L.A.'s next Zero Waste Plan conference on 5/3

In case you missed the news, the city of L.A. is aiming to drastically reduce its trash. The goal: A 70% recycling rate by 2015, eventually getting to zero waste within 2 decades. Doable? I hope so, because landfilling's costing us a lot of money -- and we're running out of room.

L.A.'s Zero Waste Plan, also known as SWIRP (Solid Waste Integrated Resources Plan), kicked off last August with a number of public outreach efforts. So far, we've had numerous regional workshops and two big public Zero Waste Conferences.

From those efforts, the city's come up with 12 guiding principles for the zero waste effort, which will be used to create an action plan to eliminate landfilling -- after which we'll actually start taking action. Yes, it's a very long process, a.k.a. "a 6-year stakeholder-driven planning effort."

But for now, the public's invited to a third Citywide Zero Waste conference (PDF), where said 12 guiding principles will be announced and "confirmed":

When: Saturday, May 3, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: The Center at Cathedral Plaza, 2nd Fl. Ballroom, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles
RSVP: Call Vikki Zale at (310) 822-2010 or email vikkizale@aol.com

In exchange for your time and input, you'll get complimentary meals and free parking -- though really, de-car-ing's recommended. Early birds can get there before the rush for an optional Zero Waste Film Festival from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Comments

[cindy]

I hope that the get the word out about putting fruit and veges scraps in the green bin. I just got my new green bin with the sticker. I have been doing it for some time. They should also put the green bins at apartments to decrease the amount of compostable waste being landfilled.

[m]

I agree with cindy on the apartment building green bins! It drives me nuts every time I throw a pile of green waste in the trash because I don't have anyplace else to take it! Even if there was some sort of motivation for apartment buildings to put compost bins in the building and then use the resulting compost in the apartment landscaping so the city didn't have to pick up the waste from the green bins, that would be a great addition.

[Russell from Portland]

I am part of the Master Recycler program in Portland Oregon. I hope Los Angeles Zero Waste utilizes such program on your goals to reach 70% by 2015. Portland's goal is slightly more ambitious at 75%.

For more information on Master Recyclers, here is the link:
http://www.masterrecycler.org/

[Siel]

cindy and m -- I totally agree we should have green bins for apt. owners too, but considering the fact that L.A.'s only recently launched its blue bin program for apts -- AND considering the fact that that's been rather slow to roll out -- adding green bins seems a bit of a ways off.

Sometimes I wish the bureau of sanitation would first just do what it's already doing better, because that would actually go a long ways towards getting us closer to zero waste.

But of course, LA residents really need to take action too. If you live in an apt., sign up for blue bins already -- and keep nagging the city until you get them! By showing people are serious about getting and using these services, we ensure that they'll grow (instead of getting cut due to "lack of interest").

[KateNonymous]

"If you live in an apt., sign up for blue bins already -- and keep nagging the city until you get them! "

In my case, it's not nagging the city--which I've done. It's nagging my apartment manager, which is little better than useless. The last time I called the city about our blue bins (first requested June 2007), they called me back to tell me that they were very sorry, but the holdup was that the management company wasn't returning their phone calls.