press releases

TCE, January 15, 2009 By TCE

City of Austin Becomes First Texas City to Approve a Zero Waste Plan

For Immediate Release: January 15, 2009
Contact: Robin Schneider 512-326-5655 (o), 512-299-1640 (c) or robin@texasenvironment.org

Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance Forms to Realize Zero Waste Vision

Austin TX – Central Texans from a variety of communities and walks of life gathered to announce the formation of the Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance at Austin City Hall and to demonstrate their commitment to organizing the region to realize the goal of Zero Waste or Darn Close by 2040.

“Today the City of Austin becomes the first in Texas to join with other cities and nations around the world to approve a plan to achieve Zero Waste or Darn Close,” said Karly Jo Dixon with Ecology Action, the older community recycling organization in Texas. “That vision will only be realized if people in this region dedicate ourselves to achieving it,” she concluded.

The speakers came from a variety of faith and political perspectives. “We humans need to be the stewards for the health of the planet and the community. Zero Waste is a way to do both,” said Pastor Sterling Lands of the Greater Calvary Bible Church.

“We work our parishioners’ raise consciousness that we are all on this planet together and we need to be good stewards of the resources God has given us. We’re not living a sustainable lifestyle. We need to get smarter and Zero Waste is a step in that direction,” stated Dave Hogan, who attends St. Matthews Episcopal Church and work on the church’s environmental committee.

"Republicans for Environmental Protection is proud to stand up for resource conservation – the essence of Zero Waste,” added Ira Yates. “It’s time to do our best to turn our trash into treasure," he concluded.

Other speakers included Maydelle Fason, a member of the City of Austin’s Solid Waste Advisory Commission and Bill Adams, a San Marcos resident and long-time construction contractor who advocated for more recycling of construction and demolition materials.

Local artists displayed sculptures made from recycled materials at the City Hall to show that the creativity of Central Texans in reusing materials that otherwise might be tossed in landfills. An activist dressed as a trash monster served as a “tour guide” to the artworks.

In 2005, the Austin City Council appointed a task force to develop a long-range plan for the city’s trash. Subsequently, the Mayor and City Council endorsed the UN Urban Environmental Accords goal of Zero Waste or Darn Close by 2040. With the assistance of a Zero Waste consultant and input from dozens of stakeholders, the Austin Zero Waste Strategic Plan was developed. Travis County and the regional Capital Area Council of Government, have passed resolutions supporting this initiative. The Austin City Council will vote on the Strategic Plan and implementation priorities.

The Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance is a grassroots coalition of organizations and individuals who are working to educate the public, work within institutions and advocate for policies that will result in the achievement of a Zero Waste future for Central Texas.

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