Indicator ES.1.d Annual per capita waste disposal

Table 1. Annual waste disposal (in tons) by jurisdiction of origin, Bay Area region, 2008
Jurisdiction of origin Total disposal (tons) Total population* Per capita waste disposal
Alameda 1,337,916 1,474,368 0.91
Contra Costa 854,937 1,029,703 0.83
Marin 210,849 248,794 0.85
Napa 135,518 133,433 1.02
San Francisco 594,660 808,911 0.74
San Mateo 655,538 712,690 0.92
Santa Clara 1,363,751 1,764,499 0.77
Solano 388,313 407,515 0.95
Sonoma 400,311 466,741 0.86
 
*U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, July 2008 
Table 2. Annual waste disposal (in tons) by jurisdiction of origin, San Francisco 
Report year Total disposal (tons) Total population Per capita waste disposal
1995 683,990 746,386 0.92
1996 702,564 753,934 0.93
1997 791,129 762,953 1.04
1998 887,066 770,262 1.15
1999 806,676 774,716 1.04
2000 872,707 777,532 1.12
2001 856,064 784,385 1.09
2002 758,701 778,773 0.97
2003 718,863 774,359 0.93
2004 691,626 772,417 0.90
2005 675,278 776,619 0.87
2006 695,574 786,367 0.88
2007 628,864 799,185 0.79
2008 594,660 808,911 0.74

Data Source

California Integrated Waste Management Board, