gas reduction under CCAP and is equivalent
to taking 7.7 million cars off the road for 1 year.
Waste reduction curtails greenhouse gas emissions in
several ways, including:
• Energy savings and reduced emissions. Making
goods from recycled materials typically requires less
energy than making goods from virgin materials.
Less energy is necessary to extract, transport, and
process raw materials and to manufacture products
when products are reused, fewer products are creat-
ed, or products are made with less material (i.e.,
light-weighting). When energy demand decreases,
fewer fossil fuels are burned and less carbon dioxide
is emitted to the atmosphere.
Reduced emissions from incinerators. Waste pre-
vention and recycling divert materials from inciner-
ators, avoiding the greenhouse gases that would be
emitted during incineration.
Reduced methane emissions from landfills. Waste
prevention and recycling—including composting—
divert organic wastes from landfills, reducing the
merJiane diat organics generate during decomposition.
Increased storage of carbon in trees. Paper product
waste prevention and recycling slows the harvest of
trees (i.e., more trees are left standing). Forests take
large amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmos-
phere and store it in wood.
Greenhouse gases that are not
naturally occurring include byprod-
ucts of foam production, refrigeration,
and air conditioning called chloroflu-
orocarbons (CFCs), as well as
hydrofluorocarbons (MFCs) and
perfluorinated carbons (PFCs)
generated by industrial processes.
Some gases, like CFCs, destroy
the ozone layer. This reduces
ozone's effect as a greenhouse gas
but also diminishes its capacity to
protect us from the sun's harmful
ultraviolet rays.
Each greenhouse gas differs in its
ability to absorb heat in the atmos-
phere. MFCs and PFCs are the most
heat absorbent. Methane traps over
20 times more heat than carbon diox-
ide, and nitrous oxide absorbs 270
times more heat than carbon dioxide.
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EPA's efforts to encourage waste reduction and reduce green-
house gas emissions include the following programs:
• WasteWi$e. WasteWiSe is a voluntary partnership
between EPA and U.S. businesses to prevent waste,
recycle, and buy and manufacture products made with
recycled materials. In 1994, the program's first year,
370 companies reduced or recycled over 1 million tons
of waste.
• Pay-As-You-Throw Programs. EPA is providing tech-
nical and outreach assistance to encourage communities
to implement pay-as-you-throw systems for solid waste.
These systems charge residents a fee for each bag of
trash they leave at the curb for disposal. The incentives
created by pay-as-you-throw programs typically result
in average waste reductions of 25 to 45 percent. When
residents pay directly tor trash services, they tend to
recycle more and seek out products that result in less
waste when discarded. Through their purchasing choic-
es, consumers will send a message to manufacturers.
• EPA/CBOT Partnership. With support from EPA,
the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) links buyers and sell-
ers of recyclables through a nationwide, online recycling
commodity exchange. Traders peruse online information
about recyclables' specifications, price terms, quantities, and
locations. Exchange activities increase markets for products
made with recycled materials, thereby diverting more mate-
rials from the waste stream.
THE BALANCE SHEET:
MEASURING CLIMATE CHANGE
BENEFITS OF WASTE REDUCTION
EPA is researching ways to estimate and compare the
greenhouse gases generated by the following waste man-
agement options: waste prevention, recycling, compost-
ing, landfilling, and incineration. The goal is to have the
ability to estimate the greenhouse gases emitted by each waste
management option for six types of materials: paper (office
paper and newspaper), corrugated cardboard, aluminum and
steel cans, plastic (HOPE, LDPE, and PET),
food scraps, and yard trimmings. Research to
date indicates that waste prevention and
recycling can significantly reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
For More Information
To learn more about EPA's effort to minimize global climate
change through waste reduction, call EPA's RCRA Hotline at
800-424-9346. Individual climate change fact sheets are also
available for EPA waste reduction programs that are helping to
curb greenhouse gas emissions. For more information on
WasteWiSe, call 800 EPA-WISE; For general information on cli-
mate change, use EPA's Fax-On-Demand Line at 202-260-
2860 or write to: EPA, Climate Policy and Programs Division
(2122), 401M Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20460. You can
access EPA's website on global warming at:
http://www.epa.gov/globwarm
Greenhouse Gases Generated by Two Waste Management Scenarios:
The Office Paper Case
1. Landfill
Scenario
Each step releases varying amounts of greenhouse gases.
2. Recycling
Scenario
Trees are harvested.
Logs are transported to
a paper manufacturer
Paper is
manufactured.
Workers use
and dispose
of paper.
Trash is collected
and transported
to a landfill.
Paper is buried
in the landfill.
Total
GHGs
Landfilling
generates
more
greenhouse
gases than
recycling.
Fewer trees are
harvested.
Fewer logs are
transported to the
paper manufacturer.
Less paper from Workers i
virgin material and recycle i
Is manufactured.
ufactured.
Total
GHGs
Recycling
generates
less
greenhouse
gases than
landfilling.
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