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Calculating scenarios for diversion <br />For ease of comparison and understanding, we have chosen to evaluate the impacts of <br />three scenarios over the same baseline. <br />Baseline: The baseline reIlects no recycling or composting. We used the state's <br />average of 3$% waste-to-energy incineration. anal 65% landfill as the potential <br />energy generation from Waste. We used the national averages for distance to <br />landfill and national average landfill gas capture rates of 44%, which. are <br />increasingly questioned as the rate is predicted to be much too high. <br />Current Average Scenario (using 2006 data): The current average scenario uses the <br />charts and reports from SCORE to give a snap shot of the greenhouse gas <br />reductions achieved by participating in recycling and composting at the average <br />Minnesota level: <br />- 41 % recycling and 3'% composting <br />MCCAG 2012 Goal Scenario (future): For amid-range scenario we used the State <br />of Minnesota goals for recovery efforts. The Minnesota Climate Change Advisory <br />Group (MCCAG), a governor appointed body of public, private, and nonprofit <br />groups, convened in 2007 with the purpose of presenting a. climate change <br />mitigation plan to the legislature. They looked at issues across all sectors including <br />waste. The goals they set for waste reduction are: <br />~ 50% recycling and 10% can posting by 2012 <br />60% recycling anal 1~% composti.ng 6y 2025. <br />The middle scenario uses the 2012 goals of achieving a SO% recycling rate and 10'% <br />composting rate. To calculate the additional diversion needed to reach these goals, <br />start with the average scenario (what is currently being done, 41'% recycling and <br />3`% composting} and add tonnage based upon what is left in the garbage. It will <br />require capturing 40% of the additional recyclab]es in the garbage to ril.eet the 50%, <br />overall recycling goal and 50% of the compostables in the garbage to meet the 10% <br />composting goal. <br />Zero--Waste Scenario (maximum): The zero-waste scenario measures the impact of <br />capturing virtually everything currently recyclable or compostable. LJsu~g the <br />current diversion numbers and adding in all the potential recycling and composting <br />identified through the 2000 waste composition study: <br />Y 100% recycling and 100% composting <br />This result is approximately an overall 8$"o diversion rate (see Total potential <br />column in Table 5). The remaining 12% of the waste stream is currently not <br />recyclable or compostable. In a true zero-waste model, this 12% would be source <br />reduced or redesigned to be recyclable or compostable. <br />Page 11 <br />