WASTEWISE UPDATE

GLOBAL WARMING...IS A WASTE!


INSIDE

WASTEWISE: CHANGING WITH THE CLIMATE
THE CLIMATE-WASTE CONNECTION
SOLUTIONS: CORPORATE, COMMUNITY, AND STATE ACTIONS
CALCULATING THE COOLING EFFECTS OF WASTE REDUCTION
THE WASTEWISE CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE: A NEW CAMPAIGN TO
HELP PARTNERS
EPA PUBLICATIONS

     The mention of any company, product, or process in this
publication does not constitute or imply endorsement by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 


WASTEWISE: CHANGING WITH THE CLIMATE

     Many WasteWise partners are already achieving
substantial waste reductions throughout their entire
operations and are moving beyond waste prevention and
recycling towards reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and
other global sustainability efforts. 

     To better serve partners and offer a more cutting -
edge program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is upgrading its efforts to incorporate climate change
education and technical assistance throughout the WasteWise
program. Today, more and more organizations are interested
in the global environmental impacts of our collective
actions and in opportunities for reducing our ecological
footprint in ways that boost our economy.

     As part of that nationwide effort, WasteWise has
committed to launching a national education campaign on the
link between climate change and waste and serving as a
vehicle for partners to enhance, measure, and obtain
recognition for their proactive achievements. To accomplish
these goals, WasteWise will publicize the climate and waste
message through publications and events and provide tools,
technical assistance, and voluntary incentives to help
partners apply new technologies and the power of the
marketplace to achieve GHG reductions. 

     As a first step in helping your organization understand
and utilize the climate message, this WasteWise Update
explores the connection between solid waste and climate
change, describes waste-related climate impacts, identifies
ways to reduce GHG emissions and minimize global climate
change, and introduces the new WasteWise Climate Change
Initiative and Climate Change Award.


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                 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS


BTU: British Thermal Unit
CH4: Methane
CCP: Cities for Climate Protection
CO2: Carbon Dioxide
DOE: U.S. Department of Energy
EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
HDPE: High Density Polyethylene
GHG: Greenhouse Gas
ICLEI: International Council for Local Environmental         
Initiatives
WARM: Waste Reduction Model
LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene
LMOP: Landfill Methane Outreach Program
MSW: Municipal Solid Waste 
MTCE: Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent
MTCO2E: Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
NAS: National Academy of Sciences
NCEPI: National Center for Environmental Publications &
Information
N2O: Nitrous Oxide
PAYT: Pay-As-You-Throw
PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate
RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

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                SIMPLE ACTIONS, REAL RESULTS

     Waste reduction can significantly reduce GHG emissions.
Each individual action - from double-sided printing to
recycling a soda can - contributes to real GHG reductions.
The chart below demonstrates the cumulative results of
reusing or recycling everyday materials.

PREVENTING 500 TONS OF..

Paper
Aluminum*
Glass
HDPE
Corrugated cardboar*

EQUALS A REDUCTION OF...

402 MTCE
1,247 MTCE
68 MTCE
244 MTCE
257 MTCE

WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO REMOVING THIS MANY CARS
FROM THE ROAD FOR ONE YEAR

307 cars
952 cars
52 cars
186 ars
196 cars


RECYCLING 500 TONS OF..

Paper
Aluminum*
Glass
HDPE
Corrugated cardboar*

EQUALS A REDUCTION OF...

339 MTCE
2,055 MTCE
38 MTCE
192 MTCE
354 MTCE

WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO REMOVING THIS MANY CARS
FROM THE ROAD FOR ONE YEAR

259 cars
1,569 cars
29 cars
147 ars
270 cars

*For an explanation of the values for aluminum and
corrugated cardboard, please see "WARM Calculations" below.

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THE CLIMATE - WISE CONNECTION

     Lots of people know that waste reduction is good for
the environment and can also help an organization's bottom
line. What many people do not realize is that solid waste
prevention and recycling also help reduce climate change
impacts. Creating less waste decreases the amount of
heat-trapping GHG emissions linked to everyday trash. This
introduction explains the science behind the greenhouse
effect and global climate change, illustrates the connection
between solid waste and climate change, and explains how
your waste prevention and recycling programs can help reduce
climate change.


The Changing Climate

     According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS),
the federal government's scientific advisory society, GHGs
are accumulating in Earth's atmosphere as a result of human
activities, causing global mean surface air temperature and
subsurface ocean temperature to rise. Rising global
temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and change
precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing
regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water
supplies. It could also affect human health, animals, and
many types of ecosystems. Deserts might expand into existing
rangelands, and features of some of our National Parks might
be permanently altered. Most of the United States is
expected to warm, although sulfates might limit warming in
some areas. Scientists currently are unable to determine
which parts of the United States will become wetter or
drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward
increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense
rainstorms, and drier soils. Unfortunately, many of the
potentially most important impacts depend upon whether
rainfall increases or decreases, which cannot be reliably
projected for specific areas.


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                         LEARN MORE!

     Interested in learning more about the connection
between climate change and solid waste? Want to see what
organizations are doing to mitigate the effects of solid
waste management on the Earth's climate? Watch Why "Waste" a
Cool Planet: MSW Solutions to Global Climate Change!

     This two-hour satellite forum video explores global
climate change by focusing on the role municipal solid waste
(MSW) management plays in this phenomenon. 

