DCEN Webinar: Recycling Equals Jobs!
by Chris Weiss, Director, DC Environmental Network
“In these times of record-breaking unemployment in the United States (to say nothing of record-breaking costs for energy and landfill space), few solutions are more urgent–and none more logical–than creating jobs out of what we are otherwise throwing away.” – “Returning to Work”
Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers
All Metropolitan Washington area decision makers, government agencies and advocates are invited to this important green jobs webinar:
On February 16th at 10:00 am, join the DC Environmental Network for an important green jobs webinar.
Susan Collins, Executive Director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and Clarissa Morawski of CM Consulting will go over the details of the new CRI Report “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers.” (Clarissa Morawski, CM Consulting and Jeffrey Morris, Ph.D., of Sound Resource Management Group in Olympia, Washington, are the primary authors of this report.)
RSVP here to recieve webinar information!
Key findings of “Returning to Work” include:
- Deposits create more jobs than curbside recycling relative to beverage containers.
- Recycling creates more jobs than disposal, and CDR creates the most jobs of all.
- Material throughput is the primary driver of recycling jobs.
- The secondary driver of container-recycling jobs is the number of workers required to collect, sort and transport the containers.
- Jobs gained in recycling far outweigh any jobs lost in extraction of virgin materials.
- U.S. PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) reclaimers currently operate at less than 60 percent of capacity. Increasing to capacity–that is, processing an additional 230,000 tons annually–would create nearly 500 new jobs, based on an employment factor of 2 FTEs per 1,000 tons. Yet the United States exports 400,000 tons of PET to overseas markets each year–the equivalent of 800 jobs.
- Jobs gained from recycling far exceed any jobs lost in virgin extraction, land-filling or domestic manufacturing.
Susan and Clarissa will describe the potential of green jobs and reference case studies of successful programs in the United States and Canada.
After the presentations participants will have an opportunity to ask questions.
Our panelists:
- Susan Collins, Executive Director, Container Recycling Institute, San Diego, CA – Susan has spent 20 years advising over 80 municipalities on municipal solid waste and recycling programs and sustainability issues. She recently completed an extensive international research project comparing the financial, operational and policy aspects of container deposit and packaging systems in California, Germany and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. She spent nine years on the board of the California Resource Recovery Association, has a B.S. in manufacturing engineering from Boston University and an M.B.A. from UCLA.
- Clarissa Morawski, Principal, CM Consulting, Ontario, Canada – CM Consulting provides research, analysis, communications and strategic planning services in the area of waste reduction and regulatory affairs. Clarissa Morawski works with industry, federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as the not-for-profit sector, and has more than sixteen years of technical, analytical and communications experience in waste-minimization policy and operations. She has built her career around understanding the various program elements that make up empty-beverage-container management in terms of reuse, recycling and disposal. Ms. Morawski is a contributing editor to Solid Waste and Recycling Magazine and has written for Resource Recycling and Biocycle magazines.
RSVP here to recieve webinar information!
All are welcome!
DC’s New Stormwater Permit!
By Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
All Metro-Washington environmentalists are invited to an important brown-bag, networking opportunity:
On February 2nd at Noon (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) will host an important and critical discussion about plans to implement the District’s NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Permit. This permit authorizes stormwater discharges but more importantly requires implementation of stormwater controls that may help in keeping pollution out of our rivers and creeks.
RSVP for this Discussion Here!
The current permit includes a list of control measures to implement including green roof installation requirements, tree canopy enhancements, and other programs and activities to curb polluted stormwater. Some of these measure include specific targets and dates to complete while others do not have much specificity as to when or how they will be implemented.
Representatives from the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) will brief DCEN on the details as to what we need to achieve in 2012 and how they will implement the most important stormwater control measures.
Our DDOE panelists will include:
- Christophe Tulou, Director, District Department of the Environment
- Hamid Karimi, PhD., Deputy Director, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment
- Jeffrey Seltzer, Stormwater Administrator, Stormwater Management Division, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment
The health and economic vitality of our city is tied to our rivers and creeks.
Aggressive implementation of this permit could be the most important determining factor in the next few years towards making real progress to restore the Anacostia River, Potomac River and Rock Creek.
All are welcome and urged strongly to attend.
