Packs Party Waste

INSIDE
Thanksgiving Service Schedule pg.2 • Compost at Home pg.4
GreenWays
THE QUARTERLY RESIDENTIAL NEWSLETTER FROM GREENWASTE OF PALO ALTO FALL 2013
IO
RS
N
T WASTE
GARBAGE
EN
EV
The City of Palo Alto requires permitted special events to practice
zero waste through waste reduction, reuse, recycling and
composting measures. Other community and neighborhood events
that don’t have to go through the permitting process take it upon
themselves to incorporate zero waste efforts. GreenWaste of Palo
Alto is here to help. We provide assistance with zero waste planning
as well as waste stations for events. In the past year, thanks to these
waste reduction and sorting efforts, Palo Alto community members
and event coordinators have diverted 84% of event waste from the
landfill.
DIV
E
ZERO WASTE EVENTS
RECYCLE
224
CUBIC YARDS
OF
WASTE
Do you want to have your own Zero Waste event? To get started,
follow these steps:
COMPOST
• Order event waste stations from GreenWaste of Palo Alto
• Use reusables – decorations, dishware, etc. – whenever possible
• Avoid the use of non-recyclable, non-compostable materials, such
Of the 244 cubic yards (CY) of waste produced at
as juice boxes, expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) and chip bags Palo Alto events, 120 CY were sorted into recyclables
• Let attendees know about your greening efforts in advance
and 84 CY were sorted into compostables
Zero
Waste
Party
Packs
Contact Information
Zero Waste Party Packs are available for you to borrow for FREE. Party packs come
with complete table settings for 24 people - that’s plates, bowls, tumblers, utensils and
cloth napkins.
You can borrow a party pack from a Zero Waste Block Leader near you. Zero Waste
Block Leaders are neighborhood ‘experts’ available to answer your recycling and
reuse questions, supply information on ways to reduce household waste and foster
neighborhood waste reduction efforts. Most block leaders have party packs available
for you to borrow. If they don’t, they can help get you in touch with one that does.
Help our community reach its Zero Waste goal, use a Zero Waste Party Pack for your
next gathering. Connect with your block leader at www.cityofpaloalto.org/zwbl or
sign up to be a block leader in your neighborhood and you can host a party pack
yourself.
Get more tips on how to have a Zero Waste party by visiting our website
www.zerowastepaloalto.org
GreenWaste
Customer Service
(650) 493-4894
City of Palo Alto
Zero Waste
(650) 496-5910
SMaRT
Station
(408) 752-8530
2 GreenWays
PAUSD
Waste Guidelines
The Palo Alto Unified School District School Board recently
adopted an updated Integrated Waste Management Board
Policy and new Administrative Regulations. The district's
program is designed to help reduce solid waste generation and
minimize the district’s waste impact on the environment. The
district has adopted some best management practices to work
toward zero waste. Here are some of the activities the district
will be working on:
• Designate every person as a “waste reducer”
• Incorporate waste education throughout the school year
• Utilize reusable dishware for school events whenever
possible
• Explore options for reuse of school supplies
GreenWays 3
Thanksgiving
Service Schedule
GreenWaste of Palo Alto will be closed
on Thanksgiving (November 28th). If your
regular collection day falls on Thanksgiving,
your collection day will be moved to Friday
(November 29th), and customers with a
collection day on Friday will be serviced on
Saturday (November 30th).
THURSDAY
28
Do you want to take a more active role in waste reduction in
schools? You can join your school’s Green Team or work with a
PTA to help PAUSD reduce waste.
FRIDAY
29
SATURDAY
30
What’s In Your Garbage?
Did you know that 70% of what Palo Alto residents and businesses throw away
could be recycled or composted?
We have information and tools available to help you figure out what
goes where, so fewer recyclables and compostables end
COMPOSTABLES
up in the landfill.
39%
PROBLEM MATERIALS
(GARBAGE)
29%
GREEN BUSINESSES IN
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently
recogized four newly certified and five recertified Palo
Alto Green Businesses. The Annual Green Business
Recognition event was held on September 19, 2013 at
the County Government Center in San Jose.
