RECENT NEWS
“When Zero Waste Humboldt started up in 2011, the nonprofit’s co-founder Maggie Gainer said every call the organization made was a cold call.
“People weren’t very familiar with zero waste methods or basic practices,” Gainer said. “It took a few years and now there’s a really strong positive and cooperative spirit of adopting zero waste habits and business systems.”
The nonprofit launched Zero Waste Day, which is Friday, in 2015, and Gainer said “one by one, local cities and the county, schools and other nonprofits, have joined in…”
Nov 15, 2019 | Times-Standard
“Several individuals and businesses were honored by Zero Waste Humboldt for their commitment to reducing waste and fighting climate change at the local organization’s fifth-anniversary celebration earlier this month.
The event included a musical performance by the jazz duo No Covers. There was also a beer pong competition with Lost Coast Rotaract to show the traditional Solo red cups are not needed to enjoy the game…”
September 27, 2019 | Times-Standard
“With increasing frequency, concerned Humboldt shoppers notify Zero Waste Humboldt about unnecessary plastic packaging and wasteful practices at their grocery stores.
ZWH always asks them what the store manager said when they brought it up. Almost none communicate with their store manager. My guess is that they are always in a rush or not ready to communicate with the store when they are frustrated…“
October 20, 2019 | Times-Standard
“Zero Waste Humboldt announced efforts to quench the thirst of local residents seeking to reduce the use of plastic bottles.
The Refill Not Landfill effort includes installing water-dispensing stations in various spots across the county, including in Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna, Blue Lake and McKinleyville. The water stations across the county have saved more than 25,000 single-use water bottles from being used and trashed locally, according to the nonprofit…“
April 26, 2019 | Times-Standard
PAST EVENTS
Help us Influence Zero Waste Policy!
Zero Waste Humboldt writes advocacy letter regarding California Health Code # 114353
Zero Waste Humboldt is in support of changing California Health Code #114353, which prohibits the use of certain reusable items at outdoor festivals and events. Recently we sent in a letter to the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health to begin the movement to change this rule. Help us change this policy by writing and calling in! Go to our Get Involved page for a letter template and more information.
Press Release: Zero Waste Humboldt Supports SB 1335
Solid Waste in Food Service Packaging
Zero Waste Humboldt supports SB1335, a California bill that would prohibit a state-owned facility from providing food service packaging that isn’t reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Read our press release HERE to learn more.
Plastic Free July Beach Cleanup
Samoa Beach on Wednesday, July 25 2019, 3-5pm.
Help us fight plastic pollution and join Zero Waste Humboldt and the Northcoast Environmental Center for a Plastic Free July beach cleanup!
Wednesday, July 25th from 3pm-5pm at Samoa Power Poles! (Sharp u-turn just past the town of Samoa, look for our banners as you drive down New Navy Base Rd).
Cleanup Supplies and water will be provided! This is a Zero Waste event!
Zero Waste Path Workshop
Workshop for Humboldt businesses on August 3
Local Zero Waste trainers have put together a special workshop this August 3 at the Bayside Community Hall from 9am-4pm. Everyone from owners to custodial staff can learn from this highly valuable seminar, which will include information on reducing waste, reducing operating costs, tracking waste, employee training, reuse, composting, and more.
Seminar is $175/person and includes lunch and training materials. See flyer below for more information. We hope to see you there!
Plastic Free July 2018
July 1st marks the beginning of 2018’s Plastic Free July!
Plastic Free July is a yearly campaign aimed at eliminating single-use plastics. Individuals can participate in a variety of ways, from accepting the plastic-free challenge (sign up HERE), choosing to refuse plastics in restaurants, communicating with their local businesses, or joining a beach cleanup. If you own a business, you can also choose to not serve single-use plastics this month.
This year, Zero Waste Humboldt encourages you to sign up for the challenge, and send us photos or stories of how your plastic-free month went. We would love to share your experience with others and work together towards a plastic-free future. If you are a business choosing not to give out a particular single-use product this month, let us know how many straws, cups, or utensils you saved from our oceans. If you join a beach cleanup, send us photos of the plastic you found. Together, we’ll make an impact.
When posting photos for Plastic Free July, be sure to tag #plasticfreejuly, #choosetorefuse, and #nec (for the Northcoast Environmental Center, a Plastic Free July organizer for Humboldt County).
Plastic Bag Law Implementation
LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF CALIFORNIA’S
PLASTIC BAG BAN LAW, SB 270
(12/15/16 Update)
- 80+ stores in Humboldt County’s unincorporated areas are in at least one of the store categories required to comply with the new law. Many stores prepared in advance and are already in compliance. Some stores are getting ready to comply with the new system while others are out of compliance.
- Many Humboldt County shoppers have already used reusable shopping and takeout bags for decades. Many local shoppers are learning to adopt the new habit of reusable bags for shopping or restaurant food takeout. Single use bags were introduced to shoppers in the 1970’s. Prior to then, stores put shoppers’ purchases in paper bags.
- To assist Humboldt stores and shoppers adjusting to the new system of reusable bagsZero Waste Humboldt will initiate a program of assistance and information tailored for local stores and a multimedia public education campaign in January 2017.
- What are the benefits of the new reusable bag law?
The many hidden costs to local government and environmental quality will be greatly reduced. Single use plastic bags (film plastics) have caused problems for Humboldt County’s street storm drains, wildlife, highway litter, and recycling operations for 40 years. There are no local manufacturers that recycle film plastic to make their products. Nationwide and in Humboldt County, only about 3% of plastic bags are actually recycled, and due to contamination, much of these bags are disposed. - Why is there a 10 cent charge for paper and reusable bags?
Remember that single-use plastic bags were never really free. Stores rolled the cost they paid per plastic bag into the price of groceries, meaning that even people who bring their own bags to the store were paying for other shoppers’ plastic bags. The 10 cent charge will: - –Offset the greater cost of paper and reusable bags for the grocers/retailers.
- –Ensure that customers who bring their own bags don’t have to supplement the cost of other shoppers’ use of the wasteful single-use bags anymore.
- –Encourage waste prevention through the use of reusable bags.