2014-04-22_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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For nine years the City of Roseville and Eureka Recycling have partnered to design and manage a zero -waste recycling program. Zero -waste recycling is an approach to recycling that always carefully considers people, cost, and the environment. The goal is to ensure the most sustainable use of the natural resources we rely on for the products and packaging we need. • It looks at the impacts these products and packaging have on the people who use, transport, sort, and manufacture these goods into new products. • It examines the environmental impact of all of this work and searches for ways to maximize the environmental benefit of recycling by using local or regional markets over exports. It assures that as much material as possible is recycled to its highest and best use, and if possible, that material can be recycled again and again. • It accounts for the value of the material. Specifically in Roseville, revenues are shared back with the community to help keep the costs of the program low and to support other zero - waste initiatives. Most recycling programs are not built on zero -waste values. They are designed and managed to maximize the profit margins on hauling, sorting, and selling material for the hauler. Through their zero -waste recycling program, Roseville has had the unique opportunity to go far beyond traditional recycling to include other approaches to waste reduction as well. In 2013, over 840 Roseville residents used the Twin Cities Free Market to prevent items from becoming waste through person -to- person exchanges. That effort prevented over 6,700 pounds of waste and made sure that durable goods like furniture and appliances were used for their entire lifecycle before they ended up in the waste stream. This form of prevention is also an effective way to reduce the amount of bulky items that need to be handled by cities. Roseville also demonstrates leadership in recycling and waste reduction at the many city- sponsored events such as The Run for the Roses, The Wild Rice Festival and Earth Day. Large events in other cities generally mean a giant pile of waste from the disposable cups and plates and other material generally used at events. In Roseville these gatherings are done as zero -waste events. It takes time and thoughtful planning to ensure that all of the packaging and material generated at these events is either avoided, reduced, or made from compostable or recyclable materials. The results are that events drawing hundreds of Roseville residents end up with a diversion rate of over 90 %! Roseville has been a leader in zero -waste events in the entire state and has been recognized by other conununities for their leadership. Roseville residents also reduce their waste by composting kitchen scraps and yard waste right in their backyard. Eureka Recycling teaches backyard composting workshops that are hosted by the city where residents can learn another way to reduce waste and make healthy soil. At the workshops residents obtain compost bins, learn about how to be a successful composter and join up with other neighbors who are composting at home. According to a recent report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, over 35% of what we toss in Minnesota is still food waste and non - recyclable paper that could be composted. One 2