CNN highlights an Orange County surfing and recycling superstar in this report:

For the latest from Waste Free OC, visit the campaign’s blog.

RIESTER is proud to work with Orange County on this important issue. There are many actions people can take to help, including: Increasing the use of reusable containers, composting, not requesting ATM receipts, cutting back on the amount of mail received, taking reusable bags to the store and many more. We are Brand Activists for a Waste Free OC.

A movement exists, endorsed by the state of California, to promote the concept of Zero Waste. By reducing and reusing materials that we habitually send to the landfill, it is possible to reach the goal of Zero Waste. En route to that important goal, Orange County is promoting a campaign to reduce waste generated by each household by 10%. A 10% reduction county-wide will be a huge step in the quest for Zero Waste.

The new website gives the citizens of Orange County the resources they need to reach these goals. It is well known in circles of people knowledgeable about waste management issues that Americans generate far too much trash.  It has been a privilege to assist Orange County by creating the first phase of its new website. This site will greatly assist residents in finding resources to cut back on what they send to the landfill.

Let’s save room for tomorrow at all landfills.

Visit http://www.wastefreeoc.org/

With the California Department of Conservation at the helm, STAND FOR LESS is a first-of-its-kind, cooperative campaign that brings together utilities, corporations, local and state agencies. Their collaborative purpose is to motivate residents and businesses to use less water, consume less energy, drive fewer miles and create less trash by recycling.

At the kick-off event, Bridgett Luther, Director of the California Department Conservation, put it succinctly: “We have the policies, now we need the people.” Joining her at the gathering were San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, actor and activist Ed Begley, Jr., and partners from both the public and private sector.

The campaign practices what it preaches by using short form TV and radio commercials. This includes four :15 TV commercials and six :10 radio commercials. RIESTER went as far as to produce all four TV spots in a single day on a simple, white set. This efficient approach minimized the potential carbon footprint of the production.  All of the TV and radio spots direct San Diego residents and businesses to standforless.com, an on-line community that features blogs, sustainability information and access to campaign components.

As STAND FOR LESS grows and gains momentum throughout San Diego, it is setting an example for cities nationwide. Whether they have 50,000 residents or 5,000,000, they, too, can STAND FOR LESS and respond to a growing crisis.

“We’ve been so impressed with RIESTER’s work with the California Department of Conversation, and the County’s decision to hire the agency was a simple one,” said Olivia Sanchez, recycling specialist for San Bernardino County. “RIESTER’s broad range of expertise in sustainability will prove a valuable resource to local efforts in launching the Zero Waste Communities program.”

RIESTER has served as the agency of record for the California Department of Conservation’s (CDOC) nationally recognized beverage container recycling outreach program since 2001. Through extensive research conducted by RIESTER, the firm developed a wide variety of methods and programs designed to educate Californians about beverage container recycling. Over the past six years of the campaign, RIESTER has helped CDOC reverse the nationwide drop in recycling to actually increase recycling rates in California. RIESTER has received numerous awards for its beverage container recycling focused television, radio and print ads, as well as its well-known “Water Bottle Recycling” public relations campaign.

“We are very proud to announce our partnership with San Bernardino County, as this project dovetails nicely into RIESTER’s philosophy of Brand ActivismTM-a belief that the most successful brands are built upon advocacy,” said Tim Riester, president and CEO of RIESTER. “Our work with Zero Waste Communities is the perfect example of this approach as San Bernardino County has charged us with fostering responsible waste disposal and prevention in the community.”

With RIESTER’s vast experience in working with sustainability projects across the United States, the San Bernardino County contract was welcomed as yet another opportunity for the agency to build a brand and promote sustainability – within the context of Brand Activism. The agency’s client roster for projects related to recycling and conservation include: Rocky Mountain Recycling; the California Integrated Waste Management Board; Stopwaste.org for Alameda County; Clean Water America; the Zero Waste California program; Maricopa Association of Government’s “Don’t Trash AZ” campaign; and greening the Scottsdale visitor and tourism industry.