WGP Credit 3: Measuring and Calculating Source Reduction and Reuse/Rescue Impacts (1-2 points)

Reciprocal

Intent:

To consistently measure and/or calculate the generation and characterization of municipal solid waste within the Local Government’s jurisdiction or Company’s service area, including as appropriate, C&D waste, represents an important foundation for societal transformation of traditional solid waste management into effective sustainable materials management.

Local Government and Industry Requirements:

Calculating Source Reduction Potential^[1] (1 point)

Based on calculated or measured waste generation and characterization, calculate the Source Reduction potential for the Local Government.

Utilize the source reduction potential calculation methodology outlined in the US EPA’s Source Reduction Program Potential Manual available at https://www.epa.gov/nscep

Calculating Reuse & Rescue^[2](1 point)

Estimate, calculate or measure waste diverted from disposal through Reuse and Rescue programs operating within the Local Government’s jurisdiction or Company’s service area.  

Utilize the SWEEP reuse and rescue calculation methodology outlined in the Certification Manual.

Potential Strategies:

●      Encourage certification of public and private facilities to the TRUE Standard

●      Food rescue programs/projects “Spoiler Alert” for products with limited lifetime

●      Implement and enforce local mandatory business waste prevention policy.

●      Educational programs on reuse and source reduction

○      Prevalence and magnitude of educational programs for residents &/or commercial/institutional organizations

○      Prevalence and magnitude of educational programs for waste management employees

●      Measuring/calculating

○      Total solid waste generated;

○      Per capita solid waste generation;

○      Residential vs. Commercial origin;

●      Procurement policies and achievements

○      EPP policy-recycling, composting, etc.

■      Municipal building recycling & composting programs

■      Buy used

■      Use remanufactured toner cartridges

■      Buy Recycled

○      Auction/resale of used goods

○      Encouraging take-back programs

●      Product labeling practices

○      Procurement guidelines regarding labeling products as compostable or other definitional label

●      Local Government Sponsored Source Reduction programs:

○      Backyard composting;

○      Material exchanges/material libraries, e.g. textiles/clothing

○      Waste audit & recommendations “right-size” programs

○      Phone book and junk mail opt out program

○      Grasscycling

○      Xeriscaping

[1] SWEEP Guidelines for Waste Characterization and Waste Generation Studies must be adopted and implemented.

[2] Guidelines for calculating Reuse and Rescue will be developed in the Certification Manual.