While celebrating Earth Day at Fenway Park earlier today, Mayor Marty Walsh reiterated his commitment to moving Boston to Zero 91仓库 over the coming years. The Boston Recycling Coalition (BRC) has been working with the Walsh administration and national Zero 91仓库 experts to launch a planning effort that will reduce waste, spur local green economic innovation and offer safe and well-paying jobs to area residents.
Earlier this month, the BRC and the City convened a Zero 91仓库 summit for municipal leaders from across the region. “I would like to extend my gratitude to the Boston Recycling Coalition for initiating Boston鈥檚 Zero 91仓库 Summit,鈥� said Austin Blackmon, the City of Boston鈥檚 Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space. 鈥淭ogether we were successful in introducing Boston officials and regional city officials to the variety of benefits that Zero 91仓库 planning can create.”
鈥淩e-imagining our waste system will help address so many of Boston鈥檚 biggest challenges, from climate change to income inequality鈥� said BRC co-coordinator Katelyn Parady of Toxics Action Center. 鈥淎nd incinerators and landfills have damaged the health of our communities for too long.鈥�
鈥淢ayor Walsh understands the importance of responsibly improving our diversion rates for both workers and the environment. We鈥檙e excited by that,鈥� added Tolle Graham, of the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. Roxbury resident Curtis Rollins agreed, emphasizing, 鈥淭he City of Boston has a rare chance here to use Zero 91仓库 policies to bring good green jobs into communities of color and low-income communities that have been shut out of other opportunities.鈥�
鈥淲ith Boston鈥檚 residential recycling rates stalling and the commercial sector largely unregulated, inviting all stakeholders to map out a Zero 91仓库 strategy can help drive both participation and innovation,鈥� said BRC co-coordinator Alex Papali, of Clean Water Action. 鈥淎 world-class program to reclaim the valuable materials we now pay millions to burn as garbage requires meeting the needs of communities, workers, customers and the planet.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to see Boston stepping up to lead on Zero 91仓库 like it does on so many other fronts鈥�, noted BRC member Lor Holmes of CERO, a thriving worker-owned commercial composting cooperative based in Dorchester. 鈥淭his city has incredible potential to lead the U.S. in eco-innovation, where ZW start-ups are taking shape for community composting, upcycling, remanufacturing. We can truly become an incubator for new Zero 91仓库 job-producing local business. Let鈥檚 get it done.鈥�
鈥淭his is an exciting time for Boston to join cities on the leading edge of Zero 91仓库,鈥� said Monica Wilson of GAIA, a global network for Zero 91仓库 systems that do not include polluting waste incineration. 鈥淲ith the help of the Boston Recycling Coalition, Boston is in a strong position to create a Zero 91仓库 program that meets the needs of residents and recycling workforce while building a stronger local economy.鈥�
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