CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that the City of Oakland, CA is facing a lawsuit regarding push fees. An original version of this story incorrectly reported that Bay Area Bin Support is facing this lawsuit.
In case you missed it: Thoughtful, newsworthy comments from industry professionals, consumers, and legislators.
"Is anything less than zero a success? I don’t think we’ve had that conversation."
— Guillermo Rodruiguez, spokesman for the California Department of the Environment, to San Francisco Chronicle regarding San Francisco's efforts to reach zero waste by 2020. The Department is shooting for increased participation from city residents to reach the goal, but may end up falling short.
"We're denying political choice ... We're denying people at the local level to enact legislation that they believe in."
— Michigan Rep. Jim Townsend to The Detroit News regarding a bill that would prohibit local governments from putting a ban or fee on plastic bags and other packaging. The bill will now be considered by the House in a full vote.
"I believe that is the message here, to make other recyclers afraid to speak up on behalf of the geeks of color, to intimidate those of us who object to racial profiling, who do NOT pay them tribute money via e-Stewards."
— Robin Ingenthron of Good Point Recycling in a blog post regarding Basel Acton Network's (BAN) recent report contending that 40% of tracked e-waste devices went to “highly polluting and unsafe operations in developing countries — mostly in Asia." Ingenthron described report conclusions as "racist and insulting."
"We don’t need Band-Aid solutions. We need genuine, proven long-term solutions."
— Tim Silverwood, CEO of Take 3, during a presentation at the 2016 Our Ocean Conference hosted by Secretary John Kerry. Silverwood and other industry leaders took the stage to highlight the "scourge" of plastic marine pollution and develop solutions with the support of global ministers and changemakers.
"If they’re able to break into that monopoly — hey, it’s beautiful, it’s wonderful, it’s great to be in America."
— Lawyer Andrew Zacks to San Francisco Chronicle regarding a lawsuit against the City of Oakland, CA which deems bin "push fees" are illegal. Zacks, who is representing three Oakland property owners, told the Chronicle that the fees are only in place to "generate revenue for the city."
"Because while many people view us, while the sanitation workers are out doing their job collecting or sweeping, they don't actually see us."
— DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia during an event highlighting a new sanitation-focused exhibit at the Queens Museum. The exhibit, which displays artwork from DSNY artist-in-residentce Mierle Laderman Ukeles, includes an arch with gloves and equipment from sanitation workers and photos of Ukeles' "Touch Sanitation" project.