Total Materials Management Approach

Within Elemental Impact's (Ei) Recycling Refinement platform, a Total Materials Management Approach - evaluating the entire materials stream in one cost / revenue center- is used. The stated objective is true zero waste with a strong focus on ultimate material destination and the remaining "trash" within the stream. Materials with solid end markets (e.g. aluminum, mixed paper, certain plastics) subsidize more challenging streams generated in operations.

Ei Chair Scott Seydel @ MRF

Until recently zero waste measurement was quantified as diversion rates from the landfill without final destination consideration. Known for high levels of contamination, single-stream recycling - often the only recycling option available for the corporate community - results in a high percentage of recyclable items landfill destined. Thus, “true recycling rates” are often inflated with single-stream recycling programs.

Note effective single-stream MRF – material recovery facilities – separation is limited by the contamination in the delivered material. Published reports substantiate curbside single-recycling programs often contain significant contaminates, which may then contaminate the corporate recycling delivered to the MRF.

The Source-Separated Materials Recycling Template (S-SMRT) targets moderate material generators whose current recycling option is single-stream recycling. Grounded in on-site material source-separation and baling, the S-SMRT is developing a city-wide material recovery template with Atlanta serving as the pilot city.

When evaluating recycling programs, organizations generally prepare a business case or cost-benefit analysis to ensure there is a reasonable ROI – return on investment – for the particular material stream. Hard-to-recycle items or those with little to no ROI are landfill destined without further consideration. 

S-SMRT epitomizes a common Ei phrase:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

In simplistic terms, S-SMRT encompasses the Total Material Management Approach with the following steps:

GWCC Orwak baler - the
workhorse in the S-SRMT

• Generators source-separate material on-site and compact into mini bales.
• Hauler collects bales for transport to the recycling center.
• Recycling center associates track material received by type | generator, re-bale into standard sized bales, and store in a tractor trailer by material type until full.
• Hauler sells material directly to a manufacturing | recycling end destination and pays rebates to generators based on their respective percentage of the load sold.
• Ei oversees the system to ensure the entire value chain makes a reasonable profit.

Financial template success is grounded in two factors: CLEAN MATERIAL & VOLUME. The template tagline is:

Contamination is a Mistake!

Ei Partner M-PASS Environmental serves as the S-SMRT hauler and intends to create a turnkey option for the next tier of template pioneers. With M-PASS associates baling the material there is strong control over the quality of material sent to the recycling center.

S-SMRT is an evolutionary process. The 2011 Atlanta Airport milk jug recycling pilot, initiated by Ei Partner HMSHost, served as the early template catalyst. The ZWA Blog article, Milk Jugs Recycled at the Atlanta Airport, gave an overview of the S-SMRT first step.

Louis Herrera educating
Matt Hupp on plastic film @ CM

In 2012, the Sustainable Food Court Initiative (SFCI) - Shopping Mall Pilot at Concord Mills launched the first shopping mall plastic film recycling pilot; the second step in the template foundation. Ei Partner Louis Herrera of Hilex Poly was the visionary and plastic film educator during the pilot development. The ZWA Blog article, ACTION: Theme for the SFCI Shopping Mall Pilot, announced the plastic film recycling pilot.

A third significant template step was the Fresh Point ATL (FPA) plastic film recycling pilot. In the ZWA Blog article, Plastic Film Recycling: A New Frontier, the plastic film recycling history, facts and the FPA pilot were detailed. Ei's first directed video, Ei Plastic Film Recycling Pilot at FreshPoint ATL, debuted in the ZWA Blog article, Plastic Film Recycling Template Video Published.

When the Georgia World Congress Center joined the S-SMRT in spring 2014, the template immediately expanded beyond plastic film to total materials - a HUGE fourth step in template development. 

The June Atlanta Ei Partner Tours were designed as a two-day experiential strategy session for further template development. Local end market destinations Novelis and Pratt Industries hosted the first tours day. Ei Partner Novelis - the world's largest aluminum manufacturer - has an aluminum recycling plant less than 100 miles from Atlanta.

