San Francisco Zero Waste

Program
Steven Chiv
City and County of San Francisco, California

2020 Goal

Zero Waste
To Landfill
To Incineration
Promote Highest & Best Use

Increase Consumer & Producer Responsibility

San Francisco, California

High Population Density

Multicultural and Multilingual

Population

San Francisco, California

Our Zero Waste Policies

50% Diversion in California AB 939

50% Diversion Is Not Enough

Linear Model:
Resource Extraction-Production-ConsumptionDisposal System is Not Sustainable

Need To Go Linear to Circular Economy

Comprhensive Participation

Three Simple Streams

Photo courtesy of

Curbside Collection Bins

Consistent Color & Function

Whats Recyclable in San Francisco?

Recycling MRF

Recycle Central: Pier 96

Photo courtesy of

Recycling Facility

Recycling Jobs

Photo courtesy of

Commodities

Recycled Products

Trex Lumber

Compost?

Whats Compostable in San Francisco?

Discarded Food

Discarded Food

Composting Facilities

Photo courtesy of

Composting Facilities

Photo courtesy of

Organic Compost: Climate

Photo courtesy of

Compost Sold to Farms & Wineries

Healthy Soil & Local Food!

Recycle, Compost, No Landfill

Cost Savings and Pay as You Throw

Whats Trash in San Francisco?

Trash Hauled to Altamont Landfill

Photo courtesy of

Altamont Landfill

Photo courtesy of

Mandatory Recycling and Composting

(2009)

Media Attention

Mandatory Recycling and Composting

( 2009)
Everyone separate Recyclables,
Compostables and discards to be sent to
Landfill
Non-compliance subject to fines, property
liens, and rate surcharges

Property owners pay for adequate refuse

service

Citywide Disposal

Diversion vs Disposal

Diversion
Disposal

Catadores

Informal Recyclers

Long History of Resource Recovery

Photo courtesy of Ines

SF Zero Waste Ordinances

2006 - Construction and Demolition Debris
Recovery Ordinance: Requires C&D projects to use
city-registered transporters and processing facilities to
increase debris recovery
2006 - Food Service Waste Reduction Ordinance:
Requires restaurants and food vendors to not use
styrofoam food service ware and instead use food
ware that is recyclable or compostable
2007 - Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance:
Requires the use of compostable plastic, recyclable
paper and/or reusable checkout bags by supermarkets
and drugstores
2009 - Mandatory Recycling and Composting
Ordinance
2012 Checkout Bag Ordinance:

Construction & Demolition Waste

Minimum of 65%
diversion of C &
D required

SF Zero Waste Ordinances

2006 - Construction and Demolition Debris
Recovery Ordinance: Requires C&D projects to use
city-registered transporters and processing facilities to
increase debris recovery
2006 - Food Service Waste Reduction Ordinance:
Requires restaurants and food vendors to not use
styrofoam food service ware and instead use food
ware that is recyclable or compostable
2007 - Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance:
Requires the use of compostable plastic, recyclable
paper and/or reusable checkout bags by supermarkets
and drugstores
2009 - Mandatory Recycling and Composting
Ordinance
2012 Checkout Bag Ordinance:

Bans on Problematic Waste

Streams

Bans on Styrofoam, Bottled Water and

Bags

x xx

SF Zero Waste Ordinances

2006 - Construction and Demolition Debris
Recovery Ordinance: Requires C&D projects to use
city-registered transporters and processing facilities to
increase debris recovery
2006 - Food Service Waste Reduction Ordinance:
Requires restaurants and food vendors to not use
styrofoam food service ware and instead use food
ware that is recyclable or compostable
2007 - Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance:
Requires the use of compostable plastic, recyclable
paper and/or reusable checkout bags by supermarkets
and drugstores
2009 - Mandatory Recycling and Composting
Ordinance
2012 Checkout Bag Ordinance:

Food Service Waste Reduction (2007)

Bans polystyrene foam for food

prepared and served in San Francisco
Disposable foodware must be
compostable or recyclable

Foodware Accepted as Compostable

Paper or Plant Fiber,
prefer compostable
coated, PE coated
currently accepted, but
planning to move away
from PE coated.
Compostable Plastics
must meet ASTM D6400
and be 3rd party certified
(BPI) and labeled
compostable,
preferably in green

Checkout Bags (2007, 2012, 2013)

Covers all stores Oct 12, restaurants

Oct 13
Bans single-use plastic bags
Bags must be reusable, recyclable or
compostable
Stores charge 10 per bag provided

No Single Serve Bottled Water

Port Banned Bottled Water at Events

(2012)

Tap Water Dispensers Installed

Tap Water Dispensers Installed

Event Water Stations

Connect to Tap

Outreach: Awareness Campaigns

Opportunity to Create Social Norms

Outreach: Creating Awareness

Outreach: Awareness Campaigns

Outreach: Awareness Campaigns

Outreach: Awareness Campaigns

Outreach: Grassroots

Outreach: More Jobs!!!

Outreach: Special Events

Outreach: San Francisco Schools

Outreach Tools: Customize Signmaker

The Future?

Anaerobic Digestion

Photo courtesy of Livestock & Poultry Environmental Lea

Composting Facilities

Photo courtesy of

Compost for Rangeland Soil Carbon

Benefits

Future Zero Wasters!!

Now Is Your Time To Lead

SFEnvironment.org

Obrigado!!!
Steven Chiv
Zero Waste Specialist
(415) 355 - 3745
Steven.Chiv@SFGov.org
2014 SF Environment All Rights Reserved
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Tap Water Dispensers Installed