D14 Virtual Town Hall - Zero Waste 4.7.2021

Our District 14 Town Hall last week was a very interesting conversation with Greg Sawtell and Shashawnda Campbell of the Zero Waste coalition. Here is the full video.

The Zero Waste Plan was announced in 2020 and includes various steps to reduce the waste stream into the Baltimore Incinerator - with the goal of shuttering the incinerator within 10 years. Steps include recycling, compost, and reduced packaging.

Mayor Scott has already acted on two recommendations from the Zero Waste plan: (1) ensure all residents have a free recycling bin - to be handed out this spring, and (2) hire a Department of Public Works Director who has experience in Zero Waste policy and implementation.

There are multiple efforts for reducing packaging, including the recent Plastic Bag Ban and Styrofoam ban. The General Assembly is considering other packaging legislation.

The Zero Waste coalition is working on establishing infrastructure for composting. Food waste is 40% of the waste that is in the land fill and incinerator. Of that, 40% is generated from our large institutions in Baltimore City. So they are starting to work on ways to have our city, our hospitals and universities create ways to compost effectively. Households can bring their compost to the Waverly Market on Saturdays or do it themselves. Larger compost pick up may be better by people bringing their compost to an area like the recycling was for a time during COVID.