Launched June 5, World Environment Day, 2008
Stop Trashing the Climate provides compelling evidence that preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting programs — that is, aiming for zero waste — is one of the fastest, cheapest, and most effective strategies available for combating climate change. This report documents the link between climate change and unsustainable patterns of consumption and wasting, dispels myths about the climate benefits of landfill gas recovery and waste incineration, outlines policies needed to effect change, and offers a roadmap for how to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within a short period.
Significantly decreasing waste disposed in landfills and incinerators will reduce greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent to closing 21% of U.S. coal-fired power plants. This is comparable to leading climate protection proposals such as improving national vehicle fuel efficiency. Indeed, preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting are essential to put us on the path to climate stability.
Download the executive summary (PDF, 2 MB);
- Print quality version (PDF, 10 MB)
Download the full report (PDF, 6 MB)
Download key findings and priority policies as a one-page handout (PDF, 160 KB)
- Black and white version for printing (PDF, 160 KB)
Press information:
Listen to the authors and report endorsers on a national teleconference discussing the report
Download the press release (MS WORD)
Download Stop Trashing the Climate campaign poster (PDF, 1 MB)
Learn more about World Environment Day 2008 - CO2, Kick the Habit!
"Stop Trashing the Climate," cover and lead story in BioCycle magazine, August 2008
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© 2008, Institute for Local Self-Reliance. All rights reserved.