EDITORIAL: Rethinking waste -- much done, much more to do EDITORIAL: Rethinking waste -- much done, much more to do (July 27, 2005)

Fifteen years after California -- and its towns and cities -- began seriously trying to reduce the floods of garbage overwhelming landfills, amazing progress has been made. But so much more still needs to be done to mine the resources that get thrown into the trash. More important, we need to reduce the amount that people throw away.

In 1990, California cities and counties were sending 83 percent of their trash on a one-way trip to a dump; only 17 percent was recycled. By 2004, some 48 percent of the stuff that people, businesses and institutions threw away was recycled, mulched or put to other uses. Still, 41 million tons of garbage -- 52 percent of what Californians discarded -- ended up in landfills.

This dramatic shift in recycling rates was driven by former Sen. Byron Sher's landmark bill, AB 939, passed in 1989. That law required California's local governments to increase the amount of waste diverted from landfills by 50 percent by the year 2000, or face heavy fines.

On the Peninsula, local agencies, garbage companies, residents and businesses have played interlocking roles. Residents put out cans, bottles, yard waste and motor oil at the curb to be picked up. They can dispose of used computers and electronic waste, along with blankets, old clothes and used toys at the Good Will trailer in the Safeway parking lot at 525 El Camino Real, in Menlo Park. While they're there, they can redeem used cans and bottles for money at the adjacent trailer.

Spurred by state laws and new local ordinances, the waste companies are providing more and more programs to encourage recycling, and to develop markets for what they collect.

Under the leadership of garbage man-turned-visionary Jesse Weigel, GreenWaste Recovery is a leader in converting garbage into useful, saleable products. Near Gilroy, it cooks the household garbage from Woodside, Portola Valley and some South Bay cities for four months until it breaks down chemicals and becomes soft black mulch that can be sold for use in gardens and golf courses.

At Zanker Road in San Jose, a huge machine crushes construction debris -- concrete and asphalt, tiles and toilets -- to sell for road base and other uses.

Allied Waste (formerly BFI) also has special programs to encourage individuals and businesses to put their waste somewhere beside the garbage can. More than 40 Menlo Park restaurants and food establishments have signed up for a new program that composts food waste and returns it to the community.

The results: Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley are diverting more than 60 percent of their waste from the dumps. For Menlo Park, the official number is 45 percent; this may be skewed by state formulas that crank in factors involving sales tax and demographics.

Despite the progress, problems remain huge. Californians are discarding more stuff every year. We congratulate everyone who has contributed to reducing waste, but urge further efforts.

Besides the big waste companies, lots of agencies and entrepreneurial businesses and nonprofits are gearing up to help us throw away less. A good place to start looking for information is to visit San Mateo County's Web site at recycleworks.org. Or call the recycling hotline at 1-888-442-2666.

Above all, think about waste habits and what you buy. The mantra "Reduce. Re-use. Recycle" can be helpful. Don't get what you won't use. When you have finished with something, sell it, trade it, or give it away rather than throw it in the recycling or -- heaven forbid -- chuck it.

A lot of momentum has built over the last 20 years. Let's keep it going.

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