RSVP for this Discussion Here!
DCEN Report: Rock Creek Sustainability
by Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
On January 5th the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) convened a discussion on Rock Creek sustainability. Our mission was to figure out what challenges Rock Creek was facing and what can we do to protect this important resource. Another goal was to highlight a very important waterway that sometimes is forgotten, even neglected by the broader environmental community as we focus our attention and energies on the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Communicating the importance of including Rock Creek as we develop our environmental goals, particularly as Mayor Gray moves forward with his Sustainable DC initiative, is critical.
Our discussion included presentations by Beth Mullin, Executive Director of the Rock Creek Conservancy and Tara Morrison, Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, one of the many National Park Service green spaces in the District.
Beth Mullin, Executive Director, Rock Creek Conservancy:
Beth gave participants an overview of the size of Rock Creek which includes over 5,000 acres of parkland, around 2,000 acres in Rock Creek Park (including sections outside of the watershed) and about 3,000 acres in Montgomery County and City of Rockville. Beth shared many of the benefits Rock Creek brings to area residents including recreation, history, nature, learning, community and tranquility to name a few. Beth stressed the importance of creating the next generation of environmental stewards by figuring out how to bring more young people to Rock Creek. She also highlighted some of the sustainability challenges including old facilities, trash, erosion & flooding, disappearing tree canopy, invasive plants and an expanding deer population. Beth shared what the Rock Creek Conservancy is doing to meet these sustainability challenges including stream teams, partnerships with government agencies, “extreme” trash cleanup’s and supporting the District’s RiverSmart Washington program. It was clear that much needs to be done and that we all need to chip in to put Rock Creek on a path to sustainability. See Beth’s PowerPoint Presentation.
Watch Beth’s Presentation:
Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park:
Superintendent Tara Morrison, who joined Rock Creek Park in May of 2011, thanked Beth for bringing up many important sustainability issues for Rock Creek. Tara stressed the importance of Rock Creek Park as a resource to the region. She stressed the importance of working together to make sure the park survived for future generations. She shared that the 
National Park Service is responsible for quite a bit of parkland outside of Rock Creek Park. Tara talked of recent successes including the re-opening of Pierce Mill, opening of the final phase of Georgetown Waterfront Park, re-opening of Battleground Cemetery and the re-dedication of the Khalil Gibran memorial. She talked about numerous friends groups that Rock Creep Park works with including the Rock Creek Conservancy, Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park, Friends of Pierce Mill, Friends of Montrose Park and others.
“Working to address a mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce nutrient and sediment flow into the Chesapeake Bay, the park recently evaluated the merits and feasibility of hundreds of possible stream restoration, trash and stormwater management projects proposed by the District of Columbia Department of the Environment for Rock Creek land. These projects included rain gardens, bio-swales, reforestation and regenerative stormwater conveyances to slow stormwater flows into Rock Creek and remove nutrients before they enter the creek.” – Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park
Tara identified non-native invasive plants as an extremely important issue and outlined plans to protect the park from this threat. She talked about a growing partnership with the District Department of the Environment including efforts to restore tributaries to Rock Creek. This includes the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment flow into the creek. She expanded on the impacts of too many deer on the parks environment and talked about soon to be implemented deer management plans.
Watch Tara’s Presentation:
Both presentations were positively received and were followed by an open discussion in which DC Environmental Network participants shared their ideas about what Rock Creek needs to do to become more sustainable. Check back to view this discussion!
In the last decade and 1/2, DCEN has engaged numerous times on behalf of Rock Creek and the surrounding open spaces. Our clean water campaign has worked hard to curb the amount of raw sewage and polluted stormwater that make its way into the creek. DCEN was also a leader in efforts to close a dangerous and expensive road and create a hiker/biker trail in Klingle Valley. DCEN has also supported efforts to increase access to Rock Creek Park for schools, residents and visitors by closing Beach Drive to vehicular traffic on weekdays. DCEN has also promoted policies to reduce invasive plant species and restore and increase the tree canopy on park-lands throughout the District. We also support humane management methods for dealing with wildlife. We have an established track record on these issues which is why we strongly support many of the sustainability efforts of the Rock Creek Conservancy and Rock Creek Park.
We will most likely be holding a smaller discussion for the most interested parties to formulate some goals in 2012 we can all work on. If you are interested give me a call at 202-518-8782 or send an email to cweiss@dcen.net.
Grab Your $6,000 Solar Rebate While You Still Can!
by Mike Barrette, Vice President, DC Sun
Re-Posted from DC Sun Blog
Now is the time to get in line for a DC Solar Rebate – before the funding is gone! Prices of solar panels are at an all-time low, making the decision to go solar a great long-term investment. A recent comparison of solar costs in the District indicates that the return on investment from installing solar panels varies from 6-10%. The existing 30% Federal tax credit, along with renewable energy credits that accrue with your solar project, make the economics of solar very favorable.
Strengthening the economic case for solar even more is the District government’s rebate program. These DC rebates are designed to encourage renewable energy and foster a new homegrown industry (jobs in DC!!). If you are able to get in on the DC solar rebate, your rate of return rises into the double digits, and your initial investment can be paid back in 6-7 years. For many DC homeowners on the fence about going solar, the DC rebate is the incentive that motivates them to move forward. Below, I examine your chances of getting a DC solar rebate – and it looks like time is running out!
As background, realize that the DC rebate program is a four-year program, which is now in its last year. DC is authorized to release $2 million dollars this year for rebates. Rebates for a typically-sized system are about $6,000. Rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis from a waiting list that you can join on the DDOE Website.
Last week, I asked the DC Department of the Environment for an update on their progress for releasing those funds now that we are one quarter of the way through the fiscal year. It is important that these projects continue to be funded at a rapid pace, otherwise the program will expire before funding is released to those on the waiting list. DDOE reports as follows:
- $25,000 has been paid out (5 requestors have received checks)
- $598,000 are in the final approval stages (86 requestors will receive checks soon)
- 383 additional projects are on the waiting list.
- DDOE reports that usually about 40% of those that submit the initial application actually decide drop out of the process.
Projections
- Assuming that 230 of the 383 people on the waiting list are funded at an average of $6,000, then the full $2 million will be expended and new entrants to the waiting list will not be funded.
- If the average rebate award and/or the acceptance rates are higher, some at the bottom of the existing waiting list may not receive funding from the $2 million pot.
- If the average rebate or acceptance rate is lower, new entrants to the waiting list may get funding (so act fast and get your name on the list).
What If You Miss Out???
- It is possible that the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will add funding for additional solar rebates – they added a small amount last year.
- Community activists with DC SUN are calling upon the DC Council, Mayor, Department of Environment, and the SEU to work together to renew the DC solar rebate program for another four years.
- DC SUN’s proposal is discussed in this blog post.
To help demonstrate the effectiveness and interest in this program, DC SUN urges residents to put their names on the DC Renewable Energy Incentive Program Waiting List (Click Here for a step-by-step guide on how to reserve your place the list). This will help in our effort to get this great job creating program back on track for those residents that were not able to participate in the first four years of the program. Because the solar rebate program is funded by electricity surcharges that are NOT scheduled to go away, DC SUN thinks that the extension of the program is an important way to promote a sustainable future for DC — a future that involves renewable power coming from the people of the City.
Rock Creek Sustainability
by Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
All metro Washington area environmentalists and others are welcome to our monthly brown-bag networking opportunity!
On January 5th at Noon at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor), please join the DC Environmental Network and Rock Creek Conservancy for a discussion of the many issues facing Rock Creek. Rock Creek Conservancy Executive Director, Beth Mullin, will lead a discussion about your interest in or activities related to the park, and your ideas about how we can work together to take advantage of opportunities and promote sustainability for this vital green space in the heart of the DC metro area. Tara Morrison, Rock Creek Park Superintendent, will also be participating in the discussion. The Superintendent will give us updates on Rock Creek Park.
Please RSVP Here if you would like to attend this discussion.
Background:
“Location, location, location.” Rock Creek is a natural treasure, just a walk or metro ride away for millions of people, many of whom care deeply about the 5,000 acres of parkland that border the creek and its tributaries in DC and Montgomery County. This is both a threat and
an opportunity. The surrounding development creates a green island in a sea of pavement, subject to polluted runoff, sewage overflows, stream bank erosion, damage to fish and wildlife habitat, and invasive species, including vines that kill trees.