     Other EPA-sponsored satellite forum videos include:

     *Buying Recycled: The Real Story About Cost,
Availability, and Quality

     *Communities: Setting Trends in Waste Prevention and
Recycling

     *Solid Waste Gets a Higher Education: A College and
University Waste Reduction Satellite Forum

     *Waste Prevention Pays: Businesses Cut Costs by Cutting
Waste

To order a free copy of any of these videos, call the
WasteWise Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473) or e-mail
<www@cais.net>.

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     NAS also found new and stronger evidence that most of
the warming during the last 50 years is attributable to
human activities that have altered the chemical composition
of the atmosphere through the buildup of GHGs, primarily
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide
(N2O). CO2 is released to the atmosphere by the burning of
fossil fuels, wood and wood products, and solid waste. CH4
is emitted from the decomposition of organic wastes in
landfills, the raising of livestock, and the production and
transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. N2O is emitted
during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as
during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. In 1997,
the United States emitted about one-fifth of total global
GHGs.(Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:
1990-2000, U.S. EPA, Office of Atmospheric Programs, April
2002. EPA236-R-02-003.) 

     Climate change poses real risks. The exact nature of
these risks remains uncertain. Ultimately, this is why we
have to use our best judgement - guided by the current state
of science - to determine what the most appropriate response
to climate change should be. Fortunately, many of the
activities that can be taken to mitigate climate change,
such as reducing waste, increasing energy efficiency, or
conserving forests, are beneficial for other reasons.


From MSW to GHGs
                                             
     Every stage of a product's life cycle - extraction,
manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal - indirectly
or directly contributes to the concentration of GHGs in the
atmosphere and affects global climate. At most stages, the
energy expended during the transport and production
processes is the main source of GHG emissions. Disposing of
organic materials like food, paper, and yard waste in
landfills can also lead to CH4 emissions from decomposition.
In addition, cutting down trees to extract wood or other raw
materials decreases carbon storage, the ability of plants to
absorb and store carbon from CO2.

     Whether you are the manufacturer or user of a product,
you can analyze the entire product life cycle to determine
where your organization can make changes, such as preventing
waste, recycling, or buying or manufacturing recycled-
content products, to reduce its impact. 

     For manufacturers, life cycle analysis might uncover
opportunities for producing goods using less material, which
means that less energy is needed for extracting,
transporting, and processing raw materials and for
transporting end products. Manufacturing goods from recycled
materials is also beneficial because it typically requires
less energy than producing goods from virgin materials. If
energy demand decreases, so does the burning of fossil fuels
and the emission of GHGs to the atmosphere. At the same
time, energy and raw materials savings usually produce cost
savings. 

     To produce high-grade office paper, for example, a
paper manufacturer uses gasoline-powered machinery to cut
down trees (which store carbon), diesel trucks to carry the
lumber to the paper mill, fossil fuels or wood products to
power the mill, and more diesel trucks to distribute the
product to customers. By increasing the amount of
recycled-content in the paper, the manufacturer can
eliminate GHG emissions associated with extraction and
transport of wood needed to make the paper. The manufacturer
can similarly reduce emissions by improving resource
efficiency in its production process to make the same amount
of paper with less raw material.


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                    INSIDE THE GREENHOUSE

     Understanding the atmospheric phenomenon known as the
greenhouse effect is critical to understanding global
climate change. The atmosphere that surrounds the Earth
contains many types of gases, including those known as
"greenhouse gases" - water vapor, CO2, CH4, and N2O. GHGs
regulate the Earth's climate by absorbing and holding heat
from the sun in an atmospheric blanket around the planet's
surface.
     
     In the first step of the process, shortwave energy from
the sun, or solar radiation, passes through the atmosphere.
Most of the radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface and
serves the life-sustaining functions of heating the ground,
melting ice and snow, evaporating water, and powering plant
photosynthesis. Some of the energy, however, reflects off
the Earth's surface back into space in the form of longwave,
or infrared, radiation. Atmospheric GHGs trap some of the
outgoing energy, retaining heat somewhat like the glass
panels of a greenhouse. For more information on how the
greenhouse effect works, visit
<www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/index.html> on EPA's
Global Warming Site.

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     A product user also has many opportunities to reduce
waste. If an organization is a buyer of high-grade paper it
can practice waste reduction techniques like purchasing
recycled-content paper or instituting a double-sided copying
policy. Purchasing recycled-content paper would eliminate
the extraction and transport of some of the raw materials
needed to make the paper, and double-sided copying would
half the amount of paper used along with its associated
energy consumption.

     Overall, waste reduction has significant potential for
decreasing GHG emissions. EPA estimates that simply
increasing our national recycling rate from its current
level of 30 percent to 35 percent would reduce GHG emissions
by another 10 million tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE).
That amount is equal to the average annual emissions from
the electricity consumed by roughly 4.6 million households.
By recycling all of its paper, plastic, and corrugated
cardboard waste generated in one year, an office building of
7,000 workers could reduce GHG emissions by 2,287 MTCE. This
amount is equivalent to taking about 1,677 cars off the road
that year. If just one household generated 5 percent less
waste - including newspapers, aluminum, steel cans, and
plastic containers - and then recycled what remained, it
could reduce 367 pounds of carbon equivalent.(Figures based
on 1999 EPA WARM emissions factors.)


