In Colorado, the "zero-waste" is about to become reality some day if the United States, the epitome of the consumer society, they can take advantage of its mountains of garbage, it will be thanks to him. To look bright, cheerful smile and a full beard, Eric Lombardi, 54, is the American pioneer of recycling the standard-bearer of the militants' zero-waste ". A challenge that he takes in the city of Boulder (Colorado), the sanctuary of ecology at the foot of the Rockies. Reporting by Grégoire Allix, special envoy to Boulder (Colorado, USA), Le Monde.
Ali directs Eric Lombadi Eco-Cycle, the largest organization of nonprofit recycling in the United States: its 60 employees TRIAM 50 000 tons of waste per year, ie almost half of the 300,000 inhabitants of the county dismiss. The rest is transported by truck and buried in a landfill, 40 km from there.
Maybe not for long: the city and county administration, an initiative committed to "zero-waste", voted in August for the expansion of recycling ultramodern complex managed by Eco-Cycle. It's $ 8 million (about $ 14 million) investment, beyond the $ 14 million (about $ 25 million) has been disbursed. A policy funded by one of the few places in the country tax on household waste.
Eric Lombardi knows prove persuasive. "I have an army of 800 volunteers willing to occupy the city hall, if needed," he enjoys himself. He has arguments, both ecological and economical. "We won that money reinvested. There is a market for all types of waste: paper, metal, construction debris, fertilizer ... even the most difficult to recycle, like plastic and polystyrene, "he assures. Some go to China, and most stay in the United States.
For him "the garbage dumps and incinerators are only competitive because they do not pay a fair price for the damage they inflict on our health, environment and natural resources. By burying and burning the garbage, forever destroy what should be considered as riches to be reintroduced into the economy. "
It all started in Boulder in 1976. As head of the first voluntary association of recyclers in the United States, Eric Lombardi organized at the time the garbage collection directly between individuals. "The sorting and recycling were too young for politicians who did not like taking risks, and profitability was too uncertain for the private sector. The initiative could only come from the community, "he believes.
Irresponsibility
Thirty years later, armed with a technical professional, he created the first national organization for militant "zero-waste": the Grassroots Recycling Network. "I told myself that recycling was only the beginning. We know where they come from waste: the irresponsibility of the industrial design of their products from the manufacturing process to packaging. "
Mobilizing thousands of citizens and dozens of universities, the network began a series of falls-in-arm with industry widely covered by the media to force them to make their products using recycled materials and reusable. Companies like Coca-Cola or Dell have been forced to yield. Others, like Wal-Mart, have chosen to convert before they are taken as targets.
Cofounder of Zero Waste International Alliance, Eric Lombardi now takes his message to the world. With a double argument: "The whole recycling is the best way for a city achieve the goals of Kyoto. But it is also a good deal, it creates ten times more jobs than a garbage dump. " Not forgetting the devastating argument: "The first to enter this market will be billionaires!"
Ali directs Eric Lombadi Eco-Cycle, the largest organization of nonprofit recycling in the United States: its 60 employees TRIAM 50 000 tons of waste per year, ie almost half of the 300,000 inhabitants of the county dismiss. The rest is transported by truck and buried in a landfill, 40 km from there.
Maybe not for long: the city and county administration, an initiative committed to "zero-waste", voted in August for the expansion of recycling ultramodern complex managed by Eco-Cycle. It's $ 8 million (about $ 14 million) investment, beyond the $ 14 million (about $ 25 million) has been disbursed. A policy funded by one of the few places in the country tax on household waste.
Eric Lombardi knows prove persuasive. "I have an army of 800 volunteers willing to occupy the city hall, if needed," he enjoys himself. He has arguments, both ecological and economical. "We won that money reinvested. There is a market for all types of waste: paper, metal, construction debris, fertilizer ... even the most difficult to recycle, like plastic and polystyrene, "he assures. Some go to China, and most stay in the United States.
For him "the garbage dumps and incinerators are only competitive because they do not pay a fair price for the damage they inflict on our health, environment and natural resources. By burying and burning the garbage, forever destroy what should be considered as riches to be reintroduced into the economy. "
It all started in Boulder in 1976. As head of the first voluntary association of recyclers in the United States, Eric Lombardi organized at the time the garbage collection directly between individuals. "The sorting and recycling were too young for politicians who did not like taking risks, and profitability was too uncertain for the private sector. The initiative could only come from the community, "he believes.
Irresponsibility
Thirty years later, armed with a technical professional, he created the first national organization for militant "zero-waste": the Grassroots Recycling Network. "I told myself that recycling was only the beginning. We know where they come from waste: the irresponsibility of the industrial design of their products from the manufacturing process to packaging. "
Mobilizing thousands of citizens and dozens of universities, the network began a series of falls-in-arm with industry widely covered by the media to force them to make their products using recycled materials and reusable. Companies like Coca-Cola or Dell have been forced to yield. Others, like Wal-Mart, have chosen to convert before they are taken as targets.
Cofounder of Zero Waste International Alliance, Eric Lombardi now takes his message to the world. With a double argument: "The whole recycling is the best way for a city achieve the goals of Kyoto. But it is also a good deal, it creates ten times more jobs than a garbage dump. " Not forgetting the devastating argument: "The first to enter this market will be billionaires!"
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