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The Policy Committee for Austin Zero Waste Alliance will meet at the TCE office (611 S. Congress Ave. #200) this Friday, July 30th at 3:30 PM. Also, the stakeholder process for banning plastic bags in Austin is about to start. We will need all Policy Committee hands on deck to organize before we meet with the city. If you would like to get involved, please attend our next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 4th at Casa de Luz (1701 Toomey Rd.) at 7 PM. Cheers! Stacy Guidry Title: AZWA General meeting AZWA members are invited to a protest on the UT campus at the West Mall (23rd & Guadalupe) tomorrow at 2:00 PM. The demonstration will highlight UT’s terrible idea of promoting its own brand of water. Not only will this create more plastic pollution in our wastestream, it goes against the school’s own Sustainability Policy. If we don’t get leadership from campuses like UT, Zero Waste will be ever further from reach. Please attend the rally tomorrow, Friday, July 23rd on the UT campus at the West Mall at 2:00 PM. You can help drive home the message that this school should set the example in promoting reusable water bottles. BYOV(essel), please! For more information please contact 512.326.5655 July 20, 2010 If a proposed acceleration in the schedule for the city’s Zero Waste initiative is adopted, 90 percent of the city’s waste stream would be diverted to destinations other than a landfill by 2030, rather than the Council mandated deadline of 2040. Solid Waste Services Director Bob Gedert sat down with In Fact Daily on Monday and discussed issues related to the coming Solid Waste Master Plan. That document is expected to be completed, following at least four public input sessions, by January or February. The plan will detail the approach that Gedert’s department will take as it strives to reconfigure Austin’s waste system. For Gedert, who assumed the top job at the Solid Waste Services department in February, the aggressive timetable has a personal flavor. “I plan on a retirement date in 2030 and I want to see zero waste before I retire,” he says. Gedert laid out the basics, saying that in the first three-to-five years, he expects to raise the citywide recycling participation rate from its current 85 percent to 95 percent. This action would bring commercial and industrial users more fully into the practice and, in so doing, lift the percentage of refuse that gets recycled to 50 percent of the waste stream. In addition, Gedert says that an increase in food waste recycling via composting or methane collection could bring the city up to a process that would see 60 percent of its trash diverted from the landfill. Gedert’s best guess currently puts that number at 35 percent for residential waste and between 35 and 40 percent for commercial waste. Figures for the industrial sector remain something of a mystery. All of this will be pinpointed as part of the master plan, he said. After that, Gedert’s plan calls for steady improvements in the collection and processing of Austin’s waste, public education efforts, and various incentives that will bring that figure from 60 percent by 2015 to 70 percent by 2020. He calls for that number to go up in 10 percent increments every five years until 2030. Gedert said that as he moves forward, he’ll keep in mind some lessons that he learned as Chief of Recycling Operations for the city of Fresno, Calif. There, he was able to move refuse collection from a diversion rate of 23 percent to one of 75 percent in just under six years. Those numbers, however, may represent something of a rushed system. “In my own self-criticism, (the Fresno program) may have grown too fast (so) that some of (its staying power) was not built into the process,” he says. “As much as we want to grow our recycling program as much as possible…we have to make sure that we build in the…sustainability so that the program stands on its own.” Other lessons learned by Gedert have found their way into the plan. As the head of Source Reduction and Recycling for the State of Indiana’s Department of Environmental Management, Gedert took part in an initiative that sought to take advantage of byproducts from the steel industry. There, he and his colleagues found that the gypsum produced as part of that manufacturing process