There’s been plenty of news regarding Zero Waste recently: from the recycling crisis (see page 5) to Plastic Free July (see page 10)—it’s been on the public’s mind. This leaves us with plenty of questions, especially wondering what more we can do. Luckily there are a lot of opportunities to get involved.
Zero Waste Humboldt co-hosted a Plastic Free July cleanup with the Northcoast Environmental Center. On July 25, Samoa Beach was cleaned of plastics and other pollutants thanks to the help of volunteers. Cleanups such as this not only clean our coasts, they are a stark reminder of where our plastics end up, and the habitats they are impacting. It is important to continue to clean up debris from these places while also making every effort to reduce the amount of plastics and other waste from polluting our environment to begin with.
The Zero Waste Path workshop followed on August 3, organized by local Zero Waste trainers and supported by Zero Waste Humboldt. The workshop sought to educate Humboldt County business owners about Zero Waste methods for their business—including reducing waste and operating costs, tracking waste, employee training, reuse, composting, and more.
Finally, as the North Country Fair approaches, Zero Waste Humboldt encourages locals to assist waste management for the fair or other upcoming festivals. The North Country Fair welcomes thousands to the Arcata plaza, and that can mean a lot of waste. The event strives to produce the least amount of waste possible and emphasizes proper sorting of trash, compost, and recylables. Would you like to help? Do your part to minimize waste and educate others this year! As always, Zero Waste Humboldt will be found at our booth, so be sure to reach out to us.
Events, festivals, and workshops allow the community to become involved in the Zero
Waste issue. They bring us together while educating on the impact of waste in our lives and local environment. Waste can be a complex issue – it’s important to work through it as a community, and continue learning from those who are experienced on the topic. We hope to see more workshops, cleanups, and events in the future, and hope to work with you to continue to create a Zero Waste Humboldt.
