How San Francisco Is Becoming A Zero Waste City

According to the EPA, the national recycling rate in the U.S. is only about 34%. That means most of our solid waste goes to landfills and incinerators - including recyclable items like paper, glass, metal and plastic. Massive amounts of food waste that can be composted is clogging landfills, creating dangerous greenhouse gases. Many cities are starting to tackle this problem by implementing policies to help curb the waste by recycling and composting more. It's known as the "zero waste" movement, and San Francisco is on the forefront. Other cities that have zero waste goals include Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, and Oakland. But San Francisco has been the most aggressive. In 2009 the board of supervisors passed an ordinance requiring all residents and business to recycle and compost their waste, making it the first American city to make composting mandatory. Its goal is to achieve zero waste by 2020, and it has diverted 80% of its waste from landfills so far. Now the city is getting attention from all around the world. Government officials from China, Italy, France, Denmark, India and many other countries have visited San Francisco's state of the art recycling and composting facilities in hopes of learning how to replicate its success.

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Executive Producer: Laura Ling
Producer: Pam Torno
Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer Snider
Editor: Lee Mould

[kianjsr]

at 3:00 the guy was like "what you sayin' 'bout my compost?!" *roles up sleeve ready to punch*

[edithdianeblankenship]

Husband and I have been composting for years, we use our compost for our veggies gardens and neighbors are amazed of our produce, that we share with them.

[CassieVee]

So crazy to hear an entire city is doing what I'm trying to do. Warms my heart!

[danielwharton]

this is hilarious, have you been to S.F. lately? yeah they're keeping trash out of landfills, its all in the street. along with human waste.

[jduniam]

I had heard that a small town in Japan is zero waste, but I never thought that such a large city would become such, so quickly; good job San Francisco

[firefoxhits]

Yah zero waste: no more sewage in the pipes cuz everyone's crapping on the streets!!

[JacobSammer]

He's right, I do want to hear more ecological solutions.

[blasiuspolo]

this video actually lifted my faith in humanity more.... we need more of these

[badhonebrahim]

you dont go to a person who is cleaning your shit just so that you can have a fresher future and say "it smells like hell". he didnt like it at all. 2:59

[zuutlmna]

When I worked in the East Bay area, we were doing similar sorting.. But one of the problems with receiving waste plant, and especially wood waste, is presence of residual toxins from preservative "protective" treatments, paints, etc.. Some woods can still have old layers of lead from paint, or from applications of copper-arsenic, sometimes present in pressure treated lumber. I recall when my city had to cease taking wood waste due to that problem. Wood without those toxins grinds-up for use in all kinds of good recycling processes and projects!.

[AWanderingEye]

The other key component Reuse needs to be considered as well as recycling. Here in MN, Goodwill is opening new stores regularly, I can count 5 within 5 miles of my place all opened within past 4 years, gearing up for babyboomers downsizing/dying off...Keeping things circulating also keeps them out of waste stream, or at least delays entry, leading towards zero waste. Online we advertise things for free pick up via trash nothing/free cycle. Great way to get rid of useable/rehabilitable things that would go to dump since Goodwill doesn't take everything.

[madness]

Im very proud of prodjects like this I think this is what all countries should do this way and try to throw away the least possible
I hope that projects like this or other green offensivs dont come too late to save our planet

[stefanie]

in austria nearly everybody seperates their waste into plastic, paper, residual waste and organic waste!! that makes the process of recycling and reuse the waste so much easier!! of course plastic is also a problem here - we should concentrate more on reducing our plastic waste!!

[Phamyunx]

Instead of landfills, the waste, especially the human waste and needles are all on the streets,

[HannahHinze]

Love this! It's really intriguing to see how people are adapting to deal with this pressing issue. I for one am on my own (slow but steady!) journey to becoming zero waste. :)

[davidjuliowang]

My city Nanaimo on Vancouver Island Canada has curbside composting and it has helped to cut waste generation by 30%. Our city is at near 70% waste diversion from our landfill. Incineration is a looming concern though, since our landfill is reaching capacity. We need to increase diversion even more. Next step for me is to help push to make a local recycling center that recycles styrofoam and other hard to recycle items a formal city institution and broaden its mandate.

People will care for the environment, if it's easy. Life is just too busy and often draining to dedicate much to efforts outside the necessary. Why very efficient curbside collection is a must for busy cities.

[systemthinker]

Just remember the old adage folks: Reduce, reuse then recycle.

[kofoworolatreasureogheneru]

I got here by wanting to know more about rural waste management and voila I have seen a lot that I am willing to begin to practice starting from my home. Thank You

[fillingthrough]

recycling trash is not "zero waste". its just "100% recycled waste" city.


"ZERO WASTER" should mean that 100% of people make 0% of waste while living.

[hannahleeds]

we need this in Texas!! our high ways from Austin (the capital) to El Paso are disturbingly covered in plastic bags and bottles. This is so amazing to see!!! especially in the USA