Global Landscapes Conference 2014, Presentation by Close the Loop Company
1. We only have one planet with finite resources
Nature builds up & breaks downâŠ
2. We humans make products that do not break down, creating problems
throughout the world on land and sea for generations to come.
3. ï PAâs 1st
Benefit Corporation ~ a new legal entity type to create a positive
impact on society and the environment ~ forgos maximizing profit to
pursue public good, even when doing so cuts into revenue.
The start of a new economy in Pennsylvania, one based on a triple
bottom line: people, planet, purpose
And you CAN do well by doing good!
We offer:
Free Website Building Workshops, for unemployed and underemployed
to start their own small businesses, through a partnership with:
Give & Take DaysâŠall items FREE!
5. To truly âclose the loopâ,
we need to do 3 things:
1) recycle our waste
2) make something new out of it
3) buy recycled
6. According to the EPA, the waste materials
generated in the US annually:
ï§ Plastics - 30 million tons of plastic waste (nearly 60
billion pounds). Only 8% of plastic waste was recycled
in 2006
ï§ Glass â 13.2 million tons of glass, about 22 % recycled
ï§ Tires â 300 million tires in the US, 12 million in
Pennsylvania alone.
9. Plastic Recycling in the USA 2008
Source: 2008 United States National Post-Consumer Plastics
Bottle Recycling Report
10. Of the Recycled
Plastic Bottles Collected:
Source: 2008 United States National Post-Consumer Plastics
Bottle Recycling Report
Less than half of the PET (#1) collected goes to US manufacturers of recycled
products, the majority goes overseas to China and other countries.
In 2014, the Svendborg Maersk was struck by high wind and waves off the coast of
France and lost more than 500 containers, now at the bottom of the ocean.
18. ï It takes 525 gallon-sized milk jugs to
produce one 2-rail section of plastic post
& rail fencing.
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ï It takes 100 tires to make 1 ton (2,000
lbs) of rubber mulch ~ enough to cover
an average size home playground.
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ï It takes 4,000 beer bottles to make 1 ton
(2,000 lbs ~ about 1 cubic yard) of glass
mulch. It takes 100 beer bottles to make
1, 50 LB bag of glass mulch.
19. The Kardashev scale ~ Civilizationâs ability to
harness energy (Nikolai Kardashev, 1964)
ï Type I ~ harness all of a planetâs energy
(according to Dr. Michio Kaku, we are at .7)
ï Type II ~ harness all of the energy from a star
ï Type III ~ harness all of the energy from a galaxy
In your lifetime there are ~50 yrs of petroleum left for
gasoline, heating, plastics, tires, much moreâŠ
Question:
Will we be forced to mine landfills for raw
materials?
20. Areas of Green Opportunities:Areas of Green Opportunities:
1)1) Conserve, recycle, and efficiently use energyConserve, recycle, and efficiently use energy
and materialsand materials
2)2) Use renewable & alternative sources of energyUse renewable & alternative sources of energy
3)3) Purchase materials with recycled contentPurchase materials with recycled content
4)4) Reduce the amount of waste we throw away.Reduce the amount of waste we throw away.
5)5) Encourage Extended Producer ResponsibilityEncourage Extended Producer Responsibility
or enact legislation to require it.or enact legislation to require it.
21. Impacts of Buying
US Made Recycled Products
ï§ Investing in American made products creates jobs
ï§ Sets a good example & helps our economy
ï§ Long-term economic and environmental benefits.
ï§ What better raw material to use than our waste
materials transformed into a valuable resource ~
in nature there is no waste.
22. ï§ Design products with the end of life in mindâŠ
cradle to cradle, not cradle to grave (landfills).
Focus for the future:Focus for the future:
24. Favorite quotes:
ï§ Waste is really a design flaw. ~ Kate Krebs, NRC
ï§ Plastics, like diamonds, are forever! - Capt. Charles Moore,
Algalita Marine Research Foundation
ï§ If only they made a pesticide for litterbugs! ~ Monroe~ Monroe
County, PA Beautification OrganizationCounty, PA Beautification Organization
ï§ Be the change you wish to see in the world. ~
Mahatma Gandhi