The most comprehensive recycling and composting law in the U.S. (Recycling and Composting Ordinance)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
How YOU can benefit
If you put compostables (food, plants, paper foodware, plastics labelled “compostable" not “biodegradable") in the landfill, you will create polluting greenhouse gasses. About 25% of what is in the landfill can be composted. So in 2009, San Francisco created the Recycling and Composting Ordinance which:
- Created hundreds of jobs.
- Can fine building owners $100-1,000 if they do not give tenants blue recycling, green composting, and black landfill bins and information on what to put in them.
Businesses can save up to 75% off their bill by reducing the size of their landfill bin or frequency of pick-up.
why this is a leading policy
This ordinance is the strictest and most comprehensive recycling and composting law in the U.S. because it requires everyone to comply: residents, businesses and governments.
goal
To achieve zero waste by 2020.
who can take action
All residents, businesses and city departments.
You can help building owners get a friendly reminder.
outcome
Over 8,700 apartment buildings and 16,000 commercial buildings have composting and recycling services, giving the ordinance a 99% compliance rate.
contact
Jack Macy, Commercial Zero Waste Coordinator at San Francisco Department of the Environment, (415) 355-3751, jack.macy@sfgov.org
last updated
August 14, 2015