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               DATA MADE EASY: GHG INVENTORIES

     The federal government and an increasing number of
states are developing reports known as "GHG Inventories."
These inventories provide annual GHG emissions data by
sector (e.g., energy, agriculture, waste), source (e.g.,
transportation emissions, manure management), and gas (e.g.,
CO2, CH4). The official U.S. government GHG inventory is
currently available on the Web at
<www.epa.gov/globalwarming/emissions/national/index.html>.
Thirty-eight states and Puerto Rico have completed
inventories in partnership with EPA's State and Local
Outreach Program, and another two states have inventories in
progress. Summaries of all these inventories are available
on the Web at
<http://yosemite.epa.gov/globalwarming/ghg.nsf/
emissions/StateAuthoredInventories>.

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         WASTEWISE PARTNERS REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES

     Across the country, WasteWise partners are reducing,
reusing, and recycling waste, and reducing GHGs at
the same time. Highlights include the following:

     By Preventing

     The Seydel Companies, Georgia-based chemical
manufacturers, work hard to prevent plastic waste. Through
packaging waste reductions and changes to their
manufacturing processes, Seydel prevented the disposal of
813 tons of high density polyethylene (HDPE), reducing GHG
emissions by approximately 400 MTCE.

     By Recycling

     In 2001, the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG),
a utility company based in Newark, New Jersey, used 31,000
tons of coal combustion by-products, such as fly ash, as a
replacement for virgin materials. PSEG used these
by-products as Portland cement replacements, roofing-shingle
manufactured components, blasting grits, and surface
abrasives. The manufacture of each ton of Portland cement
with coal fly ash prevented approximately 1 ton of CO2 from
being emitted into the atmosphere.

     By Educating

     To accomplish its waste reduction goals, Battelle
Memorial Institute, of Columbus, Ohio, implemented a
comprehensive employee education campaign that includes an
extensive internal Web site, quarterly newsletters, daily
bulletins, promotional signs, and helpful reference labels.
These outreach activities have helped Battelle report
WasteWise emissions reductions of 443 MTCE, and its efforts
to encourage employees to reduce waste at home and educate
other community members should lead to even greater GHG
reductions. 

     By Reusing

     Kessler Consulting, Inc. of Tampa, Florida, maintains
an internal reuse system for folders, standard and legal
size paper, and files and envelopes, encouraging employees
to reuse office materials rather than purchase new ones. In
2000, Kessler reported preventing several tons of
mixed paper from being sent to the landfill, where it would
decompose and emit GHGs. 

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     SOLUTIONS: CORPORATE, COMMUNITY, AND STATE ACTIONS

     From boardrooms and factories of major corporations to
state governments and local communities, real action to 
reduce climate change is taking place. In many cases, these
actions reflect stakeholders' decisions to voluntarily help
mitigate the climate change problem. EPA and other federal
agencies champion this approach by engaging businesses,
states, and localities in voluntary "win-win" partnerships
that address the challenge of global climate change while
strengthening the economy and improving communities.


What Are Stakeholders Doing?

     Many different types of organizations are working to
better understand and respond to the challenge of climate
change. Actions include increasing energy efficiency,
pursuing renewable energy sources, decreasing transportation
emissions, and conserving forests and planting trees to
increase carbon storage. Many stakeholders are also
exploring ways to mitigate climate change by reducing waste,
and they are finding that their efforts pay multiple
dividends.

     Large corporations are conducting environmental audits
and product life-cycle assessments to learn how to reduce
GHGs through better product design, resource management,
and manufacturing processes. As a result they are
discovering operational efficiencies, reduced energy costs,
and increased market share - all things that contribute to a
healthier bottom line. Small businesses are assessing the
impacts of their waste disposal and purchasing habits and
are finding easy ways to simultaneously reduce emissions
and save money.

     Cities and states across the country are preparing GHG
inventories and developing programs that tackle GHG
emissions by increasing recycling, capturing landfill gas,
and educating community members. The outcome is cleaner air,
less waste, and new energy sources. Overall, these cities
and states are providing smarter growth, making their
communities more attractive and their economies more
competitive.

     These examples prove that stakeholders can achieve
impressive results when they are given the flexibility and
opportunity to explore and implement solutions that fit
their unique needs and capabilities.


Innovative Partnerships Produce "Win-Win" Results

     EPA and other federal agencies support the types of
activities mentioned above by engaging stakeholders in
voluntary partnership programs. By providing flexibility,
technical assistance, and recognition, partnership programs
leverage innovation and outstanding environmental
performance while preserving economic health. In addition to
WasteWise, several other partnership programs facilitate
waste-related emissions reductions:

     *In communities with Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) programs
(also known as unit pricing or variable-rate pricing),
residents pay for MSW collection based on the amount they
throw away. Communities with PAYT programs have reported
significant increases in recycling and reductions in waste
due primarily to the direct economic incentive to recycle
more and generate less waste. The City of Gainesville,
Florida, a WasteWise partner, saw an 18 percent decrease in
solid waste collected and a 25 percent increase in
recyclables recovered after switching to a PAYT program.
Another WasteWise partner, the City of Dover, New Hampshire,
reduced total annual residential solid waste by a remarkable
65 percent, while simultaneously cutting its annual solid
waste budget from $1.2 million to $878,000. In addition to
lowering waste management costs, the increased recycling
and waste prevention activities that PAYT encourages results
in reduced GHG emissions associated with the manufacture,
distribution, use, and subsequent disposal of products. See
<www.epa.gov/payt> for more information on the PAYT
program.

