YOU know your community (town/city/county) needs tomake a Zero Waste plan.

But how to rally your fellow citizens?

BUILDING SUPPORT FOR ZERO WASTE Lynne Pledger zerowaste@sierraclubmass.org

GRRN Zero Waste Conference, October 19, 2009

OUR TRASH:

1. organics (food, yard trimmings, soiled paper) 2. products and packaging

KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR WASTE

Which waste issues are important to YOUR community?

impacts of landfills or incinerators

jobs climate change energy crisis burden of disposal on taxpayers toxics in products loss of natural resources/natural systems

THESE ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED BY ZERO WASTE POLICIES AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL.

RATS! Residents for Alternative Trash Solutions, Southbridge, Massachusettsstarted, spring 2008

Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition, Geneva, New Yorkstarted, fall 2008

Carlisle Zero Waste Coalition, Carlisle, Massachusettsstarted, winter 2009

THREE NORTHEAST ZW CITIZEN GROUPS

SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTSRATS! is threatened with a huge landfill expansion and gasification plant.

Garbage comes into the Finger Lakes landfills from all over the state and from other states.

CARLISLE, MASSACHUSETTS

Carlisle is concerned with global waste issues, including climate change and diminishing resources.

ONE person can launch a Zero Wastecommunity movement:

In the Finger Lakes, Katherine reserved a room at the library and used email lists to invite concerned citizens to a meeting.

In Carlisle, Launa worked with existing groups—recycling commission, climate action, Sierra Club, League of Women Voters-- to focus the community on Zero Waste.

GATHER THE FACTS

Question assumptions –especially yours Seek info from more than one source Network with state and national groups

Doug Knipple, PresidentFinger Lakes ZW Coalition

GET INTO THE LOCAL PAPER

Cultivate a local journalist. Give that person scoops.

USE STRONG IMAGESNASA photo: earth wreathed in Methane gas Baby bird with stomach filled

with plastic

GET HELP WITH MESSAGING

CHEJ—Center for Health, Community and Justicehttp://www.chej.org/organizing_principles.htm

TAC—Toxics Action Center (New England)www.toxicsaction.org

Don’t Think of an ElephantBy George Lakoff

NO ONE “RIGHT” WAY TO COMMUNICATE

SOUTHBRIDGE RALLY HELD OUTSIDEOF BOARD OF HEALTH

CARLISLE HOLDS PUBLIC FORUM WITH PANEL OF EXPERTS

o Expect conflicto Factions are fineo EVERYONE is a potential convert to Zero Wasteo Recognize all contributions, small successeso Accept help from any source except a pollutero Be fair to all community members

GET ALONG--AGREE TO DISAGREE

PROMOTE WHAT YOU’RE FORRATS! at a fair, teaching kids about composting

RATS! started, spring 20081300 on mailing list• Filed appeal that has delayed landfill expansion by one year• Co-founded statewide alliance, Don’t Waste Massachusetts

Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalitionstarted, fall 2008400 members• Expanded into adjacent county• Stopped leachate line into lake

Carlisle Zero Waste Coalitionstarted, winter 2009• Partnering with four community groups• Planning: school composting pilot, town EPR resolution

UPDATES:

THREE OPERATING PRINCIPLESTo broaden community support

BE RIGHT

BE INCLUSIVE

BE RELENTLESS

Lynne Pledgerzerowaste@sierraclubmass.org