[Photo is of the Chester Covanta receiving floor taken by the Delco Times. It still looks like that.]

Short story, I hope: I visited the Covanta incinerator in Chester recently and got the full tour of their facility, including getting to stand over the large receiving area where ALMOST ALL of Delco’s trash goes to be burned. I wish I had a photo, but it is quite a sight (and smell). [You might have seen a Covanta exec saying it ‘smells like money’. Hmmm.]

As someone with more than a passing interest and some knowledge about the options for recycling, I was struck by how much material could have been recycled. So much metal, Mattresses. Cardboard. Wood and other construction materials. Loads of clearly recyclable plastics.

With just a little education and effort, there could be a substantial reduction in what gets incinerated and tossed up into the air over Chester and feeding climate change with rapid green house gas emissions.

It’s clear that as Delco looks to review and revise its Solid Waste Management Plan for the next 10 years, we’re all going to have to learn a lot more about how to recycle, what to recycle, and how to reduce what we’re tossing into the garbage.

Landfill space isn’t getting cheaper. Incineration, if it stays (and groups are working hard so that it won’t) will get more expensive if better pollution controls are imposed (Covanta is 30+ years behind on their controls, just FYI.).

Zero Waste Delco is not just about a lifestyle change and changing buying habits. We need to make this a project for our entire community, and when we do I’m confident that Delco can be a model county in the US. We have so much to gain from making this work and the sooner we get started the better.

Would you like to share your thoughts on Zero Waste? Reach out and let’s talk.

This is one of the easiest zero waste swaps. Keep them in your car, and just get in the habit of using them.

BUT…

Be mindful that cotton bags are NOT environmental. Look for hemp or some other low-impact textile material, even if it’s recycled plastic.

And as a reminder…

Avoid Grocery Store Plastic Produce Bags, Too!

It’s not always possible, but one can usually get most items home and into their spots without needing a separate bag. Why did we ever need them?

What are YOUR grocery tips? Are there any grocery stores that are helping to reduce waste, especially plastic waste?

Who knew recycled bathroom tissue (toilet paper) and bamboo facial tissues are a thing?!

This example is from whogivesacrap.com, but there are others. (No endorsement here.)

They can be competitively priced, with bulk, plastic-free shipping and packaging. Very good quality, especially for the tush (we know ‘dis).

We’re not marketing, but noting this because there are a surprising number of products that are arising from the movement for zero waste.

Do you have other surprises you want to share?

Eliminating plastics and other waste sources from our products is an easy request from consumers. The more we let companies know that they need to follow the waste hierarchy the more likely we’ll make progress.

Don’t be silent. Go where the source is.

If you see something, say something, and this is a pretty easy way to make a difference.

Of course, we can all vote with our wallets, too. Buying products that are clearly making an effort to reduce waste is important as a first step. (And let’s make sure these efforts are genuine, not “green-washing“.)

Do you know a Delco business that’s making a difference? Shout them out here or our various social media pages.

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Based on research and recommendations, we follow the 7-element hierarch published by the Zero Waste International Alliance.

Their model provides the greatest number of avenues for waste reduction.

Are you trying to reduce the amount of plastic you use? Are you frustrated by all the plastic bottles around your house?

It’s not just about drinking water, which is an obvious opportunity, but we buy lots of products, mostly cleaning and personal products, that are just chemicals diluted with water. Eliminate the water, shift the active ingredients to a tablet, condensed fluid, or other method, and you save LOTS of energy AND plastic in delivering products to consumers. Start small, and keep going.

This isn’t a new concept, but with the rising focus on plastics and energy reduction, the idea is growing in importance.

“…asking consumers to dilute the product at home means 97 percent less water being transported, 87 percent fewer trucks on the road…”

Unilever

If this isn’t possible, then look for refillable products to at least avoid the constant use/disposal of plastic bottles.

If THIS isn’t possible, notify the manufacturer that they need to REDESIGN their products.

Do you know a product that you’ve swapped in for a plastic bottle with lots of water? Please comment.

Would you like to write posts about Zero Waste, what it means to you here in Delco, or how we can engage other county residents in a constructive discussion on waste reduction and waste management?

Contact us! We’d love to talk!