AIMING AT ZERO WASTE

New College Panel Discussion, April 7, 2005

Panel: Linda Christopher , Paul Palmer , Portia Sinnott, Ken Wells

Organizer/Facilitator: Portia Sinnott

Scribe: Patricia Preston (Thanks!)

Action Ideas:

Construction & demolition—green building, design for reuse, deconstruction, aggregate

Education—contests, school programs, manufacturing

Reuse—material exchange, schematics on web (begin with state)

Bans—organics, electronics

Product re-design—boycott, purchasing choices, campaigns

Next Steps:

Define “Zero Waste”

Expand choir

Develop common vision for all

End era of garbage

Change equals campaign finance reform

Make it an issue

Educate for initiatives

Educate neighborhood (neighborhood compost)

Start in own neighborhood (senior housing complex)

Communicate to Board of Supervisors—issue needs more attention, money, resources

Identify and implement incentives

Reach out to Hispanic community (multi cultural)

Picture grams of waste volume hauled, fuel waste, air/water pollution

Re-use industry creates plenty of jobs (need examples)

Gleaners (MALT potatoes)—make use of everything

Procurement—buy recycled/used

Manufacturers publish schematics/blueprints/repair specs

Producer responsibility

Need commercial/industrial (80%of waste stream) programs—emissions, conservation, efficiency

Source separation

Paint company campaign (state or national or international?)

Need expert knowledge on resources and processes

See accomplishments within 10 years

Parking Lot Ideas:

Start at top with manufacturing process

City specific reporting

Take into account full cost of hauling out of county