Editable-Baltimore's Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste - Flipbook - Page 6
Executive Summary
Much of Baltimore’s failed and inequitable waste system is located in South Baltimore.
The cumulative impacts are felt by the residents, producing racialized economic and
health disparities. This plan identifies the root causes of this waste crisis and how it
intersects with racial and economic justice. This Plan will enable the City to move towards
a new system of Fair Development aligned with human rights principles anchored to a
Zero Waste framework.
By setting a clear Zero Waste goal Baltimore can create a just transition from an economy
of extraction to one of reuse and regeneration. This Plan is both a practical guide to how
Baltimore can reach this goal as well as a call for political leadership to recognize the
climate and waste crises we are in and to make the commitment necessary to carry out
this comprehensive plan. It begins with leadership.
By committing to Zero Waste, Baltimore recognizes the need to end the plundering of
earth’s raw materials in favor of a culture of interdependence with our planet. It is also a
stand for social, racial and environmental justice by declaring that community can be
used as a dumping ground, a sacrifice zone, or a staging ground to burn precious natural
resources. Baltimore is joining cities and communities all around the world choosing Zero
Waste to create jobs with dignity, reduce emissions, replenish the soil, and create healthy
living environments.
The Baltimore Sustainability Plan recognized these challenges and opportunities and
includes several initiatives to have a major shift towards expanding composting, making
the City’s recycling program reliably and conveniently available to all, while emphasizing
Zero Waste opportunities to create local jobs. There are concrete connections in the
Sustainability Plan between community ownership and control of land and sustainable
healthy communities.
This Plan supports those connections and recommends additional priority actions to
achieve the many benefits of Zero Waste. Baltimore has a rare opportunity afforded by
resident and civic heroes - to make a clear break with the failed history of trash burning
incineration in favor of a Zero Waste future by implementing the following Actions:
