WASTE : Linking the local and global crises Verona, May 25 2007 Dr Paul Connett Professor Emeritus of Chemistry St Lawrence University, Canton, NY Paul@AmericanHealthStudies.org

Rossano Ercolini Ambientefuturo@interfree.it 338-28-66-215 My thanks to Rossano Ercolini (Ambiente Futuro) for organizing my 29th visit to Italy Rossano Ercolini Ambientefuturo@interfree.it 338-28-66-215

Il contesto generale

All’età di 16 anni i ragazzi di oggi hanno già guardato oltre 350.000 spot pubblicitari. Paul Hawken The Ecology of Commerce

This is colonialism in time! Viviamo su questo pianeta come se ne avessimo un altro su cui trasferirci… Non possiamo continuare a vivere in una società “usa e getta” su un pianeta finito This is colonialism in time! We are robbing our own children and grandchildren Con le discariche non facciamo altro che SOTTERRARE le prove Gli inceneritori non fanno che BRUCIARE le prove Dobbiamo affrontare il vero problema …

Il problema non è: “come eliminare i rifiuti”, ma piuttosto come NON produrli

Our task is to fight the throwaway ethic & over-consumption

Not only is over-consumption giving us a waste crisis but also…

Over-consumption is giving us a Global crisis

We are imposing a linear society on a planet that functions in circles

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction of Virgin Materials

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items

A LINEAR SOCIETY Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption

A LINEAR SOCIETY Discarded Materials Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials

ENERGY Discarded Materials Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide

ENERGY ENERGY Discarded Materials Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide

INCINERATION & LANDFILLS ENERGY ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide

RECYCLING OF MATERIALS ENERGY ENERGY Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide

REUSE OF OBJECTS ENERGY ENERGY Discarded Materials Solid waste Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide

COMPOSTING ENERGY ENERGY Discarded Materials Solid waste Solid waste Extraction of Virgin Materials Production of Manufactured items Consumption Discarded Materials Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide Solid waste Air pollution Water pollution Carbon dioxide

Global warming Composting Landfill Incineration

Global warming Composting Landfill Incineration Methane SLOW

Global warming Composting Landfill Carbon dioxide FAST Methane SLOW Incineration Carbon dioxide FAST Methane SLOW

Global warming Composting Landfill Carbon dioxide FAST Methane SLOW Incineration Carbon dioxide & Some Methane SLOW Carbon dioxide FAST Methane SLOW

Global warming Composting Landfill Carbon dioxide FAST Methane SLOW Incineration Carbon dioxide & Some Methane SLOW Carbon dioxide FAST Methane SLOW Sequestered Carbon

AEA executive report waste climate change (Nov. 2002) Gli studi della EU sul confronto dei sistemi di trattamenti dei RU residui AEA executive report waste climate change (Nov. 2002) Recycling Composting Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Incineration Landfill of untreated waste Extract from summary report

Kg gas serra/tonnellata Rifiuti Urbani Riciclaggio e compostaggio -461 Trattamento Meccanico-Biologico e stoccaggio -366 Termovalorizzazione -10 Waste Management Options and Climate Change. AEA 2002

Arguments against incineration Emissioni tossiche nell’atmosfera Produzione di ceneri tossiche Pubblica opposizione. Incineration is anti-democratic Costi finanziari. Incineration is a poor investment Produzione di energia (spreco di energia) Ci sono migliori alternative – Zero Waste 2020

1.Gli inceneritori producono ceneri tossiche

MODERN TRASH INCINERATOR ELECTRICITY TURBINE WET SCRUBBER SECONDARY CHAMBER STEAM DE-NOX CHUTE TEMP < 200oC FABRIC FILTER BOILER SEMI- DRY SCRUBBER Ca(OH) 2 SUSPENSION ACTIVATED CHARCOAL GRATES AMMONIA INJECTION TRASH FLY ASH BOTTOM ASH

Politicians often approve incineration before they have any idea where the toxic ash is going to go!

Ash disposal in other countries Germany puts fly ash into nylon bags and buries them in salt mines (like nuclear waste) Some Japanese incinerators vitrify the ash Denmark has a wonderful solution … it sends its ash to Norway! The Netherlands puts the fly ash into asphalt and the bottom ash into road building!