Ei Partners ready to tour
the Novelis recycling plant

On the second day tours Tim Trefzer, GWCC director of sustainability, welcomed the Ei Partners to the GWCC for a presentation of successes to date, including the 2013 "Greenest" Final Four hosted at the Georgia Dome. A back-of-house tour of recycling practices in-place followed the formal presentation. 

Michael Cheyne, Atlanta Airport director of asset management and sustainability, and Scott Jenkins, New Falcons Stadium general manager, joined the lunch hosted by NatureWorks and gave invigorating updates. Note the Atlanta Airport serves as the SFCI - Airport Pilot and the Georgia Dome is the SFCI - Event Venue Pilot.

The IMPACT Blog article, Atlanta Ei Partner Tours, chronicles the powerful tours.

Novelis is the Atlanta Falcons recycling partner and key to S-SMRT success. Due to contamination levels at the local MRF aluminum generated at the Georgia Dome (30,000+ aluminum beer bottles at a Falcons home game) does not meet Novelis aluminum quality standards. With their ambitious 80% recycled content goal, Novelis is "hungry" for clean aluminum and a strong S-SMRT partner.

The VERY first aluminum
baled at the GWCC

With clean material addressed, the volume is achieved through expanding template pioneers to a second tier, followed by additional tiers. Cindy Jackson, Georgia Tech recycling & waste director, attended the Atlanta Ei Partner Tours and is ready for the template business case. 

Ei Partner Keter Environmental Services holds the waste & recycling contracts for three Class A Atlanta malls. The intent is for the three malls to join the S-SMRT as template pioneers in early 2015.

Invitations to additional template pioneers - all prominent industry leaders - are slated for early 2015.

For a S-SMRT work-in-progress overview, visit the following ZWA Blog articles:

• If it was easy, it would already be done  - introduces the pilot & details challenges.
• Plastic Film Recycling: A New Frontier - gives Ei plastic film history along with a pilot update.
• Sustainability in ACTION at the Georgia Dome - provides a template update including the opening pre-season Falcons game fact finding mission. 
  

Ei Team @ GA Dome to
scout material @ a Falcons game

The S-SMRT website page lists the stellar Ei Team comprised of Lead Pioneers, Infrastructure and End Market Partners.

With an initial focus on the high value materials - aluminum, mixed paper and certain plastics, the S-SMRT is destined to generate profit for participates. These profits are designated to cover costs associated with challenging material streams such as food waste.

Synergistic in timing, the SFCI 2014 | 2015 stated focus is post-consumer food waste. The ZWA Blog article, SFCI targets post-consumer food waste, announces the focus.

M-PASS Lorraine White
"picking the bowl" for food waste

Back-of-the-house (pre-consumer) food waste industry practices were perfected by early zero waste pioneers. Front-of-the-house (post-consumer) food waste remains a recycling frontier for two main reasons: 1> necessary shift in consumer-facing packaging to create clean food waste streams and 2> consumer responsibility for food waste disposal. 

S-SMRT profit is earmarked to cover the expense of implementing a post-consumer food waste collection program at pioneer facilities with foodservice operations. Anticipated program costs include shifting to compostable food & beverage packaging, purchasing or modifying existing collection bins, recycling station signage, and an employee training system.

Once food waste is addressed, the game plan is to evaluate remaining trash and work within the supply chain for solutions. Supply chain engagement is critical to achieving true zero waste. The ZWA Blog article, Supply Chain Critical to Zero Waste Success, introduces the supply chain role in successful recycling programs along with solid examples.

A Total Materials Management Approach to recycling programs is a journey well on its path. Yet challenges abound for the Ei Team to unravel into success. Stay tuned for tales from the adventure!

Green Streets Comes to Atlanta!

