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Don't Waste It -- Compost It! Norcal, Joined by Mayor Jerry Brown, Recognizes Oakland Businesses for Reducing Landfill Disposal by 320 Tons-a-Month
Don't Waste It -- Compost It! Norcal, Joined by Mayor Jerry Brown, Recognizes Oakland Businesses for Reducing Landfill Disposal by 320 Tons-a-Month
Published 04-12-02
Submitted by Norcal Waste Systems, Inc.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Norcal Waste Systems, Inc., joined by Mayor Jerry Brown, today honored Oakland businesses for participating in the company's Food Waste Recycling/Composting Program and for helping Oakland address City recycling and waste diversion goals. More than 50 businesses participate in the program offered by Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Norcal. Their combined effort removes more than 300 tons-a-month from Oakland's waste stream.
The program is designed specifically to help communities achieve higher recycling rates to meet citizens' expectations, state mandates and environmental objectives. Norcal is introducing new and innovative programs designed to boost recycling rates in many California communities.
"Communities across California are trying to create new ways to manage their waste stream," said Mike Sangiacomo, President and CEO of Norcal. "Norcal has established itself as a leader in providing innovative recycling programs -- such as food waste composting -- to help communities meet specific recycling needs."
The City of Oakland is one community that benefits from such innovative programs. Exceeding the state-mandated 50 percent diversion rate, the City of Oakland wishes to do more. Alameda County voters established a countywide goal of 75 percent waste diversion and authorized the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board to set a date to achieve the goal. That target date is 2010.
"In Oakland, a significant portion of waste going into the landfills is food waste," said Mayor Jerry Brown. "Innovative programs like Norcal's Waste Recycling/Composting Program bring us closer to realizing our waste reduction goals while providing cost savings for Oakland businesses."
Customers have whole-heartedly embraced the program. In Oakland 55 businesses participate and some businesses are recycling more than 80 percent of their waste. Participating businesses collectively account for the removal of 320 tons-a-month of compostable material from Oakland's waste stream, useful material that would have otherwise gone to landfill.
Businesses like the food waste program because it allows them to reduce their overall garbage bills, and participate in a coordinated program that directly benefits the environment. Norcal began the program more than 5 years ago and continues to expand and refine the process.
"The program has been a great success here," said Kaz Kajimura owner of Yoshi's on Jack London Square. "We have been able to increase our recycling, lower our bill and participate in a program that directly benefits the environment -- what more could you ask for?"
"Food waste remains the single largest item in the overall waste stream," said Brian Mathews, Organics Processing Program Manager, Alameda County Waste Management Authority. "Food waste collection programs are critical to our ability to reach the 75 percent diversion goal."
Norcal's Jepson Prairie facility is doing its part to capture that organic material. Currently the facility receives more than 300 tons of food waste daily for composting from participating Bay Area communities.
Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling and Jepson Prairie are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Norcal Waste Systems, Inc., a 100 percent employee owned and operated company located in San Francisco. Norcal companies pioneered recycling five generations ago -- recycling 50 percent of the waste stream long before it became fashionable or mandated by law. Our employee owners are committed to the communities they serve and are experienced at working with cities and counties to develop and implement specific recycling solutions to achieve their particular recycling goals.
