Press Release


HONOR MOTHER EARTH THIS MOTHER'S DAY
Waste Management Urges Consumers to Give Sustainable Mother's Day Gifts Rather Than Traditional Items That End Up in the Trash
Simi Valley, CA, May 6, 2008 - This Mother's Day, why not honor your mother and Mother Earth at the same time? Waste Management of Ventura County urges customers to consider Mother Earth when buying gifts for this Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is often associated with gifts of flowers, cards, clothing, perfumes and candy. Waste Management urges local consumers to "think green" by considering more durable and sustainable alternatives for Mother's Day gift-giving.

"Gifts are a tradition for most holidays and special occasions, so if you're buying, pause to think before you purchase. Think about what resources it took to make and package the item and how long you think it will last after Mother's Day," said Mike Smith, Market Area General Management for Waste Management of Ventura County.

There are a number of gestures you can make to celebrate the holiday without generating additional waste… it truly is easy to think green. Here are some alternatives:

INSTEAD OF GIVE
Fresh Cut Flowers Potted plants, flowers or trees that can be transplanted into a garden.
(If you do give fresh cut flowers, be sure to place them in green waste container for recycling once they are ready to be disposed)
Mother's Day Cards E-mail greetings or a photo with your message written on the back. If you purchase a paper card, look for one made of recycled materials. Remind your mom to recycle it if she doesn't plan to keep it.
Perfume/Lotions Some wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to handle the chemicals used in products today. Consequently, many chemicals could escape into the environment. Read the fine print on labels and purchase natural products, when possible. Check to see if the packaging can be recycled or reused once empty.
Clothing When choosing clothing, check the labels and consider carefully clothes that require dry cleaning. When looking for clothing that reduces wear and tear on the earth, consider natural and organic cotton, wool and even bamboo.

Waste Management provides Ventura County with recycling, trash hauling and solid waste disposal through G.I. Industries and the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Waste Management has owned and operated G.I. Industries since 1998 and the SVLRC site since 1983 and employs more than 230 people in Ventura County. The SVLRC provides approximately 60% of Ventura County's daily refuse disposal needs. The company operates a “green power” program at the site that generates enough power for 2,500 homes, and clean-burning LNG powers 38 of its trucks. Waste Management is a significant contributor to area community groups. For more information visit our website www.keepingventuracountyclean.com.
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