Burbank Green Spotlight Award: March 2013

Burbank Green Spotlight Award: March 2013
HWB Carwash

SUSTAINABLE BURBANKCOMMISSION
April 15, 2013 MINUTES
March 18, 2013 MINUTES

III. BURBANK GREEN SPOTLIGHT AWARD PRESENTATION:
Ms. Lewis announced that the March 2013 recipient of the Burbank Green Spotlight Award is HWB Carwash. HWB has been promoting sustainability since 1993 and recycles 90% of their water and uses biodegradable soaps, waxes, and other products to help sustain the environment. Receptacles are strategically placed throughout the carwash in order to sort recyclable material, and HWB donates funds collected from recycling to local Burbank organizations. The manager of HWB Carwash was unable to attend today’s meeting.

VIII. AD HOC GREEN SPOTLIGHT PHASE II SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT:
Mr. Carlson, on behalf of the Subcommittee, asked the Commissioners if they would like the Green Spotlight Award to mature by expanding the criteria for future awards. Mr. Carlson explored costs and man-hours required to produce a website and asked staff if Commission webpage postings could be part of the City’s official website. Ms. Teaford stated that it would be challenging for staff to maintain any additional website postings. Mr. de Wolff suggested creating an open Facebook page that would be moderated by the Commissioners. Mary Riley, Senior City Attorney, expressed concern about an open discussion or interaction by Commissioners on a webpage like Facebook as it may create a Brown Act violation. Ms. Riley stated that the Commission can form a Facebook page with one or two moderators assigned to post items and create a rule to prohibit Commissioners from chatting with one another on the webpage. The Commissioners engaged in discussion and asked questions of staff.

Burbank Library Green Blog

Burbank Earth Day: April 20

Burb's Eye View: Learning how to live green
Burbank Leader: 4.09.2013 by Bryan Mahoney

The white, discarded barrels at the food-processing plant may have looked like junk. To Justin Okin, they were a means to harvest the sky.

Three of the 60-gallon barrels came home with him one day for less than $10; their previous owner was happy to see them go. With a little MacGyver ingenuity, the plastic canisters were hooked up to a homemade rain collection system, ready to eventually feed Okin's backyard garden.

"It's amazing how the plants respond to water saved from your roof," the Burbank resident said. "There's a noticeable difference. They perk up immediately."

Okin is a first-time homeowner whose goal is to never fill the green bin with waste. He says he has trained himself to ask a simple question when he's at the store or working around the home: "How am I affecting the environment?" And as the answers led to "greener" choices, Okin found himself building a sustainable, close-to-zero-waste lifestyle.

He shared this lifestyle with attendees of Burbank's Earth Day party last year, teaching homeowners how to compost and how to recycle more of what goes into a landfill. Okin and his family are part of a growing number of Burbank homeowners who, with guidance from the Burbank Recycle Center, are finding small ways to re-use the excess junk that adds to the landfill every year.

On April 20, the city will present its annual Earth Day event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Recycle Center, 500 Flower St. It's a combination of eco-festival and educational conference, a day to display what resources are already available that you may not know about. READ MORE !

California Friendly Landscaping Workshop: Aril 6

Landscaping Workshop

April 6

Community Services Bldg

150 N Third



RSVP:  818 . 238 . 3730

BWP