could be reused by a local firm that specialized in using that material. As Austin moves closer to its zero waste goals, Gedert thinks that this sort of industrial coupling could turn the city into a Mecca for green-inspired industry. He illustrates what could be an economic boon with numbers he gets from an organization called the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Here, he says, for every 10,000 tons of composting, recycling, or material reuse, the city could see four, 10, and between 75 and 100 new jobs, respectively. Austin’s current waste stream is about 2 million tons a year. If 90 percent of it were to be diverted to other sources, that would account for about 1.8 million tons of materials. “The city, in the Zero Waste plan, is not representing itself as the collection agent—and that’s often the perception,” he says. “The zero waste plan (focuses on) the city being the organizer, the generator of ideas. (We will) create a lot of public-private partnerships and create a lot of new private investment.” The first public hearing on the city’s Solid Waste Master Plan is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 31 at City Hall. That forum will include an update on the plan from the consulting firm hired to help in its assembly. Gedert hopes to have the completed plan passed through the Council in time for Earth Day, April 20, 2011. This Wednesday, July 14, the Solid Waste Advisory Council (SWAC) will hear from the public regarding the long term contract negotiations. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm and is in the City Council Chambers. The agenda can be viewed at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/edims/document.cfm?id=139575 SWAC Some suggested talking points of public interest on the recycling contract negotiations: * The contract needs to be very explicit about what will happen to the recyclable material. The Greenstar contract was not clear enough that recyclables should not be landfilled or incinerated. * The Master Planning process is underway now. The city should explore how long-range contract can create as many opportunities for synergies with the Zero Waste plan including reuse, reduction and composting. * Local economic development should be given a high priority – both job and business development – should be given consideration. * The contract should provide clear incentives for obtaining revenue for the City and minimize losses. In addition, there will be a special SWAC meeting on revisions to the Multi-Family and Commercial Recycling Ordinance on Wednesday July 21. Please call 512-326-5655 or email stacy@texasenvironment.org if you can make it. Thank you, Robin Schneider Title: Energy & Green Living Fair Reuben Hayslett and Patrick Van Haaren called the meeting to order. A number of new people came and they reported hearing about the meeting through the following channels: GreenSetAustin website, meeting AZWA activists are Earth Day and the Interfaith Enviro Network meetings, and the Austin Chronicle. Announcements Bar(r)n Raising for Barr Mansion Fundraiser on July 18 from 5 to 8 pm at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch. The Barr Mansion is a Zero Waste business and the first certified organic events center in the U.S. Melanie McAfee and Birdie Perkins with Barr Mansion have been very active in AZWA. Sponsorships are available at http://www.farmhousedelivery.com/barrmansion.html. Volunteers are needed and contact Robin Schneider at 443-8820 to help out. (Reuben volunteered at the meeting.) Austin Solid Waste Services (SWS) Director and Zero Waste expert Bob Gedert gave a presentation recently to the San Marcos Long Range Solid Waste Planning Task Force and there was much interest in San Marcos joining up with Austin in the pursuit of Zero Waste. The AZWA Events Committee should set up an event, hopefully co-sponsored with others, so that Bob Gedert can give a similar presentation in Austin. Bob Gedert will be joining AZWA activist and TCE Executive Director Robin Schneider in giving a presentation at the Austin Sierra Club meeting on Tuesday August 3rd at 7 pm at the Texas State Teachers Association at 12th and Lavaca. It’s open to all. http://www.texas.sierraclub.org/austin/genmeetings.html Friday July 9 is the last day for public comments on the City of Austin’s