Dive Brief:
- San Diego's City Council accepted a proposal on Monday that attempts to meet the city's goal of diverting all trash from the Miramar Landfill by 2040.
- The proposal strives to eliminate 75% of trash by 2020, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040.
- Suggestions made by the plan include increasing the frequency at which materials are collected, investing in education and outreach programs, collecting yard waste, and speeding up the rate at which materials are recycled.
Dive Insight:
If San Diego wants to reach its goals beyond 2020, the city will have to expand its infrastructure and also make monetary investments. The proposal makes recommendations to cut costs, and if San Diego implements them, the city can save up to $8 million. However, San Diego must also keep in mind that as less waste goes into the landfill, it will have to find other means to fund trash and recycling services.
The proposal is momentous because it eliminates the 1919 People's Ordinance, which guaranteed free trash pickup for single-family homes. San Diego hopes that by eliminating this ordinance, it will be able to incentivize people to recycle their waste.
City council members hope to improve the quality of life for San Diegans and become an environmental leader through the implementation of the proposal.
"The city of San Diego continues to be an environmental leader and the 'Zero Waste' plan is just the latest step we're taking to leave a better tomorrow for the next generation of San Diegans," said Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
