[GreenYes] Olympics Recycling Plan Falls Short

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

GreenYes and CRRA members:

Please write Diane Conrad Gleason at the following address to express your 
concerns about the plans for the Olympics:

Diane L. Conrad Gleason
Director, Environmental Programs
Salt Lake Organizing Committee
299 S. Main St., Suite 1300
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-212-2160
diane.conrad@saltlake2002.com

Please cc: me on any emails you send.

Thanks!

Gary Liss
******************************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Gary Liss, GRRN Zero Heroes Project 916-652-7850
Bill Sheehan, GRRN Executive Director 706-613-7121

RECYCLERS CALL ON SALT LAKE OLYMPICS
TO KEEP RECYCLABLES OUT OF TRASH

CAUTIONS CALLING PLANNED SYSTEM 'ZERO WASTE'

Leading recyclers applaud the Salt Lake Olympics
Committee (SLOC) for adopting a goal of Zero Waste
for the Winter 2002 Games, but caution against using
the term to describe the currently planned system.

Athens, Georgia-based GrassRoots Recycling Network
(GRRN), the leading organization advocating Zero
Waste goals, spearheaded the resolution at the
California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA)
Annual Members Meeting in Pasadena CA on July 8.

The adopted resolution states, "The Zero Waste goal
will only have value if a more comprehensive plan for
reducing waste and reusing, recycling and composting
materials is implemented." (full text below)

The CRRA resolution also states, "The planned system
that has visitors mixing recyclables with trash will not
achieve the SLOC's stated Zero Waste goal. ... CRRA
urges the SLOC to reconsider and use a source
separation system with containers co-located next to
each other in each public location, and aggressive
education, signage and on-site monitoring to direct
attendees to use the correct bins."

"We are hopeful that SLOC will respond positively to
the resolution," said Bill Sheehan, executive director of
GRRN. "However, SLOC must significantly modify its
purchasing, service and education plans for the
Olympics if it is to describe this as a 'Zero Waste'
system. Collecting and processing mixed wastes will
not result in 90% or greater waste diversion, nor in the
quality of products that is expected from a true
Zero Waste system."
**********************************
GrassRoots Recycling Network (www.grrn.org) is a
North American network of waste reduction activists
and professionals, and is the U.S. leader in the growing
international movement for Zero Waste.

California Resource Recovery Association
(www.crra.com), the oldest and largest state recycling
association in the U.S., joined with Sierra Club's
Solid Waste Committee and Washington DC-based
Institute for Local Self-Reliance to form GRRN in 1995.
*********************************************
California Resource Recovery Association
RESOLUTION CONCERNING ZERO WASTE AND
RECYCLING AT THE SALT LAKE OLYMPICS
Adopted July 8, 2001

Whereas, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City is
promoting itself as a "Zero Waste" event, and

Whereas, the Global Recycling Council (GRC), the
California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) and
the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) have been
leaders in the nation in advocating for Zero Waste, and

Whereas, the Salt Lake Olympics Committee (SLOC)
has contracted with a firm to process commingled
recyclables and wastes collected from the public in a
mixed waste MRF, and

Whereas, the SLOC is promoting this as preferable to
the "recyclables," "compostables" and "trash" system
used in the Sydney Australia Olympics as it is "simple:
single containers for all trash" as reported in Waste
News of July 5, 2001.

Now, therefore be it resolved by the Board of Directors
of CRRA that:

1. CRRA applauds the SLOC adoption of a goal of
"Zero Waste".

2. The Zero Waste goal will only have value if a more
comprehensive plan for reducing waste and reusing,
recycling and composting materials collected is
implemented. The planned system that was reported to
process all materials collected as mixed waste will not
achieve the SLOC's stated Zero Waste goal. If the
SLOC chooses not to modify its purchasing and service
plans for the Olympics, it should not describe this
system as a "Zero Waste" system.

3. CRRA urges the SLOC to reconsider and use a
source separation system with containers co-located
next to each other in each public location, and
aggressive education, signage and on-site monitoring to
direct attendees to use the correct bins. CRRA also
urges the SLOC to source separate from all major
commercial and industrial generation of materials at the
Olympics, including corrugated cardboard, office paper,
discarded food, yard trimmings, and construction and
demolition debris, for appropriate reuse, recycling
and/or composting at their highest and best use. Source
separation is needed to engage the public in helping to
meet the Zero Waste goal, to maximize the diversion of
materials, and to ensure the highest quality of materials
collected. This would also set a new standard for such
athletic events all over the world, which is an
appropriate outcome of such leadership.

4. CRRA urges the SLOC to arrange for the sole use of
recyclable materials for all beverage containers
distributed or sold at the Olympics and compostable
flatware and plates for all food functions where
reusable products are not used. CRRA urges that the
SLOC require the maximum use of recycled content
and green building materials in the construction of
facilities for the Olympics.

5. CRRA urges the SLOC to immediately establish a
Zero Waste advisory committee and obtain the
necessary expertise to expand its current plans for the
Olympics to truly achieve Zero Waste, or darn close.
The SLOC should also make public on a timely basis
all the tonnages of waste generated, diverted and
landfilled from the construction of facilities, events and
deconstruction and demolition at the close of the
Olympics.

6. CRRA will share this resolution with the Utah
Recycling Association and the National Recycling
Coalition and ask for their help and support in
implementing this resolution.

###


Gary Liss
Gary Liss & Associates
4395 Gold Trail Way
Loomis, CA  95650-8929
Phone: 916-652-7850
Fax: 	  916-652-0485
Email:  gary@garyliss.com
Web:   www.garyliss.com