Welcome to the new recycling movement for the 21st Century and to the work of the new Zero Waste Committee! Zero Waste is a design principle for the 21st century; Producer Responsibility Recycling is the means for achieving a deep transformation of wasteful production and consumption. We aim to lead the transition from traditional end-of-pipe waste "diversion" programs provided by local governments to "cradle to cradle" recycling systems designed, financed, and managed by producers, in order to drive improvements in product design, stimulate local economies and reduce climate change impacts of transportation- and energy-intensive product chains. Phasing out landfilling and incinerating discarded resources is prerequisite to Zero Waste; hence the committee also coordinates Club work on waste disposal issues.
The Sierra Club's policy for reducing waste is based on Zero Waste.
Feature: Television Recycling
What Should You Do With Your Old TV Sets: Unlike leading computer manufacturers, the television industry has been, with the exception of Sony, very reluctant to take responsibility for their products at the end of their useful life. Televisions present all of the same disposal issues as computer equipment and other e-waste (TVs, computers, monitors, phones, etc.), from leaded glass to brominated fire retardants. However televisions contain much less valuable materials to offset the cost of recycling than most electronics, discouraging e-waste collectors and processors from handling them. Because of the ongoing switch to flat screen TV's to the impending digital broadcast conversion, CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions are entering the waste stream at an alarming rate. Visit computertakeback.com, a project of the Electronics Takeback Coalition for more information on recycling options and to encourage television manufacturers to take responsibility for their toxic products."
Feature: Producer Responsibility Recycling
Producer Responsibility Recycling is the means for achieving a deep transformation of wasteful production and consumption. We aim to lead the transition from traditional end-of-pipe waste "diversion" programs provided by local governments to "cradle to cradle" recycling systems designed, financed and managed by producers, in order to drive improvements in product design, stimulate local economies and reduce climate change impacts of transportation- and energy-intensive product chains.
Learn more.
Feature: Videos on Waste Issues
Annie Leonard's Story of Stuff Highlights Ecological Limits
Don't miss The Story of Stuff! It's a new online video that explores the full life cycle of what we buy and the political-economic history of conspicuous consumption. It is smart, fast, fact-filled, informative, and positive, and a great tool for raising awareness about ecological limits. The 20 minute film was produced by Free Range Studios and funded by the Tides Foundation and the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption. Watch it here.
Ecocycle's Zero Waste Systems Designs Out Waste
This 6 minute video is fun and discusses how to use extended producer responsibility to design waste out of the system. Watch it here.
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