Help us develop a plan to reduce our community's waste, increase recycling and manage trash. Join us at a community meeting and learn more below.
Zero Waste Planning
On March 24, 2009, the Mountain View City Council adopted an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan that calls for, among other actions, the creation of a Zero Waste Plan. The creation of this plan was one of 89 recommendations presented to the Council in the September 2008 final report of the Mountain View Sustainability Task Force.
As a first step in this process, Mountain View conducted a waste characterization study which examined what types of materials our community disposes (waste composition); and whether these materials can be diverted from the waste stream by more recycling, waste reduction, composting, and other diversion programs. Such programs would help conserve landfill space, conserve natural resources, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Measuring Zero Waste
To measure progress, the Plan will use diversion rates calculated by the State of California (CalRecycle). The current State mandate requires all communities to divert at least 50 percent of waste away from the landfill by recycling, waste reduction, composting and other diversion programs or be fined $10,000 per day. In 2006, Mountain View diverted 72 percent of the community's waste away from landfills, the second highest diversion rate in the County.
Later, CalRecycle adopted a new method of expressing diversion rates, translating the 50 percent goal into a disposal limit of 7.8 pounds per capita per day (based on population). In 2009, Mountain View's disposal rate was only 4.0 pounds per capita per day, well below the State's target.
The Zero Waste Plan will seek to reduce the per capita disposal rate for both residential and commercial waste even further. In addition, the City has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Therefore, the Plan will also address climate change by including waste reduction strategies to reduce carbon emissions.
New Collection Services Agreement
The City's exclusive collection services agreement with Recology Mountian View expires in April 2013. Development of a Zero Waste Plan will help inform our City Council and community about potential new new solid waste and recycling collection services needed to achieve Zero Waste goals. The proposed collection services will be brought before City Council at a public hearing in 2012. See the Timeline & Project Status below for more information.
What is Zero Waste?
Zero Waste seeks to eliminate negative impacts of designing, producing, using, and discarding of products and packaging:
- Reduce resource use
- Reuse products and materials
- Minimize or eliminate discard of “waste”
- Reduce production of greenhouse gases
- Minimize production of toxic materials and provide safe discard of toxics
Draft Vision
By 2025, all discarded materials in Mountain View are recovered for their highest and best use, and no materials are sent to landfills or incinerators.
To achieve this vision, the City will work to:
- Educate and engage residents, businesses, organizations and other public agencies.
- Adopt and implement supporting policies and actions.
- Support legislation and adopt policies that require reduced environmental impacts through improved product design.
- Ensure that facilities and infrastructure are in place to properly manage all recovered materials.
Draft Goals
Measuring Progress with Interim Goals (current diversion is 72 percent as of 2006):
- By 2015, Mountain View residents and businesses will divert 80 percent of materials from the landfill.
- By 2020, Mountain View residents and businesses will divert 90 percent of materials form the landfill.
The draft interim goals and the methods for determining progress towards accomplishing them will be further developed to reflect public input. The draft interim goals will also be modified as needed to correspond to the City's contractual commitments and program requirements.
Public Input
Residents and businesses are encouraged to provide input through Zero Waste community meetings; agendized City Council meetings and study sessions; online services such as Ask Mountain View (left of screen) and E-Notify; or by simply calling 650-903-6311. Random mail surveys have also been conducted and the results are available in documents below. The City’s online E-Notify New Subscription service allows you to subscribe to email notifications about Zero Waste or New Collection Services Agreement topics as they are published by the City. Keeping the public informed and educated about Zero Waste and potential New Collection Services is an important part of the public input process. See the timeline, project status and documents below to keep yourself informed.
Timeline & Project Status
Development of the plan is underway and the initial findings of the Zero Waste Plan were presented to City Council on September 27, 2011. Based on the Zero Waste findings, a Request for Proposal for New Collection Agreement was developed and presented to City Council on December 13, 2011. City Council approved the proposal and directed that Recology be given the first opportunity to respond to the proposal; but if the parties cannot agree, the proposal will be offered to other companies for response. The RFP was issued on December 23, 2011 to Recology, and a Response was filed on March 14, 2012. Staff is reviewing the Response and will return to Council with a report presenting a recommendation about the proposed agreement, potential new services, and rate impact by early Summer 2012 and the Zero Waste Plan will be completed in late Summer 2012. A cost of service study for existing services and proposed services is also being conducted simultaneously to identify rate impacts. A New Collection Agreement is expected to be implemented in April or May 2013.
Documents
The following documents will help educate residents and businesses about Zero Waste and more will be posted as the plan evolves.
You Tube - A Day in the Life of Your Garbage and Recyclables (SMaRT Station)
Waste Characterization Study
Community Meetings
April 21, 2011 - Public Meeting Notice, Zero Waste Presentation 1, and Meeting Notes
August 30, 2011 - Public Meeting Notice; Zero Waste Presentation 2
City Council Reports
September 27, 2011 - City Council Study Session - Item 3.01:
Zero Waste Plan Update and Services for New Collection Agreement
Attachment 1 - Current Collection Services
Attachment 2 - SMaRT Station Brochure
Attachment 3 - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Waste Composition
Attachment 4 - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Vision & Goals
Attachment 5 - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Attachment 6 - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Community Meetings
Attachment 7 - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Community Surveys
Attachment 7a - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Survey Questions and Comments
Attachment 8 - Zero Waste Draft Plan: Key Diversion Program Analysis
Attachment 9 - Collection Services Table
Attachment 10 - Recology Letter Feb 25, 2011 and June 20, 2011
Document (Questions) Submitted to Council After Agenda Packet Issued
Minutes
December 13, 2011 - City Council Meeting - Item 7.01:
Request for Proposal for New Collection Agreement and Minutes.
