10% of potential reductions
The things we buy, consume, and throw away generate a lot of greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing, transport, distribution and disposal. The best way to reduce emissions is to purchase and consume less stuff in the first place, and then find someone who can reuse whatever you no longer need before considering recycling or disposal. Composting is really important too, as is donating extra food – plus, these options benefit our local community.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Buy only as much as you need.
- Tips for reducing waste at home
- The Zero Waste Home
- Repair it, don’t toss it! Repair shops
2. Buy locally grown food and eat less meat.
- Carbon impact of different food choices
- Climate Change Food Calculator
- 5 Ways to reduce meat consumption
- Local food, local impact – know your farmer
3. Put your food scraps in the green can and/or compost them at home.
4. Donate extra food and used clothing and housewares to charities.
- Donate extra food to feed locals in need
- Local donation sites for clothing and housewares – search the Recycling Guide.
- Craigslist and Freecycle are online tools for donating things
5. Don’t be a “wishful” recycler. Be scrupulous about how you sort your recyclables.
- Where Does it Go, Joe? Find out what can be recycled and what can’t!
- Where to bring all that other stuff you want to recycle
Work with Zero Waste Marin, Marin Sanitary Service, and non-profits such as Extra Food to divert commercial organic waste from the landfill through recycling, composting, and participation in waste-to-energy and food recovery programs.
- Conduct outreach and education to businesses subject to State organic waste recycling mandates (AB 1826) and encourage or enforce compliance with the law.
- Refer new and major remodel commercial and multi-family residential project proposals to the City's waste hauler for review and comment and require projects to provide adequate waste and recycling facilities and access as feasible.
- Encourage and facilitate commercial and multi-family property owners to require responsible use of on-site recycling facilities in lease and rental agreements and to train and regularly evaluate janitorial, landscape, and other property management services.
Work with Zero Waste Marin, Marin Sanitary Service, and other organizations to educate and motivate residents to utilize curbside collection services and home composting for food waste.
Require all loads of construction & demolition debris and self-haul waste to be processed for recovery of materials as feasible. Investigate creation of an ordinance requiring deconstruction of buildings proposed for demolition or remodeling when materials of significant historical, cultural, aesthetic, functional or reuse value can be salvaged.
Adopt an ordinance requiring mandatory subscription to and participation in waste diversion activities, including recycling and organics collection provided by Marin Sanitary Service. Consider including phased implementation of the ordinance, penalties, and practical enforcement mechanisms.
Review and revise the City’s franchise agreement with Marin Sanitary Service to ensure waste reduction and diversion targets are met. Conduct a feasibility study and consider investing in new solid waste processing infrastructure to remove recoverable materials (recycling and organics) from the waste stream and reduce contamination. Require regular residential and commercial waste audits and waste characterization studies to identify opportunities for increased diversion and to track progress in meeting targets.
Encourage the State to regulate the production and packaging of consumer goods and take-back programs. Encourage on-demand delivery services like Amazon and Blue Apron to reduce packaging waste and investigate requirements and incentives for same through ordinance or engagement campaigns.
Promote reuse, repair, and recycling of inorganic materials, and encourage reduced use of packaging and single use items through engagement campaigns. Investigate supporting a local building material reuse center.
Increase opportunities for recycling, reuse, and composting at City facilities.
Embark on an educational and social marketing-based campaign to increase recycling, composting, reuse, and waste reduction within municipal operations. Conduct periodic waste audits of City facilities to understand where opportunities for increased diversion lie and to track progress.