Illinois: Moving Towards Zero Waste Lake County Green 2015 Jennifer Nelson, Seven Generations Ahead
Seven Generations Ahead Fourteen-year old non-profit working to promote sustainable and healthy communities -sustainability planning and implementation -educational conferences and forums -farm to school program -zero waste program
What does it mean to be Zero Waste? Zero Waste = Zero Garbage
Planning for Zero Waste Eliminate waste at its source (source reduction) Increase recycling Convert food scraps to compost Teach about sustainability Waste = Resource Identify opportunities for cost savings Getting to Zero Waste is a journey. You need to start somewhere.
37% FOOD & YARD WASTE
COMMERCIAL COMPOSTING 1. Sort Food Scraps 2. Haul to a Compost Facility 3. Compost in Windrows 4. Use Finished Compost
CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE Sustainable Communities Take on Food Scrap Composting Residents Residential curbside collection SEEKING POLICY CHANGE Community Sustainability Planning Schools Zero Waste Ambassadors ZWA curriculum GreenTown Educational Conferences Businesses Report card Institutions Collaboration Pilot programs Events Zero waste event training Illinois Food Scrap Coalition INFRASTRUCTURE DEVLEOPMENT
Zero Waste Residents Residential Curbside Organics Collection Pilot
Residential Food Scrap Collection Program 2012 Pilot select area in Oak Park 10% participation (110 homes) Weekly pickup of food scraps with yard waste Cost to resident is max of $14/month (can be offset by reduced landfill bill as well as not needing to buy yard waste stickers) 2013 - expanded to entire village
Zero Waste Schools Zero Waste Ambassadors Curriculum
Schools with ZWA Programs Chicago Public Schools Commercial compost pilot (5 schools in 2014-2015) Breakfast waste reduction program (25 schools in 2011-2012) ZW plans implemented at individual schools Oak Park D97-8 elementary schools and 2 middle schools D200 Oak Park River Forest HS Kenilworth Lunchroom composting (2013-14) Highland Park D112 ZW survey of all schools (2011-12) Lunchroom composting (2012-13) Naperville 1 elementary school (2008-09)
Waste Sorting Stations classroom sorting hallway sorting lunchroom sorting sorting station & equipment
School Composting Methods Tumbler-Beye 3 Bin System-Hatch Commercial compost off site Earth Tub-Holmes Worm bins-many schools
Commercial Composting = Students Compost ~40% of Waste Carl von Linne Elementary School Launch Day Waste Assessment 5/6/15 13% 22% 39% Compost Recycling Liquid Uneaten fruit 16% 10% Landfill
School Composting Makes the News Afternoon Shift and All Things Considered - Monday 6/2 The story on food waste in Chicago Public Schools and CPS Blaine Elementary and the Commercial Composting Pilot http://soundcloud.com/.../north-side-school-reducing-food Morning Shift - Tuesday 6/3 The discussion this morning on commercial food scrap composting in CPS and Oak Park D97 https://soundcloud.com/morningshiftwbez/compost-food-waste-a-growing
Zero Waste Businesses and Institutions WeCompost
WeCompost Restaurants Hotels Hospitals Breweries Universities Museums
Zero Waste Events Event Training Events
Zero Waste Event Training Seven Generations Ahead has provided training on How to Hold a Zero Waste Event. Training manual 2-part training (seminar and onsite tour of ZW event)
Micro Brew Micro Waste Seven Generations Ahead and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild coproduce the annual Oak Park Micro Brew Review Over 100 craft beers from more than 50 breweries 4,000 attendees Zero waste event
No plastic water bottles served Reusable tasting glasses Compostable serving ware All purchasing decisions made through sustainable lens Sustainable Practices Zero Waste Resource Recovery Stations were used to collect the 6,000 plates, 3,000 eco-spoons and 4,000 napkins (all compostable) and therefore diverted from the landfill
Zero Waste Policy and Education Illinois Food Scrap Coalition
Illinois Food Scrap Coalition The Illinois Food Scrap Coalition is a group of solid waste agencies, counties, and community and government organizations dedicated to advancing food scrap composting in Illinois through program implementation, policy, and advocacy.
IFSC Forums and Report www.illinoiscomposts.org
Incorporating Zero Waste 1. Assess current system and opportunities for waste reduction 2. Partner with hauler (and compost facility) 3. Plan and prioritize 4. Educate and engage on every level 5. Implement 6. Measure and report success 7. Communicate communicate communicate
Thank You! Jen Nelson, Seven Generations Ahead jennifer@sevengenerationsahead.org http://www.sevengenerationsahead.org http://www.illinoiscomposts.org