Grass roots programs are imperative to mobilizing societal shifts. Green Streets is the perfect grass roots initiative to catapult urban consciousness into a new realm; a realm where valuable material and human lives regain dignity, purpose and prosper.

Tyrone Mullins

Founded in San Francisco, Green Streets is a documentary of a young man who said YES to an inner calling for street action; it was a matter of personal survival. Yet personal survival corresponds with humanity's survival when the Earth's finite resources are concerned.

An inspirational Citizen Film documentary, Green Streets captures what is accomplished when a powerful individual answers his heart's calling.

Green Streets follows 29 year old entrepreneur Tyrone Mullins and his friends as they turn trash into cash in the distressed San Francisco housing projects where they live. Through trial and error, they learn to haul 150,000 gallons of waste per month, creating desperately needed jobs, and establishing recycling where all previous efforts had failed.

Citizen Film is a not-for-profit production company dedicated to crafting documentaries with care and dignity. Through collaboration with cultural institutions, community organizations and independent producers, Citizen Film creates films and online media that foster active engagement in cultural and civic life.

Thanks to their visionary spirit, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation brings Green Streets to Atlanta as the first in a series of film screenings. A thought-provoking conversation panel moderated by Sophie Constantinou, Citizen Film co-founder and director of photography, follows the film. The inaugural screening is instrumental for Green Streets and subsequent films. 

The screening announcement has powerful copy:

Green Streets, a documentary work-in-progress

Can inner-city entrepreneurship rekindle the American Dream?

A cinematic celebration of urban innovation

Elemental Impact (Ei) is honored to co-present the Atlanta January 14 screening along with Green Streets, Urban Strategies, Citizen Film and the Fledgling Fund.

There are excellent synergies for Green Streets-style grass roots programs to team with the Source-Separated Materials Recycling Template. Post-screening an article will chronicle how Green Streets may find a vibrant life within Atlanta's entrepreneurial landscape.

In the meantime, Ei is excited to welcome the Citizen Film crew to Atlanta! ... and an early May San Francisco visit is in the works. Stay tuned as synergies are percolating!!! 

Post publication note:  See the Green Streets: grass roots social enterprise article for an overview of the powerful Atlanta visit.

Third Party Certification Edges Industry Towards a Zero Waste Economy

Third party certifications play a valuable role for evaluating products and services. Independent review | testing ensures the product manufacturer proclamations are valid and follow industry standards. In addition third party certification is instrumental in setting standards and protocol within evolving industries.

In 2011 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) - the busiest airport in the world - set new industry protocol with the groundbreaking compostable packaging provision in the new concessionaire contract. The ATL sustainability office relied upon the Sustainable Food Court Initiative (SFCI) - Atlanta Airport Team to write the contract provision implementation policy.

The published document, Atlanta Airport Compostable Packaging Information Packet, details the ATL food & beverage packaging policy. During the drafting process, the SFCI Team was adamant third party compostability certification was incorporated into the policy. In the United States, the Biodegradables Products Institute (BPI) is the recognized third party compostable packaging certification standard. Concessionaires are required to use BPI-certified compostable food & beverage packaging for single-use service.

The ZWA Blog article, Atlanta Airport's Leadership Role in Compostable Food & Beverage Packaging, gives the history of ATL's contract provision along with compostable packaging implementation plans. At the recent SFCI Vendor Fair, the concessionaires were educated on the plethora of BPI-certified food & beverage packaging products available.

Once implemented, the ATL contract provision is staged to shift food & beverage packaging protocol at airports, large event facilities, conference centers and throughout the restaurant market. Note most large restaurant chains and QSR (quick service restaurants) operate an ATL outlet. Thus, a significant percentage of national restaurants will have consumer-facing compostable packaging printed with logos and tag lines.

Another third-party nonprofit certification organization, Green Seal, also certifies foodservice packaging to distinguish more sustainable options on the marketplace. Green Seal’s GS-35 Standard for Foodservice Packaging describes requirements such as prohibitions on toxins, performance testing for grease and moisture resistance, and also compostability .

