SMaRT STATION® TURNS TEN
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The cities of Mountain View, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale are celebrating a SMaRT® Decade of waste management in the Silicon Valley. In 1991, before cities were required to divert more waste from space-eating landfills, the leaders of these North Bay cities began to plan for the future. In 1994, the Sunnyvale Material Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT) Station®, opened, providing long-term regional solutions to managing waste from their respective communities.
To commemorate the achievements of this tri-city partnership, the public is invited to a celebration at the SMaRT Station Thursday, May 6, from 10 a.m. until noon. The mayors of the three cities will receive awards from the California Integrated Waste Management Board, and the California Department of Conservation for achievements in waste reduction.
Schoolchildren from each of the three cities will participate in the May 6 program to acknowledge the important achievements that have occurred during their lifetimes. Awards will also be presented to the winners of the SMaRT Art poster contest as part of the celebration. Public tours of the SMaRT Station will be available beginning at
11:30 a.m.
The station, which serves a combined population of 265,000, has helped all three cities exceed the state’s mandated goal of reducing landfill materials 50 percent by 2000. Since opening, the station has processed nearly three million tons of garbage, and has sold more than 470,000 tons of materials for more than $8 million in revenue. These materials generate revenues that help offset operational costs. Officials from 16 nations, including Italy, India, and China, have visited the SMaRT Station for a first-hand look at the station’s renowned operating efficiency, from compacting trash before transporting it to the landfill, to combining materials for market, and sharing operating costs.
The SMaRT Station is located at 301 Carl Road in Sunnyvale. For more information about the event or the SMaRT Station, please contact the Sunnyvale Recycling Program at (408) 730-7262, TDD (408) 730-7501 or visit www.sunnyvalerecycles.org.