SMMP Credit 7: Source Reduction Policy

SMMP Credit 7: Source Reduction Policy (4 points)

Non-Reciprocal

 Intent: Reduce waste generation and disposal through programs that encourage waste prevention and reuse.

Local Government Requirements:

Develop and adopt a policy to promote product and material waste prevention and reuse. The policy should allow or facilitate most of the following or equivalent programs:

●      Partnerships with Food Rescue Groups

●      Partnerships with local reuse organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and Goodwill.

●      Purchase products that have either a Healthy Product Declaration (HPD), or an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).       

●      Adopt a C&D recycling ordinance that includes and incentivizes deconstruction.

●      Support for and development of material exchanges

●      Promote backyard composting with subsidized bins, education, training and other support.

●      Partnership with companies that handle hard-to-recycle items

●      Programs to eliminate or reduce usage of products, e.g.

o   Bans on the use of single-use plastic bags and other single-use plastics

○      Filtered water bottle refilling stations in public places

○      Procurement programs that emphasize and reward source reduction

■      Strengthen extended producer responsibility

■      Replace throw-away system with alternative delivery systems including reusable/refillable

●      Purchase products that have either a Healthy Product Declaration (HPD), or an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

●      Promote citizen or industry repair programs and infrastructure through “tool libraries,” “repair cafes,” corporate events (e.g. Patagonia repair bus), etc.

○      Funding for source reduction programs

○      Promote the use of reusable containers and selling in bulk

■      Examples:

●      Distribute reusable plastic bags

●      Provide incentives for companies to use reusable containers

○      Training and education programs about source reduction

○      Support for and development of material exchanges

■      Including neighborhood reuse and repair centers

○      Developing “On demand” programs for consumer items in service establishments, such as straws in restaurants

○      Offer and promote no-cost regular business waste assessment/audit with recommendations for “right-sizing”.

Industry Requirements:

Develop, adopt and document company programs to promote product and material reuse. The programs should allow or facilitate most of the following or equivalent approaches:

●      Partnerships with Food Rescue Groups

●      Partnerships with local reuse organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and Goodwill.

●      Purchase products that have either a Healthy Product Declaration (HPD), or an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

●      Promote citizen or industry repair programs and infrastructure through “tool libraries,” “repair cafes,” corporate events (e.g. Patagonia repair bus), etc.

●      Adopt a C&D recycling ordinance that includes and incentivizes deconstruction.

●      Support for and development of material exchanges

●      Promote backyard composting with subsidized bins, education, training and other support.

●      Partnership with companies that handle hard-to-recycle items.

●      Programs to eliminate or reduce usage of products, e.g.

o   Bans on the use of single-use plastic bags and other single-use plastics

○      Filtered water bottle refilling stations in public places

○      Procurement programs that emphasize and reward source reduction

■      Strengthen extended producer responsibility

■      Replace throw-away system with alternative delivery systems including reusable/refillable

○      Funding for source reduction programs

○      Promote the use of reusable containers and selling in bulk

■      Examples:

●      Distribute reusable plastic bags

●      Provide incentives for companies to use reusable containers

○      Training and education programs about source reduction.

○      Support for and development of material exchanges.

■      Including neighborhood reuse and repair centers

○      Developing “On demand” programs for consumer items in service establishments, such as straws in restaurants.

○      Offer and promote no-cost regular business waste assessment/audit with recommendations for “right-sizing”.

 Potential Strategies:

●      Develop a comprehensive consumer outreach program to notify residents about the source reduction programs being supported and promoted by the Local Government.

●      Include deconstruction requirements as part of the permitting and final approval process to add teeth to the policies.

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