The Ecology Center’s mission is to inspire and build a

sustainable, healthy, and just future for the East Bay,

California, and beyond. We transform the ideals of

sustainability into everyday practice. We deliver

information you can act on, infrastructure you can

count on, and leadership for lasting change.

Our Services Include:

• 3 Weekly Farmers’ Markets

• 2 Produce Stands

• Residential Curbside Recycling

• Classes And Workshops

• Youth Environmental Academy

• Help Desk And Hotline

• Book, DVD, And Seed Library

• Zero Waste Berkeley

• Store For Sustainable Living,

• A Demonstration House And

Garden.

• Convene The Berkeley Food

Policy Council, The Berkeley

Climate Action Coalition, And The

California Alliance Of Farmers’

Markets.

• We Also Lead Market Match, An

Innovative Nutrition Incentive

Program That Doubles The Value

Of “Food Stamps” At Farmers’

Markets Across California,

• Serve As The Fiscal Sponsor For

A Wide Range Of Projects That

Align With Our Mission.

The Ecology Center Zero Waste

• Mission Driven

• Zero Waste Vision In Action

• Providing High Quality Service With High Environmental Value

• Providing Multiple Community Benefits Beyond Recycling Services

• Strong Community Partnerships

• Strong Organizational Structure & Leadership

Evolution of Ecology Center

Recycling in Berkeley

• 1973 Monthly Newspaper Collection

• 1979 Cans and Bottles Added

• 1989 Weekly Collection Begins

• 1994 Mixed Paper and Cardboard Added

• 2000 Plastics of Type #1 and #2 Added

• 2008 Economy Crashes Newspapers Decline

• 2010 Cart Based Collection

• 2013 Mixed Plastics #3 - #7 Added

Efficient Dual Stream Recycling Collection & Public Education

Split Cart Collection Program

Cart Program Goals

• Improve Customer Convenience

• Increase Participation Rates

• Improve Multi-Family Residential Service

• Maintain Or Improve Quality Of Materials

• Reduce Cross Contamination

• Reduce Poaching

• Increase Tonnage And Revenue

Mixed Plastics Collection

Program Goals

• Reduction Of Pollution In Waterways

• Improve Residential Options For Hard To Recycle Plastics

• Increase Participation Rates Through Customer Education

• Increased Diversion

Customer Education

Introduction of Split-Cart

Addition of Mixed Plastics

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Fiber Containers

Additional 1,083 tons collected16% increase from prior year

Additional 710 tons collected9% increase from prior year

Additional 281 tons collected 4% increase from prior year

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MIXED FIBER

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CONTAINERS

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JAN MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV

Total Tonnage 2015

Total Tonnage 2016

Total Tonnage 2017

Cart Delivery 17.0%

Cart Exchange

6.6%

Cart Removal

8.5%

Cart Repair 16.8%

Exemption Request

1.7%

Collection Related 62.90%

Move-In's 2.00%

Service Request Breakdown

3,336 Service Calls

Safety & Compliance

Cal/OSHA Targeted Inspection & Enforcement Audit

• Regular Safety Meetings

• Injury & Illness Prevention Plan

• Chemical Hazard Communication Plan

• Emergency Action Plan

• Vehicle Inspection Audit

• Staff Interviews

COAMSS In March 14th, a delegation of the Council of Mayors of San Salvador toured the facility and met with our new Mayor

Plastic Free July (Altamont Fund)The City of Berkeley issued a proclamation, declaring the month of July - Plastic Free The Ecology Center produced 6 events as part of the campaign including a film screening, shoreline cleanup, and a tour of the 2nd St zero waste & recycling facility

Zero Waste Apartment Project (Stopwaste)

Disposable Foodware Reduction Pilot with UC Berkeley and Telegraph Ave BID (Chancellor's Fund Pending)

Bottle Bill and Packaging Policy engagement at Cal Recycle and State Legislature

Participation in the international #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement

ADVOCACY & EDUCATION

Berkeley’s Unique Approach to Resource

Management: Retaining Material Quality Through Our Partner Network

Ecology Center Efficient dual stream recycling collection

Community Conservation CenterSmall scale high quality material processing

Urban Ore Successful building material salvage & reuse

Vision for the Future

Unified and seamless provision and promotion of Curbside, Drop

Off, and Buy Back Services

Innovative New Facility Keeping True to Highest and Best Use and

Quality of Materials

Expanded Drop Off and Pay-to-Recycle Services adding More and

Harder to Recycle Materials

Workforce Development and Homeless Services Integration

Expanded Public Education, Tours, and Workshops

Ecology Center Curbside Recycling Since 1973

THANK YOU