2. Gli inceneritori emettono gas tossici

AIR EMISSIONS CO2 + H2O ACID GASES: HCI, HF, SO2 NOx TOXIC METALS: Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr etc NEW COMPOUNDS: PCB’s PCDDs (DIOXINS) PCDFs (FURANS) ETC NANO PARTICLES

Catalytic oxidizers Brominated/chlorinated dioxins and furans Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Chlorinated hydrocarbons

The dangers of nanoparticles Nanoparticles are not efficiently captured by air pollution control devices, travel long distances, penetrate deep into the lungs

Nano Pathology Nano particles are so small they can easily cross cell membranes Including the blood brain barrier and the nuclear membrane Ferry toxic metals into the brain Stabilized free radicals cause oxidative stress - inflammation - many degenerative diseases

Aggregati di Piombo, Bario, Cromo, Ferro e Silicio in Cervello. http://www.nanodiagnostics.it/Fotografia.aspx?ID=11

Dioxins - major concerns Dioxins accumulate in animal fat One liter of cows’ milk gives the same dose of dioxin as breathing air next to the cows for EIGHT MONTHS (Connett and Webster, 1987). Dioxins steadily accumulate in human body fat. The man cannot get rid of them BUT A woman can… …by having a baby! The highest dose of dioxin goes to the fetus and then to the new born infant via breastfeeding, and dioxins interfere with hormones which control sexual and mental development

WE WANT DIOXIN OUT OF OUR BABIES!

Institute of Medicine, 2003 Fetuses and breastfeeding infants may be at particular risk from exposure to dioxins due to their potential to cause adverse neurodevelopmental… and immune system effects…

Institute of Medicine, 2003 …The committee recommends: 1) the government place a high public health priority on reducing dioxin intakes by girls and young women in the years well before pregnancy is likely to occur 2) (By) substituting low-fat or skim milk, for whole milk…and other foods lower in animal fat

Thermal treatment is dangerous In cities because the fine particles can get deep down into our lungs In rural areas because the dioxins can get into our food

While modern incinerators have reduced dioxin emissions there is no real accountability in most countries

YOU NEED THREE THINGS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM TOXIC EMISSIONS. STRONG REGULATIONS ADEQUATE MONITORING TOUGH ENFORCEMENT IF ANY LINK IS WEAK THE PUBLIC IS NOT PROTECTED

3. Incineration is extremely unpopular In the US over 300 incinerator proposals defeated since 1985 US has not permitted a new trash incinerator since 1995.

4. Incineration is a poor investment Most of the money spent on incinerators goes into complicated machinery and leaves the community, whereas The money spent on the alternatives goes into jobs and stays in the community.

5. Incineration is a waste of energy! 3-4 times more energy saved by reusing objects and recycling materials in waste stream. In Italy a law passed in 1996 allows incinerators to sell electricity at three times the price from other sources. The public pays! This explains the current rush to build new incinerators in Italy even though they are so unpopular. The Alberta government has just provided a $20 million subsidy for a new incinerator in Edmonton

Energy Comparison: Recycling versus incineration (ICF consulting, 2005) material Energy savings from recycling GJ/tonne Energy output from incineration Energy savings recycling versus incineration Newsprint 6.33 2.62 2.4 Fine paper 15.87 2.23 7.1 Cardboard 8.56 2.31 3.7 Other paper 9.49 2.25 4.2 HDPE 64.27 6.30 10.2 PET 85.16 3.22 26.4 Other plastic 52.09 4.76 10.9

6. Incineration is not sustainable

“Anche rendendo sicuro l’incenerimento, Esso non sarà mai una cosa sensata. Semplicemente non ha senso spendere così tanti soldi Per distruggere risorse che dovremmo Risparmiare per il futuro.” (PC)

7. THERE ARE BETTER and SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO INCINERATION

The ZERO 2020 strategy

Progettare i rifiuti all’esterno del ciclo produttivo NO ALLA SOCIETA’ USA E GETTA SÌ A UNA SOCIETA’ SOSTENIBILE RIFIUTI ZERO 2020 SPOSTARSI A MONTE Progettare i rifiuti all’esterno del ciclo produttivo NO ALL’INCENERIMENTO NO ALLE DISCARICHE

I rifiuti non sono un problema tecnologico sono un problema di progettazione industriale

Per ottenere Zero Rifiuti Occorrono tre cose RESPONSABILITA’ INDUSTRIALE (a monte) RESPONSABILITA’ della COMUNITA’ (a valle) 3) Una BUONA LEADERSHIP POLITICA (per saldare insieme entrambe)

RESPONSABILITA’ INDUSTRIALE 1. PROGETTO INDUSTRIALE DI SOSTENIBILITA’ 2. PRODUZIONE PULITA - riduzione di elementi tossici nei prodotti e nella produzione 3. RESPONSAILITA’ DELLA CATENA DI PRODUZIONE (EPR = EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY)

Extended Producer Responsibilty In futuro le imprese produttrici dovrebbero considerare di dover ritirare I propri prodotti e confezioni, dopo l’uso leggi si stanno gia’ muovendo in questa direzione.

