Did you know the Bay Area region is a global leader when it comes to Zero Waste? That’s why cities, companies and delegates from over 13 countries are in town for Zero Waste Week, starting tomorrow, March 17th and going until Friday, March 22nd. Zero Waste programs create jobs and grow economies by keeping valuable resources in the economy, instead of throwing them out in landfills or destroying them in incinerators. Zero Waste Week kicks off tomorrow with an event organized by youth, for youth: the Zero Waste Youth Convergence in San Francisco. It will bring over 200 young people together to envision a world without waste and to explore careers for designing our future communities and industries. There’s still time to register for the Youth Convergence, click here for details. “Our goal is to get all the youth involved in the movement, spreading the idea and creating a world without waste,” says Jéssica Sabitini of Zero Waste Youth in Brazil. “The future of waste is no more waste.”
Read on for additional Zero Waste Week events.
On Monday, 3/18/13, a screening of Trashed, a new documentary film produced by Jeremy Irons, will take place at the Aquarium of the Bay at Fisherman’s Wharf at 6:30. A reception starts at 4:30, and the film will be followed by a panel with two Zero Waste leaders interviewed at length during Trashed: Jack Macy with San Francisco Department of the Environment, and Paul Connett, professor of chemistry.
Preventing waste, redesigning products for sustainability, reusing products and packaging, and increasing recycling and composting are the backbones of Zero Waste programs. NCRA’s Recycling Update on Tuesday, 3/19/13, and the International Dialogue on Wednesday, 3/20/13, will provide a comprehensive overview of what solutions are working for Zero Waste globally. Both events will be at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley.
Cities and residents also benefit when Zero Waste programs focus on local employment and business growth. On Thursday, 3/21/13 the Zero Waste Business Recognition and Certification Roundtable will provide a forum for programs that encourage businesses to adopt Zero Waste practices. “Businesses are leading the way to Zero Waste,” says Gary Liss, President of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council. “Thousands of businesses have diverted more than 90% of their materials from landfills and incineration, and all of them have saved money, reduced their liabilities, increased their efficiency and reduced their greenhouse gases.”
Zero Waste Week will conclude on Friday, 3/22/13, with East Bay Zero Waste Facility Tours and Reception at Urban Ore EcoPark. Urban Ore Eco Park is a fitting location to wrap up the week- we’ll celebrate their over 25 years of achievement in reuse and recycling.
There’s still time to sign up! To register for any of the above events, click here.
