Bay Area Action and Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES) are two of eight winners in the 1999 Business Environmental Awards program. The Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation will present the awards on Friday at the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City.
Bay Area Action is a non-profit organization in Mountain View that promotes environmental education and action. Organization activities include environmental education programs in schools, two community gardens and programs for alternate transportation. Project Director David Smernoff said that winning the Open Space Preservation and Restoration Award will bring recognition, publicity, and help provide a model for others who organize collaborative environmental projects.
The award is for the Arastradero Preserve Stewardship Project, which Bay Area Action started in 1995, petitioning the city of Palo Alto to become stewards of the 609-acre preserve. Last year Bay Area Action volunteers put in over 3,500 hours on habitat restoration, trail maintenance, tree planting, and removing non-native invasive plants.
A second Mountain View non-profit association received the Social Equity for Sustainability Award. WAGES has helped low-income women start and operate business cooperatives since 1994 (see the Town Crier profile of May 19, 1999).
In 1995, WAGES formed three housecleaning cooperatives that use only nontoxic products in their clients' homes. The co-ops do not use products containing ammonia, chlorine, sodium or potassium hydroxide, or sulfuric acid. Products most frequently used include baking and washing soda, and vinegar.
Rebecca Bauen, WAGES' staff spokeswoman, said that the co-ops have created a new niche for women to make healthier work and home environments. Bauen said, "The award recognizes our interest in promoting nontoxic methods and products, getting the word out to potential client that WAGES exists, and to prevent healthplace illness while providing economic rewards."
This year's award marks the tenth year for the Business Environmental Awards Program. This year's categories include commute and transportation, environmental enterprise, and pollution prevention/resource conservation. Award criteria is based upon leadership, significant contributions to a sustainable community, being a potential model, demonstrated program commitment, and collaborative efforts.