Climate Action Plan - Measure SW-1.1
Solid Waste Diversion
The
County aims to achieve 80% solid waste diversion rate by 2030. Currently, construction and demolition debris and
organic materials (including food scraps and yard trimmings) make up almost 70%
of unincorporated county waste going to landfill. The County aims to divert more
of these types of materials from landfill by implementing the County’s Strategic
Plan to Reduce Waste.
- 2030 Target: Achieve 80% solid waste diversion in the unincorporated county
Where are we going?
Since
the State passed Assembly Bill (AB) 939, California’s Integrated Waste
Management Act, the County has implemented numerous recycling and organics
collection and diversion programs and policies to increase the unincorporated
county’s waste diversion rate. As a result, the County’s diversion rate
increased from 48% in 1995 to 60% in 2019, just below the statewide rate of
62%. With construction and demolition (C&D) debris accounting for up to 34%
of waste that is sent to landfill, the County adopted a Construction &
Demolition Debris Recycling Ordinance to increase the diversion of C&D
debris.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is implementing the Strategic Plan to Reduce Waste to reduce
the need for new landfills, lower greenhouse gas emissions from waste
decomposition and the transportation of waste to landfills, and conserve energy.
Aligning with State requirements, the County aims to increase the waste
diversion rate to 75% by 2025, and 80% waste diversion by 2030.
The
Strategic Plan to Reduce Waste
contains over 15 individual programs and initiatives focused on waste
prevention, reuse, repair, recycling, composting, and more. Targeted materials
for diversion include traditional recyclables, yard trimmings, food scraps,
compostable paper, and construction and demolition debris.
The
County plans to achieve the 80% waste diversion target by updating franchise hauler
agreements related to the collection of recyclable materials and construction
and demolition debris and amending County land use and zoning regulations to
allow more organics collection and processing within the unincorporated county.
On May 5, 2021, the Board approved updates to the Solid Waste Ordinance that require haulers who collect construction and demolition materials to obtain a franchise agreement and creates the Certified Recyclable Materials Collector program. On September 14, 2022, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Organic Materials Ordinance Update to make it easier to set up small to large scale commercial organics processing facilities and operations within the unincorporated area.
The
Department of Public Works takes a creative approach in working with schools,
community groups, businesses, and residents to find individualized solutions
for their specific needs. DPW provides training and education, equipment for
recycling, and information on food donation. DPW also provides feedstock,
siting, and permit assistance to those interested in starting or expanding
recycling processing infrastructure. Additional efforts include supporting food waste prevention, expanding food donation programs, standardizing commercial and residential waste collection services, and expanding technical and household hazardous waste recycling services.
How is this measured?
Since
1990, the County estimates its annual diversion rate using methodology
established by the state. Currently, waste in the unincorporated areas includes
34% construction and demolition debris, 34% organics, and 23% recyclables as the
three major sources of waste, most of which is recoverable. By diverting more
recyclables, organic materials including food scraps, and construction and
demolition debris, the County plans to reach the diversion rate of 80% by 2030.
Greenhouse gas emissions occur when organic materials decompose in an anaerobic
environment producing methane, a greenhouse gas 85 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gas emissions
are calculated based on the total amount of waste landfilled and the percent of
organic content within the landfilled waste. Reducing the amount of organic
material within landfills leads to a reduction in total greenhouse gas
emissions from this sector.
Why is this important?
Achieving
80% waste diversion will benefit unincorporated county residents and businesses
by improving and simplifying recycling services, decreasing the costs of
disposal by providing more materials recovery opportunities, increasing access
to household hazardous waste services, increasing recycling and donation
events, and expanding the life of existing landfills. Diverting materials from
landfill decreases greenhouse gas and transportation emissions, disposal fees,
and pollution that results from landfill operations.
Composting
organic materials avoids methane production and results in valuable soil
amendments such as compost and mulch. When applied to local farms, compost and
mulch help build healthy soil that is better equipped to take carbon from the
atmosphere into the soil through sequestration. Increasing organic materials
collection and processing within the unincorporated county will also provide
new business opportunities, spur local compost and mulch markets, and return important
nutrients and moisture back to the soil naturally within a closed loop system.
Think Reuse, Repair & Donation Before Recycling
Reducing Food Waste at Home
Compost-Nature’s Way of Recycling
The Right Way to Recycle - Empty, Dry & Loose
Want to Learn More?
ReThink Waste: Take a second look at what you're throwing away
Waste Free San Diego: protect, collect, recycle.