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<br />December 21, 2009 Section 5: Waste Reduction and Recycling <br />with average waste generation (4.5 lbs/day per capita), recycling (30 percent), and baseline <br />disposal in a landfill with no gas collection system could increase its recycling rate to 40 percent, <br />it would reduce emissions by more than 3,400 metric tons of COe per year. <br />2 <br />Composting is a management option for food <br />discards, yard trimmings, and other biogenic <br />materials that significantly reduces the <br />generation of methane in landfills. EPA <br />researchers believe that well-managed <br />compost operations usually do not generate <br />CH because they typically maintain an <br />4 <br />oxygen rich environment. EPA also found <br />that composting results in carbon storage, <br />meaning carbon dioxide is effectively <br />removed from the atmosphere, of <br />approximately 0.05 metric tons of CO per ton <br />2 <br />Photo CreditPhoto Credit: Kessner Photography: Kessner Photography <br />of organics composted and applied to <br />agricultural soil. <br />As San Leandro works towards a more sustainable future, waste reduction and recycling will be <br />a key component of a comprehensive strategy. For this Climate Action Plan, we are focusing <br />on goals and measures that address the “Three R’s”: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle (and compost). <br />The City of San Leandro has already established a 75 percent waste diversion goal by 2010. <br />The City may wish to expand on such efforts and adopt a zero waste policy as San Francisco <br />and Oakland have done. <br />5.1 Goal: Increase recycling and composting in the <br />residential sector <br />San Leandro offers food scrap recycling collection services to residents. The food scrap <br />program allows residents to mix food and food soiled paper with yard trimmings for weekly <br />collection. The program is easy, convenient and provided at no additional cost to garbage and <br />recycling collection rates. The City offers food scrap pails and pail liners for free to residents. <br />Traditionally, meat and bones aren't used in composting, but because the waste hauler grinds <br />the items, these items are acceptable. Food scrap recycling is also offered to San Leandro <br />residents and businesses served by Oro Loma Sanitary District, which also offers bi-weekly <br /> <br /> <br />Page 40 <br /> <br /> <br />