7. René Rodríguez

Waste Management The road ahead:

Innovation and Sustainability

RenĂŠ R. RodrĂ­guez Environmental Protection and Safety Manager

Company Overview

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We capture a variety of materials

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Traditional disposal business

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Current Solid Waste Stream Flow

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ZERO Waste is the new wave What is ZERO Waste?

Every business produces two things: 1) Products – the things that you intend to produce and that have marketable value; and 2) Non-products – the things produced as a consequence of making products and that have no marketable value • Rejects • Excess material • Expired materials Even products generate non-product; primarily in the form of product packaging that is no longer needed.

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What is ZERO Waste?

Some may say: The recycling of all materials back into nature or the marketplace in a manner that protects human health and the environment.

But what about the non-products before and after production?

Can the amount of packaging be reduced or even eliminated?

Can the non-avoidable packaging be recycled?

Is the waste generation just being shifted elsewhere? Š2011 Waste Management

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What is Zero Waste?

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Zero Waste Concept

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Can we achieve ZERO Waste?

• Infrastructure and systems are lacking to make it cost effective; • material standards have not been established; • reverse logistics systems are not mature; • secondary markets are absent.

Given these challenges zero-waste may seem as an aspirational goal rather than something that can actually be achieved.

•

Man learned how to fly and eventually went to the moon • Man went to the moon

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Ride the wave or sink …

In order to meet the goals of the clients and society in general we need to innovate to achieve sustainability.

•Be open to transformation •Be creative

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Innovation and Suatainability •Single-stream recycling greatly increases participation - on average up to 50 percent more recyclable materials

Recycling

•Helps lower costs and emissions by reducing transportation while capturing new volume

E-Waste Recycling Fastest growing commodity in the waste stream

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Innovation and Sustentability Organics Recycling and Renewable Energy ď ś Beneficial uses of organics including composting, mulch operations ď ś Conversion of biomass into organic salts, that can then be converted to a high-octane gasoline

Creation of clean biogas and nutrient rich compost through anaerobic digestion (biogas to power), composting and finished product marketing Š2011 Waste Management

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Innovation and Sustainability Landfill-Gas-To-Energy and Fuel • WM’s landfill gas-to-energy plants generate enough energy to power nearly 500,000 homes • 129 facilities as of 1st Q 2011 •Landfill gas to ultra low- carbon liquefied natural gas with carbon emissions 97% lower than diesel

Waste-To-Energy •17 plants across the US •Produce enough energy to power 650,000 homes, offsetting the need for 7 million barrels of oil

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Can we achieve ZERO Waste in Puerto Rico?

• It is unlikely at this time.

• At least in the near future.

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Can we achieve ZERO Waste in Puerto Rico?

• In Puerto Rico is “cheaper” to throw away the garbage in a municipal landfill than it is to recycle.

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Puerto Rico Challenges What will slow development?

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Why it is “cheaper” to throw away?

• Average citizen has no concern of how garbage is handled.

• Average city major is only concerned with collection and neglect disposal.

• Average city has limited financial resources.

• Many municipal landfills do not have resources and operate in violation of the regulations.

• Government agencies not enforcing the rules in the municipal landfills.

• A non-compliant landfill with no enforcement has very low operational costs.

• Any new technology, recycling, and properly operated landfills cannot compete with the municipal landfill disposal rates. ©2011 Waste Management

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Summary • Traditional waste disposal will be phased out • Landfills will eventually disappear but not tomorrow

Push for ZERO Waste will continue and gain force More enforcement is needed to bring municipal landfills into compliance.

• Be ready for change • Be open for innovation • •

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For more information: WM 2010 Sustainability Report at http://www.wm.com/sustainability/index.jsp Think Green educational site at http://www.thinkgreen.com/students-k-5 Greenopolis on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/greenopolis?v=app_4949752878

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