San Diego approved several new recycling mandates this week that establish requirements for organic waste disposal and close a loophole that has exempted many businesses and apartment complexes from any kind of recycling.
City officials say the new mandates move the city closer to its goal of producing zero waste by 2040, while also laying the groundwork for complying with California’s new crackdown on organic waste that produces methane gas.
The methane produced by organic materials in landfills produces 80 times more greenhouse gas emissions than carbon dioxide, state officials say.
The new mandates, which are amendments to San Diego’s recycling ordinance adopted in 2007, will force changes in recycling procedures at businesses, single-family homes, apartment buildings and condominium complexes.
The City Council unanimously approved the changes Tuesday.
Many businesses and multifamily properties will be forced to begin recycling for the first time. Those that have already had recycling programs must add yard waste and other organic materials, including green trimmings and food scraps.
City officials said the new requirements could increase the trash fees that businesses and multifamily residential properties pay, but that would depend on deals they work out with their private haulers.
The change closes a loophole that had exempted from recycling some small businesses and multifamily properties with less than five units.
Businesses also must start recycling food material and food-soiled paper that is mixed with food material. The city has a related goal of diverting 20 percent of edible food waste to food banks or similar organizations.
Businesses and multifamily properties are exempt if they produce less than half a cubic yard of solid waste, which is roughly one-sixth of a typical dumpster.
Single-family homes must start recycling yard trimmings and food scraps if they produce at least two cubic yards of organic waste. But the city doesn’t plan to immediately issue customers new green bins for organic waste, forcing them to put that waste in their own receptacles.
The changes will help San Diego comply with two state laws that mandate recycling by local governments: AB 1826, which requires organics recycling, and AB 341, which requires 75 percent of discarded material to be recycled.
San Diego will now meet several requirements of AB 341. But the city won’t meet the 75 percent goal, partly because since 2017 China dramatically shrank the amount of recycled material it buys from America.
Before the shift by China, San Diego’s recycling program typically turned a $4 million annual profit. Now taxpayers are likely to have to start subsidizing it.
On AB 1826, the threshold for compliance was lowered in September to those producing at least two cubic yards of organic waste. That’s because the state didn’t meet its goal of reducing disposal of organic materials by 50 percent between 2014 and 2020.
To help city officials visualize two cubic yards, Ken Prue, the city’s recycling program manager, said a typical dumpster is three cubic yards.
Prue said this week’s changes will be followed later this year by several municipal code amendments that will include mandates to help San Diego comply with an aggressive new state law, SB 1383.
The law, which has mandates that kick in next year, aims to reduce methane emissions, the No. 1 contributor to climate change.
Prue called the law “a massive overhaul” of the state’s waste management system that “poses a significant challenge to local government.”
It has steep penalties for not meeting the mandated diversion rates. And “good faith efforts,” which have previously been sufficient, no longer will be, he said.
In addition, the state is not providing any funding to help cities meet the goals of SB 1383.
Councilman Joe LaCava said city officials should embrace the new law.
“One can argue and be frustrated that a lot of these are unfunded mandates from the state, but I think the state has provided a vision that we all need to adhere to, and I’m appreciative of that,” he said.
Councilman Raul Campillo said San Diego must acknowledge a rough road ahead.
“This is a really important topic,” he said. “In the next five, six, seven years, with recycling globally and waste management here locally, we’re facing some difficult challenges.”
Recent Comments