     *EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a
voluntary assistance and partnership program that helps
facilitate and promote the use of landfill gas as a
renewable energy source. Landfill gas emitted from
decomposing garbage is a reliable and renewable fuel option
that remains untapped at many landfills in the United
States, despite its significant value. By controlling
landfill gas instead of allowing it to migrate into the
atmosphere where it is a powerful GHG, LMOP helps
businesses, states, and communities protect the environment
and build a sustainable future. Participation also leads to
cost savings and helps meet energy demand. Several WasteWise
partners also participate in LMOP. The Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) makes landfill gas a key component, along
with solar and wind power, of its Green Power Switch
program, which produces electricity from cleaner, renewable
sources. TVA's Middle Point Landfill in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee, currently produces 2.6 megawatts of generating
capacity and expects to increase capacity in the future.
Other WasteWise partners that participate in LMOP include
Detroit Edison Company, General Motors, International Truck
& Engine, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and
Northeast Utilities. See <www.epa.gov/lmop> for more
information on the LMOP program.

     *Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) is a global
campaign of the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). More than 475 local
governments worldwide participate in the campaign, including
more than 100 cities and counties in the United States. The
CCP campaign goal is to reduce GHG emissions from fossil
fuel burning and other human activities that contribute to
air pollution. Emissions reduction efforts focus on two
primary GHGs - CO2 and CH4. Local governments can play a key
role because they directly influence and control many of the
activities that produce these emissions, such as burning
fossil fuels and managing landfill methane emissions. Local
decisions regarding land use and development, investments in
public transit, energy-efficient building codes, waste
reduction, and recycling programs affect local air quality
and living standards as well as global climate.


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               PACKAGING CHANGES DECREASE GHGS

     There is a reason why Allergan, Inc. has been named a
WasteWise Large Business Program Champion 3 years in a row.
In 2000, not only did the pharmaceutical company prevent 760
tons of boxboard waste and 400 MTCE of GHGs, but it
incorporated an innovative new waste reduction process into
the design of all products. Allergan performs a full
assessment of potential waste during new product
development, evaluating the environmental impact of each
step in a product's life cycle. To assess all potential
waste, Allergan includes the impact of product packaging in
each product's overall environmental profile. The company
also evaluates existing products for opportunities to
minimize packaging. During each assessment, Allergan focuses
on:

     *Reducing - Minimizing product packaging by reducing
the layers or weight of packaging materials

     *Reusing - Creating reusable packaging

     *Recycling - Increasing the recycled content in
packaging material and ensuring the packaging itself can be
recycled 

     Mike Whaley, Allergan's director of environmental
health and safety, attributes much of his knowledge about
the relationship between MSW and global warming to
WasteWise. "Allergan was aware indirectly through various
EPA reports and other published articles that reducing waste
also reduces GHGs. The WasteWise estimates of GHG emissions
reductions were the first quantifications we received
directly attributable to our actions," he said.

     To reduce GHG emissions through packaging:

     *Prevent waste before it is created

     *Purchase products with the least amount of packaging

     *Purchase products with packaging containing recycled
material

     *Purchase products that can be recycled or whose
packaging can be recycled

     *Ship and purchase products in bulk to prevent
packaging waste

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     CCP recently initiated a Waste Challenge and Peer Match
Project that promotes innovative waste management projects
that reduce GHGs. Nine cities, including WasteWise partner
the City of San Francisco, were selected for this special
project and will receive targeted assistance from ICLEI and
EPA staff to design, implement, and quantify advanced
waste and GHG reduction projects. The CCP campaign is
an excellent opportunity for cities and counties to take
practical steps to reduce GHG emissions and generate
multiple benefits for their communities. Other CCP partners
that are also active WasteWise partners include Alachua
County, Florida; the City of Chicago, Illinois; the City of
Durham, North Carolina (2001 Program Champion); King County,
Washington (2001 Program Champion); Los Angeles Department
of Water and Power (2001 Program Champion); the City of
Meza, Arizona; and the City of San Diego, California. See
<www.iclei.org/co2> for more information on ICLEI and the
CCP program. 

     *Climate Leaders is a voluntary EPA-industry
partnership that encourages partners to develop long-term,
comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction. Climate Leaders
establish GHG reduction goals and report to EPA annually on
their progress. To set a GHG reduction goal, an organization
first determines its GHG emissions using either the
Department of Energy 1605b Voluntary GHG Emissions Reporting
Protocol or the GHG Emissions Inventory Protocol developed
by the World Resources Institute and World Business
Council for Sustainable Development. Because each company
has a unique mix of GHG emissions and potential reduction
opportunities, each partner might use a slightly different
approach to mitigating its greenhouse has emissions
footprint. All partners report their direct emissions from
onsite fuel consumption and waste incineration,
process-related emissions, and indirect emissions from
electricity use. Additionally, companies can broaden their
initiatives to include optional activities, such as
reduction and recycling, product transports, employee
commuting, business travel, or investments that offset
emissions. WasteWise partners Bethlehem Steel, General
Motors, and PSEG are charter Climate Leaders. For more
information about the Climate Leaders program, visit
<www.epa.gov/climateleaders>.

     In all of the above programs, participants have
received targeted technical assistance and the flexibility
to develop custom-tailored goals and activities. As a
result, participants achieve meaningful and quantifiable
results that are good for the environment and the economy.
As part of high-profile, nationally recognized partnership
programs, participants also benefit by being recognized as
environmental stewards that have voluntarily undertaken
special actions to improve their environmental performance.
See the resources list below to learn where to find more
information on these exciting programs.


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        CCP PROGRAM PARTICIPANT GETS WASTEWISE VALUE

     Recently, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
(LADWP), a member of CCP, noted that many of its ideas for
waste reduction activities came from its involvement in
WasteWise. In 2000, LADWP prevented approximately 16,000
tons of CO2 emissions through its recycling program! The
department recycles materials such as office paper, yard
trimmings, plastics, and wood, and boasts a recycling rate
of 76 percent. The organization also promotes waste
prevention activities such as donation programs, office
supply swaps, and double-sided copying.

