The Nation's Most Ambitious Recycling Law

Composting will prevent tons of material from going to the landfill, create healthy soil for our local farms and help us fight global warming.

Today at the Farmer's Market in front of San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building I am signing the nation's first mandatory composting law. It's the most comprehensive recycling and composting legislation in the country and the first to require residents and businesses to compost food scraps.

A number of years ago, San Francisco set a lofty green goal--we wanted to divert 75 percent of our resources from the landfill by 2010 and achieve zero waste by 2020. At the time, many people thought our targets were overly ambitious. However, San Francisco is poised to meet these goals. We are currently keeping 72 percent of recyclable material out of our landfill.

We recently conducted a waste-stream analysis and discovered that about two thirds of the garbage people throw away--half a million tons each year--could have been recycled or turned to compost. If we were able to capture everything, we'd be recycling 90 percent--preventing additional waste material from going to the landfill, and creating hundreds of green-collar jobs.

San Francisco already converts over 400 tons of food scraps and other compostable discards into high-grade organic compost every day. It's so nutrient-rich that the final product is almost jet black in color. It's snapped up by farms and vineyards across the Bay Area, we can barely keep up with the demand. By requiring all residents and businesses to compost, we'll increase the amount of "black gold" available for sustainable regional agriculture and improve our environment.

When food scraps break down in an oxygen-starved landfill it creates large quantities of methane gas, a greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide when measured over a 20 year period. It also creates acids that can leach toxins from the landfill.

Composting food scraps produces little to no methane because there is sufficient oxygen in the process. And using the resulting compost reduces greenhouse gases by returning carbon to the soil, increasing plant growth, and reducing emissions associated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation. Recent studies show that farming one acre of land using conventional industrial methods releases 3,700 pounds of carbon into the atmosphere each year. Farmed sustainably, with compost and cover crops, that same acre will put 12,000 pounds of carbon back into the earth.

I believe that composting will become second nature for Americans, just like sorting bottles and paper. It will take time, but I believe mandatory composting will spread across the country--improving the air we breathe and reducing our need for landfills.

For more info on our recycling programs please visit - www.sfenvironment.org/.

Follow Gavin Newsom on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GavinNewsom

Comments

[whitewaterwillie]

Interesting comments about a nanny state. In Wisconsin, we have had mandatory recycling since the early 1990s. Its so popular, that when a repub representative at the behest of the state's main business tried to repeal the law it never made it out of committee, and no one has tried since. I have never ever heard a resident complain that they have to separate out their recycling.

As far as the composting, it varies between communities. The town where I live (pop. 12,000) requires all yard waste to be composted, but not food scraps. Even so, every year we generate an amazing amount of compost. Anyone can take as much as they can haul away at no charge, usually by the truck load. As a dyed in the wool veggie gardener, its Nirvana.

[pissedmichael]

Drop in the bucket. When we start calling manufacturers to task for their outrageous packaging methods, then I might think something serious was in the works. At least 90% of packaging is at least 50% more than what is actually needed to encompass a product. That's just the items in a box. How about all those ridiculously plasticised packages we all risk life and limb to open, sometimes requiring stitches if you have the temerity to use bare hands. And, those are not recyclable. How many times have you gone to put a plastic beverage container into your local recycling center only to learn they don't accept or don't pay the 5 cents shown on the side--apparently this only happens in Hawaii and Maine. Grocery stores still offer plastic and paper sacks for your groceries, and if you don't like it, they're happy to charge you 2 bucks for their 'green' reusable bag. I've even heard they may charge us for continuing to use paper or plastic, and that's insane. I am happy recycle and compost, but the manufacturers make it difficult by over-packaging everything, creating ever more waste not likely to be recycled. And all this just to disguise the meagerness of their offerings along with, of course the magnified images supposedly representing the contents. Ha! Industry is the biggest source of waste and I'd like to see them held accountable for accelerating the problem.

[marco01]

Why so pessimistic, mike? On a city scale, SF is doing about as much as it can, and will get better in all areas. And

Drop's gonna become a flood. One thing at at time.

Obviously San Francisco can't set law nationwide, but it's wise actions can effect the nation for positive change. Other cities will see the good sense in this.

Someday laws will be enacted to minimize packaging as well.

[zizyphus]

Gavin Newsom for President!

[LaurenSFO1]

I'll second that! Gavin Newsom for President of Sunset Scavenger Recycling!

[marco01]

har d har

May your back yard view be a landfill, I curse thee.

[GayGrandpa]

I'd rather see him as governor; I think he could turn things around if anyone can.

[LaurenSFO1]

Really!!! Is that a faith-based proposition, or is your opinion grounded in the world of empirical evidence? And, if the latter, what might that be?

