Grainne McIntyre, consultant, lives locally and reflects on what might help Dunbar become a Zero Waste Town. This is the second of 5 case studies from across the globe
San Francisco is a global leader in waste management. Their Zero Waste practices have been adopted in cities across the world. The city is cosmopolitan with a diverse population with a high percentage of residents that have English as a second language. Half live in small, multiple occupancy housing and a 1/3 or so are home owners. Conditions such as these might hamper recycling efforts in some cities, but not San Francisco it seems, which has a long and fascinating waste journey. Following the earthquake in 1906, waste pickers created loose federations to compete for business. Two companies emerged in the 1920’s, the Scavengers Protective Association and the Sunset Scavenger Company. By 1932 the companies were regulated and awarded exclusive licences only to merge years later to form Recology, now the sole waste collector. 
The city’s waste is controlled by the Department of Public Works and Public Health. The Department of environment (SFe) is responsible for achieving the city’s zero waste goals. In partnership, SFe and the private waste management partner collects, recycles, and disposes of all commercial and residential waste. Once landfill reached capacity the emphasis shifted to waste diversion. Transportation costs to a site nearly 80km away, partly dictated the need for change. California introduced tough new targets requiring cities and counties to:
- divert 25 % of municipal solid waste by 1995
- increase diversion to 50% by 2000.
San Francisco has exceeded the target and delivered an incredible 77% waste diversion. Going forward, San Francisco has created an ambitious goal to achieve zero waste to disposal by 2020. Legislation includes:
- The Construction industry, which has been set goals on demolition waste
- Food industries have been targeted, e.g. restaurants must use compostable or recyclable takeout containers
- Compulsory composting; San Francisco passed a law forcing recycling and composting for all residents and businesses
- Retail stores must provide compostable recycled, or recyclable bags
The economy has also benefited with the creation of locally based, well paid jobs. The waste management company is required to fill all entry-level jobs with San Francisco’s Workforce Development System, so jobs go to the disadvantaged first. Recology is also owned by employees with high share ownership. Inspiration rather than miracle, the city, its environment and its people are all winners. Critical to the successes were:
- strong waste reduction legislation
- the partnership with Recology, which helped the innovation
- progressive improvement and continued engagement on zero waste
- a community that demanded political commitment to environmental sustainability
But 2 practical things stand out. First incentives were put in place that encouraged a culture of recycling and composting and second a well-funded community outreach programme was implemented and sustained. Waste and recycling collection rates are incentivised for Recology not just householders. Householders pay a collection service fee and additional sum based on the amount created. Recology provides recycling and composting services at no additional cost. Businesses have a highly discounted service to encourage recycling rather than landfill. Also the informal recycling sector is active – card and electronics – and by way of a local “bottle bill”, which adds 5-10 cents to glass and plastic bottles, residents and collectors can redeem them at over 20 recycling centres. Community advocates also provide support with energy efficiency, renewables, urban forestry and gardening. Traditionally hard-to-reach audiences were addressed through active community participation in environmental initiatives. But importantly, the main outreach occurs after program rollout, e.g. to help embed composting habits, but only once the infrastructure is in place. So the strong waste reduction legislation plays its its part, but the multiple incentives and well funded outreach is also critical. But why shouldn’t a relatively cohesive and much smaller community not succeed? We have the legislation, locally there’s good partnerships, and political commitment. We can do it.
References:
Virali Gokaldas (2012) Creating a culture of Zero Waste. Originally published in:- On the road to Zero Waste: Successes and lessons from around the World (Gaia, 2012). http://bit.ly/1go5Ou1 Retrieved 28/12/2013
http://www.sfenvironment.org/zero-waste