After researching the environmental problems associated with landfilling, CAC has concluded that rather than expand existing operations or siting a new landfill, a zero waste program is more environmentally sound and offers long-term economic benefits to the region. Some cities in the county have yet to meet the minimum state mandated diversion requirements of 50%. The zero waste systems approach which involves rethinking the way products and services are engineered, manufactured, consumed, and discarded, has been gaining popularity worldwide as an environmentally friendly, economically sound approach to long-term resource management. Most of New Zealand; Canberra, Australia; San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Oakland and the counties of Del Norte, Santa Cruz, and Alameda in California have already adopted zero waste policies.
“The beauty of the zero waste principle is that it creates and sustains jobs, preserves natural resources, minimizes pollution, and empowers communities and their local economies. There isn’t a better solution to improving the overall quality of life in San Diego County,” said CAC Chair Richard Anthony.
The County of San Diego’s Integrated Waste Management Task Force was established in 1988 as advisors to elected officials and the planning process and is comprised of representatives from environmental, recycling, composting and disposal businesses and agencies.
The County of San Diego Integrated Waste Management Citizens Advisory Committee recommends that SANDAG, the County and all the Cities in the County adopt resolution similar to the following.
WHEREAS, Zero Waste is a philosophy and visionary goal that emulates natural cycles, where all outputs are simply an input for another process. It means designing and managing materials and products to conserve and recover all resources and not destroy or burn them, and eliminate discharges to land, water, or air that do not contribute productively to natural systems or the economy; and
WHEREAS, the California Integrated Waste Management (CIWM) Act of 1989 required cities and counties to reduce, reuse and recycle (including composting) solid waste generated in the state to the maximum extent feasible before any incineration or landfill disposal of waste, to conserve water, energy and other natural resources, and to protect the environment; and
WHEREAS, the CIWM Act of 1989 mandated that California cities and counties divert 50 percent of all waste generated by the year 2000, but did not set any subsequent waste reduction goals,
WHEREAS, the placement of materials in waste disposal facilities, such as landfills and incinerators, wastes natural resources and wrongly transfers liabilities to future generations, while avoiding the creation of waste or discards in the first place is the most economically efficient and environmentally sustainable resource management strategy and supports a resource recovery based economy that is more sustainable than a disposal-based economy; and
WHEREAS, with the appropriate economic incentives, manufacturers can and will produce and businesses will sell products that are durable and repairable and that can be safely recycled back into the marketplace or nature; and
WHEREAS, with the appropriate economic incentives, manufacturers can and will package items in materials that are recyclable or can be returned to nature; and
WHEREAS, government is ultimately responsible for establishing criteria needed to eliminate waste, for creating the economic and regulatory environment in which to achieve it, and for leading by example; and
WHEREAS, diversion of solid waste involves planning for appropriate facilities, inclusion of recycling bins in all multi-family dwellings, and attraction of industries that reuse components of the solid waste stream; and
WHEREAS, while the diversion of materials from landfill disposal itself carries a cost, the cost of landfill disposal will continue to increase with no economic return; and
WHEREAS, the conservation of these materials will allow thousands of new jobs in reuse, dismantling, recycling and composting industries in San Diego County:
WHEREAS, the California Integrated Waste Management Board has adopted “Zero Waste. Its up to you” as the State wide slogan,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County and Cities of San Diego hereby adopts Zero Waste as a long-term goal in order to eliminate waste and pollution in the manufacture, use, storage, and recycling of materials. This goal can be achieved through action plans and measures that significantly reduce waste and pollution. These measures will include encouraging residents, businesses and agencies to use, reuse, and recycle materials judiciously, in addition to encouraging manufacturers to produce and market less toxic and more durable, repairable, reusable, recycled, and recyclable products; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cities and County of San Diego hereby establishes a milestone of 75 percent landfill diversion by the year 2010 towards the goal of Zero Waste; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cities and County of San Diego directs the Agency Administrative officer to work with County Departments and bring back in 6 months a plan for zero waste with a 75% goal by the year 2010.
