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The Brown Bin program is the brain-child of Kart Bruskotter. the city's environmental project analyst. He applied for and received a small grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to launch a pilot project. Although the pilot is going well, Bruskotter says, the ultimate goal is to convert the food waste directly into energy using "digesters, n special machines which grind up the food and create methane. Purchasing the digesters would eliminate the need to transport the food waste to Kern County for composting, but they are expensive and would require additional resources to operate. Bruskotter says he's hoping a regional blueprint will eventually be developed, so local communities can work collaborative/y toward reducing and reusing food waste. "This is something that every city will need to look at sooner or later," he says. "We're hoping to be able to work with other cities on this in the future. n The city is currently exploring systems to collect recyclable and compostable items in public areas. In fact, in April, participating vendors at the Sunday farmers' market agreed to switch their food packaging from Styrofoam and other non-renewable products to all biodegradable or recyclable packing and utensils. Eleven "waste stations" positioned around the market provide shoppers with an easy system for separating biodegradable items. Three cubic yards of waste have been diverted from landfills each market day since its inception, according to the city. These zero-waste food programs are just two of many forward-thinking sustainable projects Santa Monica has tackled in recent months. The city implemented its no-Styrofoam policy in February, banning restaurants from serving take-out food in Styrofoam and other non-recyclable to-go containers. In addition, the Solar Santa Monica program, in its second year, provides education and financing help for residents interested in putting solar panels on their homes. Another program recently implemented, the 2Q-Gallon Challenge, calls for residents and businesses to reduce their water usage by 20 gallons per day. The campaign reminds citizens that as much as half of all water is spent on landscaping irrigation and other outdoor purposes, and provides a tip list with ideas for saving water both inside and out. Since July 2007, residents and business owners in Santa Monica have saved 260 million gallons of water, helping the city toward its goal of reducing water usage by 20 percent by 2010. Bush Administration Proposes Increased Accessibility for Disabled The Bush Administration proposed new rules impacting people with disabilities this week. The rules are designed to give disabled people greater access to public and private facilities, and to expand enforcement of the landmark 1990 civil rights statute known as the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. The proposed changes include a requirement that courts ensure that jury boxes and witness stands are accessible; that public and private golf courses, swimming pools, stadiums and auditoriums be retrofitted to ensure easy access; and that new facilities meet new and tougher standards than in the past. The overall cost to the public and private sectors is estimated at $23 billion; the benefits to persons with disabilities are estimated at $56 billion. For a copy of the notice covering state and local governments that was published Tuesday in the Federal Reserve, visit the National League of Cities (NlC) Web site, www.nlc.orQ. The NLC intends to submit comments in response to the proposed rules later this summer. Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff Visit (and bookmark!) the league's Leaislative Resources Web page (www.cacities.orallearesources). You'll find a roster and contact infonnation for the League's legislative staff; the online Bill Search program, background materials on lobbying your legislators, and more. 8A Page 6 6