Training and Tour in Modesto and The Bay

From August 6-8, the Just Transition Alliance attended a series of events that deepened relationships between labor and environmental justice groups and increased the capacity of the Environmental Justice Communities Against Plastics coalition (EJCAP) to implement just transition projects around the plastics-petrochemical industrial complex. On August 6th, we organized a Just Transition training in Modesto, CA. JTA participated in an Environmental Justice Communities Against Plastics meeting on August 7th which deepened our shared strategy. During this meeting, we met and welcomed the new EJCAP Coordinator Tevin Hamilton. Finally, on August 8th, we enjoyed a tour of San Francisco Recology.

Maro Kakoussian (Director of Climate and Health Programs for Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles) and John Bouchard (Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 350) led a training for EJCAP and local organizers from Modesto and Turlock, CA on August 6th. After participating in our Training of Trainers in Seattle last year, Maro, John, and others in their cohort have been leading just transition trainings based on our “Tools for Transformative Change” curriculum. Maro and John guided the training with expert efficiency, a feat made even more impressive by their implementation of new content on zero waste just transition projects.

The training was hosted by Valley Improvement Projects (VIP), an organization in Modesto, CA working to implement a zero waste plan in the wake of the Covanta incinerator in Crows Landing closing. JTA connected VIP with Teamsters Local 350 to help facilitate a just transition for the workers and community of Modesto. In addition to Modesto, Covanta closed its Long Beach incinerator in January of 2024, meaning that California is phasing out its last waste incinerator facilities. East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ) has similarly been working to secure a zero waste future for Long Beach.

Community and labor advocates on a tour of San Francisco Recology. Photo credit: José Bravo

Given the recent incinerator closures, the tour of San Francisco Recology on August 8th was designed to inform community advocates of the practical realities of building a zero waste materials recovery facility as a just transition away from waste incineration. JTA, VIP, EYCEJ, Black Women for Wellness, Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles, and Pacoima Beautiful–EJCAP’s six steering committee organizations–attended the tour alongside Teamsters Local 350 members and bay area zero waste experts. JTA also brought Eddie Torres from Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (and one of our amazing just transition trainers) to help inspire his thinking on the just transition project he’s organizing in Adelanto, CA.