It’s been quite a year for Zero Waste Humboldt (ZWH), and the entire Zero Waste community. The last 12 months have brought advocacy, education, and change to the North Coast, both within our organization and beyond.
With the beginning of the year starting out with an all new board and staff, Zero Waste Humboldt soon entered a new chapter of projects and events. We hosted our first ever Clothing Swap in April, and first ever Plastic Free July cleanup in conjunction with the Northcoast Environmental Center. There were also monthly presentations and workshops at local schools and events, including Humboldt State’s Zero Waste Conference and the Global Youth Summit. Zero Waste Humboldt assisted in recruiting volunteers for the North Country Fair and Fourth of July Jubilee, and did our part by volunteering at Humboldt State’s Donation Dash! You may have seen us tabling at events throughout the year as well, including Arts Arcata, the Farmers Market, Earth Day, and others.
Zero Waste Humboldt worked hard to advocate for relevant policy issues this year. We sat in on the City of Arcata Zero Waste Study Session and county supervisors meetings, and submitted comments for other important local governance. ZWH wrote to your representatives in support of Senate Bill 1335, which would encourage the use of reusable disposables in California, as well as writing to the City of Arcata in support of a city-wide straw ban. A letter was also submitted regarding Health Code 114353, requesting that the code be changed to allow reusables at outdoor festivals. You can find a sample of this letter on the Get Involved page of our website, and send in one of your own!
And, of course, 2018 resulted in huge strides within our Hydration Station campaign. By July, we had ordered five hydration stations and provided them for free to the cities of Blue Lake, Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, and Mckinleyville for installation. By providing these hydration stations throughout Humboldt County, ZWH hopes to continue to encourage residents to use their reusable water bottles and take back the tap. Stay in tune for the installation locations of these stations!
All in all, 2018 saw Zero Waste Humboldt grow as an organization and make strides for change on the North Coast. With waste continuing to be a prominent issue within the environmental movement, we are looking forward to another year of advocating for a Zero Waste future. Visit our website at www.zerowastehumboldt.org to find out how you can, too!
