Dive Brief:

• The San Diego City Council is asking its staff to devise a plan to reduce the volume of waste entering landfills.
• The intended goal is to create a diversion plan which would eliminate the need for landfills in the area by 2040, to be accomplished via recycling, conservation efforts and composting.
• The local landfill is reaching capacity, and the state of California is requiring municipalities to reduce the amount of trash by 75% by 2020.

Dive Insight:

San Diego diverted 68% of its waste stream in 2012, a figure that has remained stagnant for three years running. The city is considering expanding the yard waste program, diverting food waste, changing funding resources and creating new regulations. An ordinance is in the works that will reduce the amount of plastic bags used at retailers.