Extended Producer Responsibilty XEROX CORPORATION EUROPE recupero di vecchie macchine fotocopiatrici da oltre 16 paesi Raccolte in enormi depositi in Olanda, dove vengono smontate Oltre il 95% dei materiali viene riutilizzato o riciclato! Con un risparmio di $76 milioni nel 2000!!

on average each bottle reused 18 times ONTARIO, CANADA The Beer industry has used refillable glass bottles for over 50 years 98% recovered on average each bottle reused 18 times Refillable glass bottles 11 cents cheaper per serving than disposable bottles. 2000 jobs in collection and cleaning No cost to municipality Packaging costs internalized

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY Classification of Discarded materials 1. Avoidables (e.g. throwaway plastic objects) 2. Reusables (e.g furniture, appliances) 3. Toxics (e.g paint, oil, batteries) 4. Compostables (e.g. food scraps) 5. Recyclables (e.g. paper, glass, metals) 6. Residuals Residuals = “bad industrial design”

RESPONSABILITA’ della COMUNITA’ Community responsibility begins with Source Separation (porta a porta) One container for compostables (i.e. the organic fraction) One (or more) containers for the recyclables One container for the residuals

1

1 2

1 2 3

1 2 3 Impianto di Compostaggio

Aerazione forzata Aerazione Forzata

Compostaggio rurale

1 2 3 Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio

1 2 3 Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio ?

? 1 2 3 Reuse & Repair Centers Impianto di Centrale Compostaggio di Riciclaggio ? Reuse & Repair Centers

? 1 2 3 De-costruire Reuse & Repair Centers Impianto di Centrale Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio ? Reuse & Repair Centers De-costruire

? 1 2 3 De-costruire Reuse & Repair Centers AVOIDABLES Waste Reduction initiatives 3 Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio ? Reuse & Repair Centers De-costruire

Italy A supermarket chain near Florence is providing dispensers which allow customers to refill shampoo and detergent bottles…

Alcune iniziative italiane per la riduzione

? 1 2 3 De-costruire Reuse & Repair Centers AVOIDABLES Waste Reduction initiatives 3 Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio ? Reuse & Repair Centers De-costruire

Come gestiamo la frazione residua: un momento cruciale della filosofia Rifiuti Zero Incineration attempts to make the residuals disappear Zero Waste 2020 needs to make the residuals VERY VISIBLE, because… Frazione Residua = cattiva progettazione industriale We need better (sustainable) industrial design for the 21st Century

Nova Scotia, Canada They have built IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA These buildings are built in front of the landfill - NO residuals can go to landfill without being screened.

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA PIU’ RICICLABILI

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI IMBALLAGGI E OGGETTI NON RICICLABILI

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI IMBALLAGGI E OGGETTI NON RICICLABILI DISCARICA TEMPORANEA

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA ORGANICA SPORCA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI IMBALLAGGI E OGGETTI NON RICICLABILI DISCARICA TEMPORANEA

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA ORGANICA SPORCA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI IMBALLAGGI E OGGETTI NON RICICLABILI STABILIZZAZIONE BIOLOGICA DISCARICA TEMPORANEA

We need to improve on these facilities by adding a RESEARCH CENTER for the non-recyclable fraction

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE della FRAZIONE RESIDUA ORGANICA SPORCA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI IMBALLAGGI E OGGETTI NON RICICLABILI STABILIZZAZIONE BIOLOGICA DISCARICA TEMPORANEA

CENTRO DI RICERCA FRAZIONE RESIDUA, CENTRO DI RICERCA FRAZIONE ORGANICA SPORCA PIU’ RICICLABILI TOSSICI IMBALLAGGI E OGGETTI NON RICICLABILI CENTRO DI RICERCA STABILIZZAZIONE BIOLOGICA DISCARICA TEMPORANEA

