Introduction

In the recent years, environmental issues have become distressing global concerns apparently because of the interconnectedness of communities and environmental systems. Today, people live in an all-changed world faced with numerous pressing challenges such as rising sea levels, desertification, climate change, pollution, and extinction of important flora and fauna species. The impacts and costs of such issues differ across various regions of the planet (Corburn, 2005). The reason for this is that communities invest different levels of effort and resources in addressing the environmental concerns. This paper is focused on the situation of the Santa Clara Valley in the North of California, United States. The extents of pollution and environmental degradation in this locality are seemingly different than in other states such as New York, District of Columbia, and Arizona among others because of distinctions in awareness, communities’ social responsibility, and efforts for environmental conservation. The aim of this paper is to examine how local community organizations address social issues relevant to the environment and the quality of life in a region. For the purpose of this work, the local community environmental organization  the Californians Against Waste (CAW) is analyzed. The paper will identify how this agency responds to social concerns on the environment in the Santa Clara Valley, California.

The Organization and Its Mission (Who)

Californians Against Waste (CAW) is an environmental advocacy organization that makes efforts for tougher environmental legislations and more recycling at the local and state levels. The agency was established in 1977 by a group of environmental activists from the State of California (Californians Against Waste, 2014). The initiators had the mission of protecting resources, stopping pollution, and preserving the environment all over the State of California. They were inspired to consolidate community and state support in the formulation of better recycling policies, especially for beverage bottles and cans. In accomplishing its mission, Californians Against Waste (CAW) would develop, promote, and implement many wastes reduction and recycling programs and policies. As such, the overall goals of starting up this agency were to address the persistent pollution and conservation challenges by finding the ideal solutions and approaches. This would reduce the incidence of public health concerns and the various environmental challenges.

Californians Against Waste (CAW) is supposedly the nation’s biggest and the most effective non-governmental organization aimed at the implementation of policies and programs directed towards waste reduction and pollution control through recycling (Californians Against Waste, 2014). Throughout its life, Californians Against Waste (CAW) has continued its efforts both at the local and state levels. The outcomes of its determination are noticeable in the Santa Clara Valley and the State of California at large.

What Californians Against Waste (CAW) Does and How It Does It

The primary mission of Californians Against Waste (CAW) is to advocate for a cleaner and safer environment by encouraging formulation and implementation of relevant policies on waste reduction and recycling. Predominantly, the agency believes and relies on the concept of producer responsibility. Here, Californians Against Waste (CAW) posits that manufacturers can be forced to reduce wastes and pollution they produce bear the environmental degradation costs (Californians Against Waste, 2014). When relevant legislations are passed and executed, industries can be obliged to internalize their environmental expenses associated with material extraction, processing, and manufacturing pollution as well as end-of-life wastes. Supposedly, they can incorporate these costs into products’ prices, which can then be passed to the consumers. Eventually, manufacturers would find it easier and cheaper to replace virgin resources with recycled materials so as to avoid such expenses.  

Throughout Californians Against Waste’s 38 years existing, its focus has been put on environmental legislative policies and creation of awareness. The agency has thus concentrated on various areas to support its work. Firstly, it is public education where CAW designs suitable programs and funds several policies. This provides the public with adequate information and convenient opportunities for recycling, as well as responsible waste management (Californians Against Waste, 2014). Secondly, it is urging policymakers to implement the producer responsibility policy. This has made various manufacturers bear the environmental costs associated with their products and processes. To end with, is the development of motivational policies and incentives. They are intended to motivate manufacturers to reduce toxicity and waste levels while increasing recyclability and usability of their products.

How Californians Against Waste (CAW) Addresses Social Issues Relevant on Environment

Californians Against Waste (CAW) addresses social issues on the environment in different ways. Firstly, it is carrying on specific campaigns to promote new waste reduction and recycling policies while maintaining the existing ones (Californians Against Waste, 2015). In the approach, the agency conducts research and policy analysis in collaboration with experts in various related fields. Secondly, it reaches its members and the community through online, print, and broadcast media. This helps to educate the community on the economic and community benefits that can be achieved through waste reduction and recycling.

How Californians Against Waste (CAW) Works with Different Groups in the Work

Californians Against Waste (CAW), in a bid to accomplish its mission, collaborates with various groups in its work. The first of them is the government, especially the policymakers and local and state authorities. As previously noted, the agency urges the government through policy makers to formulate and implement various policies on waste reduction and pollution. When such legislations are passed, the local and state authorities have an important role in ensuring adherence to them (Californians Against Waste, 2014). The second are educators, who have a vital role in educating the community on the key economic and environmental paybacks that can be caused with waste reduction and recycling. The thirdly is the community. With its support, Californians Against Waste (CAW) garners the required sustenance and momentum to initiate efforts for policy formulation and implementation. The last are researchers and expert groups. They support the agency through the provision of updated research findings and expert information in different related fields (Californians Against Waste, 2015).