[GreenYes] Central Texas Race to Zero Waste...Or Darn Close!

["Gary Liss" <gary@no.address>]

Apologies for Cross-Postings

From:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/downloads/RacetoNoWaste.doc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2008
For More Information: Larry Schooler, 512-974-2260
 

CITY OF AUSTIN, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LAUNCH
"CENTRAL TEXAS RACE TO ZERO WASTE...OR DARN CLOSE!"
 
Participants and Judges for Competition Include
Former UT Football Coach Darrell Royal
Award-Winning Musicians Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison
 

Austin City Council Member Lee Leffingwell will join a coalition of environmental organizations, elected officials, local celebrities and residents in launching a contest aimed at encouraging Central Texans to find creative ways to reduce their trash. The launch will take place at a press conference on Monday, April 21^st, 2008, at 10 AM, at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 310 Comal Street in Austin, TX. 
 
As part of the "Central Texas Race To Zero Waste...Or Darn Close," local residents will log onto a website and track the ways they're reducing the amount of waste being sent to local landfills. Participants can enter their home, office, house of worship, or other community center. Judges, including former University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal and elected officials from across the region, will rate entries based on creativity and ingenuity, as well as on the impact the changes make on waste output. Participants will be encouraged to photograph their methods, progress and results and obtain testimonials from others. Ideas for reducing waste include recycling, composting, and reusing products that might otherwise be trashed. 
 
"This contest is a great way for us to energize Austinites about our efforts to reach a goal of zero waste by the year 2040 or sooner if possible," said Leffingwell. "It also fits in nicely with our recently announced effort to reduce plastic bags going into landfills, increase recycling of existing plastic bags, and encourage more people to take reusable bags to the store."
 
The Texas Campaign for the Environment and Ecology Action have joined with the City of Austin and other groups to organize this contest.  Other participants include award-winning musicians Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, the president of the University of Texas's student government, the City of Austin's Solid Waste Services department, and the Capital Area Council of Governments. Elected officials from Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Fayette counties are also participating. 
 
Prizes for winners of the "Race to Zero Waste...Or Darn Close!" will include a bicycle from the Yellow Bike Project and gift certificates from Habitat for Humanity, Texas Disposal Systems, and others. 
 
WHAT: Launch of "Central Texas Race To No Waste...Or Darn Close!"
WHEN: Monday, April 21^st, 2008, 10 AM
WHERE: Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 310 Comal Street, Austin, TX
 

Gary Liss       
916-652-7850    
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com