budget and advocate for funding for Zero Waste programs and education at this webpage: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/cnews.cfm?nwsid=2329 The Policy Committee will review the SWS budget and stay involved as the Budget goes through the approval process. In August the SWS Department will hold a public meeting on the Integrated Solid Waste Master Plan. The date has not been set, but it is vital that AZWA have a strong presence to provide feedback on the progress of the Master Plan process. Check in for updates: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/zerowaste_masterplan.htm Old Business Materials Recovery Facility – AZWA activists played a key role in stopping the city from negotiating with BFI/Allied/Republic to build and run the City’s recycling facility. AZWA met with Councilmembers and their staffs to support the resolution to negotiate with both local companies TDS and Balcones on long-range options and include Greenstar on short-term negotiations. Their will be an opportunity for public input at the Solid Waste Advisory Commission (SWAC) meeting on Wed. July 15 at 6:30 pm at the City Council Chambers. Committee Reports Organics Committee came up with its mission statement which was reviewed by the group: “To promote and educate our local community about the best possible use and maximum contribution of organic discards.” Policy Committee In addition to the items reported on in Old Business, the City Council passed a resolution to require the SWS Department to do a report on the fiscal impacts of plastic bags on the City. There is still a vacancy on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission which Councilmember Randi Shade has not filled. Councilmember Shade has interviewed Nakisha Nathan whom the AZWA Nominations Committee vetted and recommended when the last vacancies were being filled. It is not clear who else is being interviewed or who will be appointed. Report from the Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance (CTZWA) The CTZWA Board is working on deciding which tax status to apply for with the IRS. The Board plans to fill the fifth seat on the Board. The group in San Marcos that had been convened decided not to become a CTZWA chapter. There may be interest in forming a Hays County chapter of CTZWA. JD Porter and Stacy Guidry have been in touch with recycling advocates in Keep Bastrop County Beautiful (KBCB) about promoting Zero Waste there. CTZWA will give a presentation at the August KBCB meeting. Robin Schneider has been in touch with Sierra Club activists in San Antonio who served on a focus group to provide feedback on a plan to reduce solid waste in San Antonio by 60% in 10 years. They have an interest in Zero Waste, a plastic bag ban and questions regarding San Antonio’s contract with Greenstar. Bob Gedert indicated an interest in pursuing Inter-Local Agreements among local governments and others to develop and implement regional Zero Waste plans. Councilmember Randi Shade may take the lead on this issue at the Austin City Council. Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt has been approached about taking this up in Travis County. New Business JD recommended reviewing the existing committee structure. JD recommended that the Steering Committee be sunsetted. (The AZWA Executive Committee is different from the Steering Committee). JD moved to form a new Outreach Committee to do targeted outreach to key individuals and constituencies to join AZWA. The motion was seconded by Tom Rutz and passed unanimously. JD volunteered to lead the new AZWA Outreach Committee and Tom Rutz, Reuben Hayslett and Scott Henry volunteered to join. The Committee will have its first meeting on Wednesday, 7/21 at 6:30 pm at the Freebird’s at the SE corner of Riverside and S. Congress (515 S. Congress Ave). Texas Disposal Systems offered to do a tour for their facility and folks were interested in coming after September 1 when the single-stream MRF will be operational. In attendance were J. D. Porter (President), Robin Schneider (Vice President), David Hogan (Treasurer), Stacy Guidry (Secretary) and Karly Dixon (Interim AZWA Liaison) AGENDA: Filling Board member space CTZWA/SWS contract for public education San Marcos Bastrop San Antonio Inter local Agreements Regional partnering with Sierra Club/other orgs.