     Several of LADWP's waste reduction activities reduce
GHG emissions. LADWP tracks estimated GHG emissions
reductions using the formulas provided by the WasteWise
program and is currently working with recycling vendors to
obtain accurate information about the types of materials
being diverted from the landfill. The department uses the
information gathered from its WasteWise activities to
constantly assess and improve its waste reduction
activities. To decrease future CO2 emissions, LADWP plans to
expand its recycling program to ensure that even the
smallest of the department's 300 sites recycles. 

     "WasteWise reminds us that we are not just recycling
for the department, but also for the community at large,"
says Recycling Manager Karen Higgins. "Tracking the data
helps us determine if we are in line with the recycling
program goals and are actually increasing diversions, as
well as reducing GHG emissions."

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     CALCULATING THE COOLING EFFECTS OF WASTE REDUCTION

     In the mid 1990s, EPA created WARM - the Waste
Reduction Model - to calculate the climatic benefits of
preventing waste, recycling, and composting along with the
impacts of landfilling and combustion. WARM estimates GHG
emissions associated with producing and managing 27
different materials and mixed material categories.
Communities and organizations across the United States have
been using WARM to quantify waste reduction benefits and
plan for the future. This section:

     *Explains how EPA developed WARM

     *Describes WARM measurement units and calculations

     *Introduces the online and Microsoft Excel  versions of
the tool

     *Provides examples of how WasteWise partners use WARM
results


WARM GHG Emission Factors

     In 1994, EPA recognized the connection between solid
waste and climate change and called for accelerated source
reduction and recycling. The Agency then realized that
quantifying GHG emissions reductions associated with these
activities would be extremely valuable and began to develop
emission factors for 11 different types of materials and
wastes including aluminum cans, HDPE plastic, and corrugated
cardboard.

EMISSION FACTOR = GHGs EMITTED IN PRODUCING AND MANAGING 1
                TON OF A SPECIFIC MATERIAL

     Using life cycle assessment methodology, EPA examined
each material from cradle to grave to determine all the
GHG emissions and sinks associated with each commodity. For
example, analysts determined the GHG emissions and the
energy required to produce and dispose of 1 ton of aluminum
cans. They evaluated each step in the production process,
beginning with aluminum ore extraction, and examined each
waste management option - waste prevention, recycling,
landfilling, and combustion. Finally, they converted energy
use into GHG emissions. The cradle-to-grave emission factors
for aluminum waste prevention and recycling are -2.49 and
-4.11 MTCE per ton. The GHG emission factors for landfilling
and combustion are 0.01 and 0.02 MTCE per ton. These numbers
indicate that waste prevention and recycling reduce GHG
emissions while landfilling and combusting release GHGs.

     After extensive peer review and public comment, the
original GHG emission factors and project methodology
appeared in EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Management
of Selected Materials in Municipal Solid Waste
(EPA530-R-98-013). EPA then released emission factors for
additional materials, and, in 2002, the Agency published
Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle
Analysis of Emissions and Sinks (EPA530-R-02-006) to
explain the emission factors for all 27 materials and mixed
material categories. For a free copy of this report, visit
<www.epa.gov/mswclimate> or contact EPA's RCRA Call
Center at 800 424-9346.


WARM Calculations

     WARM uses emission factors to calculate GHG emissions
generated by managing specific quantities of each material.
For example, WARM uses the following equation to calculate
GHG emissions associated with recycling:

   QUANTITY RECYCLED (TONS) X RECYCLING EMISSION FACTOR
             (MTCE/TON) = GHG EMISSIONS (MTCE)

     For example, the recycling emission factor for HDPE is
-0.38 MTCE per ton. In other words, recycling 1 ton of HDPE
reduces GHG emissions by 0.38 MTCE. Suppose that an
organization recycles 2 tons of HDPE; according to the WARM
equation, the organization reduces 0.76 MTCE. 

       2 TONS HDPE X -0.38 MTCE PER TON = -0.76 MTCE

     WARM demonstrates that, in general, waste prevention
and recycling reduce GHG emissions. WARM also demonstrates
that waste prevention usually reduces more GHGs than
recycling. Landfilling 1 ton of office paper releases 0.62
MTCE, for example, while recycling 1 ton reduces 0.68
MTCE. Preventing 1 ton of office paper waste reduces 0.80
MTCE.

     Occasionally, WARM shows that recycling reduces more
GHGs than waste prevention. According to WARM, for example,
recycling 1 ton of aluminum cans reduces 4.11 MTCE while
preventing 1 ton of aluminum waste only reduces 2.49 MTCE.
For the waste prevention emission factor, EPA analysts
assumed that each ton of aluminum waste contains some
recycled content because the average aluminum can contains
almost 50 percent recycled material.(Source:: Can
Manufacturer's Institute <www.cancentral.com/brochure>. 
The analysts therefore calculated the energy required to
produce 1 ton of 50 percent recycled-content aluminum. For
the recycling emission factor, EPA analysts evaluated energy
production costs for virgin aluminum rather than recycled-
content aluminum, assuming that if a can is not recycled, it
must be replaced entirely with virgin material.
Consequently, WARM shows that recycling aluminum has a
greater climatic impact than waste prevention. The same
logic holds true for corrugated cardboard. Recycling 1 ton
of corrugated cardboard reduces 0.71 MTCE while preventing 1
ton of corrugated cardboard waste only reduces 0.51 MTCE.


