California Air Resources Board Has Barely Scratched the Surface of Recycling Measures Needed to Implement AB 32 on Global Warmin

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Nick Lapis
Policy Associate
Californians Against Waste

Californians Against Waste strongly supports the Air Resources Board’s decision to include landfill gas capture as one of the 3 discrete Early Action Measures (EAMs) that will be implemented by January 1st, 2010. However, by focusing on controlling the small number of landfills that do not have gas capture systems, the Board missed an opportunity to achieve other substantial and cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions from the waste sector.

Ton for ton, recycling reduces more pollution, saves more energy and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions more than any other solid waste management option. Despite a robust materials collection infrastructure, Californians disposed over 42 million tons of solid waste in 2004. Over 60% of these materials were recyclable, and, when disposed, they generated very significant greenhouse gas emissions. A modest 25% reduction in disposal of materials commonly collected in curbside programs could deliver 5 MMTCO2E of GHG reductions, an amount equal to over a million cars not being driven every year.

Recycling reduces GHG emissions in two important ways. First, recycling keeps materials out of the landfill, thus avoiding methane emissions. Early action measures that reduce methane emissions will yield greater immediate results than CO2-based strategies alone because methane has 23 times the climate forcing potential of carbon dioxide and a lifespan of only 12 years. More importantly, recycling reduces the emissions associated with the mining, processing, and transportation of virgin resources.

Recycling is also widely accepted and has a proven economic track record. Increasing recycling will achieve significant GHG reductions without investment in new technologies or systems. Increasing the flow through California’s existing materials recovery and recycling infrastructure will also generate significant economic benefits. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has estimated that recycling has twice the economic benefit of landfilling the same material.

Recycling is one of the few activities that allows ordinary citizens and businesses to take proactive steps to protect their environment. It is widely accepted, readily implemented, and can deliver significant GHG reductions.