IMBALLAGGI E ALTRI RIFIUTI NON RICICLABILI FRAZIONE RESIDUA, CENTRO DI RICERCA IMBALLAGGI E ALTRI RIFIUTI NON RICICLABILI Università locale RICERCA SCIENTIFICA SU NUOVI IMPIEGHI DEI MATERIALI OTTENUTI DA RIFIUTI E MIGLIORE PROGETTAZIONE INDUSTRIALE

TOSSICII Università locale RICERCA SCIENTIFICA “FOR CLEAN PRODUCTION” FRAZIONE RESIDUA, CENTRO DI RICERCA TOSSICII Università locale RICERCA SCIENTIFICA “FOR CLEAN PRODUCTION”

? 1 2 3 De-costruire Reuse & Repair Centers AVOIDABLES Waste Reduction initiatives 3 Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio ? Reuse & Repair Centers De-costruire

1 2 3 De-costruire Reuse & Repair Centers AVOIDABLES Waste Reduction initiatives Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio Residual Screening & Reseach Facility Reuse & Repair Centers De-costruire

1 2 3 De-costruire Reuse & Repair Centers AVOIDABLES Waste Reduction initiatives 3 Impianto di Compostaggio Centrale di Riciclaggio Residual Screening & Reseach Facility Reuse & Repair Centers Household Toxics De-costruire

per una Società Sostenibile” Consiglio: La creazione di un “Istituto Nazionale per una Società Sostenibile” Con funzione di coordinamento della ricerca locale e regionale presso il Centro per la Ricerca e lo Screening sulla Frazione Residua (= cattiva progettazione industriale)

Incenerendo … 1 tonnellata di ceneri tossiche che nessuno vuole!!! … si convertono 3 tonnellate di rifiuti in: 1 tonnellata di ceneri tossiche che nessuno vuole!!!

Con la strategia Rifiuti Zero Si convertono TRE tonnellate di rifiuti in: 1 tonnellata di risorse compostabili 1 tonnellata di risorse riciclabili e 1 tonnellata di consapevolezza!

Messaggio all’industria: Se non possiamo riutilizzarlo, riciclarlo o compostarlo, l’industria non dovrebbe produrlo!!! We need better industrial design for the 21st Century

IMPIANTO DI SEPARAZONE e CENTRO DI RICERCA della FRAZIONE RESIDUA Will Italy be the first to build an impianto di separazone e centro di ricerca della frazione residua?

Progress towards Zero Waste around the world www.zwia.org Note over 50% of communities in New Zealand have declared a Zero Waste strategy

San Francisco Popolazione = 850.000 Carenza di spazio 50% raccolta differenziata entro il 2000 63% raccolta differenziata entro il 2004 75% raccolta differenziata entro il 2010 (obiettivo) 100% (or very close!)entro il 2020 – Zero Rifiuti

I “Fantastici 3”

The green container Receives the clean compostables (all organic discards)

Impianto di Compostaggio

UN RICCO COMPOST, PRONTO PER LA VENDITA

I PRODOTTI BIOLOGICI TORNANO SUI MERCATI E NEI RISTORANTI DI SAN FRANCISCO

I “Fantastici 3”

The blue container Receives ALL the recyclables...

Centrale di Riciclaggio @ Molo 96

Ontario The city of Markham (north of Toronto) has diverted 70% from landfill in 2 years.

Italy Porta a Porta (no Vespa!) L’italia ha uno dei migliori centri di ricerca al mondo per la progettazione di una raccolta porta a porta efficace ed efficiente di rifiuti riciclabili e organici Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza Enzo Favoino

Italy Over 600 communities in Italy are achieving over 50% diversion using “door to door” collection systems

Comunità in Lazio che hanno riciclato più del 50% dei rifiuti attraverso il sistema di raccolta porta-a-porta in un solo anno! Comune Populazione % rifiuto differenziato Sonnino 7,154 54% Sermoneta 7,000 64% Lenola 4,200 65% Monterosi 3,029 Bassiano 1,670 50% Castelforte 4,700 52%

Italy Novara - (near Turin, population = 100,000) achieved 70% diversion in just 18 months!