[JayeSF]

I would seriously invite any and ALL Huffpost members or readers to review gavin newsom's record as mayor of SF. NOT what he claims his record to be, but his actual record.
Draconian slashing of community and health services in the last 8 years , the complete capitulation to large downtown corporate interests, the refusal to tax the rich and successful businesses (on the contrary, the very Republican quality of continually giving the well-to-do tax breaks), the destruction of affordable housing in the city, resulting in the gentrification of working class neighborhoods and the homogenization of the city's citizenry; the refusal to implement local initiatives which were passed overwhelmingly by the voters (such as requirements to meet with the Board of Supervisors and hold community forums regularly). Add to this the fact that his home was purchased by the Getty's, not himself, as well as the pattern of taking over public lands for private, luxury development. and his steadfast opposition to public power..and you will see that while this individual has quite the PR team going for him, he is quite simply....a cipher....and one who's claims of success and accomplishments, seemingly going unchallenged in teh mainstream media, bear no resemblence to reality.

The very fact that he has chosen to blog here is, as opposed to a sincere desire to communicate with t progressives, yet another example of his well-oiled (and funded) campaign machine's PR image-making motives.

[jj]

As a native San Franciscan, I say 'Bravo.'

[ssgman]

I second the bravo. I tried to post some similar insights as an SF resident--but they fell into the bin of no return.

[zizyphus]

Bummer. Well, at least he is composting.

[CaliforniaGirl]

ditto...di­tto...ditt­o.....as a San Francisco resident his tenure as Mayor has been the worst....

[womo]

As a newer SF resident I have to respect your persepective (longer term) on his tenure as mayor. That said, coming from elsewhere in the country and in the world, it's hard not to see him and what he's done as being rationally progressive and making tough fiscal, bipartisan compromises. To me that's what politics is, and he's very good at it.

Despite your complaints, the city is easily the most ecologically developed of the major US cities, well respected around the world (there's that PR machine working for all of us), and socially progressive in ways that break the mold and really matter.

[LaurenSFO1]

All of which, Womo, have virtually noting substantively to do with Mayor Gavin Newsom's legislative efforts. And lest we forget, Newsom was the poster boy for the "Yes on Prop 8" campaign with his indefensibly manic outburst: " . . . it's going to happen, whether you like it or not . . ." The Mayor single-handedly galvinized more California voters to engage in curtailing Gay Marriage equality than any other single campaign factor.

[bunjee]

Thank you Mayor Newsome. I was born in San Francisco and living there, my friends and I were composting over a decade ago. I am proud of this city and can only hope that other municipalities will follow suit. This is absolutely crucial to moving forward against climate change. New York, you waste more than 25,000 tons per day, all of which is shipped out of the city to landfill in other states. New York touts itself as the best city in the world but how do you answer for your failures in environmental sustainability.

[gypsy508]

A completely unenforceable law. Who are you going to fine in a multi-unit building?

[Nerdacus]

Didn't watch the video, did you?

[sfsoma]

Does anyone know how the by-products of this public composting program are distributed for their intended use? The only information available on the SFGOV website is:

" Food scraps, plant trimmings, soiled paper, and other compostables are turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment, or compost, that is used to produce the organic food and wine that San Francisco is famous for serving."

How is this material distributed, who gets it, what (if anything) do they pay for it and what is the process one has to go through to obtain it?

[Rebecca Borchers]

This is really awesome.

Here in Seattle, WA, we have a mandatory recycling program, but what about soiled paper? What about food? I have often thought that a composting program alongside regular garbage disposal and recycling programs was a must, and have been perplexed why it has not always been this way.

Way to go, Mayor whatshisname. If I lived in SF, you'd definitely get my vote. Now, if we could only get Seattle to take such a measure...

[jmundstuk]

Composting is here, whether you like it or not! (Note: Sardonic reference here.)

[atawfik25]

san fran is really ahead of the curve. imagine if my city of ny could copy what they have done. the amount saved would be huge.

[cyclobenzaprine9]

Awesome, Mayor (and future Gov.) Newsom! So glad to have you here representing SF!

[FZliveson]

Next it will be fines if we don't donate blood on Newsom's schedule.
After that, all fireplaces will be banned. (and no, burning wood does not increase the CO2 levels in the atmosphere because the bacterial breakdown of wood produces the same amount.)
After that all cars will be banned at all times in Golden Gate park.
After that, only pretty people will be allowed at tourist spots, like Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf.
Gavin Newsome really thinks people need a babysitter. His ex-wife would surely agree, in his case.

[indy100]

Dear FZliveson, PEOPLE DO NEED A BABYSITTER! As a society (and I include my own family) we have become lazy and excessively consumptive. Think hummers. Think cleaning wipes we use ONCE and then toss in the trash. Think obese people always eating fast food instead of actually fixing a real meal. Think kids who won't do anything but sit in front of a computer. Need I go on? Some of us don't need somebody looking over our shoulder all the time, because we try to think about what we're doing and the consequences of doing it, but the majority aren't thinking they're just consuming and tossing.

