[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE CITY OF SAN BRUNO RECYCLING PROGRAM

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 1997

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
efforts of the city of San Bruno for its recycling program.
  The city of San Bruno, located in the heart of my congressional 
district, was the first city in San Mateo County to implement a weekly 
curbside recycling program. Starting in 1988, the program grew to be 
one of the outstanding environmentally conscious recycling programs in 
the State of California. The tremendous efforts of the city of San 
Bruno earned it numerous awards.
  One year after implementing the curbside recycling program, the city 
of San Bruno received the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Citywide 
Weekly Curbside Program by the California League of Cities. Working in 
conjunction with community leaders, the recycling program was able to 
boast that 70 percent of the city's households actively participated in 
recycling, compared to the statewide average of 30 percent. Since then, 
San Bruno received the first place award from the California State 
Department of Conservation and the merit of excellence for its curbside 
recycling program. The growing success of San Bruno's recycling effort 
is attributed to the proactive partnership between the San Bruno City 
Council, the San Bruno Garbage Co., city residents, businesses, 
schools, apartment complexes, and office parks.
  Recently, the city of San Bruno renewed its recycling effort by 
reinstating the San Bruno Environmental and Recycling Committee. The 
Recycling Committee brings together members of the community and the 
city of San Bruno to coordinate recycling efforts. The committee, 
comprised of city council members, teachers, business professionals, 
and residents, advises the city of San Bruno on methods to improve the 
recycling campaign. Empowering communities with the ability to 
recommend policy on environmental and recycling efforts has proven to 
be a highly effective technique to ensure the long-term success of this 
community-based recycling effort.
  San Bruno's newest effort is driven by the mandate from the State of 
California that all cities reduce their solid waste by 50 percent by 
the year 2000. In response to this ambitious goal, the San Bruno 
Recycling Committee launched its SPACE 2000 Program [Save, Protect and 
Clean our Environment]. This effort aims to bring recycling to the 
forefront of the community. In addition to focusing on government and 
corporate office recycling, SPACE 2000 targets youth. The SPACE 2000 
program reaches out to a new generation in order to keep San Bruno an 
environmentally healthy community. On June 1, 1997, over 1,000 children 
marched for the environment and recycling in San Bruno's annual Posy 
Parade, the longest running children's parade in the United States.
  I am pleased to recognize San Bruno's proactive, leadership role in 
reengineering and revitalizing its environment and recycling efforts. 
As we move into the 21st century, conservation and recycling programs 
will be the cornerstone of our environmental policy. I am proud of San 
Bruno's efforts to strengthen community involvement, and its vision and 
commitment to renew, reuse, and recycle our Nation's resources.

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