Kevin Drew Residential and Special Projects Zero Waste Coordinator

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

EPRSan Francisco’s experience banning and regulating products and private

sector activities

Kevin DrewResidential and Special Projects Zero Waste Coordinator

Outline

Plastic Bag BanFoodware ordinance bans foam plasticConstruction & Demolition OrdinanceMandatory Recycling & Composting

OrdinancePhthalates Products ban Pharmaceuticals Take Back

San Francisco Statistics

Demographics 850,000 population, 1.3 million day time in 127 sq km, 9842/km2

Multilingual population - 50% don’t speak English at home

Collection & Facility Service Infrastructure Private companies for 80 years, now “Recology - Waste Zero”,

exclusive permitted collectors (for trash, compostables and most recyclables, not most of C&D) as well as processing SF recyclables and compostables

Variable service rates (PAYT) through city rate review approval process funds collection and processing

In-city recycling processing, regional composting and regional landfill via city transfer station

San Francisco Zero Waste Goals

75% Landfill Diversion for by 2010

Zero Waste by 2020

Political Drivers and Structure

CA AB 939 requires 50% LF diversion by 2000 with fines,

City & County with Committed Mayor & Board of Supervisors

SF had reached AB 939 goals by 2000

Municipal Waste

tip of the “wasteberg

”Upstream manufacturing waste is 70 times greater

Wasteberg

Plastic Bag Ban ordinance

Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance

Began as a $.25/bag fee in 2005

Opposed by local stores and plastic industry, resulting in a 1 year pilot of voluntary reduction

Stores unresponsive and pilot ineffective Statewide effort to regulate bags leads to 2,500

grocery stores agree to recycle all plastic bags Industry includes local pre-emption clause in

bill, disallowing local feesSF politicians incensed, bag ban passes 11-0 in

weeks

Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance impacts

50 large supermarkets included50 chain pharmacies included in 2 years150M bags used annually, reduced to

50M100Mbag reduction estimatedExtensive reuseable bag promotionNo discernable impact on health of San

Franciscans or on grocery stores and pharmacies

SF Food Service Waste Reduction Ordinance Effective June 2007 Food vendors cannot use of polystyrene foam (EPS) for food

prepared and served in San Francisco. Styrene life cycle health impacts, non-compostable & non-

recyclable, terrestrial & marine food web impacts

Food vendors can only use disposable food ware that is acceptable as compostable or recyclable in SF unless city determines no suitable or affordable (no more than 15% more expensive) option exists.

Over 4500 restaurants, cafes and take-out establishments targeted with outreach, including product showcase events and working with distributors.

University Food Court – Customized Signage and Sorting station

Foodservice Ware BAN Results

Total food establishments – 4,500 Compliance checks to date – 4,025 In compliance – 3,944 Warnings issued – 557 Citations issued – 175 Appeals – 2 (both resolved)

Construction & Demolition Ordinance

Effective July 1, 2006Registration of facilities and transportersNo fees, simple application processNothing can go to landfill, everything must be

source separated or sent to a processing facility

6 facilities in 6 months, 12 total as of April 2011

Facilities must attain at least 65% diversion390 transporters registered from 12 counties,

up to 250 miles away

Mandatory Composting & Recycling Ordinance

Passed July 2009, effective October 2009

Property managers must provide color-coded receptacles, signage and education

Food establishments with disposable foodware must provide 3-stream bins for public

Everyone must separate recyclables, compostables and trash

Mandatory Composting & Recycling Ordinance

Over 2,500 apartment buildings have added compost service since October 2009

Compliance up to 70%, 6200 out of 8500 in apt bldgs

Inspected over 50,000 curbside accounts in the past year, many tagged w/ “love notes”, no fines yet

Over 1000 businesses have added green bin service

Organics collection went from 390 tpd to 550tpd in the past year since ordinance went into effect

Phthalate Product Ban

Ordinance banning sale of products containing phthalates designed for use by children under the age of 3.

Several larger retailer agreed to not carry at any stores

California followed with restrictions on use

US followed suit as well

Pharmaceuticals Take Back

Ordinance drafted in 2010 and passed in 2011

Industry opposedPrior to implementation, industry came

forward with a voluntary take back program

Industry subsequently has provided funding of $120,000 for initial phase

4 police stations, 12 pharmacies set to participate starting June 2011

Important steps in local EPR effort

Spend time with stakeholders when earnestTake your best shot, there will be unintended

consequences, roll with the punchesAfter implementation, spend time with the

public and the effected audienceEducate, hand-hold, spread best practicesWarn, threaten before levying penalty – we

often see compliance at this pointPenalize egregious violators only after much

process

For more information or if you have questions please contact:

SF Department of EnvironmentResidential and Special Projects Zero

Waste Coordinator Kevin Drew

kevin.drew@sfgov.org (415)355-3732

www.sfenvironment.org