At the same time, there are wonderful opportunities for recreation, relaxation, education, community-based environmental stewardship, and engendering a love of nature and history in the next generation.
Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly FORCE–Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment) is dedicated to protecting and restoring Rock Creek and its waters, parks, and lands. Multiple agencies, non-governmental organizations, property owners, and groups—including many DC Environmental Network members–also have an interest in Rock Creek.
Beth’s Bio:
Beth first joined Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment (now Rock Creek Conservancy) as a volunteer working to protect her local creek, the Pinehurst Branch tributary of Rock Creek. She became the organization’s Executive Director in October 2007. She is an environmental attorney with a law degree from New York University and a master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She has worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, and the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, DC.
Tara’s Bio:
Morrison comes to Rock Creek Park from the position of Superintendent of the NPS’ African Burial Ground National Monument in lower Manhattan, a site where free and enslaved Africans and African Americans were buried in a 6.6-acre site. Prior to her position as Superintendent, Morrison served for about two and one-half years as Management Assistant at the NPS’ Northeast 
Regional Office, leading the African Burial Assistance Project, coordinating communication with various NPS offices, the General Services Administration and the public regarding the development of a memorial and Interpretive Center at the Monument, including construction and curation of project collections. Before the African Burial Ground National Monument positions, Morrison served as Acting Assistant Superintendent at the NPS’ Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ, where she reviewed and assisted in developing park-specific project requests, budget prioritization and recommendations for revision.
Morrison began her NPS career in 1998 as a Park Ranger at NPS’ Boston African American National Historic Site. Morrison joined the NPS’ National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program as the NPS’ Northeast Region Coordinator where she provided advice, subject matter expertise, and technical matter support toward the implementation of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act.
Please RSVP Here if you would like to attend this discussion.
EVENT REPORT: Wal-Mart FAILS on Sustainability!
by Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
“In terms of the sustainability of the economy, having businesses that are operating at the appropriate scale, when you can have a neighborhood where there are 3 or 4 different grocery stores as opposed to one big Wal-Mart, that’s a much more diverse and competitive and resilient economic model.”
- Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher, New Rules Project
Earlier this month the DC Environmental Network hosted a extremely important discussion about the future of economic and environmental sustainability in our nation’s capital city. What made this particular discussion unique was that it was the result of a new and emerging partnership between environmentalists and organizations and individuals who represent workers in the District of Columbia.
This coalition was formed out of the understanding, based on research and data collected from the experiences of hundreds of communities throughout the United States, that Wal-Mart’s current economic model, unless enhanced by a Community Benefits Agreement, will result in an unsustainable economic situation that will hurt both the environment and the quality of jobs in the District.
With Mayor Vincent Gray experiencing only a 34% approval rating (53% disapprove) and the DC Council with an even smaller approval rating of 30% (55% disapprove) (Clarus Research Group, 12/2011), it did not bode well that segments of the environmental and labor community, two significant blocks of voters who helped Mayor Gray, Chairman Kwame Brown and others get elected, expressed strong disagreement with Mayoral action, and Council inaction in representing District citizens interests relating to Wal-Mart.
It seems the only decision maker who has done something substantive to represent the interests of District citizens has been At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson who introduced legislation that could help push Wal-Mart to embrace more sustainability in their business model in Washington, DC.
Our discussion featured two experts, one from the environmental community and one from labor, who gave a concise picture of Wal-Mart’s record on economic sustainability:
– Stacy Mitchell, a national expert on the economic impacts of retail on our neighborhoods, representing the New Rules Project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, shared the hard cold facts about Wal-Mart’s probable impacts on our local economy. Stacy also talked about the significant disconnect between what Wal-Mart tells the public about its environmental sustainability initiatives and reality.
You can listen to her entire presentation and see some pictures from the DC Environmental Network’s campaign efforts here:
–Joslyn Williams, President, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, poked holes in Wal-Mart’s claims about the quality and impact of the jobs they would bring to the District.
You can watch his entire presentation here:
At the end of these two presentations, participants were left with a clear and focused understanding that we all need to renew our efforts to make sure we end up with economic development that helps, not hurts District residents.
