One of the work projects at SF Environment that I am most excited about is an update of our EcoFinder tool in collaboration with other local waste agencies. This project has come to be known as the Regional Recycling Database and it’s going to be very cool when it’s done. It’s a lot of work, though, especially coordinating with staff from 4 other cities and counties.
I was interviewed about this project by Anna Bloom, one of the first round of Fellows at the newly minted Code For America. This article was actually posted on Civic Commons in December right before I left for Ecuador, so here it is, better late than never.
Here’s an excerpt to whet your whistle:
Lawrence Grodeska, Internet Communications Coordinator at San Francisco Department of the Environment, is steering a diverse group of local agencies to create something greater than the sum of their parts: a centralized database for residents to find businesses that offer recycling, reuse and hazardous waste disposal services in the Bay Area. Enter your location and your waste item — a soda can, batteries or unused medication — and the proposed application will deliver your options for local hazardous waste disposal businesses and other resources — a depot for creative reuse for artists, perhaps, or a residential pickup program.
Special thanks to Anna for all of her time and effort learning about this project, and for her patience while waiting for me to answer her questions!