State and Local Climate and Energy Program
Industrial Packaging Prevention and Reuse Project
Alameda County, California
Federal Funding: $498,720
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2014
Latest Update
The Use Reusables program continues to help businesses switch to reusable transport packing materials. The project team has given, and participated in, a number of presentations and workshops to encourage interest in the program. The program has been publicized through numerous press releases and articles. They have also developed a monitoring system to track the implementation of the first round of Use Reusables grants. The team collaborated with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to help them replicate the program, and followed up with attendees of the March 2012 workshop held in Salt Lake City. The team is making progress in drafting tools for project implementation, including a grant application and decision flowchart, a cost-benefit analysis, case studies, and a video introduction to reusables. Upcoming work includes working with businesses on implementation efforts, identifying future potential focus industries, and fostering partnerships.
Project Summary
Establishing a Model for Solid Waste and GHG Reductions from Transport Packaging
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste.Org) has launched a project to reduce the use of limited-use transport packing materials (such as wooden pallets and cardboard boxes) by helping businesses convert to sustainable and reusable alternatives. Reducing the use of disposable transport packing materials can reduce solid waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project is developing a highly transferrable program model for local governments and businesses that can be replicated to achieve substantial solid waste and GHG reductions.
The project is administered by StopWaste.Org along with the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) as a primary program partner. A team of StopWaste.Org staff is working directly with San Francisco Bay Area businesses and their supply chains to help them transition to more resource-efficient and cost-effective reusable transport packing alternatives. The steps in the process include targeted business outreach and education, a minimum of six training workshops for participants, assistance with implementation planning for interested businesses with a team of supply chain logistics experts, financial modeling assistance for businesses using StopWaste.Org’s "Reusables Cost Comparison Calculator," promotion of the concept of reusables with upper management parties, on-site technical assistance for businesses, and continuous follow-up with businesses after transitioning to reusable transport packing alternatives.
The project has many benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions from raw materials, production, transport, and landfilling of packaging. Businesses in Alameda County transitioning to reusable transport packaging are reducing vehicle miles traveled, increasing their economic competitiveness, supporting existing communities, and leveraging federal investment in the area. In time, the project will create lasting change and achieve ongoing GHG reductions that will extend beyond the grant, build sustained capacity within local agencies to address upstream GHG emissions, increase worker safety, link GHG reductions with environmental and economic co-benefits, and create a model of success that is broadly replicable.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 1,491,482 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 737.57 square miles |
| Government Type: | County |
| Community Type: | Urban/Suburban |
| Median Household Income: | $68,863 |
Program Results
| Reported Results (as of September 2012) | Projected Cumulative Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual GHG Reductions | 1,731 mt CO2e | 16,000 mt CO2e |
| # of Pilot Businesses | 17 | 10 |
| # of Training Workshops | 3 | 9 |
Project Websites
Media Coverage
- Boosting Supply Chain Efficiencies with Reusable Transport Packaging,
July 12, 2012 - Link to Use Reusables website added to U.S. EPA Retail Portal, June 2012
- Improve your Moves, June 4, 2012
- Reusable Packaging Association Hosting Education Conference at MODEX — IBM, StopWaste Join Presenters, January 24, 2012
- Replacing Disposables with Reusables, December 7, 2011
- 7 Success Stories from the Journey to Zero Waste, November 18, 2011
- Greening The Packaging Most People Never See - Pallets, Boxes And Wraps
- Finelite Recognized for Sustainability
- US Foods Shares Recipe for Green Success
- Finelite's Greening Success a Shining Example for Others
- Good and Green Radio #64: First-Class Collaboration: StopWaste Business Partnership & Peerless Coffee & Tea Co., October 21, 2011
- Some Chocolate Bars Travel Better Than I Do, October 3, 2011
- Innovative StopWaste.org Campaign Lands $499K EPA Award , 05/10/2011
- Target to transform appearance of S.F.'s Metreon , 05/06/2011
- StopWaste.Org Wins $499K EPA Grant to Take “Use Reusables” National , 05/03/2011
- Communities win federal climate change funds , 05/02/2011
- “Use Reusables” Goes Coast to Coast , 05/02/2011