Waste Reduction and Recycling

The City of Sacramento is committed to helping its residents and businesses reduce waste and increase recycling of materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

In Sacramento, 5.3 percent of GHG emissions are associated with solid waste generation and disposal.

Reducing the production, consumption, and disposal of waste materials, while encouraging reuse, recycling, and composting will not only help reduce GHG emissions but will support the City’s goal to achieve 75 percent waste diversion by 2020 and zero waste to landfills by 2040.

Goals:

• 75 percent waste diversion by 2020
• Zero waste communitywide by 2040
• Save 83,000 gallons of fuel in City solid waste vehicles annually
• Reduce the number of miles driven by City solid waste vehicles by 87,000 annually
• Eliminate 186 tons of GHG from solid waste vehicles

What’s being done?

• Increasing business and multifamily recycling rates
• Expanding containerized yard waste program and backyard composting
• Requiring the recycling of construction and demolition debris
• Decentralized transfer stations for waste collection to reduce fuel use
• Purchased new clean air solid waste vehicles that run on liquid natural gas (LNG)
• Brought our waste disposal in-region as opposed to sending it the Nevada

What can I do?

Recycle paper, plastic, metal and glass, as well as electronic devices.

Place recycling containers in all rooms where you generate waste (i.e. home office, kitchen, bathroom, garage)

Learn how to compost yard waste and kitchen scraps in your own backyard.

Donate items you no longer need instead of throwing them away.

Pledge to stop using single-use carryout bags and take a reusable shopping bag with you when you shop.

Avoid buying single-use disposable products and instead buy those that can be reused and are longer lasting.

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