501 status: CTZWA needs a formal structure to receive funding before any other chapters are formed. CTZWA is liable for monitoring chapters’ behavior and spending. Karly suggested structured chapter spending throughout the year with financial monthly statements to CTZWA and then all chapter monthly filings could be filed at once through CTZWA with the IRS at the end of the year. CTZWA Board member: This item will be on the AZWA agenda. SWS contract with CTZWA: CTZWA would like to contract with Austin Solid Waste Services to do impact-style programs where Board and/or chapter members go throughout the city and region to create educational trainings for officials or community groups to further Zero Waste planning and partnering. San Marcos: After speaking with some of the original attendees of the San Marcos Zero Waste group, there seems to be more of an interest in keeping the Sustainable San Marcos group as an individual entity. CTZWA can help SSM facilitate change in the city so they don’t necessarily have to conform to CTZWA structure and become a chapter. Creating a Hays County Zero Waste Alliance may fit the CTZWA agenda better. Bastrop : Texas Campaign for the Environment conducted a survey of its supporters on satisfaction with the recycling program through BFI. There was a clear pattern that residents were not happy with the program and that public education from the city and company were seriously lacking. The Keep Bastrop County Beautiful group that CTZWA has been working with will survey their own supporters in the area. After results are tallied from the two, there will be a meeting with the Bastrop City Manager to start discussions on how to better the program and eventually get Bastrop to Zero Waste. San Antonio: The local Sierra Club has a renewed interest in trash policies. Results from an area focus group on waste conclude that residents want 60% waste reduction in 10 years. The Sierra Club wants to help push various parts of Zero Waste and they also have a new, reputable Solid Waste Services Director. Robin wants to meet with their group and get Austin’s SWS Director, Bob Gedert, to present to the SA City Council. Inter Local Agreements: Mr. Gedert is also very enthusiastic about implementing ILAs between the city and Travis County to create a regional plan for Zero Waste. Once established, other cities and counties could sign on to share in the costs and benefits of the plan. CTZWA will work with County Commissioners to introduce a resolution and AZWA will work with the City Council to do the same. Regional Partners: Should CTZWA extend itself to other organizations? How can we recruit their support to getting our issues discussed in their meetings and links on their web sites? The next CTZWA Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 4th at noon in the TCE office (611 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 200) All chapter members are welcome to observe.
The slide on “Green Businesses and Jobs” has now been updated and included as slide #23. The link here is the presentation Bob Gedert, Austin’s Director of Solid Waste Services gave to the San Marcos Long Range Solid Waste Task Force. See my comments on this meeting in my earlier post. One tip I learned at this meeting was that in Austin it is recommended that you remove the cap from plastic bottles that you place in our single stream recycling bins. Bob said it makes the bottles easier to crush and compact. I attended a presentation by Austin’s new solid waste services Director Bob Gedert to the San Marcos Solid Waste Task Force. It was excellent. It covered the basics of Zero Waste and how city services should play a part. The Q&A session that followed covered some of the implementation challenges. I believe the presentation and discussion were well received. Interlocal Agreements were discussed at a high level. I have requested a presentation copy and will post it when received. I asked if he had given this presentation publicly in Austin. He hadn’t. He would be pleased to do so but was just looking to be invited. I have been thinking about what venue would be good. One idea I had was using an hour before some forthcoming SWAC meeting. The council chamber is a central location and a nice venue with convenient free parking. I trust the City wouldn’t object since the speaker is a City official promoting City policy. Where ever the venue we also need to figure out how we can get broad publicity for the presentation. Perhaps we or the city could create and insert for the City’s utility bills to customers (which includes your solid waste charge). Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and newspaper articles would also be appropriate. It would be nice if we could think of some way to create some excitement about the presentation. (1) Maybe we could get astronaut and gamer Richard Gariott to speak briefly on Zero Waste in Space, if we are lucky enough that he is in town then? (2) Perhaps we could get Councilman Spelman and Riley to embrace Zero Waste as key to their race to reduce their Carbon Footprint? There should be some exciting conflict we could wrap around this competition? Maybe other council persons would join the race. I can help them come to an understanding that focusing on Zero Waste is really the easiest way they (and us) can reduce our Carbon Footprint. The race needs continuing publicity (good opportunity for us). I have not heard anything about their Carbon Footprint race since it was first announced. (3) more ideas needed I see AZWA being the (primary) sponsor of this presentation. This will also be an excellent opportunity to recruit new members. Are there other sponsors we could enlist to help us get the word out (Sierra Club, TCE, …)? If you have more ideas or comments, click on “Leave a Comment” or “n Comments” link below this posting. If you have logged into the website (click on Login bottom right navigation area under Administrative) and are a full registered member, you won’t be asked for your name and email address. Your comments will not have to be moderated by a site administrator. If you are not yet a full registered member, see myself, Stacy, Robin, or JD at the next AZWA General Meeting (see Karly’s post below on this 7/7 meeting). David Borrowing from Bob Gedert’s email salutation: Zero Waste = Reduce, Reuse, Redesign, Repair, |
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