What is it?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

What is it?

— Keith L. Martin |

E-mail this article \ Print this article

While the number may be unattainable, the philosophy of ‘‘zero waste” is reducing waste of all forms.

That responsibility does not rely solely on the individual to increase recycling, but on the whole community, from policymakers to businesses.

In both their resolutions pledging to adopt zero-waste guidelines, Boulder County and the City of Boulder identify the guiding principles of the philosophy as ‘‘managing resources instead of waste; conserving natural resources through waste prevention and recycling; turning discarded resources into jobs and new products instead of trash; promoting products and materials that are durable and recyclable; and discouraging products and materials that can only become trash after their use.”

Acknowledging the difficult goal of ‘‘zero waste,” Boulder County pledged in its resolution to come ‘‘darn near” it by 2025.

Zero waste is not uniquely American either, with many countries, among them Scotland, England and Australia, committing to some aspect of zero waste.

Find out more at www.ecocycle.org⁄zero.