Composting isn't hard, get over it. I compost and nobody makes me. Sorting recyclables isn't hard, it takes 30 seconds of sorting time. I wish that here in Utah we recycled more than paper, cardboard, specific plastics and tin products. I hate buying things in glass containers because I have to throw them out, we don't recycle them here.

What's ironic is that you're probably fine with things like the Patriot act which is far more than mere babysitting. It's an actual invasion of your privacy and erosion of your contitutional rights. And you're worried about composting???

[Anthony Brown Jr.]

Hey, I'm all for voluntary measures. When the bastard government mandates it, I look around for the facts behind the hype. ALl this does is enrich the mayor's friends in the recycling industry.

Just because the majority don't believe like you do, does that mean that you should impose your will on other's? I mean, what if you were forced against your will, at the barrel of the gun of a state enforcement officer and/or fine, and/or jail time for something that you are not sure is really happening?

I lived in San Francisco for over 10 years. I left because I was tired of being forced to do dubious things to feed the so called 'global warming' beast. You want to go and sift throgh your garbage? be my guest, but don't force me to do it if I don't want to.

You are nothing but a totalitarian state sympathizer. Only thugs force others to do what they think is in the 'best interest of the people.'

[NathanSW]

Thank you Mayor Newsom for your continued leadership on progressive issues. I'm glad you're running for governor and I look forward to voting for you.

[Aldebaran]

As a San Francisco resident I am oppose to mandatory recycling and composting. I recycle and I compost because I want to. After growing up in Texas I was use to throwing everything in the garbage: electronics, light bulbs, batteries, tree clippings, among other things. After moving to San Francisco I saw my neighbors recycling and after looking at the about of waste that I as a single person generated, felt compelled to recycle and compost. But the idea of forcing people to do it or risk fines is absured and frankly it's the very "nanny state" environment that Billo references nightly on his show. This is America right? What other thing can the government force us to do? No one has even addressed the issue and effect this can have on the rodent and roach population.

[keenhumor]

Only if all the world was like you, Aldebaran. But... apparently we act like children still, and thus a "nanny" is more than appropriate.

Why is it so absurd to "enforce" people to recycle? If everybody did it, we wouldn't need it! But that's not the case.

(Roach population? What a way to exit the core of the topic....)

[DennisMM]

At core, all laws are part of the nanny state. While some are obviously intended to prevent physical and monetary harm, others are purely moral or preventive. Why do we have speed limits when people can regulate their own driving safety? Why bother to have drug laws or prostitution ordinances? Liquor laws? Voter fraud regulations? Laws exist because too many of us refuse to take responsibility for our own actions. When new needs are recognized and the population fails to engage in the social action necessary to meet these new needs, laws must be created.

Until people follow the golden rule, we'll need new laws frequently.

[hellameangirl]

I don't see it as "nanny" state that we have to use garbage cans in parks rather than just tossing garbage on the ground. I don't see why this is an different. I'm from the bay area and moved to LA a couple years ago. I was shocked that its not mandatory for landlords to provide recycling bins here. I DO want to recycle and compost, but since my landlord doesn't care I have to go out of my own way to take bottles and cans somewhere. It sux.

[marco01]

I want the freedom to throw my garbage on the ground!

[marco01]

You don't live in a bubble, everything you do effects someone else.

Newsflash, when living in modern society, government already forces you to do or not do things so we can live in civil society together. They're called laws. In time, conditions change so we change laws.

You have to register your car and get insurance for it. You have to obey the speed limit. Damn nanny state forcing you to do things.

[marco01]

If you can't handle being a responsible citizen in modern society, I suggest you move back to TX. In TX, it is OK to p!ss upstream of your "neighbors."

[SierraClubGreenHome2]

Good on Gavin! Someone has to lead the way. South Koreans have been doing this for a while and now it's second nature to them. Much like when mandatory seatbelt laws were first introduced, there was a lot of initial grumbling, but after a period of adjustment you do it out of habit. The vast majority are not going to recycle out of the goodness of their heart. Just look at what you would consider to be the "greenest" in the country - Portland, Seattle, etc - they still only have a little better than half of the people recycling (Seattle may be better now with a mandatory recycling law). Places like Las Vegas with a 3-5% recycling rate are never going to catch up if it is left up to volunteers.

[Joy Williams]

"The vast majority are not going to recycle out of the goodness of their heart. "

That's exactly right. People are lazy. A lot of people still throw trash out of their car while driving or throw litter on the ground, even though there are LAWS about that too. So what if it's a Nanny state. The American people, many of them are pretty immature and juvenile.

[x76]

Recycling subsidizes corporations. If I make compost, it'll be in my own backyard. Not because the state tells me to do so. Comrade.

[marco01]

It's not a nanny state. It's what's required to live in modern civilization, laws. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that someday we will run out of ground for landfills. And is landfills a wise way of handling this precious resource of ours, our great country? You know, the one that goes from sea to shining sea with amber waves of grain with festering mountains of underground trash?

That crying Indian in that 70s commercial had it right.