Two Versions of WARM

     EPA created two versions of WARM: a Web-based tool
and a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Both versions contain
many of the same features and are available through the
WARM Web page <www.epa.gov/mswclimate>. Each version asks
users to enter information about baseline and alternative
waste management practices, then calculates the GHG
emissions associated with different waste management
strategies, allowing users to quantify past achievements and
plan for the future.

     For each material, users input the quantity generated
and waste management practice employed. For example, in
2001, WasteWise partner Amtrak recycled 115 tons of
corrugated cardboard. WARM calculated that this activity
prevented 81.7 MTCE, which is equivalent to taking more
than 60 cars off the road for a year. The baseline
alternative, landfilling, would have released 9.2 MTCE.

     WARM also asks users to define transportation
distances. Suppose a recycling facility is 100 miles away,
but a landfill is only 10 miles away. Do the climatic costs
of transportation outweigh the climatic benefits of
recycling? WARM can answer this question by calculating GHG
emissions due to transportation.

     Another WARM feature relates to landfill gas recovery.
Organic wastes decompose in landfills, releasing CH4 and
other GHGs. Some landfills capture these gases, offsetting
climactic impacts. WARM users can specify if their local
landfill recovers gas, and WARM will factor GHG recovery
into emission calculations.


     Online WARM

     Web-based WARM is quick and straightforward. Users
simply visit the online WARM Web page, follow the prompts,
and click "Create Summary" to view their WARM report. Figure
1 is a sample Online WARM Summary Report.


************************************************************

                   WARM MEASUREMENT UNITS

     WARM results appear in several types of units. British
thermal units (BTUs) describe energy the same way feet or
meters describe length. One BTU is approximately equal to
the energy released by burning a wood match. Climate
scientists use a standard conversion factor to translate
energy use (BTUs) into GHG emissions, which are measured in
terms of MTCE - a unit that represents the atmospheric
warming potential of greenhouse gasses. Metric tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) is a similar term for
measuring emissions, which is related to MTCE by the
formula: [MTCE = 12/44 * MTCO2E].

************************************************************


     WARM Spreadsheet

     To access the Microsoft Excel  spreadsheet version of
WARM, users must first download it from the WARM Web page.
The spreadsheet contains three tabs that access different
worksheets. Users input data into the first worksheet and
click on the other tabs to view WARM results. 

     An added benefit to using the spreadsheet version of
WARM is that users can save and circulate an electronic
copy of the final WARM report. 

     WasteWise uses the WARM spreadsheet to calculate GHG
emissions reductions for program partners. When partners
submit an annual report, they receive a WARM report that
demonstrates the climatic benefits of their waste prevention
and recycling activities.

     If you have questions about the WARM emission factors
or need assistance using WARM, please call the Helpline at
800 EPA-WISE (372-9473).

************************************************************

         FIGURE 1: SAMPLE ONLINE WARM SUMMARY REPORT

                          [Graphic]

************************************************************

                              
Consumers WARM up to WasteWise Partner Achievements

     "We plan to use WARM results to inform employees,
community leaders and members, and consumers of our efforts
to reduce greenhouse gases. We hope to inspire them to
reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions."
     - Don Curran, Resource Recovery Recycling Manager
Virco Mfg.

     WasteWise partners commit to reducing waste while
profiting from the publicity as environmental stewards.
WARM quantifies GHG emission reductions resulting from
waste prevention and recycling. It also makes it easy to
educate stockholders, employees, consumers, and communities
about the environmental benefits of waste reduction.
Climate change is a hot topic and consumers respond to
companies that prove they are reducing GHG emissions. 

     In 2001, WasteWise partner Virco Mfg. prevented 48
tons of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste and
recycled 1,022 tons of corrugated cardboard. In combination,
these activities reduced GHG emissions by 755 MTCE. The
company is preparing signs and newspaper articles to
publicize its achievement. Like Virco Mfg., WasteWise
partner Allergan received a WARM report quantifying GHG
emission reductions from company-wide waste prevention and
recycling activities. Allergan circulated the report,
sending it to corporate and environmental health and safety
managers. In addition, the company promoted the connection
between solid waste and climate change at an Earth Day
event. 

     WasteWise partner Public Service Enterprise Group
(PSEG) took an innovative approach to promoting WARM
results. Customer bills include an environmental label,
which benchmarks PSEG's GHG emissions against other
energy providers. The company Web site lists GHG emission
reductions achieved through waste prevention and recycling.
PSEG also shares WARM calculations through press releases
and by working with the regulatory community. 

     In 2001, the City of Clifton, New Jersey, recycled
nearly 245,000 tons of materials. Corrugated cardboard alone
accounted for 8.3 percent of the total with 20,350 tons
recycled, reducing GHG emissions by 14,449 MTCE. This
reduction is equivalent to removing more than 10,000 cars
from the road for a year. Al Du Bois, recycling coordinator
for the City of Clifton, used the connection between climate
change and waste to reinvigorate a community recycling
program, taking the message to local school children and
developing a special presentation on the topic for the
public. During the presentation, community members viewed
EPA's satellite forum video titled Why Waste a Cool Planet:
MSW Solutions to Global Climate.

     WARM empowers solid waste managers and organizations
to make educated decisions. It allows them to predict the
climatic impacts of different waste management strategies
and quantify GHG emission reductions associated with waste
reduction. WARM reports communicate waste prevention and
recycling achievements to stockholders, employees,
consumers, and the community. For more information, contact
your WasteWise representative or the WasteWise Helpline at
800 EPA-WISE (372-9473).



