Digested From "S.F. OKs Toughest Recycling Law in U.S."
San Francisco Chronicle by John Cote
This past week, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 in favor of Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposal for the nation's most comprehensive mandatory composting and recycling law. The ordinance, which is expected to take effect this fall, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and have the city sending nothing to landfills or incinerators by the end of the next decade. It calls for every residence and business in San Francisco to have three separate color-coded bins for waste: blue for recycling, green for compost and black for trash. According to Newsom, failing to properly sort refuse could result in a fine after several warnings. Fines for almost all residential customers and many small businesses are initially capped at $100. There is a moratorium on fines until at least July 2011 for owners and residents of multifamily housing in order to get residents used to composting. Apartment communities where recycling carts will not fit could get a waiver. The proposal drew criticism from some apartment owners when details were initially released about a year ago. At the same time, some residents have expressed concern over the possibility of inspectors sifting through their garbage. The San Francisco Apartment Association has taken a neutral stance on the plan after language was dropped that would have held owners responsible for residents' sorting.
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