The Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP)

Administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board

Attention: Business and Environment Editors

For Immediate Release                                                  Contact: Meg Connell

Date September 21, 2005                                            Phone: (510) 482–5892

Meg Connell

TheOrganizedOne

Estate, Corporate & Residential Organizing in Oakland

Honored with State WRAP Award for Cutting Waste

SACRAMENTO –– For outstanding efforts to reduce waste and protect the environment, Meg Connell Estate, Corporate & Residential Organizing in Oakland has been named a winner in the 2005 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board –– the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction.

"Businesses and nonprofit organizations that make the extra effort to put environmentally friendly policies to work deserve our appreciation," said Board Chair Rosario Marin. "Each WRAP award winner has adopted commendable business practices to cut their waste, recycle as much as possible, reuse materials, and conserve natural resources. It's a pleasure to honor the WRAP award winning businesses because they are taking positive steps to protect the environment and help their communities meet waste diversion goals."

Now in its 13th year, the WRAP awards honor businesses for cutting the amount of trash they produce, conserving resources, and reducing waste disposal in landfills. In addition, these communities will be celebrating their businesses' achievements within their jurisdictions statewide. All together, this year's WRAP honorees have diverted nearly 1.8 million tons of materials from local landfills through excellent resource management and recycling, and their voluntary waste reduction efforts have saved well over $149 million in operating costs.

An impressive number of businesses earned the award this year, a total of 1,870 statewide. For a complete list of winners by county, please visit the Board online at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/.

California's business sector generates about half of the state's trash and businesses can have a significant impact on their communities' waste reduction goals by taking proactive steps to reduce what they throw away. Creativity and putting in place a plan that works for the individual business are the keys to successful waste reduction efforts.

For example, businesses of all sizes and industries are encouraged to find reuses for materials like paper, cardboard, and plastic (among other items), to purchase office supplies and other products made from recycled–content materials, and to send their landscape trimmings for composting. These efforts all help keep resources and materials out of local landfills and help cities and counties meet state mandates to divert waste.

Not only will businesses realize savings from buying smarter, many also find their waste disposal fees dramatically lowered as the need for hauling waste decreases.

All WRAP awardees receive a certificate of recognition from the Chair and Members of the California Integrated Waste Management Board, as well as the right to use the WRAP logo for promotional advertising and publicity about their accomplishments. Applicants are honored based on a set of criteria developed in cooperation with the business community. Practices evaluated include waste prevention, materials reuse, recycling, recycled–product procurement, and employee education.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the State's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes a zero waste California in partnership with local government, industry, and the public. This means reducing waste whenever possible, promoting the management of all materials to their highest and best use, and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

For more information about Meg Connell Estate, Corporate & Residential Organizing's waste reduction efforts, please contact Meg Connell at (510) 482–5892.

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