The DC Environmental Network is committed to participating in the efforts of the Living Wages Healthy Communities campaign to force Wal-Mart to respect the District and do what is necessary to make sure our environment is protected and our economy is not damaged by Wal-Mart’s unsustainable business practices.
Young Voices for the Planet on Climate Change!
by Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
On December 15 at Noon, at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) join author, illustrator, originator, producer and director, Lynne Cherry, for a very special DC Environmental Network event!
Lynne Cherry, is founder and director of the organization, Young Voices for the Planet. Young Voices for the Planet is a film series featuring young people who are making a difference. They are shrinking the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities. These films demonstrate that you, too, can do something about global warming. As Alec Loorz says, “Kids Have Power.”
- Date & Time: December 15th at Noon
- Featured Panelist: Lynne Cherry, Young Voices for the Planet
- Location: Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor (near Farragut North & McPherson Square Metros)
- RSVP for this event HERE!
Part One – Overview on Young Voices for the Planet!
Lynne will share some of her most recent films and engage the DC Environmental Network in a conversation about how to tap into the power of kids!
Goals of Lynne’s Films & Project:
- to document youth success stories about reducing CO2–to give young people a voice;
- to alleviate children’s fear about climate change and move them towards hope, empowerment and action by inspiring them through these youth success stories;
- to document stories of youth using scientific data to argue their position in order to help other young people and adults understand the role of science in sound decision making;
- to reach and encourage a critical mass of young people to teach their parents and schools how to reduce their carbon emissions in order to galvanize the US public–adults and kids alike–and create a paradigm shift in the way that society views, and acts to abate, global warming;
- to encourage youth and adults to speak to elected officials about supporting sustainable energy;
- to create an interactive website infrastructure to help youth adopt carbon reduction projects;
- to provide teachers with materials to augment the films to facilitate students involvement in carbon reduction projects;
- and to have the films seen by as many young people as possible through distribution, dissemination and web-streaming of the films.
Part Two – Book Signing: Lynne Cherry as Author & Illustrator:
The Young Voices for the Planet films were inspired by the book Lynne Cherry wrote with photojournalist Gary Braasch, How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming.
Book Description: When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that the Earth’s climate is changing? Here is the science behind the headlines – evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with assistance from young “citizen-scientists.” And here is what young people, and their families and teachers, can do to learn about climate change and take action. Climate change is a critical and timely topic of deep concern, here told in an age-appropriate manner, with clarity and hope. Kids can make a difference! This book combines the talents of two uniquely qualified authors: Lynne Cherry, the leading children’s environmental writer/illustrator and author of The Great Kapok Tree, and Gary Braasch, award winning photojournalist and author of Earth Under Fire: Global Warming is Changing the World.
Lynne will also talk about her many illustrated children’s books and how they help her work.
To facilitate your holiday shopping Lynne will bring copies of these books (and others) and make them available for purchase.
All are welcome!
Primer on Urban Forestry & Tree Bill!
By Mary Lightle, Tree Canopy Enthusiast
REPORT: DCEN Briefing on the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganizing Act of 2011.
It has been a month since I strolled into the Urban Forestry Brief organized and hosted by the DC Environmental Network with Councilmember Phil Mendelson and Mark Buscaino of Casey Trees. I was curious, how did the District intend to increase the urban canopy? This represented a notion that would exemplify to the rest of the country that the built environment and urban forests will coexist.
“D.C. has a rich history of trees,” expressed Buscaino. “And I think all of us here are a testament to the fact that we really need to hold on to that history…”
The room was full of stakeholders – residents, environmental organizations, arborists, Casey Trees volunteers, and other District employees – sitting shoulder to shoulder listening to Councilmember Mendelson speak on behalf of the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganization Act of 2011. His bill cites amendments to the Urban Forest Preservation Act (UFPA) of 2002 and transfers the Urban Forestry Administration from the DDOT to the DDOE. He emphasized, “The goal here is the macro, not the micro.” When it comes to expanding the District’s current 35% canopy cover to 40% by 2035, there isn’t time to necessarily be concerned about preserving individual trees. “Simplicity, in any kind of legislation, is key,” said Buscaino.
