The City of Chula Vista is moving along with its plan to achieve 90 percent waste diversion by 2035 through their Waste Reduction Strategic Plan, consistent with goals set by the 2017 Climate Action Plan (CAP). A meeting was held to discuss the draft Zero Waste Plan and upcoming state mandated food waste and organics recycling program on Thursday, September 23. Residents were invited to give public commentary at the meeting or online with ideas that may enhance the proposed actions.
The implementation of a Waste Reduction Strategic plan was included in the city’s CAP, which serves as the basis for detailed and measurable zero waste plan strategies and actions. The plan exceeds California’s goal of 75 percent within the same timeframe with tasks containing specific actions including the estimated reductions of corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. "The City of Chula Vista has a long history of working to address climate change,” said Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas in a March 24 press release. “We are proud to take another step to move away from fossil fuel power and secure a better energy future for our City.”
Specific approaches made in this plan include short to long term actions to achieve the city’s goal while maximizing efforts to increase the reuse of materials, and recycling efforts to further divert the amount of wasted resources residents send to the Otay Landfill. Three objectives for zero waste planning include reducing the volume and toxicity of waste by eliminating them in the first place, using materials and products for their original intended uses then reuse them for other uses before recycling, and recycling or composting all remaining materials to their highest and best use after they have been reduced and reused as much as possible.
“There are programs such as the Zero Waste Plan that work with the community to create a group of concerned citizens that can help us with the education portion of it. There are also lots of activities that are hands-on. One that is particularly popular is called the ‘fix-it clinics’ that we have at events where we have folks' items that need to be fixed on the spot. It might seem like a small gesture, but it's very symbolic and it does help people understand that not everything needs to go to waste and be thrown away,” Chula Vista Environmental Services Manager, Manuel Medrano said. This plan emphasizes “People, Planet, and Prosperity” as the triple bottom line in achieving social, economic and environmental sustainability on both a local and global basis. “It's a roadmap that will get us to our goal. There are a lot of education-driven actions. It also allows us to go back to the city council to report and see what needs to be amended, changed, approved or even taken out of the plan. It’s a living document” Medrano added.
Former Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1383 into law in September 2017 establishing a statewide methane emissions reduction target to reduce emissions of short lived climate pollutants (SLCP) that aligns with the city’s Zero Waste Plan and Climate Action Plan. According to the City Council Staff Report given at the September 14 City of Chula Vista council meeting, SB 1383 will help to reduce the amount of organic waste Chula Vista residents and businesses send to the landfill. A 2015 Waste Characterization Study found almost seventy five percent (75%) of Chula Vista’s waste stream is compostable and nearly twenty nine percent (29%) of this waste stream is food waste. The city partnered with Republic Services in 2014 in anticipation of SB 1383 for a two year pilot program that will be proposed in January 2022. Data and information produced from that pilot program will help the City and Republic Services to overcome various challenges before launching the large-scale program. This food and waste collection system with an initial cost of over $11 million has a target goal of 75 percent statewide reduction in the disposable organic waste in landfills by 2025. Annual reporting will be submitted to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) who will oversee compliance with SB1383.
“We hope that residents can help us with these initiatives. There is a lot of opportunity to volunteer and also to help us spread the word, residents can help by visiting our website chulavista.ca.gov to learn more about zero waste practices”
For additional information on other methods of providing public comments, or on how to get involved one can contact environmental services via email enviornmentalservices@chulavistaca.gov or call (619) 691-5122.