BEYOND WASTE...THE NEW PLAN
Aggressive in Spirit…Limited by Funding
A new Draft Proposal Solid Waste Management Plan for New York titled; Beyond Waste: A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York, along with a supporting Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) was outlined by representatives of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, at a June 7th meeting held at Stony Brook University.
The overall Plan intends to help minimize waste, increase the number of materials that can be used or recycled, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the number of “green” jobs.
The strategy involves shifting from an “end of pipe” focus to reducing waste from the very start. To implement this task, according to the Plan, everyone must work together in a coordinated effort between municipalities, businesses and individuals. The goal is to result in decreased reliance on waste disposal facilities in the future.
Calling the Plan “aspirational”, but “…clearly philosophically unsound…”David Tonjes, an Assistant Professor at Stony Brook, affiliated with the Waste Reduction Management Institute, spoke during the comment period of the meeting stating that in his opinion “…this is a bad plan and an unacceptable environmental impact statement.”
Through increased recycling, composting and new preventative measures such as using less product packaging and maximizing re-use, according to NY State DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis
the DEC expects the Plan to reduce waste by 15% every two years from 14 million tons (2008) to the projection of 2 million tons in 2018.
According to Mr. Tonjes:
Composting, which reduces waste disposal, is strongly supported in the Plan although it requires energy use to be accomplished and causes net releases of greenhouse gases…The Plan emphasizes a need to reduce waste, because the process that led to the piece of waste causes much more pollution than managing waste does. Eliminate waste and the chain of environmental harm is broken. This logic is crooked. It is like saying we can improve public health by regulating cemeteries. We cannot change the American consumer culture nor alter fundamentals of use by banning landfills.
The DEC is making an attempt to adapt to a growing pressure to reduce demand for energy, dependence on disposal, minimize emissions of greenhouse gases and create jobs, according to the Plan. To that end they will attempt to coordinate all levels of the production and supply chain, including; product manufacturers, distributors, retailers, consumers and government.
PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP: INFLUENCE OF DESIGN
One method of accomplishing the goal of less waste is to promote “product stewardship”, according to Resa Dimino, special assistant in the DEC’s policy office, who presented the Draft Plan at the Stony Brook meeting. “This is where the manufacturer takes responsibility for the recycling of that product and its' packaging. This would be similar to the new Electronics Disposal Law recently signed by Governor David A. Patterson, which takes effect in April of 2011.” The law requires all manufacturers that sell electronics in New York State to have a cost free and clean method of recycling electronic waste set up for consumers" according to Ms. Dimino and it also makes it illegal for anyone to dispose of electronic waste in landfills after January, 2015.
Ms. Dimino said according to the Plan, the DEC would hope to institute similar programs for household hazardous waste i.e. pharmaceuticals, paint, mercury in thermometers, thermostats and other potentially toxic household items.
The focus of the DEC, according to Ms. Dimino is to set new goals and to accomplish these goals there is a need to acquire a “new revenue stream”, something she admitted was a real concern, considering the economic situation New York and the nation currently finds itself in.
Increased DEC enforcement authority and a potential “pay as you throw” program were two ideas Ms. Dimino mentioned to help finance the new goals, admitting these would require legislative involvement.
The programmatic recommendations according to Ms. Dimino are that the State must lead by example, combat climate change, focus on public education, outreach and technical assistance and develop a comprehensive materials management planning system. There must be better inter-agency communication and there is a real need to build a market for re-cycled glass.
The Plan though aggressive and well intentioned is based on full financial backing and an ability to realistically implement. This is something everyone at the meeting seemed to agree was the crux of the problem with the Plan. David Blackman, Head of the DEC Solid Waste Management Plan, representing 350 municipal and private solid waste management facilities, said at the meeting, “A comprehensive assessment needs to be performed to determine the Environmental Impact and cost. There is a need for funding sources. We believe the proposed surcharge on Solid Waste “tipping fees” are taxed to the max and no more burdens can be added. If we must add a fee it should only be to those who are not already recycling.”
Professor Tonjes said that “according to section 617.9 (b) (5) (v) of the SEQRA regulations an Environmental Impact Statement must address reasonable alternatives…The language of this regulation also seems to require a need to show the preferred alternative is feasible, considering the objectives and capabilities of the project sponsor. I see no evidence that the Plan has been shown to be possible to implement.”
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/41831.html.
