On October 21st, San Francisco’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance took effect. The ordinance requires everyone in San Francisco to separate their refuse into recyclables, compostables and trash. According to SF Environment’s website, no one may mix recyclables, compostables or trash, or deposit refuse of one type in a collection container designated for another type. Furthermore, all properties are required to maintain and pay for adequate refuse service, but properties with insufficient space may apply for a waiver. While residences have been required for decades to subscribe and pay for refuse collection service, this ordinance extends that requirement to commercial properties. Now any property owner who fails to maintain and pay for adequate refuse service is subject to liens, fines, and other fees. Fines can go up to $1,000, but may not exceed $100 for small generators (anyone producing up to one cubic yard of refuse per week—about six standard 32-gallon carts). The City will not create liens without a hearing or issue fines without warnings, and fines can be appealed. Sf Environment says on their website that they see warnings as opportunities for education, and expect fines to be levied only in egregious ongoing situations.
In addition, building owners or managers and managers of food vendors and events are required to maintain appropriate, color-coded (blue for recyclables, green for compostables and black for trash), labeled containers in convenient locations, and educate tenants, employees and contractors, including janitors, on how to separate materials. The Department of the Environment and collectors will provide free consultation, container labels, signage, educational materials, and other assistance that best suits the building.
Lastly, food vendors that provide disposable food service ware or to go containers must have appropriate containers for recyclables, compostables and trash for use by customers and visitors, placed inside near a main exit. The Department of the Environment will provide assistance to help produce zero waste events.
More information about the program is available here.
The City of San Jose also has plans to become a “Zero Waste” city. On October 30th of 2007, the City of San Jose, California adopted a Green Vision. Part of that green vision is a “Zero Waste” initiative that will divert 100% of the city’s waste away from land fills. As of that time, the city recycled 62% of their garbage and trash citywide.
For more infomation on their program, click here.
Stacey Meinzen has a broad range of experience in climate change policy. From her work with ICLEI doing a municipal greenhouse gas inventory to her news coverage of climate change for Flex Your Power's e-Newswire, to her research on climate change policy for Green For All, she has absorbed a range of views and interests about the best way to deal with this complex issue. Her primary interest is in local solutions that can be executed with sound policy to support them. She founded ClimateActionPlans.com to highlight key green projects and the programs and policies that allow them to happen.