Italy In the Treviso region…

RISULTATI QUANTITATIVI AUMENTO % RACCOLTA DIFFERENZIATA

RISULTATI QUANTITATIVI AUMENTO % RACCOLTA DIFFERENZIATA

DIFFERENZIATA COSTA DI PIU? Costi di gestione senza raccolta differenziata Costi di gestione con raccolta differenziata

Paolo Contò consorzio@priula.it La gestione dei rifiuti nei Comuni del Consorzio Priula Paolo Contò Consorzio Intercomunale Priula - Villorba (TV) consorzio@priula.it

Another three reasons why ZW 2020 is better than incineration Jobs! Jobs !! Jobs !!!

Nuova Scozia (Canada) 50% dei rifiuti sottratto alle discariche in 5 anni (Halifax ~ 60%) 1000 posti di lavoro creati dall’aprile 1996 Altri 2000 posti di lavoro creati in industrie che usano i materiali separati Nearly all the separated materials are re-used in Nova Scotia’s own industries.

Abbiamo bisogno di leader politici e industriali dotati di UNA BUONA LEADERSHIP Abbiamo bisogno di leader politici e industriali dotati di grandi visioni immaginazione e … CHE NON SIANO NOIOSI

Le persone noiose … risolvono i problemi nel posto sbagliato !

Chi tenta di risolvere il problema A VALLE pensa … 1. UNA TAZZA 2. UN SECCHIO 3. UNA POMPA A PEDALE 4. UNA POMPA ELETTRICA

Chi tenta di risolvere il problema A MONTE pensa …

Einstein A clever person solves a problem A genius avoids it!

Un pizzico di creatività a monte può far risparmiare milioni a valle

Conclusioni The Zero Waste Strategy addresses four key issues: 1. Individuals must be more careful about what they buy 2. Industries must be more careful about what they make 3. Communities must be more responsible in the way that discarded materials are collected and handled 4. Education has a key role in linking waste management to sustainability and the fight against Global Warming

Conclusioni The throwaway society contributes to global warming by wasting finite resources and wasting energy Landfills and incinerators do not solve the problem but only hide the symptoms The Zero Waste strategy by intensifying reuse, recycling, and composting and by tackling overconsumption and poor industrial design, reduces global warming and the other impacts of primary processing

Zero Waste 2020 Sustainable Education agriculture Architecture Industrial design Sustainable Energy Community development Sustainable Economic Development

Conclusioni Non abbiamo bisogno di inceneritori! Esistono alternative migliori più sicure, migliori per l’economia, migliori per i vostri figli, e migliori per il pianeta.

But in Italy there remains a major obstacle:

THE BAD LAW Level of Pollution Level of corruption

THE GOOD LAW Level of Pollution Public participation

Dio ricicla, il diavolo brucia

The Battle Hymn of Garbage (Chorus) We don’t want incineration We know there’s a better way!

The Battle Hymn of Garbage While we recognize our landfills All are swelling with the waste This doesn’t justify A bad decision made in haste! Let us put our heads together So the problem may be faced And we must do it now!

The Battle Hymn of Garbage (Chorus) We don’t want incineration We know there’s a better way!

The Battle Hymn of Garbage Mine eyes have seen the garbage That’s a smoldering on the grate We must stop incineration Before it is too late Unless we wish the dangers We had better separate And we must do it now!

The Battle Hymn of Garbage (Chorus) We don’t want incineration We know there’s a better way!

Extra slides

No accountability Typically incinerators tested once or twice a year using 6 hour tests to check dioxin in flue gas. These are collected with advanced notice to the operator Thus, 18 (36?) hours of IDEAL data is being used to ESTIMATE 8000 hours of REAL operation. THIS IS NOT SCIENTIFIC! Two week sampling (The Amesa system) is now available. This system allows collection of 26 X two-week samples per year - i.e. continuous sampling Most incinerator operators are not using the two week sampling system or other scientific monitoring.

Hiding the name! Waste Incineration is so unpopular with the public that incinerator promoters have used a variety of names for plants that burn trash: In US, they were called Resource Recovery Facilities and Waste to Energy plants. In UK they were called Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. In Italy and France they are called “Thermal Valorization” and “Thermal Optimization” Now all the rage are the descriptions: gasification, pyrolysis and plasma arc facilities.

The most appropriate name for incinerators RDF Resource Destruction Facilities!

Dobbiamo copiare la natura La natura non produce rifiuti! I rifiuti sono un’invenzione dell’uomo Società sostenibile = società a rifiuti zero Zero Waste is an idealistic goal, but Zero Waste 2020 puts this goal into a realistic time frame