Coordinator Update: Summer 2000

by Maggie Coulter, CalMAX Coordinator

Making CalMAX Better for Our Users

If you haven't taken the cyber plunge to CalMAX on line, now's the time. We've just improved our Web site to make finding material on CalMAX easier. You can now search on line for equipment, feedstock, and items by key word or product. Searches can also be done by county. Check out the Web site, www.ciwmb.ca.gov/CalMAX/ and find what you've been looking for!

We also now have a toll free number, (877) 520-9703.

In This Issue . . .

Keeping those organic materials out of the landfill is the subject of this quarter's catalog insert. Included are the benefits of using recycled green waste for composting and mulch in agriculture and erosion control. The insert also provides resources for diverting food waste, landscaping with diverted green waste, grasscycling, and developing composting facilities.

Check out this month's successful connections, featuring CalMAX users Goldmine Natural Foods of San Diego and Cal Sierra Machines from Pomona. Goldmine is a health food mail order company which gets some of its clean reusable packaging from CalMAX. Cal Sierra manufactures recycling equipment and facilitates the reuse of "super sacks" through CalMAX; one recipient of those sacks is Kortick Manufacturing of San Francisco. Pedal Revolution, also located in San Francisco, is the subject of this issue's creative reuse article. This issue also includes an article on a recent workshop on electronics waste disposal that was attended by CalMAX staff.

Applications Now Being Accepted for CalMAX Partnership Mini-Grants

Local jurisdictions have until August 4, 2000 to apply for a CalMAX Partnership Mini-Grant. The grants are to fund outreach efforts to promote CalMAX to the local business community. Eligible projects include finished promotional products such as printed materials (brochures, mailers, etc.), audio-visual materials (videos, slide shows, etc.), display materials (panels, display boards, literature racks, etc.), direct mailings, and other products that market CalMAX services to the business community.

Applications are available on the CalMAX Web site, by phone: (877) 520-9703; fax: (916) 366-2369; and through e-mail: (calmax@ciwmb.ca.gov).

CalMAX Reaches Out

Over the past few months, CalMAX staff have initiated two major outreach efforts to help spread the word about CalMAX. The first of these was a systematic outreach to local jurisdictions. Each of CalMAX's three professional staff has been designated the contact for a portion of the state's counties. Staff have been calling to check in on current material exchange efforts, provide technical assistance, and let counties know they can buy copies of the catalog in bulk to distribute locally. Most counties have now been contacted.

The second outreach effort is to business and industry trade associations and publications. Over 250 organizations will be contacted; several have already received information about CalMAX and a request that they let their members or readers know about this free service. If you belong to a trade association, please ask them to help promote CalMAX. For more information, call us at (877) 520-9703.

Special Thanks!!

A number of associations and publications have already responded to get the word out about CalMAX. These organizations are serving their members, readers, and the community by helping promote waste reduction through CalMAX.

Special thanks to:

• California Grocers Association,
• California Restaurant Association (find out about their upcoming expo at www.westernfoodexpo.com),
• Waste Age magazine (see their April, 2000 issue),
• California Cast Metal Association,
• School Garden Resource Network,
• California Assoc. of Private School Organizations,
• CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, and
• California Agricultural Teachers Associations

Connection of the Year

Connection-of-the-Year winner for 1999, City Farmers Nursery of San Diego, was honored on May 7th at an open house for the Green Business Association. The event was attended by the Board's new Chair, Linda Moulton-Patterson who presented owner Bill Tall with a congratulatory resolution from the Board and beautiful engraved bowl made from recycled glass. Also in attendance were representatives from other local businesses, family members, and friends of the Talls. The event was covered by three television stations. In addition to practicing waste reduction, City Farmers also helps to educate children and the public about composting, gardening, and recycling and donates to school and community garden projects.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008