Our Mission
To serve as solid waste industry leaders in public health, safety and environmental stewardship by providing our ratepayers with innovative cost-effective zero waste programs and Member Agency climate action plan alignment through education, engagement, infrastructure, and policy development.
Our Vision
RethinkWaste is recognized for its innovative waste reduction and recycling programs and facility infrastructure which are dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the quality of life and the environment for our member agency communities.
Our Core Values
- Implementing waste reduction, recycling and environmental education programs is paramount to achieving a greater resource conservation ethic and sustainable communities.
- Delivering high quality, and cost-effective resources and services for our customers, and contractors (i.e., vendors and service providers).
- Providing sound environmental policies and practices for our member agency communities.
- Conducting long-term planning for waste reduction and recycling programs and facility infrastructure is fundamental to achieving our mission.
- Facilitating excellent communication, collaboration and cooperation among all our stakeholders produces the best long-term results.
Our Principles and Objectives
TRIPLE ZERO GOALS
1. Eliminate the disposal of recyclable materials at landfills.
2. Eliminate the disposal of organic materials at landfills.
3. Minimize Agency greenhouse gas emissions.
Economically Sustainable Materials Management System
- Leverage existing Shoreway facility infrastructure and all partner organization resources and capabilities.
- Duly consider cost structures, rate stability and predictability when developing and evaluating programs, policies and infrastructure, accounting for additional revenue and avoided cost when assessing Return on Investment.
- Develop collection and processing systems that are adaptable, flexible, scalable, and resilient.
- Comply with all applicable local, state and national laws and regulations.
- Develop emergency and contingency Master Planning to govern operations of the materials management system during and after natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and floods.
Zero Waste Principles
- Pursue, in priority sequence, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and landfilling, inline with highest and best use of discarded products and packaging.
- Reduce and mitigate landfill and other facility impacts, such as by eliminating the disposal of recyclable and organic materials at landfills, as first two parts of “Triple Zero” Agency goal.
- Promote the long-term behavior change needed to recover recyclable and compostable materials through education, training, recognition, economic incentives, policy measures, monitoring, and enforcement.
- Support robust buy-recycled efforts and local economic development, using reused, repaired, or recycled items, where possible.
Environmental Objectives
- Support demonstration projects that reduce or sequester carbon emissions.
- Recognize the importance of materials conservation, litter abatement, and embedded energy in developing priorities for waste reduction and recycling efforts.
- Eliminate greenhouse gas emissions associated with collection and transfer of materials (as third part of “Triple Zero” Agency goal), such as by using low-emission vehicle fuels and reducing the need for materials collection and transfer of materials, to help the Agency achieve net-zero emissions status.
- Reduce the toxicity and hazards of materials (especially batteries and plastics) that enter the solid waste system, and effectively manage such toxicity and hazards so that people, property, and the environment are protected.
- Advocate for and support product stewardship legislation and initiatives to ban non-recyclable materials.
- Enhance environmental education to maximize public participation in materials reduction, reuse and recovery programs and services.