Waste Reduction

Resource Conservation

To maximize purchases of recycled products and increase diversion of waste from City government departments and facilities

Topic Areas Addressed:

Waste Reduction

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Keywords:

waste, waste reduction, recycling, composting, conservation, san francisco

Submitting Jurisdiction:

City and County of San Francisco

The Resource Conservation Ordinance, the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance, Surplus Disposal Ordinance and the 75% Waste Diversion Resolution for City Departments requires all City government departments, facilities and parks to conserve resources by implementing the following programs:
• Reusing office supplies, furniture, and computers before buying new;
• Sorting and collecting compostable and recyclable materials;
• Maximizing the purchase of products with high levels of post-consumer recycled content, reduced packaging, and end-of-life management (i.e. product take-back);
• Requiring janitorial crews to consolidate and properly collect recyclables and compostables through contract specifications;
• Purchasing environmentally preferable products (such as non-PVC plastics, remanufactured toner cartridges and rechargeable batteries);
• Setting diversion goals and evaluating success;
• Recruiting and training of departmental Recycling Coordinators.

Each City department must designate at least one Recycling Coordinator who is responsible for compliance. Additionally, departments must conduct an audit to determine the types of waste generated, how best to divert this material from landfill, and report annually on waste and diversion statistics.

The provision of the Ordinance has been reinforced by subsequent administrative and legislative action, including a 2008 directive from Mayor Newsom requiring departments to purchase only 100% post-consumer paper, and the recently adopted Mandatory Composting and Recycling Ordinance.

Public Outreach and Education:

The Environment Department provides resources including site visits, audits, signage, containers and equipment, as well as city vendor coordination. SF Stat (the City’s public report of department performance measures) includes the diversion rate of the top 15 City waste generators.

Target Audience:

All City government departments and City-owned facilities

Measurable Outcomes:

Over 3,000 City employees have received some form of resource conservation training, and of these, 130 have been trained as Department Recycling Coordinators.

Fiscal Impacts:

The city saves nearly $1 million in disposal costs each year by maximizing diversion.

Originating Source:

The Board of Supervisors adopted the Resource Conservation Ordinance originally in 1992 to meet AB 939 requirements, which mandated that City departments reduce their waste. The ordinance was amended in 2000 in order to strengthen objectives of conserving landfill space and natural resources, lowering City disposal costs, and purchasing products with recycled content.