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YOU know your community (town/city/county) needs to make a Zero Waste plan. But how to rally your fellow citizens?. Lynne Pledger zerowaste@sierraclubmass.org GRRN Zero Waste Conference, October 19, 2009. BUILDING SUPPORT FOR ZERO WASTE.
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YOU know your community (town/city/county) needs tomake a Zero Waste plan.
Lynne Pledger zerowaste@sierraclubmass.org GRRN Zero Waste Conference, October 19, 2009 BUILDING SUPPORT FOR ZERO WASTE
KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR WASTE OUR TRASH:1. organics (food, yard trimmings, soiled paper) 2. products and packaging
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.
THREE NORTHEAST ZW CITIZEN GROUPS RATS! Residents for Alternative Trash Solutions, Southbridge, Massachusettsstarted, spring 2008Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition, Geneva, New Yorkstarted, fall 2008Carlisle Zero Waste Coalition, Carlisle, Massachusettsstarted, winter 2009
SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS RATS! 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.
In Carlisle, Launa worked with existing groups—recycling commission, climate action, Sierra Club, League of Women Voters-- to focus the community on Zero Waste. 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.
GATHER THE FACTS Question assumptions –especially yours Seek info from more than one source Network with state and national groups Doug Knipple, President Finger Lakes ZW Coalition
GET INTO THE LOCAL PAPER Cultivate a local journalist. Give that person scoops.
USE STRONG IMAGES NASA photo: earth wreathed in Methane gas Baby bird with stomach filled with plastic
CHEJ—Center for Health, Community and Justice http://www.chej.org/organizing_principles.htm TAC—Toxics Action Center (New England) www.toxicsaction.org Don’t Think of an Elephant By George Lakoff GET HELP WITH MESSAGING
NO ONE “RIGHT” WAY TO COMMUNICATE CARLISLE HOLDS PUBLIC FORUM WITH PANEL OF EXPERTS SOUTHBRIDGE RALLY HELD OUTSIDE OF BOARD OF HEALTH
GET ALONG--AGREE TO DISAGREE Expect conflict Factions are fine EVERYONE is a potential convert to Zero Waste Recognize all contributions, small successes Accept help from any source except a polluter Be fair to all community members
PROMOTE WHAT YOU’RE FOR RATS! at a fair, teaching kids about composting
UPDATES: • 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 Coalition • started, fall 2008 • 400 members • Expanded into adjacent county • Stopped leachate line into lakeCarlisle Zero Waste Coalitionstarted, winter 2009 • Partnering with four community groups • Planning: school composting pilot, town EPR resolution
BE RIGHT • BE INCLUSIVE • BE RELENTLESS THREE OPERATING PRINCIPLESTo broaden community support