by Noah Scalin
The San Diego-Tijuana Border Waste Wi$ e Project was a binational public-private partnership that helped businesses in this large metropolitan region take advantage of the economic and environmental opportunities of waste reduction and recycling and went from 1996 to 1998.
Border Waste Wi$ e provided technical assistance to manufacturers on innovative ways to increase materials efficiency, and reduce and recycle wastes. Our primary goal was to enhance economic competitiveness and ease the environmental pressures resulting from the region’s large and rapidly growing maquiladora and industrial sectors.
Border Waste Wi$ e helped more than 27 large and medium-sized manufacturers in the electronics, transportation, plastic injection and furniture industries identify methods and technologies to reduce waste in product design, manufacturing and packaging.
Our accomplishments were due, in part, to our industry partners’ commitment to environmental innovation and willingness to share their success stories to inspire other companies.
| Border Waste Wi$ e Partnership |
|---|
| City of San Diego City of Tijuana California Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Waste Management Board U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX Science Applications International Corporation Universidad Autónoma de Baja California San Diego State University |
Goals
- Create and implement a successful binational pilot project to reduce solid waste generated by industries along the San Diego-Tijuana Border.
- Build public-private partnerships based on common interests of solid waste reduction, including cutting material and waste disposal costs, conserving natural resources and landfill space, and supporting markets for recycled materials.
- Spark a long-term commitment to waste reduction along the Border in order to ensure continuation of this project.
- Provide onsite technical assistance to manufacturers along the Border by conducting solid waste reduction assessments, training and implementation assistance.
- Enhance the capabilities of San Diego and Tijuana’s municipal solid waste reduction programs through training.
- Train students and educators at the Autonomous University of Baja California and San Diego State University in waste reduction and business assistance.
- Obtain information and data on waste generation in the region in order to set project priorities and support ongoing binational waste management planning.
- Develop information resources to support the waste reduction activities of Border industries, government agencies, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other technical assistance providers.
- Inspire and provide a positive example for industry waste reduction initiatives in other U.S./Mexico Border areas.