RECERTIFIED
• Common Ground Garden and Education Center
• Midpeninsula Community Media Center
• Total Quality Maintenance
NEWLY CERTIFIED
• Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
• A+ Auto Glass
• Acterra
• Phoenix Systems
• Wemorph, Inc
• Bon Apetite @ VMware
Congratulations Palo Alto businesses, and thank you
for making waste sorting and reduction a priority!
GREEN HALLOWEEN
COSTUMES
Halloween is a spooky holiday, but the waste impact doesn’t
have to be spooky! Reduce waste associated with costumes by
being resourceful and creative with these tips!
DIY costumes out of used materials
• Craft a unique robot costume out of old cardboard boxes
• Use a broken umbrella to create wings for a bat costume
• Be a tube of toothpaste! Use an old lampshade for the
cap and a sheet for the rest of the tube.
• Materials Guide: A list of items accepted in your blue and
green carts
• Recycle Where: An online search tool to help you recycle or
reuse unwanted items
• Sorting Games: For you to brush up on your sorting skills
Swap costumes with friends
• How-To Videos: For a little more detail about certain items
Tommy from down the street was
Spongebob last year, and this
year, Spongbob is your child’s
new obsession. No need to get a
brand new costume that will be
used once-coordinate with your
neighbor to extend the life of that
costume.
• FAQ’s: A list of frequently asked questions
• Ask An Expert: We’re here to help you!
Zero Waste Block Leaders: Neighborhood experts
available to answer your recycling and reuse questions.
Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/zwbl to find a block leader near you.
Zero Waste Palo Alto: Call our hotline or send us an email.
PALO ALTO
RECYCLABLES
32%
For more information visit www.zerowastepaloalto.org, email zerowaste@cityofpaloalto.org or call (650) 496-5910.
10% OFF COUPON
of palo alto
This coupon entitles the holder* a 10% discount from the posted
gate rate on all incoming materials in their next load at Zanker
Materials Processing Facility.
Zanker specializes in the processing and recycling of construction
and demolition (C&D) debris and mixed debris including:
• concrete
• yard/tree
• sheetrock
• mixed
• asphalt
• roofing
tear off
waste
• electronic waste
• wood
trimmings
• demolition
• metal
• dirt
• other
debris
construction waste
Materials NOT accepted at this location are listed on the back of this coupon.
*Zanker account holders are not eligible to use this coupon. Coupons may only be used for the disposal of
materials from the City of Palo Alto. One coupon per Palo Alto customer. Duplicated and/or expired
coupons will NOT be accepted. Coupons cannot be combined with any other offer/discount.
Expires June 30, 2015
Right Sizing
Do you find that you are only pulling your 64 gallon garbage cart curbside
every other week? Or maybe your 32 gallon recyclables container is always
overflowing. We want to make sure you are receiving the service you need.
Additionally, overflowing containers can contribute to litter. If the lids on your
containers aren’t closing, material can fly away in the wind and end up in our
water systems. Keep an eye on your service containers and let us know if you
think some changes are needed. We’d be happy to work with you to get you
the service that you need!
COMPOST
AT HOME
Residential customers in Palo Alto do not have
food scrap composting collection service, but that
doesn’t mean you can’t compost at home! Backyard
composting is an integral part of sustainable
gardening. It helps you create a vibrant, healthy
and beautiful garden while conserving water and
energy and reducing waste. Attend one of the free
workshops and visit the Lucie Stern Demonstration
Garden to learn more about sustainable gardening.
Next Compost Basics Workshop:
October 26, 2013
10am - Noon
Cubberley Community Center, Room H-1
4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
To register call (408) 918-4640 or visit
www.ReduceWaste.org
Can’t attend this workshop? Additional compost
workshops are available throughout Santa Clara
County. Check www.ReduceWaste.org for a list of
all the 2013 workshops.
Zanker Material Processing Facility:
675 Los Esteros Rd.
San Jose, CA 95134
408.263.2385
www.zankerrecycling.com
Hours of operation:
Weekdays 6:00am - 5:45pm
Weekends 8:00am - 3:45pm
Materials that are NOT accepted include:
• NO hazardous materials or waste
• NO household, food or liquid waste
Printed on 100% recycled, 100% post-consumer paper
Contact
GreenWaste of
Palo Alto
with your questions,
concerns, and suggestions!
(650) 493-4894
pacustomerservice@greenwaste.com
www.greenwaste.com/paloalto