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.
