“Zero waste is a philosophy and a design principle for the 21st Century; it is not simply about putting an end to landfilling. Aiming for zero waste is not an end-of-pipe solution. That is why it heralds fundamental change. Aiming for zero waste means designing products and packaging with reuse and recycling in mind. It means ending subsidies for wasting. It means closing the gap between landfill prices and their true costs. It means making manufacturers take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products and packaging. Zero waste efforts, just like recycling efforts before, will change the face of solid waste management in the future. Instead of managing wastes, we will manage resources and strive to eliminate waste.”
- Institute for Local Self Reliance (Washington, D.C.)

ELSEE places a high priority on finding additional ways to manage resources efficiently.

ELSEE is a zero-waste facility. In addition to recycling paper, plastics, and glass, a composting site is part of the ELSEE plan. The children who go to school at St. Leo the Great save food scraps from their lunches to bring to our site once a week when they arrive for classes. Here are the greenhouse and the compost area.

The greenhouse/propagation facility cleans and reuses planting pots. Here’s a view that includes the vertical farm.

In addition, hardscape recycling has always been a tenet of the Middlebrook Gardens nursery business.

ELSEE is sponsored by the California Native Garden Foundation (CNGF).