Summer/Fall 2020 National Greening Fire Team Bulletin

Spotlight

Harley Allsup - Facility Engineer, Gila National Forest, USFS Southwestern Region (Region 3) & Facilities Unit Leader

1. What role do you play at incidents, and how do you think your community could play a more pronounced role in “greening fire” in the future?

I have been a Facilities Unit Leader on Southwest Team 5 for four years. I am very involved in a wide range of contracts that support fire camps—everything from potable/non-potable water, land use agreements, showers, hand wash stations, light towers, generators, yurts, and of course trash/dumpsters and recycling. 
While the finance community has an Incident Contract Project Inspector (ICPI), Facilities Unit Leaders play an important role ensuring contract compliance as well. My community can confirm that recycling vendors follow their BPA requirements.  I also think my colleagues could be more proactive with using recycling contracts instead of being reactive to recycling needs. For example, on the Pine Lodge Fire in 2019, we included incident recycling on our pre-order. Greening fire needs to shift from being something we react to, to being part of our job if we want to be effective at it.

2. Do you believe it is important for the USDA Forest Service to take an active role in “greening” fire operations? If so, why?

Of course, safety and supporting our firefighters is critical. However, our records indicate that we generate a lot of waste; in general, fire seems to have a reputation for wastefulness. If we can be more effective in reducing our waste, it will not only help the “greening” aspect, it may help us be more efficient with overall incident operations. For example, when it comes to meals, there is nothing worse than running out of food. However, a request for food at a spike camp can get “padded” multiple times before the order is actually placed—the initial head count may occur in the field, then the Spike Camp Manager may add 10% just in case, then the Food Unit Leader adds another 10% just in case, etc., until we end up delivering 130% of the food actually needed. We need to find ways to be more precise without compromising firefighter safety, and we need to better pin down what we are ordering/paying for in our contracts versus what we need.

3. Over the years, have you noticed any changes in the USDA Forest Service’s efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of incidents? If so, what changes have been most successful?

I certainly have seen steps in the right direction. Recycling and other measures were rarely, if ever, thought about in the past. The culture slowly changed to accepting the “R-word” as something we “had to” respond to, but it was still very reactive. Our organization is being more proactive by using things like standardized recycling contracts. Standardizations helps ensure that the agency receives the best price for the best service while managing expectations and accountability. The effect of standardized recycling is something I have noticed, especially when dumpsters that were being emptied every other day only need to be dumped once a week. Most people support the idea of making fire operations more “green.” If you can make it easy, people will do it. Turn-key recycling is a good way to make “being green” easy. 
I see the greening fire program evolving like safety has. We used to be more reactive; over time, the culture has changed, and safety has been adopted as part of our jobs. Wearing Personal Protective Equipment and knowing the rules and regulations is all part of our job. We can be more proactive with “greening fire” by adding the recycling BPA to the pre-order…that really should just be standard procedure rather than waiting for the Agency Administrator to tell us to do it. 

4. Having observed implementation of the On-site Incident Recycling Blanket Purchase Agreement, what suggestions do you have to improve recycling at incidents?

I think the National Greening Fire Team Webinar was really helpful this year. It is important to have more webinars in the future to try and reach those that are reluctant to engage. Some individuals may not understand how the recycling BPA will actually reduce the burden on their camp crews. It takes time to build trust and credibility. Some people may still not understand what it means to “order recycling.” It took time for people to understand what questions needed to be asked when a water truck was ordered. Now they know to ask if it is “Type 1,” “Type 2,” etc. It will take time for the key players to understand the recycling BPA services and how to incorporate them into the pre-order process, but it will improve over time.
I think recycling will evolve, like most contracts, as we get more contractors involved. In addition, we will see what works and what doesn’t to evolve and improve the program. No one should expect that we will achieve perfection in the first couple of years. The recycling contractors that go above and beyond will teach us what we need to add to the contract. The contractors that find the shortcuts and loopholes or perform poorly will teach us what we need to better define in the contract to ensure the best outcome.

