2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT

Transcription

1 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY, INC. 500 LINDEN STREET FORT COLLINS, CO USA

2 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 2 CONTENTS Introduction waste diversion statistics... 3 Waste diversion rate: 94.38%... 3 Waste to Barrel Ratio... 4 Waste reduction & diversion successes challenges & concerns... 5 Questioning the use of a waste diversion rate as primary indicator of waste efforts... 5 Factors Impacting NBB s waste diversion rate... 6 Waste reduction s impact on NBB s Diversion rate... 6 Outlying Data... 6 additional findings, ideas and concerns for Volume VS Weight... 6 Landfilled hops... 6 Increased landfilled waste... 7 Data accuracy projects and Goals... 7 Divert, decrease or eliminate trash within NBB s waste streams... 7 Initiate project to increase NBB s waste diversion rate... 7 Drive to increase NBB s recycling rebates... 8 Improve data collection... 8 Communicate best recycling practices to co-workers and community... 8

3 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 3 INTRODUCTION This report details the improvements, successes and challenges of New Belgium Brewing Company s (NBB) 2011 waste diversion and reduction efforts. Additionally, this document outlines future projects and tasks that will assist to increase NBB s diversion rate as well as reduction of total waste produced. The ultimate goal being to someday send zero waste to landfill. In years past, New Belgium s waste diversion efforts primarily centered around collecting waste data with the goal of establishing a reliable baseline for our waste diversion rate. The creation of this baseline has helped to form realistic and measurable waste diversion goals to guide future efforts. Analyzing the waste data over the past few years, assisted in honing in on specific opportunities within our waste systems. These findings directed many of the waste improvement projects in WASTE DIVERSION STATISTICS WASTE DIVERSION RATE: 94.38% In 2011, 94.38% of our waste stream was diverted from landfill. This is a small decrease from our 2010 diversion rate reported at 94.8%. It is important to note, these numbers do not include spent grain, spent yeast, spent DE or Process Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) sludge. Though these materials are not landfilled and are diverted to a local farms. We have chosen to report them separately, as they are considered to be a byproduct of the brewing process versus a waste stream. When these materials are included, the diversion rate would be 99.88% for The following graph is the diversion ratio excluding brewery by-products: New Belgium Brewing 2011 Waste Diversion Rate = 94.38% (without spent grain, yeast, sludge and DE) Landfilled 5.62 % Composted 4.25 % Recycled %

4 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 4 The following graph is the diversion ratio including brewery by-products: New Belgium Brewing 2011 Waste Diversion Rate = 99.88% Recycled 1.92 % Landfilled.12 % Sludge 3.5 % Composted.09 % Spent Grain % WASTE TO BARREL RATIO To account for annual growth, a waste (in pounds) to annual barrels of beer produced ratio is a method of normalizing waste diversion rates on a yearly basis. The waste to barrel ratio for 2011 is as follows: In 2011, NBB created 2.14 lbs. of waste for each barrel of beer produced. o Of this 2.14 lbs. of waste.12 lbs. are landfilled. (89,292 lbs. of landfilled waste per 740,427 barrels packaged =.12 lbs. of landfilled waste per barrel) o Of this 2.14 lbs. of waste 2.02 lbs. are diverted from landfill. (1,499,350 lbs. of diverted waste per 740,427 barrels packaged = 2.02 lbs. of diverted waste per barrel) WASTE REDUCTION & DIVERSION SUCCESSES The following is a list of actions utilized in 2011 to improve NBB s waste systems: Elimination of two trash dumpsters at PWTP and Malt building. These dumpsters were replaced with recycling containers for collecting super sacks, plastic bags and mylar bags. The removal of these dumpsters resulted in a cost savings of over $2000 annually.

5 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 5 Implementation of compost collection at New Belgium s offsite warehouse. The following items were new materials added to our diversion program: plastic bags super sacks mylar bags chip bags compact discs Additionally, systems were improved to collect more styrofoam and paper packaging from operations than in previous years. NBB received $4,458 in recycling grants from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The CDPHE created a glass recycling rebate program to support and incentivize entities that collect glass as a separate stream and incur transportation costs to recycler. NBB was paid $433, in recycling and by-product rebates. o $377, of this was from the sale of spent grain and spent yeast to a local farmer. o The remaining $56,704 came from recycling rebates. Primarily, from steel, aluminum, glass and some plastics. Two balers were purchased to optimize stretch wrap collection, that in turn increased NBB s stretch wrap recycling rebates. NBB purchased an aluminum can baler to assist process waste from new canning line. With the addition of this equipment, it is anticipated that NBB will see an increase in revenue from baled aluminum in 2012, due to the reduction in labor and hauling costs for this commodity. Improvement of the handling of NBB s dump beer decreased labor costs, while opening up needed space in the off-site warehouse. Thus, eliminating the trailer rental cost required to store dump beer awaiting disposal CHALLENGES & CONCERNS QUESTIONING THE USE OF A WASTE DIVERSION RATE AS PRIMARY INDICATOR OF WASTE EFFORTS New Belgium Brewery utilizes its waste diversion rate as the primary performance indicator to guide recycling/diversion efforts. A high diversion rate is seen as an indicator of success, while a low diversion rate assumes an inefficient recycling program. However, in focusing only on a waste diversion rate, opportunities for reducing overall waste may be overlooked. Depending on a number of factors, diversion rates can vary considerably from year to year and can be significantly impacted by the weights of waste materials. For instance, heavier materials like scrap metal and compost can significantly affect a diversion rate. This is the very reason we choose to remove spent grain from our posted rate. In addition, waste diversion rates are also insufficient in reporting waste reduction successes. Waste eliminated from diverted materials lowers the percentage of diverted material against landfilled materials. Often resulting in a lower waste diversion rate. Examples of these statements as pertaining to NBB are presented below.

