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Communities in Action

Municipalities throughout the country are successfully pursuing the connection between residential solid waste reduction and climate change mitigation.  Here are some proven successes of various programs implemented around the country!

Austin, TX – Achieving Zero Waste and Carbon Neutrality 

The City of Austin, Texas has set a goal for all city operations to be carbon neutral by 2020.  Solid waste management presents Austin with both a challenge and an opportunity to achieve this goal.  The city began a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program in 1992, under which residents pay for trash collection based on how much they throw away.  The program has been a huge success; over 71% of residents participate voluntarily, and between 2005 and 2006, the city’s annual disposal rates dropped by 120 lbs per person.  In 1999, Austin mandated commercial recycling for businesses with more than 100 employees.  To date, affected companies have recycled 400,000 tons of material. 

Not one to rest on its laurels, the city recently piloted a single stream recycling program.  The program is more convenient for residents resulting in increased diversion rates using fewer city recycling trucks in less time, and lowering the GHG emissions from fuel consumption.  The city is also developing a plan for zero waste by 2040, following the target of the United Nations Urban Environmental Accord.  To encourage innovation, the city launched the Zero Waste Challenge in 2008.  Individuals, businesses, and organizations can join and track their waste reduction efforts online.  Judges rate entries based on creativity and ingenuity, as well as on the impact of the changes on waste output. ¹

Breathe in the Fresh AIRE of Arlington County, VA

The Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE) plans to reduce the Arlington County Government’s greenhouse gas emissions by 10% between 2000 and 2012.  AIRE is a partnership between businesses, residents, and government to reduce emissions in various ways, including the increase of waste reduction.

The flow of solid waste in Arlington County accounts for 3% of its GHG emissions (i.e., the 3% only accounts for the disposal stage of the full product lifecycle impact and does not include the much greater emissions arising from product manufacturing and use).  To reduce this number, the county reaches out to its residents and businesses, encouraging the 4 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rebuy.  Residents take the “Green Living Challenge” and use cloth grocery bags and reusable mugs.  They leave grass clippings on their lawn to decompose (a practice known as grasscycling) or compost in their backyards.  Businesses also participate, meeting a requirement to recycle at least the top two materials they generate.

The county collects residential curbside recycling, including paper, cardboard, yard waste, bottles, and cans and works with drop-off centers to handle other residential waste, such as electronics and clothing.  Arlington processes residential yard waste into organic mulch, which is distributed back to residents.  The county saves an average of $17 per ton from curbside recycling compared with trash disposal.  In 2006, Arlington’s curbside recycling diverted 9,380 tons of material from the waste stream. This initiative reduced emissions by nearly 45,000 metric tons of carbon, equivalent to the annual emissions of 9,500 cars.²

Recycling in Washtenaw County, MI

Washtenaw County includes businesses and organizations in its community-wide efforts to recycle through its voluntary Waste Knot Program.  Waste Knot provides value-added education, organization-specific technical assistance, and community-wide recognition to over 200 partner organizations that are taking extra steps towards excellence in waste reduction.  Partners receive free support such as a waste audit and consulting services, free print media and radio advertising, and are eligible for environmental excellence awards.  Washtenaw lists partner businesses in an online directory organized by sector and location, so that customers can choose to support sustainable businesses.  And best of all, being a Waste Knot Partner makes good business sense.  Individually, Partners have saved up to $120,000 a year through their waste reduction programs.³

Washtenaw County also offers a Web site with the latest information on solid waste, such as how to dispose of mercury-filled compact fluorescent light bulbs, medications, and electronics.  Washtenaw holds county cleanup days for residents to recycle materials such as furniture and appliances which are not typically recycled curbside.  To access the Web site, visit http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/planning_environment/dpw/rswhome_html.

Residential Recycling in Fayetteville, AR

Fayetteville has collected residential trash under a Pay-As-You-Throw program since 2003, charging residents based on the amount of trash that they throw away.  This incentive has contributed to Fayetteville’s residential recycling rate of 51%.⁴  Residential curbside recycling includes mixed paper, newspaper, paperboard and cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, steel, and glass, in recycling bins made of 50% post consumer recycled plastic.  Residences bag yard waste, which the city collects to make into mulch and compost which it sells back to the community.  Residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free, and electronics waste for a small fee.  The city also provides recycling services to commercial entities. 

WasteWise Partner Genzyme Corporation Works with City of Cambridge, MA to Reduce GHG Emissions

Genzyme Corporation, a WasteWise partner since 2001, has recently made impressive strides in waste reduction through its partnership with the City of Cambridge.  Genzyme’s Cambridge Campus recycles 32% of its waste, including paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass, toner cartridges, batteries, lamps, computer monitors, and refrigerators.  Genzyme participates in Cambridge’s business composting program, which provides collection of organic waste, and diverted 4,500 pounds of food waste in less than 6 months.  Genzyme has mentored other companies and helped them to replicate its program.  In 2007, Genzyme’s Cambridge Campus won a Cambridge GoGreen Business award for its innovative waste reduction program.⁵ 

Under the Cambridge Recycling Ordinance, businesses must develop and implement a recycling plan.  Currently, Cambridge recycles about 33% of its solid waste.  The City participates in the 40% Recycling Challenge through which institutions and businesses work to raise their recycling rates to 40%.  Genzyme has been a strong participant in this business-community partnership.

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Last Updated: August 31, 2009