Moving closer to zero waste in San Francisco
March 31, 2011
Thanks to one of the country’s toughest mandatory recycling and composting laws, the total refuse that San Francisco diverts to recycling and compost is nearing 80 percent, and the number is rising every year. Those following interesting recycling initiatives around North America have probably heard of San Francisco’s aggressive “zero waste by 2020” goal. To put some teeth into that goal, there is a detailed Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance that requires city residents and businesses to separate their refuse into recyclables, compostables and trash. Requires. Not requests.
Inside the 25 page ordinance, passed in late 2009, the Board of Supervisors noted that “…organic or compostable waste that is buried in the aerobic conditions of landfills creates methane gas…21 times as potent as carbon….and 20% of San Francisco’s planed reductions in emissions come from diverting additional solid waste from landfills…”
The ordinance goes on to note that 36% of what residents send to landfills is compostable (mostly food scraps) and that 31% is recyclable (mostly paper). The ordinance addresses residential, commercial and government usage.
While mandating new procedures, the ordinance was accompanied by an innovative public education program designed to show the ease and convenience of composting and other best practices. Take a peek at this sample post called “Food scrap collection is easy: find the best method that works for you.” Or the cool 30 second TV ad that asked for your apple core! Simple concept: when the benefits and ease of recycling and composting are made clear — they happen! Kudos to San Francisco for taking a lead that other cities are now following and for trail blazing on policy and on education.
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It is amazing that a city can do so much and have such great goals for diversion. I am hoping for these government and city push in Nevada to promote composting programs so this can take off in Nevada. However, it seems to be as these composting programs get larger and larger the end result, the compost itself, gets worse and worse. I am hoping for Harvest Superpowered’s thought on the increased necessity for the composters processing such huge amounts of material to continue to create quality products. There are many compost sites throughout California that create so much compost and much of this being so contaminated that they just use it as landfill cover. Does this promote the end result of composting or is creating such bad compost that is goes the landfill anyway against the real reason we compost, creating the best soils to use in our gardens to grow the best food possible?
Hey Cody,
Great commentary. The organic diversion market is absolutely evolving. Just as it took time to educate people about how to properly recycle aluminum cans and paper, it’s taking time to educate people how to properly recycle (e.g. compost) food scraps and yard debris.
We believe with good education tools and lots of information sharing, we can continue to create top quality compost products.
If you know of a business or individual that has been a champion in your community at source separated out organics, nominate them as an SSO Superhero so we can share their tips and tricks.