Since 1969, we have been a forerunner in the green movement, starting one of the first curbside recycling programs in the nation. In 2009 the Berkeley Farmers’ Market became the first in the nation to institute a ban on the distribution of plastic bags and takeout ware. Berkeley Farmers’ Markets have eliminated garbage cans, making almost all materials distributed at the markets recyclable or compostable. The Ecology Center hotline continues to provide advice on least toxic alternatives. The Ecology Center Store carries reusable lunchware, biodegradable soaps and detergents, faucet aerators, and less toxic gardening and pest control products. The EcoHouse demonstration house features the first permitted greywater system in Berkeley, and is working with East Bay MUD to become a WaterSmart showcase site. The Ecology Center was green business certified in 2008, and serves as a model for other businesses wanting to go green; we have been one of the green business stops on the Bay Area G