Buscaino had his own recommended actions about the macro goal. He refreshingly described with candor and laconic humor that the size limit for trees covered by the UFPA, currently 55 inches, needed to be reduced and was set by a man hugging a tree at breast height. I had to watch the briefing video again to make sure I heard correctly. View Mark Buscaino’s portion of the brief for yourself.
Mary Lightle Up in the Tree Canopy
Decreasing the average tree circumference to the recommended 29 inches would allow for trees to grow closer together with a more intact canopy. A large gap in the canopy would occur if a tree of 55 inches were removed. An increased tree canopy would not only sequester more carbon emissions, but it would also slow stormwater with foliage and root systems, shade streets, regulate urban heat island temperatures, and improve aesthetics.
The macro is not only about the District either; it is about the global commons. Where the wind blows, emissions are sure to go. What kind of neighbor do you want D.C. to be? Take your part in being a stakeholder on Wednesday, December 7th, at the Urban Forest Administration Reorganization Act hearing.
What Kind of City Do We Want DC to Be?
by Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
Walmart’s Sustainability Record: Not Good for DC Jobs or the Environment!
Dear District of Columbia Environmental Community:
A Disappointing Start:
Sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Mayor Gray, so far, seems to be trying to do something else.
In July, 2011 Mayor Vincent Gray announced his intention to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation. The Mayor mobilized his agencies to move forward with a new Sustainable DC initiative. This sustainability initiative would strive to merge the need to create jobs AND make our nation’s capital city more livable.
This Sustainable DC initiative would be implemented in a way that would benefit current residents AND future residents. This is a core principle of sustainability.
Just four months later Mayor Gray made another announcement. He announced that the District would be welcoming with open arms as many as six WalMart stores that would impact many neighborhoods.
With the increase from four to six new stores, many labor, environmental and human service organizations (and other District citizens) continued questioning Mayor Gray’s commitment to building a strong local economy and a real sustainability plan. It became even more clear that a WalMart presence in the District, without an aggressive sustainability plan focused on quality jobs and a livable environment, only keeps us from these important goals.
Even with these concerns many of us gave Mayor Gray the benefit of the doubt as he assured District residents he was negotiating with WalMart to create a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), to lock in at least a few community benefits that could be sustained over time for all.
Instead, what the Mayor presented on November 22nd, was Walmart’s very own blueprint called the “WalMart Washington, DC Community Partnership Initiative”, a non-binding list of WalMart’s public pronouncements with arguably zero concessions on their part. What was really sad was that it did not include any substantive environmental commitments beyond following laws already on the books.
Needless to say this is a very disappointing start for Mayor Gray’s first term. The fact that the Mayor does not seem to grasp how important it is to harmonize his sustainability initiative with his efforts to bring jobs to the District is disheartening to say the least. This is not the type of leadership District residents were looking for during last year’s election.
Rev. Kendrick Curry summed it up:
“As a Ward 7 resident, I am very disappointed,” said Rev. Kendrick Curry of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church. “This (WalMart Plan) has no teeth. This will allow WalMart to drain what is already in the community to nothing.”
Next Steps:
On December 1st @ noon, at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor), join the DC Environmental Network, Institute for Local Self Reliance and others for a special briefing on why WalMart’s plan is unsustainable unless the city requires a real Community Benefits Agreement with real input from the people who live here. RSVP for this discussion here!
Our panel will feature:
- Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher of the New Rules Project: Stacy will share the real story regarding WalMart’s sustainability initiatives. Stacy is also the author of the book, Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses. Stacy Mitchell Bio.
- Joslyn Williams, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO: Joslyn will discuss how unsustainable WalMart’s employment practices are and how District residents will be locked into economic insecurity for many years after our countries economy turns around unless we all work together to come up with a meaningful Community Benefits Agreement. Joslyn Williams Bio.
RSVP for this discussion here!
Both will demonstrate the importance of developing sustainability policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Conclusion:
What it comes down to is for all of us, the citizens of the District of Columbia, to decide what kind of city we want to be. Are we a WalMart city or are we a Sustainable DC. The evidence is clear that we cannot be both.
We can have WalMart in our city and be sustainable but we need to stand up to this very powerful corporation and tell them that they cannot use our countries economic woes to leverage advantageous development terms and that greenwashing will not be allowed in the District of Columbia.
We have lot’s of opportunities to achieve our goals:
- Please come and learn why Walmart & Sustainability is a tricky combination that needs our attention. RSVP for this discussion here!
- Support Councilmember Mendelson’s legislation, Bill 19-170, “Large Retailer Community Agreement Act of 2011″ to require that large retailers (stores over 75,000 sq. ft) enter into a Community Benefit Agreement and Bill 19-171, “Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2011″ to establish standards for responsible business practices by large retailers by ensuring that they pay living wages and provide benefits. More to come.
- Join the RespectDC campaign.
Hope to see you on November 1st at Noon at Global Green USA!
Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network
The DC Environmental Network has worked hard to promote the Mayor’s Sustainable DC initiative. We have held over 15 meetings, forums and other events, some open to the public, with hundreds of DC environmentalists sharing their vision for a sustainable DC. We are hoping the Mayor will come to understand how true sustainability will only come when we utilize the leverage we have to make sure the interests of District residents are taken seriously by corporations that come into our city to make profits.
WalMart & Sustainability in DC
by Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
How Mayor Gray’s Plan to Bring WalMart to the District, Without a Strong Community Benefits Agreement, is Incompatible with a Sustainable DC
On December 1st at Noon, join the DC Environmental Network, Institute for Local Self-Reliance and other metro region environmentalists for a discussion on Mayor Gray’s Sustainable DC initiative and how it may not be compatible with his efforts to bring six WalMart’s to the District. We will talk about how a strong, well designed, people driven Community Benefits Agreement might help.
Our panel will include Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and author of the book, Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses.
RSVP for this discussion here!
Background:
In July, 2011, Mayor Gray announced his intention to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation. In the four months since his announcement District residents have not heard all that much from the Mayor himself on this new initiative. What District 
residents have heard more frequently from Mayor Gray are plans to bring anywhere from 4-6 brand new WalMart stores to the District.
As environmentalists and others start to look closely at WalMart’s record on sustainability many are finding it hard to reconcile Mayor Gray’s vision for a Sustainable DC with the reality of what has happened at the thousands of WalMart stores world-wide.
Walmart’s six-year-old sustainability campaign has helped improve its public image, enabling the company to grow bigger and faster. That growth, ironically, has dramatically increased the retailer’s environmental footprint, and hurt local economies and the U.S. job market along the way. - Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance
Even on an issue many would consider the greatest environmental challenge of our time, climate change, Walmart’s sustainability efforts have not come close to mitigating for the over 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gases their facilities contribute to the planet each year.
While the company has been talking big about renewable energy, its greenhouse gas emissions have been rising steadily. Between 2005 and 2009, Walmart’s reported emissions in the U.S. grew by roughly 7 percent. In Asia, they doubled. The company says its operations produced 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2009, and it expects 30 million metric tons of cumulative growth in emissions by 2015. -Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance
Stacy Mitchell and other panelists will help us get behind WalMart’s public relations campaign and demonstrate how the District will need a strong community benefits agreement to make sure the public good is served more than corporate profits and in a way that helps, not hurts the environment we live in.
Our panelists will make 15-20 minute presentations and then open up the discussion for questions and comments from the audience.
Stacy Mitchell Bio:
Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project and directs its initiatives on community banking and independent business.
Stacy has served as an advisor to numerous community and small business organizations, and has helped cities and states implement new land use and economic development policies that curb the power of big-box retailers and strengthen locally owned businesses.
Her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses (Beacon Press, 2006), has appeared on several top-ten lists and was described by Bill McKibben as “the ultimate account of the single most important economic trend in our country.”
Stacy is frequently interviewed by news media and has contributed articles to a variety of publications, including Business Week, The Nation, Grist and others. She also writes about banking issues for The Huffington Post and produces The Hometown Advantage Bulletin, a popular monthly newsletter.
An engaging speaker, Stacy has given presentations for many organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, American Planning Association, National Main Street Center, and National Trust for Historic Preservation. See details of upcoming speaking engagements.
In addition to her work with the New Rules Project, Stacy chairs the American Independent Business Alliance and is a founding board member of the Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance. She lives in Portland, Maine.
In the last three months the DC Environmental Network has held over 15 meetings and discussion bringing over 600 District residents and environmental leaders together to talk about sustainability in the District.