›› UPFRONT
Too much junkie business Even garbage companies are targeting zero waste for the long haul by Pe te r Se i d m an
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or some proponents, the conventional road to zero waste is a mission; for others it’s a feel-good effort; yet for others, it’s a sham that disguises the real problem—society’s insatiable demand for goods and its compulsion to throw away what’s no longer wanted. A throwaway consumer culture is an unsustainable proposition, according to zero-waste proponents. The problem has been how to encourage a new paradigm that puts value on reducing waste, a goal made all the more important because the life of landfills in this country is reaching the terminal stage. The first epoch in zero waste came with recycling. It was all the rage. Curbside recycling was considered to be the most forward-thinking, environmentally friendly proposition. But for many zero-waste proponents, recycling was a trap that actually impeded progress toward true zero waste. Rather than relying on residents, the most effective way to move toward zero waste requires enlisting the support of waste haulers and landfills and an entire waste industry that has been hesitant to join the effort. And until businesses, both inside and outside the industry, can be enticed to join the movement, getting to that zero-waste
rainbow will remain as elusive as a pot of gold. As the 21st century enters its second decade, the state’s zero-waste effort bears a striking similarity to the organic food movement of the late 20th century. When Californians, including and especially Marinites, began embracing an organic food ethic, many outsiders considered the movement frivolous. The media often ran humorous stories about those crazy Californians and their weird food preferences. But that kind of marginalization failed to stem the movement. Today it’s common to see organic food sections in the biggest supermarkets and huge agribusiness companies tout their products as natural. When business interests realized that organics could be profitable and “natural” foods could attract customers, organic food went mainstream. The same may be happening in the zero-waste world, which explains why FedEx now runs TV ads touting its use of recycled packaging material; that’s just one example of the trend marketers are starting to appropriate. “Businesses are leading the way to zero waste,” says Gary Liss of Gary Liss & Associates, a consultant who helps businesses and communities move toward zero waste. He’s the founder and past president 10 >
›› NEWSGRAMS Our inaugural Heroes of Marin awards! With all due respect to Tina Turner—we do need another hero. And with that in mind, the Pacific Sun, in partnership with Circle Bank, is presenting its firstever Heroes of Marin awards—a salute to the community members whose dedication to bettering the lives of county residents has helped make Marin the special place it is today. After fielding more than 100 nominations from Pacific Sun readers, our panel of “hero” judges bestowed awards in eight separate categories. Recipients will be honored in the Pacific Sun over the next four weeks through feature stories highlighting their good works. Additionally, the award will receive a heroes’ welcome tonight, Nov. 17, at a reception at Circle Bank in Corte Madera. Look for the first two features—one on Elaine Petrocelli, the other on Ed and Nancy Boyce—in the Nov. 25 issue, with more to come Dec. 2 and 9, before we wrap up our heromaking with a Lifetime Achievement award to Mountain Play stalwart Jim Dunn on Dec. 16. Here’s a quick look at the 2011 Heroes of Marin award winners in their respective categories: ARTS AND CULTURE: Elaine Petrocelli, for helping make Marin a mecca for authors and readers throughout the Bay Area and keeping the printed word alive through Book Passage. COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Ed and Nancy Boyce, for their dedication to such causes and institutions as MarinLink, Marin General Hospital, Project Care for Children and Crib Club— through the Boyces’ efforts, Marin is a healthier place to live. COURAGE: Nancy Novack, for creating Nancy’s List, an organization to meet the nonmedical needs of people living with cancer and living its mission statement,“No one will ever go through cancer alone.” ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: Sea Stewards, for taking the bite out of the baleful shark-fin industry by leading the state-wide charge to ban the sale of shark fins, which has resulted in the Shark Protection Act, co-authored by Assemblyman Jared Huffman, and signed into law last month by Gov. Brown. INNOVATION: Fresh Starts Cooking School, for turning invaluable food-services training into the creme de la creme of Homeward Bound’s job training programs. RISING STAR: Casey Poore, for helming the Redwood High School Friendship Club and its mission to create connections in the lives of students with learning differences and other educational challenges. ROLE MODEL: Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity, for advocating and providing a safety net for the county’s homeless and at-risk youth. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: James Dunn, for leading the Mountain Play through 30 years of leg-breaking productions and embodying quality Marin theater over the course of a fivedecade career.—Jason Walsh Former ‘Sun’ executive editor Don Stanley, 1925 - 2011 Don Stanley, former executive editor of the Pacific Sun and “godfather” of both “Tales of the City” and “The Serial”,died Nov. 8 at his home in Eugene, Oregon. He was 86, said his wife, Ellen, and died of an age-related illness. He died peacefully at home, said Ellen, with his family and dogs all around him.“That’s 10
8 PACIFIC SUN NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2011
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