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[GreenYes] Oakland, California adopts a Zero Waste goal



Apologies for Cross-Postings

From: "Monica Wilson" <mwilson@no.address>
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 17:24:11 -0800

Great news! The City of Oakland in the State of California, USA, passed a
Zero Waste resolution last night (March 7, 2006). Oakland is a port city in
the San Francisco Bay, with a population of 400,000.

The text of the resolution is below, and the resolution itself is online
with a staff report on why zero waste is necessary:
http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/12914.pdf
********************

RESOLUTION ADOPTING A ZERO WASTE GOAL BY 2020 FOR THE CITY OF OAKLAND
AND DIRECTING THE PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY, IN CONCERT WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, TO DEVELOP A ZERO WASTE STRATEGIC PLAN TO ACHIEVE THE CITY'S
ZERO WASTE GOAL

WHEREAS, the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939)
required that all California jurisdictions achieve a landfill diversion rate
of 50% by the year 2000, and reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost all
discarded materials to the maximum extent feasible before any landfilling or
other destructive disposal method is used; and

WHEREAS, in 1990 Alameda County's voters passed ballot Measure D (The
Alameda County Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiative Charter Amendment),
setting a requirement for the County to reduce land filling by 75% by 2010;
and

WHEREAS, in 1990 the City Council adopted Resolution #66253 C.M.S
establishing solid waste reduction goals, including returning discarded
materials to the local economy through reuse and recycling; applying the
waste management hierarchy in priority order (reduce, reuse, recycle and
compost) to the maximum extent; and promoting recycling market development;
and

WHEREAS, in 2002 the City Council adopted Resolution #77500 C.M.S.
establishing the goal of 75% reduction of waste disposal landfills by 2010
for the City of Oakland in alliance with the countywide 75% waste reduction
requirement; and

WHEREAS, in 2001 the California Integrated Waste Management Board set a goal
of Zero Waste in its strategic plan for the state; and cities, councils,
counties, and states worldwide have adopted a goal of achieving zero waste,
including the counties of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo and Del
Norte in California; the cities of Palo Alto and Berkeley in
California, Seattle in Washington , Toronto in Canada, and Canberra in
Australia; and the state of New South Wales in Australia; and 45% of New
Zealand's local government councils; and

WHEREAS, strategies to reach zero waste can help to promote the over-arching
goal of each generation leaving less and less of an ecological footprint on
the earth thus allowing more and more of nature to restore; and

WHEREAS, Zero Waste principles promote the highest and best use of materials
to eliminate waste and pollution, emphasizing a closed-loop system of
production and consumption, moving in logical increments toward the goal of
zero waste through the core principles of:
. Improving 'downstream' reuse/recycling of end-of-life products and
materials to ensure their highest and best use;
. Pursuing 'upstream' re-design strategies to reduce the volume and toxicity
of discarded products and materials, and promote low-impact or reduced
consumption lifestyles;
. Fostering and supporting use of discarded products and materials to
stimulate and drive local economic and workforce development; and

WHEREAS, in 1992 the City Council adopted Resolution #68780 C.M.S.
authorizing establishment of a City staff supported Recycling Market
Development Zone; and recycling continues to be a significant local
industry, whose long-term viability is a key component to Oakland's current
and future waste reduction achievements, economic development, and workforce
development of 'green collar' jobs; and

WHEREAS, in 1998 the City Council adopted the Sustainable Development
Initiative (Resolution #74678 C.M.S) embracing the concept of meeting
people's current economic, social, cultural, and environmental needs in ways
that enhance the ability of future generations to meet their needs; and

WHEREAS, Oakland's FY 2005-07 Mayor and City Council Goals include: Develop
A Sustainable City through maximizing socially and environmentally
sustainable economic growth, including conserving natural resources; and

WHEREAS, in alliance with the Oakland's Sustainable Development Initiative
and Sustainable City goal, in June 2005 Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown joined
mayors of 50 of the world's largest and most visionary cities as an original
signer of the United Nations World Environment Day Urban Environmental
Accords, pledging that Oakland would implement 21 action steps toward
sustainable cities in the areas of energy, waste reduction, urban design,
transportation, environmental health, and water including: Establish a
policy to achieve zero waste; and

WHEREAS, adopting a goal of zero waste disposal and pursuing Zero Waste
principles is consistent with, and an explicit validation of Oakland's
Sustainable Development Initiative and Sustainable City Goal; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council hereby adopt a Zero Waste Goal by
2020 for the City of Oakland and direct the Public Works Agency, in concert
with the Mayor's Office, to develop a Zero Waste Strategic Plan to achieve
the City's Zero Waste Goal; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that Public Works Agency, in conjunction with the Mayor's
Office, will convene a Zero Waste working group to develop a Zero Waste
Strategic Plan that will provide guidance in the planning and
decision-making process to achieve the City's Zero Waste Goal; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, Oakland will assume a leadership role, partnering with
other Zero Waste local, regional and international communities and
sustainability advocates to actively pursue and advocate for strategies and
incentives to advance Zero Waste principles for materials management, system
re-design, highest and best use of discarded products and materials, and a
closed-loop sustainable production and consumption society.


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


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