Recycling A-Go Go in San Francisco
Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz regarding San Francisco’s pending recycling legislation, which would make the practice (as well as composting) mandatory in the progressive California city. Today, SF mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he will be signing the bill into law, making it the first of its kind that will require residents to recycle, plus businesses to compost their food scraps. The new law is part of San Francisco’s larger goal to achieve zero-waste status by 2020.
The fine for not recycling? Up to $1,000.
While most people see recycling and composting as a good thing, some are uncomfortable with such a law, fearing that legislation like this will only snowball. Will people start being fined if they don’t feed their children organic food, for instance? If they drive their car instead of walking, bicycling, or using public transportation?
Although I understand such fears, I see San Francisco’s recycling policy as something slightly different from the above examples. Recycling (and recycling pick-up) is a service provided by the city, meaning its not really something for which people have to pay extra. Second, residents will be given three trash bins with which to adhere to the new regulation: a black one for trash, a blue one for recycling, and a green one for composting. So all in all, the only thing San Francisco is asking is for its residents to be sure they sort their trash.
But what if they make a mistake? What if, accidentally, a plastic bottle ends up in the trash bin? I think this is a large part of what might make an ordinance like this worthwhile. When it comes to the environment, most everyone will say they have the best intentions, however, life oftentimes gets in the way. San Francisco’s new law will force people to integrate recycling and composting into their lifestyles fully, making it second-nature.
I’m curious to see how KiwiLog readers feel about this. Do you think the legislation goes overboard, or is it just what people need to get whip them into eco-shape?
Marygrace, KIWI Staffer
Tags: composting, recycling, recycling law, san francisco
