By Ted Fischer and Susan Jarvis
December 15, 2008

The City of San Diego a few years ago took a tough stand on recycling and due to the citizens reactions, things began to progress in the way the city had intended. The city began their campaign with a little more than a scare tactic of a slogan, and "Recycle, or Else" was born. After a period of time where recycling laws were put in place the slogan then became "Recycling Works." The city allowed for a 90 day grace period in which citizens were able to gear up and comply with the new ordinances before they were fined for failing to meet the new laws enacted. The city was also one of the first in the country to supply citizens with the ability to go to a website that specialized in an environmentally preferable purchasing program. Guidelines were established to include twelve criteria that the city established to ensure the clients were following policy to provide customers and citizens with environmental friendly products. The criteria included an alternative energy source when created, bio-based materials, bio degradable products, easily compostable and a high recycling content. The city also focused increasing their hybrid vehicles, use of organic fertilizers, fuel additives, using rubberized asphalt concrete, supporting a bottle water ban by city employees and encouraging duplex printing within city offices. Stephen Grealy, The City of San Diego's Waste Reduction Program Manager was on hand to speak with the meeting attendees and answer questions on city policies.

Michael Timpane, Senior Project Manager for Waste Management and the Recycling America Alliance, spoke about the current strategies of Waste Management to green their services for cities. The study concluded that more volume means greater efficiency and that 70 percent seems to be profitable long term. More volume also means greater landfill diversion and resource savings. With transportation costs rising and fuel on an economic pendulum, WM is working to reduce their costs and their carbon footprint as well as design a sustainable and profitable business model for recycling.

John Williams, Senior Vice President for Sustainable Development for HDR, Inc. acknowledged that MWMA members are "far sighted leaders" when it comes to addressing waste diversion, transport, recovery and disposal. They are looking at sustainability, energy planning, GHG management, and the potential for ‘green jobs". While often leading the charge for "greening" their cities, public works and solid waste departments are asking what's the "right shade of green?" for their community. Mr. Williams provided attendees with a sustainability checklist, including: defining the project and its' deliverables, identifying opportunities for environmental stewardship and, community enhancement and economic development. In order to identify the right "shade of green", stakeholders need to "see" the situation and set priorities, "have" a focus on what matters most, "ask" your stakeholders to collaborate, "decide on strategies and "evaluate" your priorities and adjust your plan.

Mr. Williams also discussed the role solid waste and public works directors can play in securing energy and environmental block grants for their communities and "lead the way for the right green for your community."

For more information about Sustainability or the Energy and Environment Community Block Grant, please log onto usmayors.org/mwma.