A Greener Globe

“The chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee has reviewed the form 990 prior to filing.”

“UPON REQUEST”

“The organization has abandoned its original non-profit purpose in favor or a new purpose, which is to sell the berry street landfill to a financially responsible owner who could "close" the landfill, and, thereby, eliminate the financial and environmental burden of the landfill on the state of california and the state water board. This action was favorably endorsed by the state water board, as evidenced by its suspension of waste discharge requirements while the landfill is under the chapter 11 trustee's responsibility.”

“The organization has abandoned its original non-profit purpose in favor or a new purpose, which is to sell the berry street landfill to a financially responsible owner who could "close" the landfill, and, thereby, eliminate the financial and environmental burden of the landfill on the state of california and the state water board. This action was favorably endorsed by the state water board, as evidenced by its suspension of waste discharge requirements while the landfill is under the chapter 11 trustee's responsibility.”

“A greener globe ("agg") was incorporated on december 7, 1993, as a non-profit public benefit corporation under internal revenue code sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2), with the primary purpose of increasing awareness of the importance of recycling. In 1996, agg acquired the berry street landfill ("landfill"), a closed landfill with a transfer and recycling center, where the public could, for a fee, deposit usable garage sale items for subsequent re-use or sale. In 2003, the recycling center and adjacent land was leased to green acres nursery & supply, which continues to this day. Following its acquisition of the landfill, agg repeatedly violated the terms or waste discharge requirements imposed by the california regional water quality board ("water board"), culminating on june 4, 2015 with the water board assessing a civil liability order against agg in the amount of $677,531. On march 28, 2016, under the burden of the water board assessment, agg filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the hope that it could reorganize its affairs and continue with its original non-profit purpose. On june 14, 2016. Russell k. Burbank was appointed to serve as the chapter 11 trustee of agg (the "debtor"). As chapter 11 trustee, mr. Burbank abandoned the debtor's original non-profit purpose in favor or a new purpose, which is to find and sell the berry street landfill to a financially responsible owner who could "close" the landfill, and, thereby, eliminate the financial and environmental burden of the landfill on the state of california and the water board. This action was favorably endorsed by the state water board, as evidenced by its suspension of waste discharge requirements while the landfill is under the chapter 11 trustee's responsibility. Shortly after his appointment, mr. Burbank contacted numerous engineers, developers and realtors who were familiar with the landfill and received closure estimates ranging between $6 million and $20 million, absent the availability of reliable landfill assessment information. The range and magnitude of these estimates made the sale of the landfill on an "as-is-where-is" basis extremely problematic. In august 2017, mr. Burbank negotiated a loan-option agreement with a potential buyer of the landfill that provided funds to pay for an environmental assessment of the landfill contents ("landfill report"). The landfill report was completed in february 2018, and on october 8, 2018, the findings of this, and a second supplemental report, were presented to the state water board for its review and comment. At the meeting, representatives of the water board characterized the landfill as "well-functioning and described the contaminant levels as being not so problematic". As the date of this statement, november 1, 2018, the holder of the loan-option decided not to exercise its option for reasons unrelated to the landfill contents, and mr. Burbank has made it be known to various other parties who had earlier expressed an interest in the landfill that it will be soon be advertised for sale following an auction process under the supervision of the bankruptcy court (a "section 363 sale"). More than one party has expressed a definite intent to participate in the sale process. Although at this date there can be no assurances that a successful sale of the landfill will occur, nor can there be assurances that a purchaser of the landfill will close the landfill to the satisfaction of the state of california and the water board, the organization is very optimistic that these events will happen, and will substantially reduce the financial, environmental and public nuisance burden of the landfill on the state of california, the water board, and the public.”

“Environmental expert fees: program service expenses 155,823. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 155,823.”