Lafayette Today, September 2013

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editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

September 2013 Recycle Lafayette – New Campaign Targets 75% Waste Diversion

Serving the Lafayette Community Gold Coast Chamber Players Celebrate 15th Season in Lafayette

By Fran Miller

If you looked closely you may have noticed four college students walking around downtown Lafayette this past summer. They were four summer interns offering free assistance to local businesses to start or expand their recycling programs. This was the first big step in a new campaign, called “Recycle Lafayette,” whose goal is to reach a 75% waste diversion rate. Lafayette has come a long way since California passed a law in 1989 that required each county and city to divert 50% of its wastestream to recycling by 2000. Since then L a f a y e t t e ’s diversion rate has climbed from below 30% to 58% in 2011. Even with all the progress there are still critical problems that Lafayette residents should care about. The biggest issue is that we are still sending over Three of the four summer interns taking a tour of the Davis Street Transfer 20,000 tons of Station in San Leandro where our residential recyclables go. The interns from left to right are Nicole Nevin, Chris Sallstrom, and Michael Shea. trash to Keller Landfill in Pittsburgh every year. Trucking all that trash away is costly and noisy, and when it sits at the landfill it produces methane (a potent greenhouse gas), takes natural resources out of circulation, and can pollute ground water with toxic chemicals. Because of those and other issues, many cities and counties are now shooting for a higher recycling rate. For example, Alameda County has targeted 75% waste diversion and is almost there. San Francisco is leading the nation, diverting 80% of its waste from landfills, and now the city is targeting zero waste. We are in the midst of an exciting and important transition from zero recycling towards zero waste! In 2011 the City of Lafayette set its own goal to divert 75% of its waste and try to become the first city in Contra Costa County to reach that level. The campaign that has emerged involves Sustainable Lafayette, The City of Lafayette, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette School District, and Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority. All groups were present as the campaign was unveiled at the Lafayette Library after a screening of the movie Trashed on July 18th. The four summer interns focused on the downtown this summer because only about 23% of Lafayette’s business/commercial waste is recycled, which leaves a huge opportunity for improvement. The interns reached out to Lafayette businesses up and down Mt. Diablo Blvd. to discuss the cost savings and environmental benefits of recycling, to help them start or expand their recycling activities, and to raise awareness and participation in free programs, such as the Food Recycling

Gold Coast Chamber Players (GCCP) has brought the finest in chamber music performances to the San Francisco Bay Area since 1987. This year, GCCP celebrates its 15th anniversary in Lafayette, where the highly acclaimed group has found an ideal home at the Lafayette Library’s Community Hall.

“Quintett” musicians of GCCP

Named by the Contra Costa Times as “Best East Bay Chamber Group,” GCCP provides a unique listening experience for audiences of all musical backgrounds. GCCP’s internationally renowned musicians have performed in concert venues throughout the world; many core

See GCCP continued on page 24

Saturday, September 21st 10-7 PM Sunday, September 22nd 10-6 PM Downtown Lafayette

Lafayette Art & Wine Festival

al 18th annu

For a fun and free event, don’t miss the “Best of the FREE East Bay” Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. T BAR The Festival, Contra Costa County’s biggest “End-ofthe Summer Party,” now in its 18th year, is held in beautiful downtown Lafayette. A family and dog-friendly San Francisco Bay Area regional event, the Festival attracts 100,000+ people of all ages every year. The Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 21st (10AM -7PM) and Sunday, September 22nd (10AM -6PM). Admission is FREE, and free parking is available at the Lafayette BART station, with free shuttle service from that parking lot and free Secure Valet Bike parking. •Admission

Take

Just

ock

1 bl

•Parking at BART

ay

aw

•Shuttle to event

21 & 22

•Bike Valet Parking

4

• ZEBOP • THE SUN KINGS • AJA VU • EAST BAY MUDD • BOB ATHAYDE & FRIENDS • THE SPAZMATICS • OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY • THE VOLTONES • ANNIE SAMPSON • SPIN OUT • COVER 2 COVER • RED HOUSE ALLSTARS • JUICE • PETTY THEFT • FLEETWOOD MASK • MERSEY BEACH • SAVANNAH BLUE • CHUBBY’S ALLSTARS • DOMINANT 7 Presenting Sponsor

Green Festival Sponsor

Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 21 Lafayette, CA

ECRWSS

Festival Sponsor

Logo Usage Guidelines March 2008

Minuteman Press Lafayette

6100 State Farm Drive

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Minuteman Press Lafayette

www.lafayettefestival.com

www.facebook.com/lafayettefestival

See Recycle continued on page 11

Festival Sponsor

@friendly chamber #LafFest

6100 State Farm Drive

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

See Festival continued on page 16

LLLCF Distinguished Speaker Series

Presents New York Times Bestselling Author Joyce Maynard As part of its Distinguished Speaker Series, the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation welcomes New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard on Tuesday, October 22nd at 6:30pm in the Library's Community Hall. Maynard, a Bay Area resident, has been a reporter for the New York Times, a magazine journalist, a radio commentator, and a syndicated columnist. She is the author of 15 books and is most known for her works of memoir and fiction. Her novel Labor Day has been adapted

See Maynard continued on page 17

Volume VII - Number 9 3000F Danville Blvd #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.


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