54 May 2014
Miss Sustainable
Continued from previous page
to where we are currently with
our waste diversion rate, as
well as our goals for the future.
Especially when you keep dig-
ging and looking at cities like
the ones outlined here in this
article: http://wxch.nl/1rI0TYZ.
I understand the need to set
achievable goals, because hey,
who likes to fail? But when I
see our closest rival in popu-
lation, Philadelphia, hitting a
77% waste diversion rate in
2011 with a goal of zero, what
the hell is our excuse in Phoe-
nix?
Oh yeah. There's that pesky
city ordinance prohibiting us
from playing catch up.
And given the fact the city of
Phoenix has a $38 million dol-
lar deficit (http://bit.ly/1jkp7Yt)
wouldn't it also make sense for
the city to take over and ramp
up the recycling for business
and multi-family dwellings to
save itself money, and even
potentially earn some? Other
cities have benefited.
So where does your city stack
up? Are you a die-hard recy-
cler, or do you not give it much
thought? Are there things your
city could be doing smarter to
reduce waste? I'd love to hear
your comments!
Further reading on Zero
Waste:
• http://knowledge.wharton.
upenn.edu/article/zero-
waste-nil-landfill-now-prac-
tical-goal/
• http://impactnews.com/aus-
tin-metro/northwest-austin/
new-shopping-campaign-
to-aid-austin-with-zero-
waste-program-/
• http://www.sfenvironment.
org/zero-waste
• http://www.treehugger.com/
corporate-responsibility/
achieving-zero-waste-pos-
sible.html
• https://asunews.asu.
edu/20140401-zero-waste-
at-asu
• http://www.utsandiego.com/
news/2014/Apr/11/schools-
city-zero-waste/
"The Story of Stuff" http://youtu.be/9GorqroigqM
