Climate Change Solutions - May 25, 2021 | Newsletter

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Today we are focused on waste and the solutions in place to combat this global crisis. Read how the Iowa Waste Exchange is keeping waste out of landfills through their materials exchange program and how holding waste producers accountable can lead to a more coordinated disposal of products.

We also sat down with the U.S. Program Director of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives to discuss the environmental justice implications of waste. And in our podcast, we learned how communities in New York state are ensuring no food goes to waste.

We hope you don't find this coverage to be garbage (ha ha)! Feel free to drop us a line letting us know what you want to read next!

Have a climate solution? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff!

Headlines How One Iowa University—and the Hawkeye State—is Handling Waste [8 min. read] In September 2020, Iowa State University Sustainability Coordinator Merry Rankin had an unusual challenge: what to do with the 600 outmoded paper towel dispensers the university suddenly had on hand after a facilities upgrade. It’s a question faced by decision-makers at organizations large and small every day as they manage waste from daily operations. Often, waste is trucked to a landfill or, if possible, a recycling facility where some of the waste can be broken down and, hopefully, turned into something new. But ISU and other organizations in Iowa have a different, greener waste disposal option: The Iowa Waste Exchange. [click for more]
	Extended Producer Responsibility Policies Offer a Solution to the Waste Crisis [5 min. read] The world faces a waste crisis: over 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste are generated each year globally, equivalent to 822,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. Of this waste, only 16 percent is recycled. The rest is sent to landfills or incinerated, causing significant health and environmental damage to the surrounding communities. However, extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies are gaining traction as a viable solution among state and federal lawmakers. Click to read how EPR policies are shifting the waste burden back to producers. [click for more]
	Q&A: Addressing the Environmental Justice Implications of Waste [7 min. read] To get a better understanding of how to equitably address waste, EESI sat down with Denise Patel, U.S. Program Director at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). GAIA is a worldwide alliance focused on strengthening grassroot social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution and support a global shift toward environmental justice. [click for more]
	Podcast: Episode 14—No Food to Waste—How Community Initiatives are Solving Global Issues [30 min. listen] The United States discards 80 billion pounds of food, or 30 to 40 percent of its food supply, every year. This wasted food ends up in landfills, taking up space and producing harmful greenhouse gases. So, what should be done to curb this crisis? This week, Syd and Dan spoke with Josh Enderle, a compost and recycling educator, to discuss different ways communities can cut their food waste. [click for more]

On the Hill

From May 8 to May 24, Congress introduced a total of 144 bills and resolutions related to environmental and energy topics, and 7 bills passed the House. The Senate and House held 26 hearings and markups related to environmental and energy topics.

Many bills introduced during this period addressed biodiversity ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22. H.R.3396 and S.1728 would create funds to conserve butterflies, plants, mussels, and fish. H.R.3399 would amend the Federal Power Act to require consideration of invasive species when prescribing fishways. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing to examine biodiversity loss, and focused on the divers, impacts, and potential solutions.

Mitigating climate impacts, especially flooding, was another focus. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a hearing on reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, which resulted in a flurry of related legislative proposals. S.1688 would establish a federal standard to improve resilience to current and future flood risk. Both H.R.3161 and S.1581 would create programs to map urban flooding risks to help understand and mitigate risk of such flooding.

See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for May 8 to May 24 for the Senate here

See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for May 8 to May 24 for the House here

EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets

	Briefing: Rethinking Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Policies and Programs to Address Waste Check out the highlights from EESI's April briefing on addressing waste. Recycling has become uneconomic and requires new approaches to be a viable, cost-effective waste management strategy. Creative solutions are needed to stem the deluge of waste. Four speakers from the local, state, and private sectors discussed innovative programs solving local waste issues. [click for more]
	Fact Sheet: Biogas: Converting Waste to Energy From the EESI archives—Biogas is produced after organic materials (plant and animal products) are broken down by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment, a process called anaerobic digestion. Biogas systems use anaerobic digestion to recycle these organic materials, turning them into biogas, which contains both energy (gas), and valuable soil products (liquids and solids). Read more about the basics of biogas on EESI's biogas fact sheet! [click for more]

EESI Around Town

Executive Director Daniel Bresette was quoted by Politico on federal initiatives to strengthen building efficiency standards.

EESI supported United Airlines' new sustainable aviation initiative.

EESI's fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet was cited by Grist.

Upcoming Events

Modernizing the U.S. Energy System: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward
June 4, 11, 18
12-1:30PM

Join us for a virtual briefing series about the climate benefits of modernizing the nation’s energy system. RSVP here.

June 4: Towards the Energy System of Tomorrow
- Panelists will discuss the state of play for the nation’s energy system and present opportunities for improvement using real-world examples of solutions in action. Panelists will also discuss the role of Congress, the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and state and local entities in creating the energy system of tomorrow. RSVP here.
June 11: Modernizing America's Transmission Network
- Panelists will discuss what is needed to modernize the transmission network, including developing transmission infrastructure for offshore wind and increasing cooperation between states. The briefing will also cover how the transmission network can be constructed and maintained to maximize ecosystem conservation, respect Native lands, and increase the resilience of neighboring communities. RSVP here.
June 18: Leveraging Grid Edge Integration for Resilience and Decarbonization
- From grid-integrated buildings to electric vehicles, today’s energy system is rapidly expanding and transforming—especially at the “grid edge.” Briefing panelists will discuss policy opportunities such as a federal energy efficiency resource standard, state level efforts, and the nexus between buildings, transportation, energy storage, and the grid. RSVP here.

Electrification 2021
Virtual forum series

This summer, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is holding a series of virtual forums to enable comprehensive collaboration and informative exchanges on electrification solutions.

Frontiers of e-Mobility (June 7-10)
A Net-Zero Energy System for All (June 28-30)

ACORE Finance Forum: Examining the Renewable Energy Transaction Landscape
June 15-16
Virtual

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) invites you to join it for the ACORE Finance Forum where it will examine how the renewable energy transaction landscape will evolve to meet this growing demand. The event will bring together experts from across the renewable energy marketplace, including the sector’s largest and most influential investors, developers, utilities, manufacturers, advisors, and buyers to provide you with insights on the next stage of renewable energy finance and investment.

Register here!

EESI is a supporting organization for this series.

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Daniel Bresette, Executive Director

EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus to provide timely information and develop innovative policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path.

www.eesi.org

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Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions