What is Zero Waste?

Before this class, I prided myself as a sustainability pro and thought i knew what Zero Waste meant. I produced a charity event last year that we touted as “Zero Waste” by working with Sustainable Works to host a waste-free, plastic-free, solar-powered event.  We did a good job but I have larned there is so much more we can do to get to zero.

Definition of Zero Waste by Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA.org):

“Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.  Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.  Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”

*I bolded my favorite parts of the definition!

As I arrive at the 6th week of the course, there are some KEY LEARNINGS from this program:

1.  Adopting Zero Waste creates green jobs & saves money!

2.  Zero Waste cuts down greenhouse gases created in landfills, one of the leading contributors to Global Warming (or Global Kaos as one of the professors renames it!)

3. Zero Waste is easy, it’s not brain surgery but will require everyone to change our lifestyles.

4.  The professors of this course are true eco-warriors, most have spent 20+ years in consulting businesses and communities in recycling, composting, waste management and zero waste around the globe. This is not a glamourous issue but the teachers shared passion for a sustainable future offers students a “glass is half full” approach to the issues.

5. Single-use plastics are part of a larger problem with products, packaging and waste.

I am excited for the upcoming weeks of class and more excited for my zero waste journey! The adventure continues….

SAVE THE DATE FOR:

LA GREEN DRINKS & SURFRIDER HALLOWEEN EVENT CALLED TRASHER’S BALL HAPPENING ON OCTOBER 13, 2011.

SEE THE FACEBOOK INVITE AT:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140869269341651

High School Students from Youthink.org

On the morning of Saturday, September 17, every beach, lake and waterway in California hosts a beach cleanup for CA Coastal Cleanup Day to pick up the trash, cigarette butts, plastics and more. CCD was organized by Heal the Bay all over Los Angeles and Surfrider West LA/Malibu managed the Venice Beach Pier site.  With an overwhelming 421 participants, we were able to pick up over 284 pounds of trash in just 3 hours.

Our small group of Surfrider volunteers handled the huge crowd and enjoyed the day of good cheers, volunteerism and a beautiful day on the beach.  It’s nice to know, our local beaches are a bit cleaner after this day. Hopefully, the day will remind all of us to pick up our trash, reuse, reduce and stop using so much single-use plastic.

Check out the video from the groups who showed up to volunteer.

MOOP Squad – matter out of place

Long line of volunteers for beach cleanup

Otis College at beach cleanup

Here are the facts about BANNING STYROFOAM IN CALIFORNIA. SUPPORT SB568!

SB 568 (Lowenthal)
Polystyrene Food Containers
As Amended 5/24/2011
Background Sheet

Purpose

To help mitigate the detrimental effects polystyrene is having on our waterways, storm drains and marine life.

Summary

SB 568 would prohibit a food vendor or restaurant on or after January 1, 2014 from dispensing prepared food to a customer in a polystyrene foam food container (a.k.a. Styrofoam). The compliance date for public schools is July 1, 2015.

The bill would also allow a school district that has a verifiable recycling program and recycles more than 60% of its foam foodware to continue to dispense food in foam after the ban goes in effect.

The bill would also allow a jurisdiction (City or County) to continue dispensing food in foam foodware if it adopts an ordinance establishing a recycling program for foam foodware containers and at least 60% of the foam food containers would be recycled.

Background

Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), commonly known as Styrofoam, is pervasive in the marine environment. Like most plastics, polystyrene is lightweight and floats. When littered, it is carried from streets and through storm drains out to the ocean.

60-80 percent of all marine debris and 90 percent of floating debris are plastic. A study of beach debris at 43 sites along the Orange County coast found that EPS was the second most abundant form of beach debris.

In the environment, the containers break down into smaller and smaller pieces and are easily mistaken for food by marine animals.

EPS is not biodegradable.
The value of biodegradable food service packaging is two-fold, in that (1) institutional
users can incorporate the packaging into new small-scale food composting collection systems without the labor and expense of separating the container from the food and (2) if the material is improperly disposed of blows out of trash cans, the negative impact on wildlife and storm drain systems is minimized with the material biodegrades.

There is virtually no meaningful food service EPS recycling in California. Because EPS foodware is contaminated from food residue, recycling is very limited. Food service EPS by its nature only has a useful life that can be measured in minutes or hours. Yet it takes centuries for it to decompose in a landfill if at all.

47 jurisdictions in California including Alameda, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Marin County, and Santa Cruz County have all successfully banned EPS. All of these jurisdictions’ food vendors provide their take out in alternative packaging including, paper, plastic, compostable materials, aluminum foil etc.

It is important to create a statewide policy and uniformity regarding this nuisance form of litter and marine pollution.

Dangers of Polystyrene Foam

Workers in polystyrene products manufacturing are exposed to many harmful chemicals, including Styrene, Toluene, Xylene, Acetone, Methyl Chloride, and Methyl Ketone. Occupational exposure to styrene increases risk of lymphoma, leukemia, lung tumors, pancreatic cancer, urinary bladder cancer and other cancers. High rates of neurotoxicological effects have been reported in workers.

Public health is also impacted by the use of all polystyrene food containers. Styrene can migrate from polystyrene containers into food and beverages when heated or in contact with fatty or acidic foods. Styrene residues are found in 100% of all samples of human fat tissue. Styrene is a carcinogen in lab animal testing, a potential human carcinogen and a neurotoxin.

Additional Resources

Local Ordinances Banning Polystyrene Containers
Californians Against Waste

http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/polystyrene/local

Facts and Research about Polystyrene and Styrofoam Litter
Clean Water Action California

http://www.cleanwater.org/ca

Support

Sponsor: Clean Water Action
Miriam Gordon, Ph# 415-369-9170

Cosponsor: Surfrider Foundation
Angela Howe, Ph# 949-492-8170

Staff Contact
Meegen Murray:
916-651-4812 / Meegen.Murray@sen.ca.gov

Version: May 26, 2011

Shangi-La Construction & Citadel Environmental Services hosted a press event for the first LEED Platinum Building in Glendale with their partners Sidemark and Pollack Architecture. The event was well attended by local media, politicians and building industry professionals and received environmental awards from the local mayor and the US Green Building Council.  The event was catered by Green Truck and produced by Agents 99, dubroWORKS PR, and Big Time Affairs.

Highlights of the green building include:

• Maximum use of natural light: skylights installed, primary dependence on daylight vs. lights, and every seat in the offices have access to outside view.
• New energy-efficient double-paned exterior windows and storefronts.
• New packaged air handling systems (SER-14 units), which are 37% more efficient.
• New water-efficient interior plumbing and bathroom fixtures reduce usage by 62%.
• Green Seal certified furniture systems (contain high amount of recycled content).
• 120 solar panels provide 45,000 khw per year, enough to power the entire building (Citadel and tenant), and net meter an additional 16% back to the city of Glendale.
• Native, drought-tolerant landscaping with temporary drip irrigation system.
• New energy-efficient lighting design requires 38.5% less power aesthetic.
• Focus on a 500-mile radius for sourcing over 20% of its materials.

Agents 99 was nominated for the 2011 Biz Bash Style Awards for the Best Green Initiative for an Event.  The nomination was for the event we produced with Big Time Affairs called RETHINK: GREEN Art Exhibit, Organic Tasting, Green Awards, and Charity Event.  Fingers crossed we win!

http://www.bizbash.com/announcing_the_finalists_for_the_2011_bizbash_west_event_style_awards/losangeles/story/20733

http://shop.csacalifornia.org/Farm-2-Plate-f2P.htm

Agents 99 is event producing the press opening of the LEED Platinum Citadel Environmental Services building in Glendale. The event is taking place on Wednesday, June 8,2011.