THE WASTEWISE CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE: A NEW CAMPAIGN TO
                       HELP PARTNERS

     Many partners have expressed their appreciation for the
WasteWise WARM reports - an important resource that helps
them communicate the importance of their waste reduction
activities and demonstrate their commitment to tackling the
climate change challenge. Many partners have also voiced
interest in increasing WasteWise's emphasis on climate
change impacts. As the program moves forward and keeps
partners on the cutting edge of waste reduction issues,
WasteWise is committed to continuing to help partners
understand how they can help reduce the risk of climate
change and obtain recognition for their activities. This
commitment is embodied in the new WasteWise Climate Change
Initiative, a concerted effort to promote waste-related
climate change reductions. Through the initiative, EPA will
go beyond providing WARM numbers to:

     *Highlight the relationship between waste and climate
change as a key element of the WasteWise message.

     *Deliver new climate change tools for planning and
implementing effective "win-win" solutions.

     *Provide additional recognition and publicity to
partners for their waste-related GHG reductions.

     EPA believes this forward-looking approach will help
partners that are already emphasizing the connection
between waste and climate change by providing opportunities
for greater recognition and publicity and innovative new
ideas for achieving and measuring GHG reductions. Partners
that have not yet focused on this connection will receive
focused technical assistance to help them understand and
implement cost-effective methods for reducing waste and GHG
emissions.
     
     As the WasteWise Climate Change Initiative proceeds,
WasteWise's publications, events, and outreach efforts will
focus on helping partners understand how their activities
impact global climate and how they can take action to
mitigate that impact. In addition, WasteWise is developing a
series of special outreach and educational materials, which
EPA hopes will lead to even more impressive waste and
GHG reductions. 


************************************************************

     "The Seydel Companies and its affiliates are dedicated
to making products that favorably impact our environment
through the reduction of GHGs and the redeployment of
municipal waste materials. We are appreciative of the very
favorable impact that the WasteWise program has in
incentivizing these goals and ambitions for us and for our
neighbors."  - Scott Seydel, The Seydel Companies

************************************************************


     These materials include the following:

     *Climate Change and Waste Toolkit. This toolkit will
contain several useful materials for understanding and
achieving waste-related GHG reductions. It will include
detailed but easy-to-follow guidance on how to plan and
measure effective waste reduction projects that reduce GHGs.
Each kit will also include tools for publicizing your
efforts (e.g., a sample press release and a conversion guide
for presenting your achievements in relevant terms),
employee education materials, and a list of resources you
can access for additional information.

     *Climate Change and Waste Slide Show Presentation. This
fact-filled PowerPoint slide show presentation will explain
the link between solid waste and GHG and show how waste
reduction can lead to benefits such as lower material and
energy costs and improved corporate image. It will describe
the opportunities available to businesses and will be an
excellent tool for communicating your efforts to management,
customers, employees, and other stakeholders. WasteWise
partners will be able to download the presentation, which
will include talking points, from the Web site or obtain it
on CD. You will also be able to customize it and add
additional information about your particular efforts.

     *GHG Reduction Success Stories. This series of success
stories will highlight partner achievements showing
significant GHG emissions reductions through innovative
solid waste management practices. Each success story will
focus on the accomplishments of a single partner,
emphasizing the application of cutting-edge technologies
relevant to corporate materials management.

     *Climate Change Pilot Projects/Technical Assistance.
WasteWise is embarking on a pilot program to provide limited
technical assistance to help companies understand the
linkage between solid waste management and climate change,
calculate the GHG impacts associated with their activities,
anticipate future GHG reductions, and communicate the
climate-waste message to their employees and stakeholders.

     *Climate Change Partner of the Year Award. A new award
category recognizes outstanding efforts by partners who have
reduced GHG emissions through waste reduction activities
and conducted outreach activities that educate employees,
suppliers, customers, or other stakeholders about the
connection between their WasteWise activities and climate
change. In evaluating applicants, WasteWise will use the
WARM model to estimate the level of GHG reductions
resulting from reported waste prevention and recycling
activities. Partners can apply for the award as part of the
normal WasteWise reporting and awards application process.
WasteWise will present the award at the program's annual
recognition ceremony in Washington, DC.

     You can expect to hear more about these resources in
the WasteWise Bulletin and on the WasteWise list server. If
you would like more information now or are interested in
being involved in the development of these items, please
contact your WasteWise representative or call the Helpline
at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473). Likewise, WasteWise understands
that partners are the optimal source of innovative ideas and
best management practices and invites any suggestions for
new activities, expert insight, or general feedback that can
advance the goals of the initiative.


************************************************************

     BECOMING CLIMATE NEUTRAL - THE ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT

     In an era of creative collaboration and innovative
solutions, forward-thinking organizations are challenging
the belief that pollution is an inevitable part of
conducting business. Organizations across the country are
rising to the challenge of mitigating their climate
footprint by taking strides to become "climate neutral."
Defined as having a net zero impact on the Earth's climate,
the concept involves first reducing and then offsetting an
organization's GHG emissions through internal changes and
external investments. 

     The Climate Neutral Network, a non-profit network of
corporate pioneers, environmental leaders, and other diverse
stakeholders based in Underwood, Washington, developed the
climate neutral concept. The organization's primary
activities include certifying products or enterprises as
"climate neutral" based on design principles established by
respected stakeholders; providing technical assistance to
organizations that strive toward this goal; and facilitating
networking among various stakeholders around collaborative
climate neutral initiatives. Organizations can engage in the
network's programs by purchasing other organizations'
climate neutral products, obtaining certification for
climate neutral products of their own, or by becoming a
completely climate neutral enterprise - offsetting the
emissions of their entire operation. 

