MARTINEZ -- Tough economic times can have an upside. Cost-
cutting often coincides with environmentally friendly practices,
according to "waste sleuth" Todd Sutton. "How you can Become a
Sustainable Citizen," is a 90-minute PowerPoint presentation
which grew out of the enthusiastic response to Sutton's Martinez
composting classes, said Michael Chandler, Martinez senior
management analyst. "We asked him to develop a course that would
appeal to people interested in environmental issues and educate
them on a variety of ways that they could easily apply
sustainable practices in their everyday lives," Chandler said.
"As it turns out, many of these practices can also save people
money, so it provides tangible benefits on a variety of fronts."
Sustainability is the newest catchphrase for environmentalism
with an economic-awareness factor. It usually refers to
considering the fiscal impact of environmental requirements on
cities or states. At a Saturday class, Sutton focused on
individual actions that help improve the