Gigantic Idea Studio, Inc.

We were back out doing spot checks for Livermore Recycles. Dennis was pleased to find spent batteries set out properly and our newsletter in the right bin - hopefully after it was read!

Know anyone who'd like to work for a super cool environmental behavior change agency? :) We're hiring: https://gigantic-idea.com/gigantic-is-hiring-a-marketing-a/

Happy Earth Day! Check out Kas's recent photo shoot for our upcoming Clean Marin anti-litter campaign. Martin Sundberg and team took some stunning photos!

The free Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour starts in a few weeks! Stef's native plant yard has been on the tour for two years, and this time she's doing a session about top native plants for Bay Area gardens. Details at http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/

Interesting campaign in China by WildAid - emphasizing the power of individual action (using reusables, reducing food waste) to create global change. https://wildaid.org/new-wildaid-campaign-addresses-climate/

Happy Earth Week! We're excited to see so many fun events this week and this month that combine art, activism and nature, including the David Brower Center's Earth Day Art party on 4/21 with Latino Outdoors.

Saturday is Earth Hour, when cities and individuals around the world turn off their lights for an hour in the evening to draw attention to climate change and biodiversity loss. The organizers have put together a nifty list of COVID-safe ideas for participation: https://latest.earthhour.org/earthhour-at-home

We are seeing a lot of confusion and frustration in public's comments about plastic recycling and that can lead to cynicism. It's challenging to explain that collecting more does not necessarily mean recycling more. Ongoing outreach communication, ideally in "small bites" will be needed for some time to come!

It's great to see Earth Month cleanup events pop up around the Bay, especially when they're as fun as this one by Bay Area icons the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. promising "frivolity and surprises" in addition to a clean neighborhood and litter-free creeks.

So distressing to see the closure of 8 East Bay Goodwill Stores due to the economic impact of COVID. Sad for the employees and a loss to the community; we need more reuse outlets, not fewer!

We're pleased to see Mexico City's ban on single use plastics, but without enforcement, how successful will it be? Maybe imposing a fee on disposable plastics could better discourage their use? https://abcnews.go.com//mexico-city-ban-single-plastics-ta

New year, new hopes: here's a word cloud based on the Gigantic team's wishes for 2021:

And now for some good news...

Great to see this new effort in Cambridge, MA to get people to think about the health and environmental consequences of their actions...while filling up at the pump. https://www.fastcompany.com//these-new-gas-pump-warning-la

2020 has been quite a year -- even our Monday meetings look different now! But our values and mission are still the same as yours: a cleaner, healthier, brighter world for all. Happy Holidays from the Gigantic team!

Our latest blog takes a look at the power of influencers to encourage voting. How can we harness that power to help the environment? https://gigantic-idea.com/do-as-i-say-how-influencers-affe/

Interesting case study on how Cape Town, South Africa prevented a water shortage emergency by enacting a strategic communications plan that focused on behavior change and using nudges... https://behavioralscientist.org/how-cape-town-used-behavio/

Feedback is good: during this fall’s spot checks in Livermore, the Gigantic team used cart hangers to discourage contamination, like plastic bags or treated wood, in the Organics cart.

It was good to see the "right to repair" issue on mainstream media - on CBS Sunday Morning. This piece noted that while getting right to repair laws passed has not yet succeeded, many companies are changing thanks to the public pressure. https://www.cbsnews.com//fighting-for-the-right-to-repair/

We are happy to report we are (safely!) back in the field! Here is Ja'ire in Ontario, CA, educating flooring installers about the recyclability of carpet and Tekla 'spot checking' bins in Livermore. Be safe and continue to wear masks

Look out world there’s another Zero Waste Associate on the loose! Inspired by her colleagues at GIS and motivated to better understand how Zero Waste can benefit our communities, businesses and the environment, Laura-Lee has completed the Zero Waste Associates Certification Course, sponsored by Zero Waste USA Congrats, Laura-Lee!

You're never too old to set a world record?! At 94, Sir David Attenborough racked up 1 million Instagram followers in his first 4 3/4 hours on the platform. His goal? To bring awareness of the problems of climate change and biodiversity loss to younger people. We salute him!! https://www.weforum.org//david-attenborough-instagram-jen/

Fighting waste is important every day -- today is the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste; an important global effort. Learn more: http://www.fao.org/international-day-awareness-food-loss//

On Saturday we had a great time shooting a video to promote motorcycle oil and filter recycling for RidersRecycle. Thanks to our videographer CB, our model Robert and crew, for a fun and well-masked day.

Wow. The Thai government and park officials are not messing around on litter prevention -- they mailed trash back to messy visitors at a national park. The park officials traced the trash back to its owners by using camping equipment rental forms, as well as a prescription bottle that was left behind. https://www.travelandleisure.com//thailand-national-park-m

Our latest California Resource Recovery Association conference presentation covered a survey of Californians' understanding of connection of food waste to ClimateChange. Some encouraging findings, and a couple of depressing ones: https://gigantic-idea.com/food-wastes-impact-on-climate-wh/

Stef and Lisa picked up litter at their special "happy places" for Coastal Cleanup Month! Stef went to the San Leandro Marina and Lisa to McClaren Park in San Francisco. There's still time to do your own DIY cleanup. Learn more at the California Coastal Commission, coastal.ca.gov #protectyourhappyplace

Lisa presented learnings from our past litter reduction projects today at the CASQA 2020 virtual conference. The "Choose Your Own Trash Adventure" panel showcased ways cities are capturing and preventing trash from entering our waterways! Thanks to EOA, Inc. for hosting.