Coordinator Update: Fall 2001

by Diana Rivera

In our continuing efforts to conduct outreach, CalMAX staff mailed out informational packets to California haulers, local governments, and businesses. The packets contained CalMAX sample ads and inserts. We mailed out to 300 haulers to more than 500 cities and counties.  In the next few weeks we anticipate mailing information to local Chambers of Commerce throughout California.

Marketing CalMAX is an important part of our work. A great deal of the marketing is achieved by networking. We encourage you to share our catalogues with your regular business contacts. Consider requesting more than just one catalogue from our quarterly mailing, so that you can help us spread the word about CalMAX.

In Sunnyvale, for example, Julie Benabente is working with local businesses to place CalMAX information and logos in various publications. These include local chamber of commerce newsletters and municipal newsletters for recycling industries and other businesses. Benabente is also distributing material for display at community events such as environmental fairs. She is a commercial recycling specialist working mainly with businesses, city facilities, and schools to implement and improve waste reduction and recycling programs.

The CalMAX staff is available to write articles, attend trade shows, and speak to groups. If you have an idea for helping CalMAX reach out to business, please let us know!

In this Issue

Since autumn is the beginning of the traditional school year, we have a few articles directed to students and teachers.

Successful Connections
We feature the Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts (SCRAP) of San Francisco (www.aubergines.com/scrap/index.html) in our Connections article. SCRAP's mission is to stimulate creativity and environmental awareness, especially in children.  Waste that would just take up space in the landfill can be transformed into sculptures, paintings, and greeting cards.

Also featured in this section are two brief exchange stories. Although these exchanges are not measured in hundreds of tons, they are important to our program success in that they are about the spirit of the CalMAX program.

The Creative Reuse article by Sarah Weimer features the White Eagle handcrafters from Willits, California. White Eagle is a handcrafter, striving to manufacture creations from reused and recycled materials whenever possible.

A school district waste reduction article by Marshalle Graham is about starting a waste reduction program in your school district. There are many examples of successful waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting, and buy recycled programs in school districts throughout the state.

Connection of the Year
Gold Mine Natural Food, (www.goldminenaturalfood.com/) a San Diego based retail mail order company, was honored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board for its commitment to sustainability and reuse. A dedicated user of the Waste Board's CalMAX program, Gold Mine was awarded the Board's annual CalMAX "Connection of the Year" award, presented by CIWMB Chair Linda Moulton-Patterson. State Assembly Member Howard Wayne of San Diego, City Council Member Brian Maienschein, and Richard Hays, Director of Environmental Services for the City of San Diego, joined in the ceremony.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008