Circular Economy
Our Vision
Our region has looked to recycling as a landfill diversion solution for several decades—but it’s not enough. CEC is driving progress towards a zero-waste society with circular economy models that turn hard-to-reach waste streams into valuable resources that further reduce climate emissions. Transitioning our take-make-waste system to a closed-loop system of reuse is complex, demanding that we look at how we manage resources, how we make and use products, and what we do with the materials afterward. In order to get there, our focus is on expanding regional food waste reduction efforts and educating and activating the public to support policies that demand reusable, refillable, and legitimately recyclable packing models.
In 2022, CEC:
Successfully advocated for a comprehensive plastic reduction law in the City of Goleta and supported SB 54, a landmark regulation that requires manufacturers to take responsibility for their packaging and to significantly increase recycling percentages by 2032.
Installed six public water stations in the City of Santa Barbara, bringing the total to 121 bottle-filling hydration stations in schools, parks, and public spaces throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Through these efforts, CEC has accelerated behavior change and reduced single-use bottle consumption by more than seven million.
Partnered with CalRecycle to provide resources, equipment, and funding to CEC’s Santa Barbara County Food Rescue partner, Veggie Rescue, resulting in the recovery of 663,128 pounds of high-quality food that was distributed to local organizations that feed community members experiencing food insecurity.
Engaged industry re-use solutions leader r.Cup at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival—its first event in Santa Barbara County—to implement a closed-loop reusable cup system in the beer and wine garden, eliminating more than 5,000 disposable cups.
WHAT’S AHEAD
Push the cities of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara to follow the City of Goleta’s lead and pass laws that promote comprehensive single-use plastics reduction and circular economy policies, providing a model for other jurisdictions in our region and beyond.
Continue to develop closed-loop systems with our climate-smart agriculture partners to turn food that would have gone to the landfill and create greenhouse gas emissions into a valuable resource that is captured, composted, and used in carbon-negative land management.
Continue to fledge the tools and resources CEC developed for our Santa Barbara County Food Rescue program to local government partners now mandated to rescue food and divert organic waste streams from landfills so they can facilitate donations of high-quality, healthy food to organizations that feed our most vulnerable community members.
