San Francisco's new mandatory composting ordinance

San Francisco will be implementing a mandatory composting program in mid-October.  This program will require all residential and commercial buildings to separate organic materials from non organic and dispose of them in a green bin for pickup and removal.  The purpose of the program is to work toward the goal of diverting 75% of San Francisco’s waste from landfill by 2010, and 100% by 2020.  These are important and difficult goals, and are in line with California's Global Warming Solutions Act, requiring California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (AB32).  Landfills are a large source of methane gas (a potent green house gas) and other pollutants.  Turning our organic waste stream into compost puts waste back into useful circulation, much as nature does in non-industrialized environments.  This soil-enriching compost can be used for agricultural purposes, returning nutrients to the soil.

While it can be confusing as to what goes into the various garbage bins, there are resources available to help.  You can find information and posters to place in your home and office at the web site of the San Francisco Office of the Environment.  Try these two web sites for details: SF Recycling: Collection ,  SF Environment: Composting .

The San Francisco program is geared toward property owners, trying to push them toward providing the facilities that allow tenants to sort their waste into the appropriate cart.  Each month the Department of the Environment gets hundreds of phone calls and emails from tenants of buildings that do not have a green bin available in which to place their compostable waste.  Often out-of-town landlords assume that there are expenses associated with providing the facilities required to compost and recycle, and they do not provide these facilities because it is not required by law.  However, this fear of extra cost is misplaced.  As with most topics that I cover in this column, taking part in this program will save money.  As you can see from the quote below from the SF Recycling web site, the more you divert from the black bin, the more you save:

“Basic Monthly Residential Collection Rate:  As of July 1, 2008, the basic monthly rate for the weekly collection of a 32-gallon container is $24.76. Collection rates are set to encourage recycling. The monthly collection charge is based on the black (garbage) cart. The blue and green carts are picked up at no additional charge. If you recycle enough to consistently reduce your weekly garbage volume to 20-gallons or less, you will be eligible for a 23% discount off the standard 32-gallon can rate.”

Many people are nervous and upset about the mandatory nature of this program and the fines that can be imposed for lack of compliance.  There is talk of “big brother” and “the garbage cops”.  These worries are understandable, but misplaced.  The city’s goal is to remove waste from landfill, not to collect fines.  They have found however that the only way to get those that do not want to participate is to make it law. 

The city will not be adding staff dedicated to searching through garbage to make sure that you are in compliance.  The approach will be one in which if it is observed that you are not in compliance you will be nudged; first with a note, then a letter, then a phone call, and only then with a fine.  The fines for residences can be up to $100, and up to $1,000 for businesses.

Six months ago 80% of buildings did not have three waste bins.  Since this has become a hot topic in the last three months, the number of requests for the bins has increased and the number of buildings with all three bins has increased by 80%.

San Francisco is well on its way to meeting the zero waste to landfill goals.  With a few simple behavioral changes we can all help with this important issue.  A few of the achievements so far include:

• Adopted goals of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010 and zero waste by 2020
• Diverted 70 percent (over 1,367,000 tons annually) from landfill
• Reduced landfill disposal to its lowest level in 29 years

By 2020, San Francisco hopes

to divert 100% of its waste from landfill