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Agency Update - Summer 2021

Meet Our New Grantees!

From rescuing food to feed vulnerable communities to keeping e-waste out of the landfill through repair, StopWaste’s new grantees are committed to not only preventing waste, but also helping to build resilient communities across Alameda County.  

A total of $580,985 in grant funding will go to 49 local nonprofit and for-profit organizations this year for projects to support and improve food recovery and donation, salvage, reuse, repair, and redistribution infrastructure. Since 1996, StopWaste has provided more than $9 million in funding to local organizations and businesses. We continue to prioritize food recovery and donation organizations on the frontlines of helping to address food insecurity in our communities, particularly given the rise in need due to COVID-19. We welcome you to explore previous and current grantees on our website.  

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Reopen with Reusables

Nearly 1 trillion disposable food service products are used each year in the United States, according to a new report from UPSTREAM solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, driving a sharp increase in the use of single-use disposable foodware.

The good news is that the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allows the use of reusable foodware when properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized.  

As California reopens, StopWaste is working with local health departments, businesses, and organizations to encourage and support the use of reusables to reduce cost, waste, litter, and greenhouse gas generation. Check out our new leave-behind encouraging the safe use of reusables, or click below to learn more and stay informed. For questions, contact Justin Lehrer at jlehrer@stopwaste.org.  

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New Reports Examine Untapped Potential of Electrification in Buildings

Accelerating Electrification Report

In 2017, California emitted 424 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e), of which 6.1 percent were attributed to residential emissions. In order for the state to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent before 2030, local governments must look beyond traditional energy efficiency policies to widespread electrification in existing multifamily and single-family buildings, according to two recent reports conducted by StopWaste and partners.  

The first report, “Accelerating Electrification of California’s Multi-Family Buildings,” produced by StopWaste and funded by a Local Government Challenge grant from the California Energy Commission, offers policy considerations and technical guidelines for cities and building professionals to assess and develop solutions that make electrification of existing multi-family buildings possible regionally as well as at the state and national level.  A second white paper, conducted in partnership with the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, and co-authored by StopWaste’s Emily Alvarez, looks at similar issues in the single-family space, and examines local government policy options for requiring energy efficiency and/or electrification.