We challenge Vallejo businesses to step up to the plate and show how they take care of the local environment. If your business reduces, reuses, recycles or buys recycled products, here is your chance to receive public recognition for your good work. WRAP, the Waste Reduction Awards Program, is sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB).

In 2002, CIWMB acknowledged 2154 California businesses that went the extra mile to divert their waste. Collectively, they saved more than $73 million and diverted 4.1 million tons of waste from local landfills. Four Vallejo businesses were 2002 WRAP winners. Dr. Artmond Louie, D. D. S. has received the award for the last five years. North Bay Cabinets and Countertops and VALCORE Recycling received their second award and Vallejo Garbage Service received their first WRAP honor. Countywide corporate winners included Albertsons, Safeway, Target, and Mervyn's.

Vallejo businesses can get help with the WRAP application by expanding their recycling programs. They can call Vallejo’s recycling coordinator, Derek Crutchfield (707 648-5346), Vallejo Garbage Service’s Commercial Recycling Manager, Sarah Gallegos-Ascencio (707 551-2621) or VALCORE Recycling.

The WRAP site (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wrap) has an online application to download with instructions and a resource guide. Their site will help you make a waste-less business plan. I’ve listed below a sampling of questions and answers.

Question:
Identify the top ten materials that your organization generates for which you have made efforts to reduce, reuse or recycle.

Sample answers:
Cardboard boxes received with supplies are recycled. Yardwaste is hauled to the local composting operation.

Question:
Describe how your organization participates in reuse activities to reduce the amount of material disposed.

Sample answer:
Donates surplus products to schools, thrift stores or homeless shelters.

Question:
Describe how your organization reduces unnecessary paper consumption?

Sample answers:
Copy on back of old memos; use e-mail to send out meeting notices; install an erasable board for daily announcements.

Question:
How does your organization manage electronic equipment when it is time to discard or replace it?

Sample answer:
Donate usable equipment to schools or thrift stores; sell usable equipment to employees; recycle items with appropriate scrap dealer.

Question:
Describe the incentives your organization provides to employees and/or customers to minimize the use of disposable products.

Sample answers:
Provide reusable shopping bags with company logo for employees. Provide reusable dishes and dishwasher in employee lunch room. Provide a refrigerator and microwave for brown bag lunches.

So now it’s your turn. If you are a business or private nonprofit organization (read Six Flags Marine World or the Solano County Fair) you are eligible. All in all, it generally takes one or two dedicated people to coordinate and remind employees of the benefits of waste reduction. A little ingenuity can add up to big savings such as reduction of office supply costs and disposal costs.

The 2003 WRAP application is available online at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wrap or by calling the number below. The application period runs from April 1 through June 30, 2003.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to e-mail WRAP@ciwmb.ca.gov or call Piper Miguelgorry, WRAP Coordinator, at 916 341-6604.