[GreenYes] CRRA Leads on E-Waste, Olympics and Energy

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

CRRA NEWS RELEASE:

For More Information: John Davis, CRRA President
909-797-7717 or 916-441-CRRA

CRRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT

The California Resource Recovery Association
(CRRA) called its Annual Conference in Pasadena, CA
last week a big success, with over 750 people
attending. CRRA provided key leadership on e-waste,
opposed subsidies for energy from garbage, and called
for a clear plan for Zero Waste at the Olympics in Salt
Lake City, Utah.

CRRA adopted resolutions at its membership meeting
on "Zero Waste at the Olympics" and opposing tax
credit subsidies for energy from mixed wastes.

CRRA applauded the Salt Lake Olympics Committee
(SLOC) for adopting a goal of Zero Waste. However,
CRRA adopted a resolution that stated "The Zero
Waste goal will only have value if a more
comprehensive plan for reducing waste and reusing,
recycling and composting materials is implemented."

Further, the resolution states, "The planned system that
was reported to process all materials collected as mixed
waste 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."

CRRA further stated "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.

In addition, CRRA conference attendees pledged to
adopt E-waste Take It Back Principles in their
communities, and pledged to work to get industry to
share responsibility for the cost of handling e-waste in
their communities.

In other business, CRRA elected as new officers:

President: John Davis, Mountain and Desert Solid
Waste Authority
Vice-President and Treasurer: Judi Gregory, Global
Recycling Secretary:
Liz Citrino, Humboldt County
********************************************
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
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485