Best Practices

WASTE REDUCTION BEST PRACTICE

Zero Waste

Oakland, CA

Purpose

To reduce present levels of waste disposal by 90% in order to reverse growing local/regional health and financial liabilities.

Background & Summary

The Oakland City Council adopted a Zero Waste Strategic Plan in December 2006, with policies and initiatives to guide the planning and decision-making process in achieving Zero Waste. Oakland’s Zero Waste Goal is to cut the City’s current waste disposal of 400,000 tons per year to 40,000 tons per year – a 90% reduction.

Zero Waste does not just manage the “end of the pipeline” disposition of products and materials. Rather, it acknowledges the vast flow of resources and waste through our society and economy, challenges the wasteful and inefficient use of material and energy resources, and creates greater opportunities for local sustainable economic development.

The Plan establishes the following strategies which prioritize “upstream” solutions to stop waste before it is created, and include initiatives to improve and expand traditional, “end of the pipeline” recycling programs and public education:

1. Expand and Improve Local and Regional Recycling and Composting
2. Develop and Adopt New Rules and Incentives to Reduce Waste Disposal
3. Preserve Land for Sustainable Development and Green Industry Infrastructure
4. Advocate for Manufacturer Responsibility for Product Waste, Ban Problem Materials
5. Educate, Promote and Advocate a Zero Waste Sustainability Agenda

As part of strategy #2, the Oakland City Council adopted a new Zero Waste System Design in 2012. The new system will replace the existing contracts set to expire in June 2015 and is projected to reduce annual landfill disposal to 120,000 tons by 2030. Key elements of this system are:

1. A single franchise for citywide garbage and organics collection services capable of maximizing diversion of organics and minimizing landfill disposal of garbage, and provides recycling services to Oakland businesses on a non-exclusive basis.
2. A single franchise for citywide residential recycling focused on maximizing recycling, particularly in the challenging multifamily sector.
3. Landfill capacity procured separately from collection and processing services to attract the broadest pool of proposers on the garbage and organics franchise, by eliminating landfill ownership as a barrier.
4. A permit system to regulate commercial recycling services to continue operation of the long-established independent recyclers, and allow the city to establish and enforce waste diversion and other performance standards.
5. A non-exclusive franchise system to regulate construction and demolition debris hauling activities, allow the City to establish and enforce waste diversion and other performance standards, and to stimulate broader use of mixed debris processing facilities in the region.

Public Outreach & Education:
As outlined in the Strategic Plan, the City strives to increase public knowledge on Zero Waste with the following tools:

• Partner with regional, state, and national advocacy groups working on legislative and social changes that further Zero Waste goals (critical planning, infrastructure issues): ABAG, EDAB, Californians Against Waste, Berkeley Ecology Center, PSI, Product Policy Institute, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, National Recycling Coalition, California Manufacturers Association, California Retailers Association, California Grocers Association.
• Target local businesses to adopt sustainable and waste-minimizing practices, create more waste audits, how-to guides, and periodic follow-ups; additionally the development of a Yahoo group for Zero Waste Businesses in Oakland demonstrates the use of new communication and media tools.
• Hold public meetings (as City Hall did throughout 2006) with introduction presentations on the Zero Waste Goal and Plan with opportunity for public response.

Fiscal Impacts

Currently, waste reduction programs are funded through the Recycling Program Fund, with fee revenues deriving from garbage rates. The Fund allows up to $150,000 per year in the Non-Residential Recycling Fund, therefore the initiative would not affect the City’s General Purpose Fund.

The estimated cost of an economic and municipal finance study to assess restructuring alternatives and incentives to reduce waste is $200,000 per completed study. There is also an estimated cost of $300,000 per year incurred by additional staffing and resources focusing on Zero Waste and sustainability.

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Last updated October 12, 2012

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