Future OF Houston's
Waste Management
Our proposal seeks a pragmatic, workable solution for an ambitious goal:
The Reduction of Emissions and Volume of Municipal Solid Waste.
Executive Summary and Major Points
Proposed Policy
Conclusion
In order to convert commercial Food Waste into Biogas we propose
-
that the 69th Street WWTP’s existing aerobic digesters be retrofitted and converted into anaerobic digesters to allow for biogas collection.
-
the construction of a waste food processing facility that will produce enriched, processed food waste that will enhance the production and capture of methane.
-
that this biogas, a valuable source of renewable energy, be used on site or sold into the existing natural gas network. This will allow capital costs of the project to be recouped and will eventually produce a profit.
-
that the city mandate the collection of food waste at all municipal buildings that have onsite food waste generators, such as cafeterias or restaurants.
-
that incentives be offered to large food waste generators (restaurants, grocery stores, etc.) that volunteer to participate in the program.
In order to reduce residential Food Waste we recommend
-
that composting bins be installed at all elementary schools, and that they participate in a citywide composting program.
-
extending access to neighboring communities, providing the opportunity for everyone to participate.
-
each school implement a victory garden for educational purposes or use composted material for landscaping.
-
We recommend the implementation of a hands-on environmental awareness program that teaches composting alongside recycling.
In order to reduced consumption and discourage the generation of Product Waste we propose
-
a 0.003 (0.3%) increase to all sales taxes at the local level to be termed, “the Waste Tax”.
-
that new funds through the Waste Tax be used to enable the city to expand its collection services from single stream recycling to multistream recycling.
In order to streamline recycling efforts in the City of Houston and reduce contamination we recommend
-
that that City of Houston adopt one cohesive dual stream recycling system.
-
that each household get its own 64 gallon split-cart bin and be required to separate paper into the paper section and place all other recyclables in the other half of the bin.
-
that this system be applied to all residential areas and small-to mid-size businesses located in the Houston municipality that are already participating in single/dual stream recycling.
-
that collection continue to occur every two weeks with continued emphasis on automation in order to keep costs low.
In order to develop increased industrial participation in the reclamation of used material we recommend
-
investing in an advanced material sorting facility to insure the different grades of plastics have a potential buyer.
-
sourcing long term contracts with the surrounding petro-chemical and manufacturing industries to keep a steady material value and monetary income.
-
drawing in the private industry contributions through incentives such as tax cuts or paying to have the material recovered as long as the price is below the tipping fee at a landfill.
Days ago, on the 12th of December 2015, a group of 195 countries agreed to more non-binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the “Paris Agreement” to have a greater impact than its predecessor, the “Kyoto Protocol”, it will rely on nation states that are willing to take the initiative and pay an economic price to reduce the effects of climate change. In more cynical terms, it relies on the assumption that nations would prove willing act against their own self-interests and place the good of the whole before themselves. If history is any indicator, we would be wise to hedge our bets.
Our proposed plan does not make such assumptions. It is crafted and predicated upon the belief that other incentives are necessary to motivate populations to act in an environmentally conscious manner. A WWTP/food waste disposal system that pays for itself, teaching better habits to young children, a tax that punishes overconsumption, a citywide mandate for dual stream recycling and lucrative contracts for the manufacturing industry. The sum of our proposal is one designed to appeal to self-interest.
Landfills are not an attractive issue that the majority of the population is willing to rally behind. It will take tough battles to pass the necessary laws that will allow Houston to reform its waste management system, but the end result will be worth it. The United States generated 251 million tons of MSW in 2012. Landfills produced 114.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents in 2010. Those numbers are far too high. It is our hope that Houston can become part of the solution by adopting the recommendations outlined in this document.
Resources
Please refer to our Policy Document for far greater detail and a full list of sources.