Fisherman’s Wharf Touts Eco Awareness for Earth Day
Fisherman’s Wharf Touts Eco Awareness for Earth Day
Highlights Include 4th Annual “Ghirardelli Goes Green”
Saturday, April 21: 1pm – 5pm
20 April 2012 – San Francisco, CA: A healthy environment is key to the lifeblood of Fisherman’s Wharf and the people who enjoy its many attractions. This year, the “G” in Ghirardelli Square goes Green for Earth Day at the 4th Annual Ghirardelli Goes Green on Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 1pm to 5pm at Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point Street, San Francisco. Ghirardelli Goes Green is a free, family-friendly event that offers tips for “greening” everyday home life through entertainment, food, and green-themed activities. This year’s annual event at Ghirardelli Square includes sustainable cooking classes, live music from local artists, and eye-opening presentations by local vendors sharing fun facts on how to live “green.” Kids can meet the event’s plastic bag-clad educational mascot, the “Bag Monster,” courtesy of Chico Bags. In celebration of Earth Day, the “G” in Ghirardelli Square’s famous sign will be lit green with LED lamps donated by Ford Light, Inc. For more information, visit www.GhirardelliSq.com or www.visitfishermanswharf.com
Kermit the Frog used to sing: “It’s not easy being green,” and Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District aims to prove him wrong, celebrating Earth Day all year long with sustainable practices and a Zero Waste Business Initiative, identifying ways to reduce energy consumption, increase recycling and organics collection, and minimize waste throughout the district.
“As the center of San Francisco’s historic fishing and crabbing fleet, we have always understood the importance of sustainable business practices,” says FWCBD interim executive director Troy Campbell. “In Fisherman’s Wharf, every day is Earth Day.”
Zero Waste is a materials management strategy that aims to eliminate waste through all stages of a product’s life — from extraction, production, and manufacturing through its sale, use, discard, and collection — with a focus on reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting. In accordance with San Francisco’s mandating Zero Waste resolution by 2020 and mandatory recycling and composting initiative, Fisherman’s Wharf CBD strives to make the area a zero waste zone by 2017. By organizing and unifying the residents, retailers, restaurants, landowners, tourist destinations, special events, and fishing industry, the FWCBD has reached out to over 60 businesses to disseminate information and training on zero waste practices, increase organics and recycling collection, and embrace green purchasing practices. For Earth Day, the FWCBD has launched an initiative for businesses to formally commit to the Zero Waste Business Principles that include: achieving zero waste diversion to landfill and incinerators; recovering the highest and best use of discarded products and packaging; assuming responsibility for post-consumer management of the District’s products and packaging; avoiding products and practices that are wasteful or toxic; using products that are reusable, recyclable or compostable; preventing pollution, and minimizing the use of natural resources. It is the goal to have all businesses adhere to the principles to help transform the area into a zero waste zone. In November of 2010, the FWCBD received a zero waste grant from SF Environment to help achieve these goals and is currently working with SF Environment, Recology, the Port of San Francisco, and local businesses to support the zero waste efforts.
For more information on these and other sustainable environmental initiatives at Fisherman’s Wharf, go to www.visitfishermanswharf.com