San Francisco

San Francisco already has an extremely good environmental record. The city proudly keeps 70% of all disposable waste out of landfills, a tremendous achievement. However, Mayor Gavin Newsome desires more. He wants to make recycling yard scraps, cans, bottles, and paper mandatory, with the punishment being suspended garbage pickups.

How does this California city have such a passion towards recycling? First of all, there is a pay-as-you-throw principle, meaning one is charged by the number of garbage bins one uses. Secondly, there is an extensive recycling program in the city, with food scraps from restaurants used in compost in vineyards and 12 different recycling streams for the varying products. The whole community is involved in the effort.

Not only does the environment benefit, but so do the city's funds. Much of the scrap material collected from the programs is shipped to countries such as China. In fact, the number one export of the West Coast is scrap paper!

However, is making recycling mandatory going a little extreme? Who would regulate the process? Would someone dig through the trash to make sure people followed guidelines? Suspending garbage pickups as a punishment is not a very good idea. Having all of that trash sitting around might cause hazardous leaks and fumes. Also, wouldn't it encouraged people to dump the trash into bodies of water or other natural habitats?

I applaud the city of San Francisco's efforts and achievements in their recycling program, but I do not believe a mandatory policy would be feasible. But- hey, feel free to prove me wrong! It would be my delight if such a move could actually follow through.

Read more in the The New York Times.

This image is from Flickr.