INDICATOR

 STATUS

One of the city’s goals for solid waste is first to reduce its waste generation and then to increase the percentage of that waste which is diverted from landfills. Any increase in diversion percentage results from recycling, composting, reuse, or waste-to-energy transformation (incineration). Accordingly, the city looks at solid waste in terms of the total amount generated, the amount landfilled, and the amount diverted from landfills. The target for generation is to stay at or below the year 2000 baseline through 2010. The target for diversion is to increase the amount diverted to 70% of total generated by 2010.

After a few years in which waste generation stabilized at levels below the 2000 baseline, generation volume continues to grow. Between 2003 and 2006, generation volume increased over 63 thousand tons, a 20% increase. The 2006 generation amount is 384,000 tons, 51,000 tons higher than the 2000 333,000 ton target.

Sixty eight percent of total waste generated was diverted from landfills, an improvement on 2005’s 62%. The 2006 results have put the community back on track to attain its target 70% diversion rate in the near future.

In 2006, Solid waste generation exceeded the ceiling set by the Sustainable City Plan by 15%! Solid waste generation is a derived figure, thus it is difficult to pinpoint reasons for change. The generally strong economy, particularly the sustained growth in tourism between 2002 and 2006, has impacted waste generated from restaurants, and hotels and retail establishments. Another explanation could be the surge in remodeling and construction between 2004 and 2006, which though leveling off in 2007, was still going strong in 2006. This contributes substantially to construction and demolition debris, which in turn increases waste generation.

Santa Monica’s diversion rate has bounced back up to its previous levels, perhaps reflecting the city’s zero-waste objectives and other diversion programs are bearing fruit.  It seems well on its way to attaining the 70% diversion goal set by the Sustainable City Plan.

The zero waste approach maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace. In the case of food waste, zero waste means that all food will be composted, all utensils and serving pieces will be biodegradable and plant based, and all cans, bottles and paper materials will be recycled. 

The city sponsors and supports several programs designed to reduce waste generation source reduction and increase diversion.

● Food Waste Composting Program kept more than 1 million pounds of food waste from   Santa Monica restaurants out of the landfill last year. 
● The Sunday Santa Monica Farmers’ Market is regularly a zero waste event, attracting 5,000 people per week. 
● The Santa Monica Festival continued to be a zero waste event, attracting approximately 15,000 people this year.