5. Did you know that the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) investigated “greening fire” best practices at fire camps and published a compilation of recommendations? Which NREL recommendations should we focus most on in the future?

No, I did not know that. All the recommendations may be relevant. It depends on the incident, since no two fires are the same. Overall, though, I would focus on trying to provide one or two Sustainable Operations (SusOps) Coordinators per Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC). These coordinators could visit the incidents on Day 4 or 5 to assess the situation and provide recommendations for improvement to the Logistics/Facilities personnel. This would be similar to an After Action Report. Days 1 and 2 are too chaotic for a SusOps Coordinator to provide input; however, Day 4 or 5 is still early enough in the incident to make a difference. It is important that such coordinators have experience on fires and understand incident operations. It would be like requesting a safety officer review to assess the camp operations and provide recommendations; I always request their input because they notice things I don’t.

6. What else should our Bulletin readers know about you?

I didn’t always give much thought to recycling or greening fire. It was more of a hassle than anything.  However, over time, I’ve found that greening fire is not only the right thing to do, but it can often be incorporated into daily work without much burden once you embrace it. I think the key is to make greening fire a part of our job and not just something that we have to do. Not all “greening” aspects may be applicable to each incident, but I think it’s prudent to look at how we can be better and always seek to improve.

What's New from the Greening Fire Team?

The National Greening Fire Team (GFT) continuously strives to develop new resources to serve our interagency network. Below are several highlights developed over the past few months:

• 2021 GFT Microgrant Program: The objective of this Pilot Program, limited to GFT Ambassadors within the Forest Service, is to trial existing sustainability best management practices and pilot new wildfire sustainability projects and initiatives, while promoting cost containment. The application deadline is Close of Business Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
   
• Incident Recycling – Why, What, and How?: This 2-pager provides foundational information about the On-site Incident Recycling Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), including the sustainability leadership intent, the rationale for ordering contracted recycling services, the BPA scope, the number and location of vendors (both those available for order under the BPA and those who have been pre-vetted for order via an Emergency Contract Rental Agreement), and where interested parties can find more information. This 2-pager was designed to help “greening fire” sustainability champions justify the “why” behind incident recycling, while quickly guiding them through the “what” and “how” behind using the On-site Incident Recycling BPA.
   
• GFT Communication Products: The GFT, in collaboration with USDA Forest Service Region 3’s Office of Communication & Engagement, recently finalized several Team communication products (i.e., Poster, Brochure, and Banner). Contact the GFT’s Shared Inbox if you would like hard-copy posters or brochures, or if you are outside the agency and cannot access the content at these links.
   
• 2020 GFT Accomplishment Report: Would you like to dive a bit deeper “behind the scenes” of the GFT and learn more about our program of work? We invite you to browse our 2020 Accomplishment Report and welcome feedback at any time via our Shared Inbox.
   
• GFT Forest Focus Podcast: Forest Focus is an audio program produced by USDA Forest Service Region 5 about the National Forests in California. Episodes focus on issues such as ecological restoration, fire, recreation, law enforcement, tribal relations and much more. The show features specialists that work for the USDA Forest Service and guests who provide other points of view on Forest Service issues. In this episode, National GFT Core Members, Ambassadors, and Incident Recycling Vendors discuss the agency’s On-site Incident Recycling BPA and what is in store for this long-term procurement vehicle. 

Greening Fire Team Ambassador Program Update

The Greening Fire Team Ambassador Program, launched in April 2020, continues to gain momentum! Now up to 65 Ambassadors (52 of which are from the USDA Forest Service), this network is beginning to coalesce and guide the GFT into a more field-grounded and interagency space.

GFT Ambassadors are individuals with a desire to help advance sustainability Best Management Practices (BMPs) in incident operations. These interagency individuals act as force multipliers and further the GFT mission by participating in the GFT program at the “Level of Involvement” (LOI) that suits their interests, passions, and available time/resources.  In other words, the time commitment required of an Ambassador can be as much or as little as you and your supervisor deem appropriate; there is no minimum or maximum! Ambassadors receive, share, and act on important communications about increasing awareness and aligning actions towards sustainably conducting fire management operations. 

We have all seen and heard how incident operations in the COVID environment are leading to increased waste production. We need your help more than ever. Come be part of the solution!  

Those seeking additional background information would benefit from viewing the June 2020 GFT Ambassador Program Kick-Off Webinar (recording) and October 2020 Quarterly Meeting (recording).

The GFT welcomes new Ambassadors (particularly those outside the Forest Service). And, signing up is as easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Check with Your Supervisor
2. Email the GFT Shared Inbox: SM.FS.greeningfire@usda.gov

• In Subject Line write: “GFT Ambassador Program Sign Up”
• In the Message Body, provide the following:       
  • Contact information
  • Level of involvement (bronze, silver, gold, platinum)
    • Reference the Master LOI Matrix
  • Tasks you would consider completing over the next year
    • Reference the Master LOI Matrix
    • If you are unsure, let us know you need help deciding how you can support.

     3.  Receive GFT Welcome Letter

If you are interested in a one-on-one “touchbase” with a member of the National Greening Fire Team to further discuss your potential GFT Ambassador role, to seek assistance in deciding what Level of Involvement may be best for you, etc., please email the GFT Shared Inbox, and we will follow-up with you to calendar a 30-minute call/Teams Meeting at your convenience.

 Recycling Myth Buster #3 — There is No Longer a Market for Recyclables in the U.S.

As a refresher, we also invite you to review Myth Busters #1 (“Recycling on Fires is Too Expensive…or Is It?”) and #2 (“Recycling Isn’t Available in My Area”).

Myth Buster: Changes to recycling in China means that recycling in America is dead, right?

Hard fact.

For many years, China served as the top destination for recyclables from around the globe. In January 2018, China enacted the “National Sword” policy to ban the import of mixed paper and mixed recyclables, while also reducing the allowable contamination for imported recycle streams (to 0.5%). In August 2018, China also imposed tariffs on many U.S.-based recyclables. These changes had a pronounced impact on many recycling programs in the U.S., particularly since U.S.-based Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) average contamination levels between 15-25% (Source).

But there is still hope.

In October 2020, Resource Recycling reported that Waste Management, the largest trash and recycle hauler in North America, increased its recyclable processing from 15.2 million tons in 2018 to 15.5 million tons in 2019. Between 2018 and 2019, Waste Management invested $200 million in recycling infrastructure improvements and shifted its recovered plastics to domestic recycle markets in North America.

At the national, virtual WasteExpo in September 2020, Brent Bell, vice president of recycling for Waste Management, shared that so far in 2020, Waste Management has sold 81% of its fiber commodities to domestic mills, an 18% increase from three years ago. Despite severe drops in foreign end markets for recyclables, this shift toward a growing domestic market is a positive signal that recycling is still surviving in this country (Source). 

Many state and local agencies are working to build new recycling infrastructure and improve education.

Ann Arbor, Michigan re-opened their MRF to “re-localize” recycling (Source). Santa Fe re-opened their idle, publicly-owned MRF as well to re-localize recycling in New Mexico (Source). This effort reduced recycling transportation costs for the city while also reducing its carbon footprint. Other cities are following suit. Interestingly, although recycling exports overseas have declined, domestic recycling markets are stabilizing (Source).

Better yet, America is revving her recycle engines. 

Rather than continue to rely on China and other foreign markets to process recyclables, America is investing in domestic capacity on the home front.

A Washington State mill plans to add cardboard recycling next year. The mill expects to process 350,000 tons of cardboard per year from the Pacific Coast as well as Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and New Mexico (Source).

In the second quarter of 2020, PreZero Polymers and ACI Plastics plan to open new plastic and film processing plants. The $10 million mixed rigids facility in South Carolina will process 50 million pounds of plastics #2-7 per year. The $80 million film processing facility in southern California will process 25 million pounds of film per year. Large volumes of plastics are expected to come from the Midwest, mid-east, and southeast regions of the U.S. (Source).

