opportunities in product stewardship forum on preventing waste scott cassel, executive...

Opportunities in Product Stewardship Forum on Preventing Waste

Scott Cassel, Executive Director/Founder

Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.

Montpelier, VT

April 12, 2007

© Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.April 12, 2007 2

What is Product Stewardship?

“Product Stewardship" is a principle that directs all those involved in the life cycle of a product to take shared responsibility for reducing the health and environmental impacts that result from the production, use, and end-of-life management of the product.


Product Stewardship Approach

Make Better Products (EPPs)

Influence Industry First – makers and sellers

Then Stimulate Consumers


Product Stewardship Approach

Consumers need better products from which to choose

Industry needs to know that there is a market for better products


What’s the Problem?

“Industry unfunded mandate”


What’s the Solution?

Give manufacturers and retailers incentive to reduce waste by making them pay to manage it


What’s the Solution? End-of-life management costs internalized

into product price Less “sustainable” products cost more

Only users pay – not everyone Visible fee (e.g., advanced recycling fee) Invisible “fee” from manufacturer (internalized)


PSI Projects

Paint

Telephone books

Mercury Thermostats

Pharmaceuticals

Electronics

Radioactive Devices

• Tires

• Beverage containers

• Motor oil

• Fluorescent lamps

• Gas Cylinders

• Batteries


Waste Prevention

Paint Phone books

Pollution Prevention

Mercury thermostats Radioactive devices


PSI Dialogue Process1. Research Develop Action Plan

Stakeholder interviews Existing reports, legislation, data

2. Dialogue 2 to 4 meetings over a year (“negotiations”) Workgroup conference calls on priority

solutions3. Implement projects/initiatives


PSI Paint Dialogue

1. Background Technical Report

2. Product Stewardship Action Plan

3. 4 initial meetings (9 months)

4. Consensus: Memorandum of Understanding 11 projects over 2 years Demonstrate potential to reduce the volume of leftover

paint and the cost of managing leftover paint

5. Raised $900,000 for 9 projects


PSI Paint Dialogue Historic NPCA Board Resolution: March 21,

2007 National Infrastructure Demonstration Projects 2nd Memorandum of Understanding

4+ year process and counting…


What Do These Numbers Mean to Paint Management In the U.S.?

64 million

$8

$512 million

Estimated # of gallons/year leftover in U.S.

10% of all paint sold

Estimated average cost/gallon to manage

Estimated total cost to manage leftover paint

This is not sustainable!!


Paint Dialogue – Goals Reduced paint waste; Efficient collection, reuse, and recycling of

leftover paint; Increased markets for recycled paint; and A sustainable financing system to cover

end-of-life management costs.


PSI Paint Projects Behavior change/waste reduction – McKenzie

Mohr Associates Reuse Manual Infrastructure model – SCS Recycled paint standard – Green Seal Lifecycle assessment/cost benefit analysis – Eastern

Research Group/Franklin Associates, ICF Regulatory White Paper National financing options


Paint Education Workgroup Goals

1. Determine why consumers have leftover paint.

2. Develop strategies to reduce leftover paint.

3. Educate consumers on the reduction of leftover paint.


Paint Education Strategies

Leftover Paint Management Guidance for Consumers

Source Reduction Survey +

In-Store Pilot


Leftover Paint Management Guidance For Consumers

• One page guidance developed by consensus.• Reduce, reuse, recycle…etc.• Project Goal: test effectiveness of message and

various communication techniques.• Determine extent to which consumer behavior can

be influenced and leftover paint reduced.• Not funded: $45,360


Source Reduction Survey ResultsIdentify and rank the reasons that people over purchase paint…

Respondents who “strongly agree” say:

77% - Paint is cheaper when purchased by the gallon than

the quart

56% - It is better to overbuy then not to buy enough

55% - Wanting leftover paint for touch-ups

50% - Prefer having leftover than going back to the store


Source Reduction Survey Results Identify differences between consumers

and painting contractors that overbuy vs. those buying the right amount

Less than 1/3 of the public uses contractors so the workgroup focused on its efforts on the public purchasers, not the contractors.


Recommendations1) Develop a kiosk that would allow customers

who have measured (or not) to estimate the amount of paint they need because:

Most people will not measure so a tool is needed at the point-of-sale

55% overbuy for touch-ups so that should be in the ‘formula’ at the kiosk

Only 16% receive help from clerks – another assistance tool is necessary

Lowe’s and others have kiosks to help with paint color selection and paint calculators can be added


Recommendations

2) A discount coupon or other incentive could be offered to encourage paint buyers to use the kiosk

3) Kiosks could include print-out so customer receives a discount at check-out for using paint calculator

4) Follow-up testing to determine if people are just unaware of the environmental impacts or if they are aware but time and convenience take priority


Recommendations

5) Educational materials should target men

6) Pilot testing of recommendations is necessary

7) If we move away from source reduction into paint management, recommend doing a test where stickers are added to paint cans identifying where paint can be properly reused or recycled


Paint Workgroup Conclusions1. We now know why people have leftover

paint.2. In-store Kiosk is #1 recommendation.3. Kiosk idea has flexibility.4. Follow up testing of environmental

message helpful.5. Pilot testing is necessary…pending

funding.


Other Education Opportunities

1. EARTH 911 – The “Paint Wise” web site is live

2. Paint and Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA) Contractor College Curriculum


Phone BooksProblem Statement

660,000 tons

$63 million

Estimated quantity of phone books generated/year in U.S.

Estimated annual cost to manage phone books in U.S. (recycling and disposal)

This is not sustainable!!


Phone Book Dialogue – Focus

Waste prevention and resource conservation

Reasons: Unsolicited and excess phone books Lack of “opt out” option


Phone Book Dialogue – Goals Primary goal: reduce the tonnage of

unwanted telephone books that are generated and distributed to households and businesses.

Secondary goals: increase environmentally preferable practices related to phone book production and distribution.


PSI Phone Books Dialogue

1. Project Summary – completed

2. Product Stewardship Action Plan – May 2007

3. 2 initial meetings 1st meeting: Atlanta, GA or Raleigh, NC in June 2nd meeting: Seattle, WA in September


What is the Product Stewardship Institute?

National non-profit, Based in Boston, founded in 2000 Membership

38 States 41 Local Agencies

Adjunct Council (Business, Env’l Groups, Org’s) Multi-stakeholder product stewardship network


PSI Full and Affiliate State Members


PSI Northeast State Members

Affiliate MembersMarylandNew HampshireNew York

Full MembersConnecticutMaineMassachusettsNew JerseyPennsylvaniaRhode IslandVermont


Vermont

Local PSI Full Members Chittenden County Solid Waste District

Jen Holliday, PSI Board Member Addison County Solid Waste Mgt District Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Mgt District Mad River Solid Waste Alliance Solid Waste Alliance Communities


For More Information

Paint source reduction report and summarywww.productstewardship.us/PaintReports (Bullet 5)

NPCA Board Resolutionwww.productstewardship.us/PaintReports (Bullet 1)

Phone books project summarywww.productstewardship.us/PhoneBookProject#Documents


For More Information Contact…

Scott CasselPSI Executive Director/Founder

617-236-4855

[email protected]

www.productstewardship.us