Beyond foodservice packaging, Green Seal certifies restaurants and hotels – helping foodies and travelers identify businesses that have taken serious strides to reduce their waste, make responsible food purchasing choices, and conserve water and energy. As a legitimate third-party certifier, Green Seal conducts audits of its certified restaurants, hotels, and product manufacturing sites to ensure that these companies are fully complying with the criteria in the various Green Seal standards.   

In response to industry requests for zero waste standardization and third party validation, the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) launched the Zero Waste Certification Program (ZWCP) in March 2013. As the first zero waste certification program in the nation, the ZWCP establishes protocol and defines parameters for zero waste claims. For example, incineration is often included in the term "landfill diversion" yet is specifically NOT a zero waste material destination within the ZWCP.

Whole Foods Market w/
Zero Waste Certification
photo courtesy of USZWBC

At the ZWCP launch the first Zero Waste Certifications were awarded to three Whole Foods Market stores in San Diego County. In the related press release, USZWBC executive director Stephanie Barger states:

"We are thrilled to launch the new certification program and to verify the achievements of Whole Foods Market. Our goal is not only to provide credibility to Zero Waste businesses, but also to offer the resources needed to create value and save money through Zero Waste practices.The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council offers businesses access to recycling markets, peer-to-peer networking, Zero Waste training and conferences."

ZWCP Objectives:

• Supports Zero Waste International Alliance definition of no waste to landfill, incineration and the environment.
• Drives the development of new markets and new ideas towards a zero waste economy.
• Meets zero waste businesses request for valid and comprehensive third party certification.
• Focuses on upstream policies and practices beyond diversion or recycling.
• Emphasizes strong total participation, training of all employees, zero waste relationships with vendors and customers.

ZWCP Requirements:

1. Zero waste policy in place.
2. 90% overall diversion from landfill and incineration for non-hazardous wastes. 
   • - Discarded materials are reduced, reused, recycled, composted or recovered for    productive use in nature or the economy at biological temperatures and  pressures.
     - Materials can be processed above ambient biological temperatures (>200° F) to    recover energy from the 10% residual, but they do not count as part of the 90%  diversion.
     - Reused materials (office furniture, pallets, paper, etc) are eligible to count as part of the  90% diversion requirement.
3. Meet all federal, state/provincial, and local solid waste and recycling regulations.
4. Data provided to USZWBC has been published formally.
5. Data documents a base year and measurements since the base year.
6. Commit to submit 12 months of data to USZWBC annually (Data submitted will be public and published on the USZWBC website).
7. Case study of zero waste initiatives may be published on USZWBC website.
8. Recertification is required every three years.
9. Contamination is not to exceed 10% of each material once it leaves the company site.

Within the ZWCP, certification is awarded at the Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum Levels. A scorecard system similar to the U.S Green Building Council LEED Certification Program is used.

Scott Lutocka of Piazza Produce
w/ USZWBC President receiving
ZWCP plaque @ 2014 Conference

Since the ZWCP launch six additional Whole Food Markets achieved bronze zero waste certification status. In addition, the following companies were awarded zero waste certifications: GOLD - American Licorice Company, ANN INC and Piazza Produce; PLATINUM: Fetzer Vineyards and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. 

To support ZWCP, the USZWB developed the Zero Waste Business Associate (ZWBA) certification system to train professionals on zero waste practices in accordance with ZWCP criteria. Certificate holders gain a practical understanding of current zero waste business principles and practices, USZWBC policies and processes, and demonstrate a clear commitment to professional growth in advancing zero waste.

As of this article, over 150 individuals attended ZWBA training courses hosted at four locations. 

In the future, zero waste standards will require a waste-free product life cycle flowing from raw materials through the manufacturing process and finishing with product end use destination. Circular economy advocates are paving the path towards a zero waste economy. 

The IMPACT Blog article, A Revolutionary Evolution: going from a linear economy to a circular economy, introduces the Circular Economy 100, an Ellen MacArthur Foundation platform to re-think the future.