Green Impact Plastics will open a $7 million PET thermoform processing facility in Los Angeles, CA, in the second quarter of 2020. It will be able to process 4 million pounds of plastic each month (Source).

Investment firm, Kamine Development Corporation (KDC), and sustainable infrastructure and technology company, Celadon, announced on 2 Dec 2019 that they will invest $300 million in large-scale recycling infrastructure in North America. This includes two, new mixed paper and cardboard processing facilities that are expected to process more than 800,000 tons of cardboard and waste paper per year (Source).

Nestlé, a global food and drink manufacturer, announced on 7 September 2020 that their company will invest $30 million in the Closed Loop Leadership Fund to help “shift from virgin plastics to the use of food-grade recycled plastics in the U.S…” (Source). Nestlé previously announced its intent to invest $1.5 billion over the next five years to source 2 million metric tons of food-grade recycled plastics as well. In the world of supply and demand, this significant investment signals a strong future demand for recycled plastic in the U.S.

On 5 October 2020, the EPA released its draft National Recycling Strategy, outlining “strategic objectives and actions needed to create a strong, more resilient U.S. municipal solid waste recycling system.” The EPA reinforced the importance of recycling to the U.S. economy, noting that recycling is tied to 700,000 jobs and $37 billion in wages.

In addition, recycling in the U.S. may be further improved through policy and legislation. Multiple recycling bills have been introduced in Congress in the last year (Source). The bipartisan Recycling Enhancements to Collection and Yield through Consumer Learning and Education (RECYCLE) Act could provide $15 million per year over five years to increase recycling education and outreach. The RECYCLE Act is being considered for inclusion in current coronavirus relief legislation along with the Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Values of Expanding Recycling (RECOVER) Act. The bipartisan RECOVER Act is supported by the Plastics Industry Association, PepsiCo, Unilever and many other businesses and industry groups and would provide $500 million in matching federal funds to boost recycling infrastructure across the country if authorized. Both the “Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act” and the “Zero Waste Act” were endorsed in a report by the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on 30 June 2020. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act would establish a nationwide container deposit system, set higher standards for mandatory post-consumer recycled content, and would ban a number of single-use plastic items. The Zero Waste Act would provide up to $250 million in “zero waste” initiatives and focuses on organics and e-scrap recycling.

Why is this exciting?

If the U.S. were to recycle 75% of our waste stream, it would be the environmental equivalent of removing 55 million cars from our roads each year. At the same time, this would generate 1.5 million new jobs across the U.S. (Source).

We can do this!

The On-site Incident Recycling BPA aims to reduce the waste from incidents that is hauled to community landfills by 40%. Waste diversion on incidents could be increased to roughly 70% if compostable waste is addressed in the future. Incident Management Team (IMT) participation in the recycle program is critical to the success of this effort.

The National Greening Fire Team is trying to focus on recycling education on incidents while improving the Incident Recycling BPA by further standardizing recycle bins and labels and minimizing contamination so our recycle streams have maximum resale value domestically and overseas. Let’s get serious about making recycling work across the interagency fire community!

GFT Wins Environmental Protection Agency Federal Green Challenge "Innovation" Award

In June 2020, the USDA’s Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) and the National Greening Fire Team (GFT) was honored with an Innovation Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 Federal Green Challenge (FGC). This was the seventh FGC award provided to Region 5 and the first for the GFT.

The award recognizes the GFT’s 2019 accomplishments, which were largely possible due to Incident Management Team  buy-in and participation.

“We recognize the Forest Service’s initiative and teamwork approach to reducing waste during wildfire response incidents. This effort constitutes a replicable model of sustainable disaster response operations,” said John Busterud, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator.

Learn more about this award in the USDA Forest Service Region 5 “Spotlight” Article!

Fun Facts

1. • 65 – The current number of Greening Fire Team Ambassadors in our growing network!
   • 7 – The number of EPA Federal Green Challenge Awards given to the Forest Service.
   • 40% – The waste diversion performance goal in the On-site Incident Recycling BPA.
   • $200 million – The amount Waste Management invested between 2018-2019 in recycling infrastructure improvements domestically