The Energy & ClimateThe Energy & ClimateBenefits of the 3 R’sBenefits of the 3 R’s

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Sara HartwellSara HartwellU.S. EPAU.S. EPA

Office of Resource Conservation and RecoveryOffice of Resource Conservation and RecoveryOctober 6, 2009October 6, 2009

All materials and products have All materials and products have climate and energy impacts at climate and energy impacts at

every stage of the lifecycleevery stage of the lifecycle

Raw Material ExtractionRaw Material Extraction ProcessingProcessing ManufacturingManufacturing Product UseProduct Use Management at End-of-LifeManagement at End-of-Life

Material Life CycleMaterial Life Cycle

http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/SWMGHGreport.html

How do we minimize the climate How do we minimize the climate and energy impacts of the materials and energy impacts of the materials

and products that we use? and products that we use?

Choose Materials WiselyChoose Materials Wisely Use LessUse Less ((reducereduce)) Reuse ProductsReuse Products ((reusereuse)) Manage Materials at end-of-lifeManage Materials at end-of-life

((recyclerecycle)) Use Recycled ContentUse Recycled Content

Reuse is one way to ReduceReuse is one way to Reduce

I need a pallet for 3 one-way tripsI need a pallet for 3 one-way trips I can make 3 pallets ….orI can make 3 pallets ….or

I can I can ReuseReuse the same pallet 3 times the same pallet 3 times I have I have ReducedReduced the number of pallets that the number of pallets that

are made by 2/3are made by 2/3

One More Important ThingOne More Important Thing

When you are making decisions based on When you are making decisions based on life-cycle analysis (LCA) – be sure to life-cycle analysis (LCA) – be sure to consider the ENTIRE life-cycleconsider the ENTIRE life-cycle For example, if reusable packaging is used to For example, if reusable packaging is used to

transport case-ready meat, the energy (and transport case-ready meat, the energy (and climate!) implications of heating the water to climate!) implications of heating the water to clean the crates between shipments may clean the crates between shipments may outweigh the benefits of reuse.outweigh the benefits of reuse.

Energy Benefits of the 3 R’sEnergy Benefits of the 3 R’s

Energy demand is reduced through Energy demand is reduced through source source reductionreduction & recycling & recycling Replacement of discarded materials requires Replacement of discarded materials requires

energy to extract, transport, and process raw energy to extract, transport, and process raw virgin materials.virgin materials.

Manufacturing products from recycled Manufacturing products from recycled materials typically requires less energy than materials typically requires less energy than manufacturing from virgin materials.manufacturing from virgin materials.

Energy Benefits of the 3 R’sEnergy Benefits of the 3 R’s

For most materials, the manufacturing For most materials, the manufacturing process energy for recycled materials process energy for recycled materials uses a fraction of the energy used to uses a fraction of the energy used to produce virgin materials.  For example:produce virgin materials.  For example: producing aluminum with recycled cans producing aluminum with recycled cans

requires 92% less energy than using virgin requires 92% less energy than using virgin aluminum; aluminum;

recycling newspaper requires 45% less recycling newspaper requires 45% less energy for production than using virgin fibers.energy for production than using virgin fibers.

What’s the impact of recycling on What’s the impact of recycling on energy conservation?energy conservation?

In 2007, the U.S. recycled 33 % (85 million In 2007, the U.S. recycled 33 % (85 million tons) of MSWtons) of MSW11

Energy benefit of 1.3 quadrillion BTUs Energy benefit of 1.3 quadrillion BTUs • Residential site energy consumption is stable at Residential site energy consumption is stable at

about 10 quadrillion BTUs/yearabout 10 quadrillion BTUs/year22

• Recycling emissions benefits = 1.3 quadrillion Recycling emissions benefits = 1.3 quadrillion BTUs BTUs 33

1 1 http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm22http://www.eia.doe.gov/

33http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm

Use less energy – produce Use less energy – produce fewer GHGsfewer GHGs

Process energy GHGs comprise the Process energy GHGs comprise the majority of upstream emissions for the majority of upstream emissions for the manufacture of both virgin and recycled manufacture of both virgin and recycled materials – on average, approximately 80 materials – on average, approximately 80 percent*percent*

*for materials considered in EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM)*for materials considered in EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM)

Use less energy – produce Use less energy – produce fewer GHGsfewer GHGs

The transportation energy associated with The transportation energy associated with manufacturing accounts for a small share manufacturing accounts for a small share of upstream emissions – on average less of upstream emissions – on average less than 20%*than 20%*

*for materials considered in EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM)*for materials considered in EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM)

More Climate Benefits of the 3 R’sMore Climate Benefits of the 3 R’s

Production of some raw materials Production of some raw materials produces GHGs not associated with produces GHGs not associated with process energy (aluminum is a good process energy (aluminum is a good example)example)

Recycling those materials avoids emission Recycling those materials avoids emission of those non-process energy GHGs, too.of those non-process energy GHGs, too.

More Climate Benefits of the 3 R’sMore Climate Benefits of the 3 R’s

Forest carbon sequestration increases Forest carbon sequestration increases when wood products are when wood products are source reducedsource reduced & recycled& recycled trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere

through photosynthesis, converting CO2 in through photosynthesis, converting CO2 in the atmosphere to carbon in their biomass. the atmosphere to carbon in their biomass.

Carbon storage increases when organics Carbon storage increases when organics are composted and added to soilare composted and added to soil

More Climate Benefits of the 3 R’sMore Climate Benefits of the 3 R’s

Source ReductionSource Reduction and Recycling Avoids: and Recycling Avoids: CHCH44 emissions from landfills emissions from landfills COCO22 emissions from waste combustion emissions from waste combustion

What’s the impact of recycling on What’s the impact of recycling on GHG emissions?GHG emissions?

In 2007, the U.S. recycled 33 % (85 million In 2007, the U.S. recycled 33 % (85 million tons) of MSWtons) of MSW11

Avoided emissions of 193 million MTCO2eAvoided emissions of 193 million MTCO2e• Equivalent to the annual GHG emissions of 35 Equivalent to the annual GHG emissions of 35

million passenger vehicles (about 14 percent of million passenger vehicles (about 14 percent of passenger vehicles registered in the U.S.)passenger vehicles registered in the U.S.)

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm