April – June 2013

RRECOLOGYECOLOGYSF. com Recology Sunset Scavenger and Recology Golden Gate, your local companies RECYCLE Why is zero important?

an Francisco is doing a good job of recycling, but we still send more than S1,200 tons a day to the , and much of that material could be recycled or composted. Compostable material, such as food scraps, soiled paper, and plants, are the largest component of trash dumped in . If buried in a landfill, these organic materials decompose in an airless environment and produce methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. When we toss our discards into a recycling, compost, or trash bin each of us individually determines where our throwaways ultimately go. If we toss things such as vegetable peelings and coffee grounds into a green bin, they are diverted from landfills, turned into nutrient- rich compost at a modern compost facility, and applied to local farms and vineyards. Your green bin compost collection program returns nutrients and carbon to topsoil and gives farmers a viable alternative to using chemical fertilizers. That helps Zero waste means a cleaner, healthier city for everyone. Photo: Larry Strong farmers grow organic food to support your family’s good health. n By recycling 1.2 million tons of paper For all these reasons and more, the Since starting the green bin program in 10 years in the blue bin program, San Francisco Board of Supervisors set in San Francisco in 1996, Recology has San Francisco residents and businesses a goal of achieving zero waste by 2020. collected and composted more than saved 20 million trees. Together we have made great strides, and 1.2 million tons of food scraps, plants, n By recycling 174,000 tons of glass, we continue to push toward zero waste. we saved enough energy to power Keep watching for new programs and and soiled paper, creating a total CO2 equivalent benefit (methane avoided and the city's cable car system for nearly expanded opportunities to help improve carbon sequestered) of at least 640,000 three years. diversion at home, work, and about metric tons. That is equal to offsetting all n By recycling 135,000 tons of metal, town. Your efforts will come back as new emissions from all vehicles crossing the Bay we saved 19 million gallons of oil. products and healthy food and will help Bridge for about three and a half years.* Recycling also creates permanent, local make San Francisco a cleaner, healthier Here are some other milestones San jobs. A recent study found that if the city for everyone. Francisco has achieved in the pursuit of nation’s diversion rate grew to 75 percent, *Greenhouse gas offsets based on a protocol zero waste: we would create 1.1 million new jobs. set by the Climate Action Reserve.

Unexpected works inspire travelers at SFO wooden skateboard becomes a An exhibition featuring more than 100 The program provides artists with a painter’s canvas, plastic bags once artworks made from refuse is on display stipend, 24-hour access to studio space, Aused to deliver newspapers are at San Francisco International Airport. and permission to scavenge for materials woven into an elegant evening dress, The works were created by 45 Bay Area at the transfer station, which we fondly and hundreds of Styrofoam blocks are artists who participated in the Artist in call “the dump.” reconfigured as a full-sized replica of a Residence Program sponsored by Recology The exhibition features works Hummer. San Francisco. intended to encourage greater awareness of the waste stream and new ways of "Last Dive at thinking about resource conservation the Farallones: and sustainability. 100,000 marine The Art of Recology is the largest mammals killed exhibition of artwork from the 23-year- per year” was old program. The works are on display created by Ethan Estess through Oct. 27 in the United Terminal in 2012 from boarding area. The exhibition is located reclaimed wood, past security so can only be viewed by Styrofoam, and those traveling. rope. In May we plan to post a video and a slide show of this art exhibition online. To learn more about the exhibition go Photo: SFO Museum to recologysf.com/AIR.

Learn more about recycling from your local recycling companies at www.RecologySF.com RECYCLE COMPOST

Team work will Recycling Q&A keep SF clean HOW DO I RECYCLE HOUSEHOLD and beautiful BATTERIES? eople who live in San Francisco and really love this San Francisco residents can city are pulling together to fight litter and illegal place used household batteries Pdumping. We pick up fast-food soda cups and toss (like flashlight batteries) in a them in composting bins. We hate to see mattresses, clear, sealable plastic bag and put dumped in the night, litter our neighborhoods. the bag on top of their black Residents, businesses, and city workers do what we bins. Our collector will toss the meaningful documentary” at can to clean up messes created by those who seem not batteries in a special bucket on the Cannes Film Festival last to care. Now a new initiative launched by Mayor Ed Lee the route collection truck. summer, offers a close view of looks to create further momentum in our collective We ship used batteries to landfills and incinerators. Asked efforts to keep our city clean. a company that specializes what can people do about the In February the mayor and the World Champion San in recycling batteries. The trash problem, Irons said, “We Francisco Giants joined forces and kicked off the Giant company takes the batteries should find out where our Sweep Anti-Litter Campaign. It is a citywide program apart and recycles all the pieces. garbage goes.” involving schools, residents, businesses, and community This program is not for car or Most trash from San Francisco groups. The goal is to work together as a team to motorcycle batteries. Please goes to Altamont Landfill, east keep San Francisco clean and beautiful. place tape over the ends of of Livermore. The campaign lithium batteries. Recology employees-owners involves hands-on Owners and managers of do not see trash when we look activities pairing apartment buildings can contact at discards. We see a mix of city workers with Recology Sunset Scavenger resources that should be kept community volunteers or Recology Golden Gate out of landfills. Join our efforts. to pick up litter and we will provide orange Take a closer look at your and includes a new classroom battery recycling buckets. “trash” and you too will see curriculum and a public information We recommend that you place cardboard, metal, paper, glass, and campaign. “It’s going to take a team effort to the bucket in the lobby of food scraps, all things that should keep our city world-class, clean, and green,” said Mayor your apartment building. When be recycled and composted. Lee. “We want to create a culture of clean so that the bucket is full, call us and Send less to the landfill, and everyone from young to old can embrace their role as we will exchange your full with your help, San Francisco a city steward and reject the idea that it’s OK to litter. bucket for an empty one and will get a little closer to zero We all need to join the team to keep SF clean.” recycle your old batteries. waste every day. And that will To get involved go to sfgiantsweep.org and click benefit everyone. on the big green “Batter Up” button that says “take the WHERE DOES MY Giant Sweep Pledge,” and fill it out. Keep an eye out for TRASH GO? NEED ANOTHER Giant Sweep poster and video contests, flash mobs, prizes People rarely think about RESOURCE? for volunteers, and more ways to pitch in. The website is that question or the answer, Sorting your discards into the a great way to stay connected. but we all should. blue, green, and black bins makes Last year the Giants showed us that winning the Imagine a national program a big difference. The more we World Series took a team effort that went far beyond called “follow your refuse" where recycle and compost, the more individual heroics. The same approach will help keep our everyone would spend one day resources we save. Now, you neighborhoods clean. We’ll roll up our sleeves and get touring a landfill, a recycling can go to Whatbin.com for the job done together. As with other community service facility, a modern compost facility, more information about which efforts, our city, our home, will be better for it, and we and a local farm that uses the materials go in which bin. will have fun and make new friends along the way. compost to grow organic fruits Food scraps, soiled paper, and vegetables. and yard trimmings go in the You would finish the day green bin and are turned into Lifeline rates for dining at a lovely restaurant. compost, which local farms use There you would enjoy a to help grow healthy fruits and eligible customers delicious and nutritious salad vegetables for your table. Paper, and a fine glass of wine made bottles, cans, cardboard, and NO. OF TOTAL GROSS ANNUAL of produce and grapes grown hard or rigid plastic, such as PERSONS HOUSEHOLD INCOME on local farms nourished with molded plastic packaging, go in LIVING IN (ALL SOURCES) compost made from food the blue bin and are made into YOUR HOME scraps and plants collected in new products. Items such as 1 or 2 $21,855 or less the city. juice boxes (which are aseptic 3 $27,465 or less If we all spent one day to packaging) and Styrofoam go in actually see, touch, and smell the black bin. 4 $33,075 or less where our refuse goes, we If you are unsure about would all take steps to reduce which materials go in which Add $5,610 for each More than 4 the amount of trash we create bin, go to Whatbin.com and additional person and we would be more attentive select a category or type an to recycling and composting. item in the search bar to find Discounted refuse rates are available to low-income A new documentary hosted the information you need. households and to disabled residents who cannot bring by Academy Award winner You can also learn more their blue, green, and black bins to the curb. Jeremy Irons attempts to about the different recycling Lifeline applications are available online at bring the landfill to the people. programs Recology provides

RecologySF.com/residentialRates.htm. For Printedpost-consumer content. containing 100 percent paper ink on recycled with soy-based “Trashed,” which won “most in San Francisco. more information about rates call 330-1300.

RRECOLOGYECOLOGYSF.com Recology Sunset Scavenger and Recology Golden Gate, your local recycling companies

Useful Recycle, Composting and Trash Collection: Debris Box Service, 888-404-4008 Telephone Recology Sunset Scavenger, 330-1300 RecycleMyJunk.com, 330-1300 Numbers Recology Golden Gate, 626-4000