ZERO WASTE

OUR MISSION

• Inspire our community to learn more about the health and environmental impacts of unsustainable practices such as using plastic for items that can be made from more earth-friendly materials such glass, metal, wood and natural fibers

• Provide practical solutions for reducing waste to our residents, schools, and businesses

• Facilitate proper recycling when no other option is available to reuse items

• Educate families on the health and environmental effects from chemically-derived materials in packaging, furniture, clothing, toys, etc. and suggest ways to minimize such harms

• Share resources so we all can become better stewards of local natural resources

• Advocate for local and state policies and legislation that help us meet our goal of moving toward zero waste living

THE PROBLEM

• About two thirds of all the plastic ever produced has been released into the environment and remains there as: ocean debris, micro- or nanoparticles in air and agricultural soils, microfibers in water supplies, or microparticles in human bodies

• There are affordable, reasonable changes we can make as individuals, families, and as a community that will improve our environment and reduce our health risks from the chemicals we are exposed to from plastic

• The majority of plastic waste (and essentially all single-use plastic) cannot be recycled, despite the “chasing arrows” imprint on the bottom

• In 2020, California became the first US state to enact a recycled content requirement for plastic beverage container! The first benchmark is to reach 15% recycled content by 2022, on the way to a 50% requirement by 2030