Elemental Impact is honored to work closely with the USZWBC grounding new industry standards via the ZWCP. As zero waste practices edge closer to circular economy standards, the USZWBC will continue their evolving leadership role working with pioneers committed to a waste-free product life-cycle.

2015 Zero Waste Conference: A Star-Studded Event!

On May 5 - 7, 2015 sustainability leaders from across industry boundaries will converge on the City of Los Angeles (LA) for the Fourth Annual National U.S Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) Conference,The Stars of Zero Waste. Announced at the 2014 USZWBC Conference hosted in Atlanta, the 2015 star-studded event is staged for grandeur.

Matt Petersen

With ample planning time, the conference program is filled with local LA stars as well those traveling across the nation to share their expertise. In addition to the stellar program, pre and post-conference activities include the ZWBA Scorecard 101 Professional Training Course, workshops and tours of local landmarks dedicated to zero waste.

Committed to their host city role, LA staff traveled to Atlanta for the 2014 conference and lived the USZWBC conference experience. Reina Pereira, senior environmental engineer, Solid Resources Support ServicesDivision, LA Bureau of Sanitation and Marivic Sabillo, management analyst II, LA Bureau of Sanitation attended the Atlanta conference and supporting activities. The LA Bureau of Sanitation grounded their 2015 hosting commitment as a 2014 USZWBC Conference Sponsor.

LA chief sustainability officer Matt Peterson welcomes attendees to his fine city as the 2015 USZBC Conference keynote opening speaker. Prior to joining LA Matt was co-founder & president of Global Green USA for 19+ years. During Matt's Global Green tenure, the Coalition of Resource Recovery was launched first in New York City and later expanded to a national platform.

Fedele Bauccio

Fedele Bauccio, Bon Appétit Management Company (BAMC) co-founder, shares his company's pioneer role in environmentally sound operating policies as the first day lunch keynote. BAMC provides foodservice to corporations, universities, and museums in 32 states. Complementing its longstanding food-waste reduction efforts, BAMC was an early partner of the Food Recovery Network and has three dozen cafés Food Recovery Certified.

Additional plenary keynotes, panels and breakout sessions are in various planning stages. As in prior years, the final program consists of topics national in focus yet infiltrated with the local host city flavor.

Announced in March 2013 the USZWBC Zero Waste Certification Program (ZWCP) - the first U.S. third-party zero waste certification program - is a featured topic throughout conference sessions. Associates from many of the zero waste certified facilities are speaking as panelists or keynotes over the two-day event. The ZWZ Blog article, Third Party Certification Edges Industry Towards a Zero Waste Economy, introduces the ZWCP.

Stated 2015 conference goals are:

• Helping businesses achieve zero waste to both help the environment and their bottom line.
• Teaching businesses waste reduction methods from the leaders in the field including industry specialists and experts from zero waste businesses that achieved more than 90% diversion.

The conference is designed for zero waste veterans as well as those embarking upon the path with the following attendee profile: 

• Corporate sustainability managers and facility managers looking to cut costs through greener practices.
• Small and mid-sized business managers looking to improve waste reduction practices.
• State and local government employees who help businesses reduce waste and get to zero waste.
• Environmental consulting firms that want to learn about the latest successes in zero waste and certification.

2014 Opening Keynote
Laura Turner Seydel
Photo courtesy of Scott Lutocka

For the second consecutive year, Elemental Impact (Ei) serves as the conference media partner. The ZWA Blog article, USZWBC Conference Theme: Zero Waste Evolution, is an overview of the excellent 2014 conference hosted in Atlanta.

Registration is open for the 2015 USZWBC Conference with early bird rates available until year end. For those interested in conference sponsorship, the Sponsorship page details options available. Upon request, tailored sponsor packages are considered.

Join the industry colleagues in LA for the 2015 USZWBC Conference as the Stars of Zero Waste forge new zero waste frontiers!