07 May One More Push to Sink Insinkerator

This week, on Wednesday May 9, the city’s Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) will finally consider a resolution opposing Insinkerator’s designs on Austin’s Zero Waste Plan.  For those not familiar with the controversy, Zero Waste is all about highest and best use.  Putting food down the drain is not nearly as beneficial as salvaging that food or composting it, and the strain on our wastewater systems from food waste is significant.  Nonetheless, every time a city passes a Zero Waste plan garbage disposal maker Insinkerator tries to dilute the effort by getting the city to declare garbage disposals a diversion method for organic waste.  This is deceptive and undermines these Zero Waste plans, and now that the company is trying this in our city, the Austin Zero Waste Alliance has fought for months to kill this effort.  We are now very close to doing just that.

As Austin’s Resource Recovery Department moves forward with its pilot programs on organics diversion in multi-family dwellings, it is vital that Insinkerator not be included as a legitimate Zero Waste option.  Last month the Water and Wastewater Commission voted 5-1 on a resolution which opposed this scheme, this month ZWAC will consider a similar statement.  We need your help in pushing this commission to do the right thing.

Please come out to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission meeting this Wednesday May 9 at 6:30 PM at City Hall, 301 W. Second Street.  The Commission meets in Council chambers, and there is free parking underground; they will validate your ticket at the meeting.  Our item is about half way through the meeting, but the more people we have testify, the better chance we have of a strong statement against Insinkerator.  This country is run by the people who show up: let’s take this opportunity to show up and run Insinkerator out of town!

WHO: Zero Waste Advisory Commission

WHAT: Considering a Resolution to Oppose Insinkerator

WHEN: Wednesday, May 9, 6:30 PM

WHERE: Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St, Council Chambers (Free Parking)

WHY: Save Austin’s Zero Waste Plan, Stop Wasting Food

In the meantime, your emails to Commission members have a huge impact.  One of the Water and Wastewater Commissioners expressed real shock over the number of emails he received from AZWA supporters and other local environmentalists.  He ended up co-sponsoring our resolution in that committee, so we know these emails work.  Take a moment to let the ZWAC members know how you feel about this issue, and tell them to support the resolution against Insinkerator.

Gerard Acuna, Chair trirecycle@aol.com   

Rick Cofer, Co Chair rick@rickcofer.com

Cathy Gattuso cegattuso@yahoo.com

Fayez Kazi fayez@civiltude.com

James Nortey james.nortey@gmail.com

Jeff Paine jeff.h.paine@gmail.com

Brent Perdue brent@ecology-action.org

We believe that if this resolution passes on Wednesday alongside the Water and Wastewater Commission resolution and all of the other public comment we have generated on this issue, it may very well be the last nail in this scheme’s coffin.  Please take a minute to be a part of this important victory!

Thank you again for your help, we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday at the ZWAC.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email at dobbs -at- texasenvrionment -dot- org.