     To become a climate neutral enterprise, an organization
must first take steps to reduce energy use and GHG emissions
in each stage of its production life cycle, from gathering
raw materials to product manufacture, distribution, use, and
final end-of-life management. Upgrading equipment, improving
process efficiency, and using renewable energy are all
examples of internal reduction activities. Second,
organizations must offset remaining GHG emissions by
investing in technologies or developing projects that reduce
atmospheric GHGs in settings outside of their own
operations. An organization might invest in renewable energy
projects, high-efficiency vehicles, or energy-efficient
lighting in public schools, for example. Or, it might
develop a GHG sequestration project such as conserving or
managing a threatened forest or planting trees in a public
park or urban setting. 

     What began as a simple dialog among diverse
stakeholders three years ago has now engaged leading
environmental organizations and corporations to develop
profitable, climate neutral innovations and partnerships.
The concept is spreading quickly as organizations realize
the benefits of voluntarily taking steps to improve the
environment for future generations. For more information
about the Climate Neutral Network, visit the Web site at
<www.climateneutral.com>.

************************************************************


EPA Publications:

     

Climate Change and Waste: Reducing Waste Can Make a
Difference
EPA530-E-99-002, 1999
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/cc-waste.pdf

Rising levels of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere are causing
noticeable climate changes, and some of these gases can be
traced to solid waste. This publication describes the link
between climate change and MSW management and contains the
two fact sheets listed below.

     *Pay-As-You-Throw: A Cooling Effect on Climate
Change 
EPA530-E-99-002a, 1999
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/payt/pdf

This fact sheet describes EPA's Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT)
Program and how it helps reduce GHG emissions by creating
incentives for residents to reuse and recycle more of
their solid waste.

     *WasteWise: Climate Benefits from Reducing Solid Waste
EPA530-E-99-002b, 1999
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/wastewise.pdf

This fact sheet describes EPA's WasteWise Program and how
it helps reduce GHG emissions by motivating organizations
to prevent and recycle solid waste.

Estimating Greenhouse Gas Reduction from State Actions
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/stmit.pdf

This reference document is for states planning to
incorporate MSW management actions into statewide GHG
mitigation action plans. It includes a sample plan for waste
management mitigation actions.
Note: This document is only available online. 

Evaluating the Greenhouse Gas Impacts of National Waste
Prevention Activities: The U.S. Experience
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/oecd.pdf

This document outlines EPA's Climate Change and Waste
Program by describing the program's research and technical
assistance, program implementation, and outreach and
education activities.
Note: This document is only available online.

Global Warming and Our Changing Climate
EPA430-F-00-001, 2000
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/gw_faq.pdf

This document gives answers to frequently asked questions
about global climate change.
Note: This document is available through EPA's National
Service Center for Environmental Publications and
Information (NSCEPI) at 800 490-9198.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Management of Selected
Materials in Municipal Solid Waste 
EPA530-R-98-013, 1998
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/waste/greengas.pdf

This publication integrates a wealth of information on GHG
implications of various MSW management options, such as
source reduction, recycling, composting, combustion, and
landfilling. It also provides GHG emission factors for
specific materials and mixed materials.

Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:
1990-2000
EPA236-R-02-003, 2001

This publication provides an overview and detailed
description of all greenhouse gas sources and sinks in the
United States. It also includes background data on several
key concepts and discusses the primary drivers of the growth
in emissions. 
Note: This document is available through NSCEPI at 800
490-9198.


Other EPA Resources:

Calculators
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/tools/calculators.html

Several online interactive calculators are available online
to assist you with estimating greenhouse gas emissions of
specific activities and evaluating emission reduction
opportunities. The calculators are arranged by sector, and a
brief description of each is provided to help users
determine which one best suits their needs.

EPA's Global Warming Site
www.epa.gov/globalwarming

Climate change programs and activities are an integral part
of EPA's mission and purpose. With the Global Warming Site,
EPA strives to present accurate information on the very
broad issue of climate change and global warming in a way
that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society -
communities, individuals, businesses, public officials, and
governments.

EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program
www.epa.gov/lmop

This site contains information on EPA's Landfill Methane
Outreach Program (LMOP), a voluntary assistance and
partnership program that helps facilitate and promote the
use of landfill gas as a renewable energy source. 

EPA's Pay-As-You-Throw Web Site 
www.epa.gov/payt

This site contains information on EPA's Pay-As-You-Throw
(PAYT) Program, which promotes residential collection
programs that charge residents based on the amount they
throw away.

EPA's State and Local Outreach Kit
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/statekit.htm
l

This kit provides information for the general public about
global warming. It focuses on voluntary strategies,
solutions, policies, and technologies that can help states,
communities, and individuals save money, improve air
quality, and lower risks to human health. 


Other Web Resources:

Center for International Climate and Environmental Research
- Oslo (CICERO): 
www.cicero.uio.no/index_e.asp

Climate Change and Waste Satellite Forum Video:
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/actions/waste/index.html

Global Warming Information Page: 
www.globalwarming.org

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
www.ipcc.ch

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change:
www.unfccc.int

U.S. Global Change Resource Information Office:
www.gcrio.org

World Bank Global Climate Change: 
www-esd.worldbank.org/cc