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New Brighton Climate Action Plan 4 -1 <br />Addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from <br />waste management and improved community <br />resilience through waste reduction. <br />Municipal solid waste (MSW) affects climate change, <br />mainly via landfill methane emissions and transport <br />carbon emissions. Reducing waste, recycling, and organic <br />collection mitigate these impacts. Less waste means <br />lower methane emissions from landfills. Recycling <br />reduces resource extraction, saves energy, and cuts <br />carbon emissions. Composting organic waste lowers <br />methane emissions, sequesters carbon, and offers eco- <br />friendly fertilizer alternatives. <br /> <br />Waste Characterization Study <br />In 2013, the State of Minnesota initiated a <br />comprehensive, quantitative evaluation to understand <br />the make up of the current waste stream (materials not <br />diverted through recycling or organics collection). The <br />classiflcations of waste deflned in the 2013 study were <br />organized into broad categories based on their diversion <br />potential including: Compostables, Potential Recyclables, <br />Potential Recoverables, and Other. <br /> <br />Waste Diversion Potential <br />Based on the State of Minnesota Waste Characterization <br />Study, there may be waste diversion potential of up to <br />88.1% in the current landfllled materials (idealized <br />maximum). Below is the breakdown of the estimated <br />total maximum potential waste diversion (excluding <br />waste reduction): <br />Climate Impacts <br />This sector affects climate change through fossil <br />fuel combustion during material collection and <br />processing, and methane generation from <br />organic material decomposition in landfllls. <br /> <br />Climate Hazards <br />Hazards to the waste management system <br />include damage to infrastructure from extreme <br />weather and fiooding. <br />83% <br />of survey respondents <br />support requiring apartment <br />complexes to offer recycling <br />on-site for residents. <br />Waste Management <br />Equity Considerations <br />Fair solid waste management ensures inclusive <br />access and beneflts. Overcoming language, <br />cost, and logistical barriers increases <br />participation, environmental sustainability and <br />social justice while reducing food waste can aid <br />economically disadvantaged households. <br />Example Programs: <br />San Francisco's Zero Waste Program: <br />equitable recycling with multilingual <br />resources. <br />Feeding America's Surplus Food <br />Redistribution: reduces waste, aids low- <br />income. <br />RecycleBank Program: incentivizes recycling, <br />supports disadvantaged. 40.7% Recyclable 38.7% Compostable 8.7% Recoverable 11.9% <br />Remaining <br />(88.1% Diversion <br />Potential) <br />Click here to <br />return to TOC