Beyond Waste Targets for 2035

The Beyond Waste Plan has a vision to reduce and eliminate most wastes by 2035. But what would this look like? What do we need to do to achieve this goal? To help assess these questions we ran some projected targets for solid waste and hazardous waste reduction.

Disclaimer: These targets do not represent any official requirement or declaration of policy; they were done for illustrative purposes only.

Hazardous Waste		Solid Waste

Hazardous Waste Reduction Targets

For reduction of recurrent hazardous waste generation, we used a goal of 90 percent reduction by 2035. Current data show a promising trend to meet this level of reduction by or before 2035.

Actions leading to the current reduction in hazardous waste generation include working with our largest waste generators on the development and implementation of their required pollution prevention plans. Technical assistance, educational campaigns, and evaluation tools, such as chemical assessment protocol to identify safer alternatives for priority chemicals help businesses use less toxic products and find appropriate chemical substitutions.

With continued assistance and strong pollution prevention planning laws, the overall downward trend with recurrent hazardous waste generation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

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Disclaimer: These targets do not represent any official requirement or declaration of policy; they were done for illustrative purposes only.

Solid Waste Reduction Targets

To achieve an 80 percent reduction in solid waste by 2035 will require a significant change of course. The recent reduction in solid waste generation is due in large part to the recession, which led to less construction and demolition, along with a reduction in general purchasing. A shift from solid waste management to sustainable materials management, as promoted by the federal government and the OECD (Organisation of Economic and Community Development), is needed. Sustainable materials management includes taking a new look at waste to determine what is a waste and what is potentially a product fit for new life through recycling or reuse. Systems are needed to capture these materials and convert them to new uses while protecting human and environmental health. As products make up so much of eventual waste, it is vital to get producers more involved in the design and end-of-life management of their products.

Click on the image to enlarge the graphic.

Disclaimer: These targets do not represent any official requirement or declaration of policy; they were done for illustrative purposes only.

For more information, contact Gretchen Newman, 360-407-6097.

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