Zero Waste Symposium Kicks Off In San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA – A daylong conference dedicated to eliminating waste and conserving natural resources kicks off Tuesday.

The fifth annual Zero Waste Symposium begins at 9 a.m. at the County Operations Center. The event is put on by the nonprofit Zero Waste San Diego, which aims to educate, reduce waste and maximize conservation in the region -- objectives that require a new way of thinking, according to the group.

"Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them," the Zero Waste International Alliance mission statement reads. "Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health."

This year's symposium focuses on reuse, recycling and organic materials markets and how the public, corporate entities and nonprofits each have responsibilities in reducing waste.

Climate scientist V. "Ram" Ramanathan of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography will deliver the keynote address, titled, "Drafting a Climate Change Declaration with the Pope and Vatican/San Diego's Impression Climate Action Plan."

Other speakers will discuss resource management, recycling markets, social responsibility and climate change.

Slated to appear are Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear, who will deliver an address titled The Power of Political Will; a representative from Goodwill Industries, who will speak on reusable products; and several local nonprofit leaders who will appear together on a panel.

By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock