When you throw stuff out at home, how much do you recycle and how much goes in the trash bin?
The latest numbers show the County’s unincorporated area diverts 62 percent of trash away from landfills. That beats the mandated state requirement for a landfill diversion rate of 50 percent.
But the state wants to raise the bar and set a state goal of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2020. The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to study what it would take to reach that goal and then aim higher for zero waste by 2040 both externally in the County’s unincorporated areas and internally at County government facilities.
Board members were united in saying the County isn’t interested in getting back into the trash business. The County sold its solid waste system in 1997.
With that caveat, the Board directed staff to work with the industry and return in 120 days with a scope, timeline, staffing evaluation, cost and funding options for preparing a plan that would meet the 2020 and 2040 goals.
The Board also asked staff to report on what the County is currently doing within its operations to achieve its diversion goals and identifying what it would take to reach the 75 percent waste diversion and zero waste goals.
Both reports are expected back before the Board in 120 days.
