StopWaste.Org in Alameda County, CA has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help expand its "Use Reusables" campaign beyond the County borders and into selected partner communities throughout the Bay Area in California. StopWaste.Org is the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board operating as one public agency.

The Use Reusables campaign is focused on educating and aiding businesses in obtaining the resources they need to adopt reusable transport packaging and reduce their impact on the waste stream. StopWaste.org was awarded the $20,000 in the competitive program that funds innovative projects that address solid waste reduction and management.

To read about what some suppliers are doing to minimize transport packaging, see, "Reducing Waste, Coming And Going,"which appeared in the February 2008 issue of TFM.

"We're very excited about being able to take our program to the next level," says Justin Lehrer, program manager for the Use Reusables campaign. "Businesses generate thousands of tons of waste each year in Alameda County alone, so extending beyond county borders and educating entire supply chains on the financial and environmental benefits of reusables is an incredible opportunity."

In the coming weeks StopWaste.Org will be working with EPA staff to develop a workplan and relationships with partner jurisdictions who are interested in joining the campaign.

StopWaste's Business Assistance program launched the Use Reusables campaign as a culmination of several years of nationwide research and development on the most beneficial, enduring and replicable practices for commercial waste prevention. Over 60 waste prevention practices were identified, and reusable transport packaging surfaced as the most promising group of practices for preventing waste. Reusable transport packaging replaces one-time (and limited-use) pallets and boxes with reusable totes, bins, and pallets.

The campaign was developed in partnership with the Reusable Pallet and Container Coalition (RPCC), a non-profit trade association representing manufacturers, distributors, and others in the reusable transport packaging industry.