6 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 6 Here is an article by Environmental Leader on Does Your Waste Diversion Rate Really Reflect Your Recycling Efforts. The article goes into more detail on the concerns in using waste diversion rates as your primary means to communicate your waste diversion/reduction efforts. FACTORS IMPACTING NBB S WASTE DIVERSION RATE WASTE REDUCTION S IMPACT ON NBB S DIVERSION RATE As mentioned above, a reduction in waste can negatively impact a diversion rate. When comparing, 2010 to 2011 s diversion rates, NBB saw a total reduction of office paper, aluminum and glass sent to recycling. This means NBB created less waste but made more products in the last year. Though this is an improvement in waste reduction, this attributed to the decrease in the waste diversion rate. OUTLYING DATA Heavy waste streams greatly impact a waste diversion rate. Scrap metal entered into NBB s waste data in This first year of collecting metal data was unknowingly an unusual year as we had significantly high metal recycling numbers due to a large scale bone yard and construction clean up. These metal numbers positively influenced our diversion rate in However, the drop off of this material stream in 2011 negatively impacted the waste diversion rate. Another example of this would be the sporadic instances of recycling left over POS materials from expired promotions, damaged product or cleanup projects. These instances can skew our waste diversion rate when compared to years past. This prompts asking if there would be value in capturing outlying data and reporting it separately. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS, IDEAS AND CONCERNS FOR 2011 VOLUME VS WEIGHT Some companies and municipalities are moving towards collecting their waste data in volume vs. weight. A volume based system can help see how much volume is sent to the landfill. For instance the equal weight of styrofoam vs. glass waste would be very different in a weight based system than in a volume based system. Some companies find this method to work better at seeing the big picture in their waste diversion efforts and helpful in better communicating their efforts to the public. Prompting the evaluation of implementing volume data into the waste tracker to see the two methods side by side. LANDFILLED HOPS Since the addition of hop heavy beers to our portfolio, we have seen an increase in hops sent to the PWTP. In 2011, hops accounted for ~20% of our landfilled waste and ~1% of our total waste stream. Currently our hops are sent to drain and screened off at the PWTP. From there, they are sent to landfill. The significance of this waste stream came to light in late Since then NBB has been working with A1 Organics and Waste Not to create a system to compost this waste. However, due to low PH and chemicals within this waste stream, NBB has struggled to get permission from A1 Organics to compost this material. In 2011 a team was formed to divert this waste to our spent yeast system. If this material is not sent to drain and instead mixed with our spent yeast, it would be diverted to a local farmer and incorporated into cattle feed. Utilizing this pathway for spent dry-hops would render it a brewery by-product, and no longer a wastestream contributor. While this is a success, it does lessen our diversion rate as previously explained.

7 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 7 INCREASED LANDFILLED WASTE In 2011, NBB saw an increase in the amount of waste sent to landfill. The increase primarily came from the compactor located at the main building. Our waste to barrel ratio was approximately the same as last year. So NBB s waste is growing in line with the company s growth, as measured by barrels produced. However, this discovery has spurred a desire to find out why trash increased in the past year and hone in on actions to divert this waste as possible. DATA ACCURACY Data accuracy and tracking systems have greatly been improved in the past few years. These improvements were made by collaborating with waste haulers to reduce inaccuracies in capturing waste weights as well as implementing system improvements to reduce human error in collecting and reporting data PROJECTS AND GOALS In 2012 and beyond, waste diversion efforts will continue to drive our brewery(s) towards the goal of sending zero waste to landfill. This will be done through a variety of initiatives and tasks including: Working to identify waste opportunities where we can eliminate waste before it enters NBB. Eradication or reduction of waste NBB sends to landfill. Activation of projects that will work to increase NBB s waste diversion rate. The following are specific goals and projects to be initiated in 2012: DIVERT, DECREASE OR ELIMINATE TRASH WITHIN NBB S WASTE STREAMS Dissect a trash dumpster at NBB to see what items are going to landfill. Analyze materials to see opportunities for diversion. Present findings to staff. Janitor Check In. Work with janitors to assure recyclables are going to appropriate destination and assess for system efficiencies. Departmental audits. Visit departments and see what items co-workers struggle to recycle. Implement solutions as possible. Communicate and remind co-workers from bringing in trash from outside the brewery. Removal of trash cans from individual desks, in favor of centralized trash collection. INITIATE PROJECT TO INCREASE NBB S WASTE DIVERSION RATE Implement recycling center at the off-site warehouse, consistent with units at Main Building and Packaging hall. Expand recycling options at NBB. Creation of formal waste diversion, reduction and packaging goals. Improve NBB Recycling Center organization and commodity-protecting, structural enhancements.

8 2011 WASTE DIVERSION REPORT Page 8 DRIVE TO INCREASE NBB S RECYCLING REBATES Expand recycling options at NBB. Research replacing cardboard compactor with baler. Research possibility of optimizing recycling rebates from paper, commingled, aluminum, glass and metal in our local market. IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION Implement volume into tracker to compare two methods of waste data reporting. Investigate accuracy of weights coming from haulers. Calculate waste to barrel ratio. COMMUNICATE BEST RECYCLING PRACTICES TO CO-WORKERS AND COMMUNITY Re-create and re-market new community glass recycling program to replace Brown Bottle Recycling Program (BBRP). Push goal of zero waste to co-workers. Increase co-worker recycling understanding through Mothernet (internal website) presence, presentations and enhanced signage. Educate co-workers and community on current issues concerning composting PLA (bio-plastics). Creation of guiding principles document to direct NBB on best cup option to provide at NBB events.