May 14 - SF Nears 75% Diversion
San Francisco inched closer to its 75% 2010 landfill diversion goal this year, posting a 72% diversion rate. San Francisco diverted only 35% of its waste in 1996.
"By requiring builders to recycle debris from construction projects, we were able to divert tens of thousands of new tons of material away from the landfill," said Mayor Gavin Newsom. "Clearly, mandatory recycling measures pay off; if we’re going to reach a recycling rate of 75 percent in 2010 and zero waste by 2020, we need to make sure that residents and businesses are taking full advantage of our composting and recycling programs."