Recycling & Climate Change
A new EPA study concludes that the procurement, production and disposal of goods in the US account for 42% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The study factors in emissions generated by land use, food and production "across the entire life cycle – from resource extraction to manufacturing, packaging, transportation, and ultimately disposal."
Interestingly, the EPA estimates that doubling recycling of construction and demolition debris would save 150 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year (the same amount generated in a year in North Carolina).
Also, reducing product packaging by half could prevent the release of 105 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Overall, the EPA report suggests that emission savings from waste reduction, recycling, and reduced packaging are quite significant.
Energy savings from using recycled vs. virgin materials:
Iron and Steel: requires 74% less energy. 2/3rds of steel produced in U.S. is from recycled materials.
Non-Ferrous Metals (all other metals): requires 96% less energy for aluminum. 60% of metals are now made from scrap.
Paper: requires 36% less energy and far fewer chemicals. 51% of paper recycled in 2005.
Plastic: requires 80% less energy and reduces petroleum use. Only 17% is currently recovered for recycling.
Purchase our Investing in Recycling Report to learn more.
NYC Sued Over E-cycling
In the absence of national legislation governing electronics recycling, 19 states have enacted e-cycling laws and another 13 states are considering them.
The laws vary from state to state, resulting in a complex patchwork of regulations for companies to follow. It doesn’t look like we’ll get a national law anytime soon, so instead of developing take-back policies at the highest level that can be applied across all the states, trade groups are beginning to sue.
Two consumer electronics industry trade groups – the Consumer Electronics Association and the Information Technology Council – are suing New York City over its e-cycling law – it requires electronics manufacturers to collect used electronics free of charge if they weigh more than 15 pounds.
The trade groups contend that state laws burden manufacturers with a "patchwork" system of rules that cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
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