For immediate release: July 6, 2009
Contact: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov
U.S. E.P.A. awards Bay Area waste agency $35,000 to promote reusable packaging
""Use Reusables" workshop offered Thursday, July nine
SAN FRANCISCO - The E.P.A. has awarded $35,000 to Oakland, Calif.-based StopWaste.Org to expand their ""Use Reusables" campaign, which teaches businesses how to reduce costs and enhance their environmental performance by replacing limited-use pallets, boxes and other transport packaging materials with durable, reusable alternatives.
The E.P.A. grant enables StopWaste.Org to partner with agencies around the Bay Area to bring the campaign's core element-a free, 3-hour, hands-on training workshop-to their communities. The grant was awarded through the EPA's competitive plan for innovative solid waste reduction projects.
The 1st workshop open to all Bay Area businesses takes place on Thursday, July 9, 10a.m. - 1p.m. at the Greenv Sustainable Center, one Chestnut Ave. in South San Francisco. For this event, the "Use Reusables" campaign is partnering with co-sponsor and workshop host, San Mateo Co. RecycleWorks, a plan of San Mateo County's Public Works Department that provides resources to promote environmentally responsible practices.
"The E.P.A. Region 9's grant to the Use Reusables campaign facilitates packaging reuse through education and partnerships," says Tom Huetteman, the Associate Director of E.P.A. Region 9's Waste Management Division. "Reuse offers a powerful opportunity to conserve greater resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We encourage businesses and local governments to attend this workshop to learn how to integrate reusable packaging into your operations."
"The tools we've developed can benefit any company with significant materials handling, storage and transportation needs," says StopWaste plan manager Justin Lehrer. "We are pleased to extend the campaign throughout the region and help businesses realize the economic, environmental, and supply chain efficiencies of reusables."
The Use Reusables campaign was launched in 2007, in partnership with the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), a non-profit trade association representing manufacturers, distributors and others in the reusable transport packaging industry. The campaign provides free educational resources, training workshops and expert advice to help businesses transition to reusable transport packaging.
To date 5 workshops have been held, attended by over 100 individuals representing 70 Alameda Co. businesses and organizations. The campaign has helped several companies make the switch to reusables, saving millions of dollars in packaging expenses and disposal costs, as well as preventing thousands of tons of waste. Among these companies are Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in San Leandro, the Bay Area News Group's Alameda Co. facilities and New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) in Fremont.
For more information about the "Use Reusables" campaign and the upcoming workshop, please visit
www.UseReusables.com or call Justin Lehrer at 510-891-6500 x129.
