INTRO

The UCSB Zero Waste Committee is a student group dedicated to reaching the UC system-wide goal of Zero Waste by the year 2020. Committee members design and implement a variety of projects that will help our campus obtain zero waste. The goal was set forth in June 2004 and is stated in the UC Office of the President’s Sustainable Practices Policy. UCSB met its goal of diverting 50% of its municipal solid waste from the landfill before June 2008, with a whopping 62%, and nearly obtained its goal of 75% diversion by June 2012. In order to achieve Zero Waste by 2020, students must work together to minimize water, energy, and solid waste!

CALL FOR NEW MEMBERS

The Zero Waste Committee started the year by tabling at the AS Recruitment Fair by Storke Tower.

TAJIGUAS LANDFILL & SOUTH COAST RECYCLING CENTER FIELD TRIPS

Several committee members took a field trip to the Tajiguas Landfill north of Santa Barbara in November. The landfill is a County-owned and operated facility.

It serves the South Coast and the Santa Ynez and New Cuyama Valleys and can process up to 1,500 tons of trash per day. Committee members learned about the various waste streams handled by the landfill and how it contributes to county-wide sustainability efforts.

In February they also visited the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station in Santa Barbara. The South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station is home to a recycling center that processes approximately 200 tons per day of recyclable materials including commingled recyclables, electrical appliances, automobile batteries, bicycles, Christmas trees, construction and demolition debris, electronic items, used tires, and wood and yard waste.

ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE ON PINTEREST

ZWC is posting resources on Pinterest, including information about workshops, generally recycling information, making Program Board’s Extravaganza more sustainable, the effect of the drought, and Earth Day in IV.

ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE OUT AND ABOUT

Committee members tabled at several events during spring quarter including Earth Day festivals in both Santa Barbara and Isla Vista; and Chilla Vista also in IV.

Zero Waste Committee at Earth Day Santa Barbara 2015

Zero Waste Committee at IV Earth Day 2015

SCREENING TRASHED

Working with Save the Mermaids, ZWC co-hosted a screening of Bill Kirkos’ film Trashed at the Multicultural Center.

According to the film’s website Trashed is “a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America. The garbage business.

. . . The film analyzes the causes and effects of the seemingly innocuous act of “taking out the garbage” while showcasing the individuals, activists,corporate and advocacy groups working to affect change and reform the current model. Trashed is an informative and thought-provoking film everyone interested in the future of sustainability should see.”