Zero Waste project takes shape at Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Summit

Six stakeholders in the region's zero waste community came together at the Mayor's Summit on Sustainability and began the design work on a multistream reuse center. Dubbed the 'Wastipedia Resource Center' the vision for the project that emerged at the summit calls for a 'one site serves all' facility located near downtown Cleveland that would house a number of reuse activities and organizations ranging from those working in de-construction materials, organics, and mis-classified waste stream items from manufacturing and professional service providers. Working artist studios and a learning and technology center will be included in the facility to promote the social, environmental, and economic opportunities available around waste stream redesign practices. A co-operative employee ownership design inspired by the example set in the community by the Evergreen Laundry facility in Glenville is the model that the Wastipedia Center is planning to follow.

The Wastipedia founding board was formed on day #3 of the summit and is set to hold their formal organizational meeting this week. The board is made up of founding stakeholders Chris Kious-A Piece of Cleveland, Emily Baunach-Brown Flynn, Nicole McGee-For the Second Time Design, Mike Dungan-BeeDance, Robert Stockham-Great Lakes Design Collaborative, and Willis Barker-LR Realty.

The emergence of the Wastipedia Resource Center and the mission of the organization reflects the needs of the community and the desire to take on meaningful action NOW in a transparent and effective manner. Follow Robert Stockham's blog "The Great Lakes Green Pages" as well as ZeroWaste NEO to follow the progress of this exciting initiative. Wastipedia hopes to be the first of many projects borne of the
Mayor's Summit this month that will provide a glimpse into the promise that the year 2019 (and beyond) holds for our region.