Global coalition pushes Zero Waste as key to climate change and disaster mitigation
30 September 2009, Quezon City, Philippines. An international
coalition of public interest citizens’ groups has called for local,national and global support for Zero Waste as key component of the country’s strategy to mitigate climate change and disaster.
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), comprising of over 635 members from 88 countries, including the Philippines, pressed the Arroyo government to enforce waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling and composting programs, otherwise known as Zero Waste, as the country rises from the onslaught of tropical storm Ondoy.
In a joint statement with its local counterpart, the EcoWaste
Coalition, GAIA explained that Zero Waste can dramatically reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are widely blamed for the changing weather patterns, including extreme weather disturbances such as the “epic flood” that put Metro Manila and 25 provinces under state of calamity.
The two groups made the common plea in observance of this year’s
“Global Day of Action against Waste and Incineration” that coincides with the ongoing UN-sponsored talks on climate change in Bangkok, Thailand.
The groups chose to commemorate the event through a disaster relief and feeding program held at Barangay Banaba, San Mateo, Rizal in solidarity with the survivors of the devastating flood.
According to the EcoWaste Coalition’s “Climate Change Survival Guide,” the build-up of GHGs such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the upper atmosphere leads to the entrapment of heat and to subsequent changes in temperature and to wind and rainfall patterns.
“Zero Waste is a doable strategy that can yield huge climate benefits that can help disaster-prone country like the Philippines cope with the anticipated frequency and intensity of weather disturbances such as increased tropical storms and typhoons,” Manny Calonzo of GAIA.
GAIA’s “Zero Waste for Zero Warming” points to avoided GHG emissions from reusing, recycling and composting discards that can significantly cut the demand for virgin materials.
The reduced demand for virgin resources prevents the production of GHGs from every step of the extraction, processing, manufacture, transportation, consumption and disposal trail, while saving the forests and safeguarding other essential life support systems.
To support its views, GAIA further cites the newly-released report by the US Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which finds that 42 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are influenced by materials management policies. The report cites significant emissions cuts with waste reduction, recycling and improved product design.
The report “Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Materials and Land Management Practices,” estimates emissions savings of 150 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year by doubling the U.S. national recycling of construction and demolition discards. Reducing U.S. product packaging by half could result to as much as 105
million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
Both the EcoWaste Coalition and GAIA strongly favored Zero Waste over waste disposal technologies such as landfills and incinerators, including “waste to energy”, plasma, gasification, and cement kiln incineration.
They also expressed hope that government will agree and champion the civil society’s call to “stop trashing the climate,” support “Zero Waste for Zero Warming” and focus mitigation funds in the waste sector on recycling and resource recovery projects, excluding landfills and incinerators.
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