The decomposition process of organic materials in landfills creates methane, which is 28 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Although some landfills, like Redwood Landfill, use some of that methane to create biogas or electricity, about one-quarter of it escapes into the atmosphere. The good news is that it is relatively easy to divert organic material from the landfill. About half of the organic material that is put into the landfill is “recoverable," showing that 'waste' is actually 'resource.'
Reusable Foodware Ordinance
May 1, 2023
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Reusable Foodware Ordinance
Sustainable San Rafael urges your adoption of the proposed Reusable Foodware Ordinance. This is a significant step towards keeping unnecessary plastic and paper foodware out of our landfills and assuring that take-out containers and accessories are fully compostable.
Consumers have a right to products and services that are not harmful to their health and the environment. Thank you for undertaking this commonsense Foodware Ordinance, which is an example of the kind of systemic change that governments can achieve to help create a more sustainable world.
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Reusable Foodware Ordinance
Sustainable San Rafael urges your adoption of the proposed Reusable Foodware Ordinance. This is a significant step towards keeping unnecessary plastic and paper foodware out of our landfills and assuring that take-out containers and accessories are fully compostable.
Consumers have a right to products and services that are not harmful to their health and the environment. Thank you for undertaking this commonsense Foodware Ordinance, which is an example of the kind of systemic change that governments can achieve to help create a more sustainable world.
ssr_reusable_foodware_5_1_23.pdf | |
File Size: | 58 kb |
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MARIN SANITARY SERVICE RATES FOR 2023
December 5, 2022
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Marin Sanitary Service Rates for 2023
Sustainable San Rafael supports the proposed rate increase for Marin Sanitary Service which, though unfortunate, is not surprising given recent inflationary pressures. We are pleased that costs remained reasonable for local implementation of SB1383 requiring residents to use their 'green carts' to reclaim organic material for compost and other productive uses.
We also support the City's efforts to educate the public on the separation of material going into green carts, recycling carts, and landfill carts. Actions like the ones San Rafael has undertaken this year in the form of mandatory organics recovery and others show how local government can drive the systemic solutions needed to successfully confront climate change.
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Marin Sanitary Service Rates for 2023
Sustainable San Rafael supports the proposed rate increase for Marin Sanitary Service which, though unfortunate, is not surprising given recent inflationary pressures. We are pleased that costs remained reasonable for local implementation of SB1383 requiring residents to use their 'green carts' to reclaim organic material for compost and other productive uses.
We also support the City's efforts to educate the public on the separation of material going into green carts, recycling carts, and landfill carts. Actions like the ones San Rafael has undertaken this year in the form of mandatory organics recovery and others show how local government can drive the systemic solutions needed to successfully confront climate change.
ssr_mss_rates_letter_12_5_22.pdf | |
File Size: | 57 kb |
File Type: |
REVISED REFUSE & RECYCLING ORDINANCE
February 21, 2022
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Revised Refuse & Recycling Ordinance
Lowering landfill methane emissions by requiring residents and businesses to properly dispose of organic materials in green carts is a significant step in the City's effort to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Sustainable San Rafael congratulates the City for moving forward.
Though these emissions amounted to 4% of the community's greenhouse gas emissions, the ordinance implements a key strategy of the City's Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for reducing GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. It is one of the six CCAP priority actions set last May for implementation this year.
The ordinance is an example of the kind of careful, practical, systemic rule-setting needed to successfully guide our city through the climate crisis. The letter also details a few suggested clarifications for the ordinance's language.
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Revised Refuse & Recycling Ordinance
Lowering landfill methane emissions by requiring residents and businesses to properly dispose of organic materials in green carts is a significant step in the City's effort to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Sustainable San Rafael congratulates the City for moving forward.
Though these emissions amounted to 4% of the community's greenhouse gas emissions, the ordinance implements a key strategy of the City's Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for reducing GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. It is one of the six CCAP priority actions set last May for implementation this year.
The ordinance is an example of the kind of careful, practical, systemic rule-setting needed to successfully guide our city through the climate crisis. The letter also details a few suggested clarifications for the ordinance's language.
final_recycling_ordinance_ssr_letter_2_21_22.pdf | |
File Size: | 74 kb |
File Type: |