Development of a Recycling Program A Melding of Law, Grassroots, and Environmental Champions. Pamela Egan September 28, NMRC Conference

Transcription

1 Development of a Recycling Program A Melding of Law, Grassroots, and Environmental Champions Pamela Egan September 28, NMRC Conference

2 NASA White Sands Test Facility Las Cruces, NM. Built early 1960s. Aerospace testing, includes hazardous materials (RCRA). Current Population approximately 600.

3 Early Days ( ) Recycling by Mandate RCRA - EPA wants recycling of hazardous materials. WSTF basically recycling what is required: scrap metal, spent batteries, spent solvents, used oil Executive Order (E.O.) 12873, 1998 E.O Clinton orders all federal agencies to make recycling (and buying green) part of daily activities. Add to the list: white paper Note: WSTF is involved in many other required environmental stewardship activities, but for purposes of this talk the focus is on recycling only.

4 Early Days ( ) RCRA recycling stirs other ideas, small network of dedicated recyclers, beginnings of grassroots movement Employee Volunteers: Collect plastic bottles and transport to city center. Collect shredded paper and donate to animal shelter. Donate unused items to education institutions. Collect eye glasses for Lions Club.

5 Early Days ( ) Desired Behavior Challenges Solutions Compliance with Environmental Law and Presidential E.O.s Major change, slow start. E.O. slow trickle down, enforcement weak, compliance soft. Decentralized responsibility. No recycling infrastructure. Reporting. Centralized responsibility. Developed collection areas (primitive). Identified vendors. Started monitoring and measuring. RCRA Training. Add white paper and cardboard.

6 Growth & Development ( ) Milestone in 2000, WSTF implements an Environmental Management System (EMS): 2000 E.O Clinton orders all federal agencies to incorporate environmental management into overall management. WSTF EMS certified to ISO In-house program. - Enforceable. - Continual improvement.

7 Growth & Development ( ) Assessment of Environmental Impacts Natural Resources, Water, Energy Use. - Materials Management (WSTF Logistics). - WSTF Energy Manager appointed. Environmental Management Programs (EMPs)

8 Growth & Development ( ) Another milestone in 2005, a team is created... WSTF Energy Manager creates WSIT (WSTF Sustainability Initiative Team) to help raise site awareness. Team leader researches energy mandates, determines WSTF not on track with many E.O.s. (Energy, Water, P2, Buying Green) EMP for Sustainability initiated, WSIT mission broadened to encompass all Green E.O. requirements. Lowest hanging fruit recycling program E.O , Bush orders government agencies to implement recycling programs & increase diversion solid waste. Recycling takes off!

9 Growth & Development ( ) E.O and in 2015 E.O , Obama orders federal agencies to operate sustainably, goals set, targets (50% solid waste diversion by 2015), adds food waste, compostables, C+D, and anything else that makes sense.

10 Growth & Development ( ) WSIT becomes KEY in developing WSTF s Recycling Program: Recycling awareness training. Recycling improvement ideas. Recycling incentives, awards, and events. Takes WSTF recycling beyond requirements.

11 WSIT Accomplishments WSIT are the Environmental Champions at WSTF: Assumed oversight of WSTF solid waste contract in 2012, single stream and C+D added. Partnering with WSTF Logistics for more recycling and repurposing. Successfully petitioned management for site recycling center. Management of recyclables; grass roots, ED techs, to maintenance department. Became an officially recognized WSTF Team, able to work with various NASA boards. Participated with South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) Committees, city SS curbside recycling, glass recycling.

12 WSIT Accomplishments Asphalt & Concrete Grinding, Wood Chipping Project

13 WSIT Accomplishments Electronics recycling with UNICORE, wood and plastic donations to local high schools

14 WSIT Accomplishments Recycling Station Upgrade Project Before After

15 WSIT Accomplishments Incentives, Awards, and Initiatives: Get Caught Recycling. Quarterly Green Star Award. Pledge to Recycle. Kick the Can.

16 WSIT Accomplishments Items currently recycled... Batteries (all types) Chemicals (8) Construction Materials (10) Electronics/Lamps (7) Fluids, Used Petroleum (5) Food Grease Metals (12) Misc. (10)(bar soap to Fire extinguishers to Yard Waste) Office Supplies (6) Paper (all types) Peacekeeper Missiles Plastics (8) Single Stream Material Space Shuttle (fuel Cells) Vehicle, oil filters, and tires

17 WSIT Accomplishments With the help of WSIT, WSTF has reached above and beyond their requirements... Year Total Recyclables Solid Waste Diversion ,380 lbs 12% ,897,872 lbs 94% 15 Year Total 31,262,069 lbs 83%

18 Growth & Development ( ) Desired Behavior Challenges Solutions Top to bottom awareness. Recycling part of life at WSTF and why. Recycling process knowledge. Aware of recycling goals. Brag about program. Negative attitudes. Resistance to change. Management interest shifts. Funding. Who picks it up? Re-purposing ideas. Federal Property Rules. Better tracking of E.O.s. ISO vehicle. Dedicated recycling team (WSIT). High profile Awareness Program. Maintenance contractor picks it up. Formal training (new hire briefing, annual training classes). Improved tracking and reporting system. Beautified stations to draw attention.

19 Looking to the Future & Beyond Recycling is not just an Environmental Department function...it is everybody's business. Desired Behavior Challenges Solutions Input from all departments. More accountability for all departments. Recycle more items, capture more metrics. Deepen recycling and sustainability mindset. Management buy-in (employees have great ideas). Funding. Finding advocates other than WSIT members. Formed Site-wide Sustainability Working Group (S2WG). S2WG supported under ISO. Funded for 1 year. Developing database for site-wide use. Cort s List.

20 Summary Basic RCRA recycling + Grass roots efforts formed foundations of program. ISO EMS brings recycling to management spotlight, programs initiated, resources are dedicated. Biggest contributor to program success is the WSIT never underestimate the power (and patience) of a small group of dedicated people. E.O.s allow us the argument, But we have to do it, developed with time; more commitment, specificity, and accountability through reporting requirements. WSTF behavior changes from simple compliance to above and beyond recycling to doing it because it is right for the environment. Full circle across departments, to Environmental Department, back to across departments with S2WG

21 Awards NMRC Federal Facility Award in 2010 work with SCSWA in getting Electronics Recycling. EPA's Federal Green Challenge Award in 2014 asphalt/concrete/wood chipping project. NMRC Recycling Innovation Award in 2014 Space Shuttle Fuel Cell Precious Metal Reclamation & Recycling.