Waste Prevention

1
Waste Prevention

• Whats Working
• Whats Challenging

2
What Is Waste Prevention?

• Prevention is the elimination of waste so that it
  is not generated and does not need to be
  composted, recycled or disposed of. Thus, if
  composting or recycling of waste is required,
  then the waste has not been prevented.

3
What Are Solid Waste Districts Currently Doing
About Preventing Waste?

• Supporting School Based Education
• Writing Newspaper Articles Newsletters
• Encouraging Swap Shops, garage sales, flea
  markets
• Providing Web-based information
• Shopping tips, listings of reuse stores
  charities for donations of reusable items,
  packaging reuse options, junk mail reduction,
  waste-less events

4

• Developing infrastructure systemic changes
• ReUse zones at drop-offs and transfer stations,
  partnering to build reuse center, Pay As You
  Throw (PAYT) systems at curb and drop-offs,
  advocating for Zero Waste approach to managing
  discards

5
The Most Challenging Aspects of Waste Prevention
at the District Level

• Implementing PAYT in an open-competition private
  collection system
• Attempting to change purchasing behavior in a
  consumption-focused culture
• Influencing manufacturer product design and
  packaging
• Engaging citizens in behavior change to prevent
  waste when it may require extra effort
• Getting individuals to recognize that they have
  the power to enact change legislatively and
  through activism

6
Priority Recommendations

• Disposal bans (organics others)
• Product Stewardship initiatives
• Consumer education
• Increased dialogue across the state on waste
  issues, concepts and alternatives
• Zero Waste State Plan
• Legislative initiatives inclusive of
• VT Do Not Mail bill
• Packaging tax