PROGRESS REPORT 2000 

Cross-Cutting Activities

Workshop on Life Cycle Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste:

A workshop held in Toronto on May 15th for the Binational Toxics Strategy to illustrate how life-cycle management can be used as a tool to help evaluate the environmental tradeoffs with reducing toxics associated with integrated waste management. A decision support tool was applied for analyzing strategies for the management of municipal solid waste for four scenarios for a community in Wisconsin. These scenarios were selected to span the range of potential options of integrated waste management. The results were used to demonstrate how environmental tradeoffs can vary for toxics as well as for other non-toxic pollutants including greenhouse gas emissions, acid gases, ozone precursors and waterborne pollutants. Full costs associated with the different strategies were also provided for each scenario. The decision support tool and information being used were developed under a cooperative agreement by the Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina State University, Franklin Associates, and Roy F. Weston.

Over 100 participants were in 5 breakout sessions in the afternoon to help evaluate the data and information and to help illustrate the potential environmental tradeoffs and complexities in decision making. The feedback that was received will be used to help identify potential improvements to the decision support tool, presentation of results, and needs for emissions characterization data for toxics. One of the more major issues is how to present life-cycle inventory data that distinguishes between "local" and "global" pollutants.

The decision support tool can be a valuable aid in helping to clarify potential toxics associated with integrated waste management practices that may impact the Great Lakes. In addition, using inventory data for other toxic pollutants allows decision makers to have a better understanding of the contribution of integrated waste management practices as compared to other toxic sources.

Communications Strategy:

A communications strategy was developed. The Strategy addresses outreach such to prevent introduction of persistent toxics into the environment and ideas for partnership building. Outreach activities were identified for implementation. Communications materials were prepared to increase awareness of the GLBTS.

Partnering with Industry:

 An award to the Council of Great Lakes Industries to refine the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy consultation process so that it is just and inclusive and to disseminate information on the implementation of the GLBTS through CGLI's newsletters and bulletins. CGLI will also seek to obtain voluntary commitments from industry to undergo stack testing for GLBTS substances.

Extended Producer Responsibility Workshop:

An award to Great Lakes United to organize, promote and deliver an one day workshop on the concepts and methodologies of "Extended Producer Responsibilities."

Partnering with Industrial Boilers:

 A grant to the Delta Institute to develop a partnership with the Council of Industrial Boilers. The Institute is working with industry to develop ways to boost energy efficiency and cut toxic chemical use and discharge. This effort is a collaboration with the Department of Energy. Critical substances targeted include mercury, cadmium, PCBs, dioxin/furans and hexachlorobenzene.

Computer Recycling Project:

This grant was issued to Erie County, New York to conduct the "Erie County Pilot Computer Recycling Project." This project will utilize the existing Erie County staff and program format to implement a collection of computers at two collection events. It is anticipated that the proposed computer collections will divert 200 - 500 computers from the municipal waste stream. Critical substances targeted include lead, mercury and cadmium.

Green Purchasing:

A grant to INFORM, Inc. for a "PBT-Free Purchasing Project" focuses on working with government agencies at the state level to minimize procurement of products that contain persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances. Heavy metals, including mercury and cadmium are targeted.