Editable-Baltimore's Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste - Flipbook - Page 20
The City Council has taken others steps to address the systemic waste problem, like
banning certain types of waste. After banning styrofoam in 2018, the council succeeded in
passing a plastic bag ban in January 2020. Additionally, they are encouraging the
development of grassroots infrastructure to increase diversion of food waste. The
Baltimore Office of Sustainability and the Natural Resources Defense Council have
launched the Food Matters program which aims to divert food waste through composting
and to create systems for the distribution of good food to those in need. The Food Matters
program has two big goals: reduce food waste to 50% of its current level by 2030 and
reduce residential food waste by 80% by 2040.
Under the leadership of City Council President Brandon Scott (formerly the City Council
representative for the City’s 2nd district), the Equity Assessment Program was introduced
in 2018. This was passed and signed into law shortly thereafter. As required by this new
program, City agencies are mandated “to assess existing and proposed policies and
practices for disparate outcomes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or income and
to proactively develop policies, practices, investments to prevent and redress those
disparate outcomes”. We view this Plan as part of a larger process to identify structural
inequality and solutions, with particular implications for the Department of Public Works,
the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Mayor’s office of
Employment Development, among others.
This Plan recognizes that Baltimore has been building toward this moment, and now is the
time to implement Fair Development Principles, legislation, and policy initiatives. This Plan
builds on the hard work that came before and supports the City ending the BRESCO waste
management contract with Baltimore City when that contract expires in 2021. United
Workers and the Fair Development Roundtable sought out a team with the experience,
expertise, and values to initiate this planning process and put Baltimore on the path to an
equitable and Just Transition to Zero Waste.
Baltimore’s Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste
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