[GreenYes] Re: Questionnaires for local governments.

["Wolbert, Brad - DNR" <Brad.Wolbert@no.address>]

Arthur -- The EPA's WARM spreadsheet model estimates greenhouse gas
emissions reductions attributable to recycling or composting materials
instead of landfilling them.  The estimates are based on life cycle
analyses for a variety of materials.  The EPA website includes
calculators that translate the greenhouse gas emissions into readily
understandable terms such as cars off the highway.  See:
 
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/Warm_home.html
 
To use the model you need to know the tonnages of various materials
currently being landfilled each year in your jurisdiction of interest.
If you have those figures, the model is very easy to use.
 
Wisconsin DNR has been using the WARM model to estimate potential
emissions reductions from a variety of recycling and composting policy
options.
 
Brad Wolbert, P.G. 
Hydrogeologist 
Waste & Materials Management Program 
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 
(*) phone:      (608) 264-6286 
(*) fax:        (608) 267-2768 
(*) e-mail:     Brad.Wolbert@no.address 


________________________________

	From: GreenYes@no.address
[mailto:GreenYes@no.address] On Behalf Of arthur boone
	Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:00 PM
	To: 'GreenYes@no.address'
	Subject: [GreenYes] Questionnaires for local governments.
	
	
	The Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club is considering sending a
questionnaire to cities in its four county area about the contents of
the local public agency's Climate Action Plan, usually developed under
some Cool Cities program. 
	
	We are now trying to determine what questions should be asked to
discern the local public agency's commitment to and posture towards
waste reduction, composting, and recycling. We will of course be asking
questions on zero waste policy, plans, programs, etc., and some
statistical measures but at present we are mostly focusing on whether
the community has determined the emissions that could be avoided if
materials now being wasted were recycled instead. John Davis of the CRRA
Policy Committee did a calculation last May which unfortunately has had
limited attention documenting what CO2 reductions could be possible by
total recycling; the numbers are very high (i.e., equal to getting 90%
of the diesel trucks off the roads in the state). 
	
	The surprise here is that most of the recent surveys we have
seen ignore this question and focus on mildly relevant stuff about
landfill gas capture rates, etc.
	
	The question is if you could advise me on similar work done
elsewhere on this topic. Answers don't have to go in the listserve.
Thank you. arboone3@no.address 
	

	__________________________________________________
	Do You Yahoo!?
	Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
	http://mail.yahoo.com