Transcript Slide 1
TOMORROW’S ENVIRONMENT: ARE YOU IN OR OUT? Laurie Batchelder Adams October 2, 2008 2008 Annual Conference Colorado Rocky Mountain SWANA Chapter The Work Environment – Work Force Diversity Greater that 25% will be Hispanic & Asian Increased training Staff – hands-on & specialized, ESL Supervisors – cultural awareness, languages Improved communication skills & media needed (digital, on-line forums, blogging, linkins) Retention needs will increase Tuition reimbursement Comprehensive health benefits Absenteeism & safety incentives The Waste Environment – New Materials in Waste Stream Materials from displaced products Materials from new technology Nanotechnology Health issues? Equipment & ops issues? Fullerene = simplest carbon structure The Regulatory Environment – LFGTE & WTE LFG classified as renewable energy eligible for production tax credit WTE defined as renewable in 15 states Reduces methane & provides alternative to fossil fuels Approx 500 LFGTE projects 90 WTE projects Both expected to increase The Environment Environment Global water shortage – over I billion people lack access to potable water Air quality – 130M in the U.S. live with “unhealthy” air Global warming – climate change, compromised ecosystems, health affects But really – what’s the big deal?? Just the Facts, Ma’am 20th Century Warming Trend Sea Levels CO2 Levels 21st Century Notes 2-12 degrees F 11 of last 12 years = warmest in modern history 4-8 inches 19-37 inches 23 feet if entire Greenland ice sheet melts < 1% last 10,000 yrs 33% since Industrial Revolution 650,000 yrs ago - last time atmospheric CO2 at today's levels 1.44 degrees F American West has warmed 70% more than planet as a whole (Colorado River Basin 2X global average) Global Warming Basics Greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide & CFCs Biogenic & anthropogenic sources CO2 has “global warming potential” of 1 (baseline) Measured as metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCE) What’s the Relevance? MTCE = a balloon filled to a 30-ft diameter Annual US per capita generation = 20 to 25 MTCE US Climate Change Movement 24 states require electric utilities to use renewables 11 states to reduce GHGs by 80% from 1990 levels > 600 mayors signed climate protection agreement > 1000 companies participate in GHG reduction & renewable power procurement programs EPA programs - Climate Leaders Program, Green Power Partnership, Energy Star, Methane to Markets, etc. Will Congress Ever Catch Up? America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 (S. 2191) Requires caps for manufacturing, transportation & electric Offset trading from agricultural, forest & other land-use Efforts to Modify S. 2191 by coalition including SWANA to recognize recycling as GHG stabilizer House Climate Change Bill (in progress) – SWANA coalition wants to study direct $$ to recycling Many new renewable energy bills www.markstivers.com/cartoons/main%202002.html Role of Solid Waste Industry < 5% of total US GHGs from solid waste Collection = largest emission process Landfill disposal = largest methane generator Recycling reduces resource consumption of virgin materials Recycling & composting improve carbon sequestration & reduce disposal, avoid landfilling LFG & WTE create energy that replaces fossil fuels SWANA’s Role Recently Added Services & Programs Joined Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) Offset footprints for SWANA events beginning 2007 Monthly E-sessions on solid waste + climate change Partnered with Clinton Climate Initiative New “ning” site social network at iamswana.ning.com WASTECON 2008 Carbon Calculator included in WASTECON 2008 Registration SWANA, con’t Increased role for Technical Divisions Training – new updates for Transfer Stations, C&D and Recycling Continued advocacy Part of Renewable Energy Business Alliance Action Alerts on SWANA home page America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 2009 Interstate Waste – Rail-Based Solid Waste Facilities – Flow Control You & SWANA? Join a Technical Division Become a training instructor Join SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation Take the SWANA Climate Change Challenge today Expect 2. Question Participate in Change 1. 3. Laurie Batchelder Adams LBA Associates & SWANA [email protected]