EPA has released a new climate and energy strategy guide for local governments, titled Resource Conservation and Recovery: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs (PDF, 42 pp, 6.3 megabytes). Resource conservation and recovery strategies involve avoiding, delaying, or decreasing the raw materials required for the production of new products through source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and energy recovery. These practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life-cycle of materials, while also reducing air pollution, energy use, and landfilling costs.
This guide provides comprehensive information for local government staff and policy makers on designing and implementing resource conservation and recovery programs, including:
- Environmental, economic, and human health benefits
- Source reduction and waste diversion practices and technologies
- Key participants
- Policy mechanisms for initiating programs
- Implementation strategies for success
- Costs and funding opportunities
Key features of the guide include:
- Case studies and examples from communities across the United States
- Links to technical resources, analytical tools, and sources of funding
EPA’s Local Climate and Energy Program will host a live webcast about Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Resource Conservation and Recovery later this fall. We’ll send a newsletter announcement with details as they become available, and will also post registration information on the Local Climate and Energy Webcasts page.
This guide is part of EPA’s Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series, which is designed to help policy makers and program staff plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective climate and energy projects that generate environmental, economic, social, and human health benefits.
To access other guides in this series, please visit EPA’s Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series page.