Working for change in the larger community:

legislation, advocacy and direct action

Zero Waste

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The Role of Direct Action:

The creation of the recycling movement was driven by the public’s belief that resources should be conserved and reused. Most of the recycling programs and many of the state recycling laws in effect today would not exist had it not been for the efforts of committed individuals throughout the country during the last forty years. Because the idea of resource conservation strikes a resonant chord for citizens who were raised to believe that waste was somehow sinful, the task of directing public sentiment for the implementation of recycling programs at the inception of the recycling movement was not too difficult.

During this same period, the increasing focus on convenience and disposability, and a pervasive view that resources were unlimited, created growth in the quantity of goods and materials discarded at the same time that our recycling increased.

The challenge of direct action also shifted from a more broad-based public pressure for the creation of recycling opportunities, to more focused campaigns for specific changes to the existing system, such as bottle bill legislation, take-back campaigns for plastics, and recycling systems for electronics.

What Can Local Government Do?

Local government can provide access and opportunity for interested parties and concerned citizens to participate in the discussion of local issues and the development of local programs and policies. Each unit of this toolkit includes methods to develop representation and participation throughout the community at the planning, policy, and program stages of the process.

The energy and commitment of activism provides a vital ingredient in building local programs, and in building community support for those programs. Embracing this energy and commitment helps government to understand and respond to local needs, and provides a vehicle for both communicating ideas and encouraging action.

Task One:

Contact local leaders of grass-roots and activist organizations, and invite them to make a presentation to the local waste reduction task force or working group. Place the issue on the agenda for group discussion at the next opportunity. Allow sufficient time to hear and discuss the issue.

Task Two:

Assign a member or members of the working group to follow up with further review of the issue at hand, including additional research, input from other organizations, and potential opposing viewpoints. Schedule a follow-up presentation to hear from the group contact.

Task Three:

Once the group has had an opportunity to review all information and evaluate the given issue, prepare a presentation for local elected officials, including a staff report and appearances by representatives of various points of view and the public. Provide copies of the staff report to group representatives prior to presentation. If appropriate, request direction to staff from the governing body.

Task Four:

Continuing working with members of the public, as directed by the governing body, to resolve the issue and/or implement programs.

Tools to Create Change through Advocacy:

Advocacy is the bridge between direct action and legislation, and when done effectively, provides an opportunity for activists and professionals alike to lobby for change beyond local borders. Local governments may lobby for change through the vehicle of local government associations and joint powers authorities, much like the ESJPA of the Regional Council of Rural Counties. Citizens’ groups advocate for change by letter-writing campaigns and contacting elected representatives. Environmental groups and other organizations apply pressure for change by conducting events, providing public education about specific issues, and inspiring their membership and the general public to contact elected representatives.

Organizations like “Californians Against Waste” and the “Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition” work tirelessly to educate the public, and to identify sympathetic legislators to introduce bills to address their issues of concern. Effective advocacy requires someone who understands the political process, cares passionately about the subject, and is able to clearly articulate the issues involved

What Can Local Government Do?

Except for the largest cities, most local governments do not have the power, acting alone, to affect legislation at the state and federal level. Finding other communities with similar interests and needs allows jurisdictions to increase their influence by joining and forming associations and joint powers authorities. In addition to the increased ability to advocate for common interests, such associations provide access to information, technology, technical assistance and funding that might otherwise be unavailable.

Among the factors determining the level of involvement in such a collaborative effort are the cost, the degree to which needs and interests are held in common, the ability of the association to meet its members needs in other areas beyond advocacy, and the ability of its individual members to meet their own needs, and to impact the political process independent of the association.

Task One:

Contact governmental associations to determine the potential for participating in existing networks for impacting legislation. Meet with representatives of such organizations to assess the potential benefits of membership. Request information regarding the organization, existing members, costs and services, and its history of successes or failures in achieving its legislative goals.

Task Two:

Evaluate the potential benefits of membership in an association, in comparison to the cost and benefit for hiring a lobbyist, or of sharing the cost of a lobbyist with neighboring communities. Talk with members of the association, and representatives of communities served by lobbyists.

Task Three:

Prepare a presentation for local elected officials, including a staff report and appearances by representatives of the association or associations under consideration for membership. Follow up on direction to staff for additional information, if required.

Task Four:

Once the local governing board makes a decision, continue to track the actions of the association or lobbyist in achieving your local goals. Report back to your board on a regular basis. Participate in the association, or with your lobbyist, as needed to maximize results. Like many other efforts, the benefit you receive will depend in part upon your own contribution to the process.

Pros and Cons of Regional Representation:

Pro -

1. Strength in Numbers: The voices of many constituents have a greater political impact than the voices of a few.

2. Expertise: By working together, you receive the benefit of dedicated effort and detailed knowledge of the subject at hand.

3. Use of Resources: By sharing the cost with others, you should receive greater “bang for your buck”.

Con -

1. Finding Common Interests: Other communities in the organization may have different goals and values.

2. Cost vs. Benefit: The cost of supporting the organization may outweigh the perceived benefits to your community.

3. Staff Time for Participation and Tracking: Time and money saved in the cost of advocacy may be spent in local staff time required for participating in the association’s activities.

Ultimately, your governing board must weigh the pros and cons, and make its decision based on its own best interest.

Making the Case for Legislation:

In many cases, the goal of advocacy is the creation and adoption of legislation. Combined pressure from local communities, citizen’s groups, and environmental organizations recently culminated in the adoption by the California legislature of recycling requirements for discarded and potentially hazardous electronic products that had reached the end of their useful life. During the period preceding the enactment of this law, intense dialogue at the national level was held in an attempt to create a voluntary agreement between producers, end users, and other responsible parties that would address the special handling needs for these materials.

What Can Local Government Do?

In addition to advocating for the policies, laws, and programs needed to move toward zero waste, local government has the ability to affect legislation beyond its borders in several ways. By taking action locally, and adopting resolutions, policies and ordinances that achieve its desired goals at the local level, local government sets an example, and provides a foundation for increasing pressure on state and federal government to take similar action. As community after community exercise leadership by taking action, businesses and individuals will gradually become accustomed to new rules for how the world works.

If all politics are local, then local governments are best positioned to take the political baby steps that will gradually become strides and then giant leaps forward.

Task One:

Adopt local resolutions, policies, and ordinances to create a local climate supporting discard recovery, reuse, and remanufacture.

Task Two:

Work with local organizations to incorporate the energy and commitment of grass-roots activism into the development of local policies and programs.

Task Three:

Work with other local communities and associations to advocate for change at the state and federal level.

Resources:

Planning

Policies

Programs

Resources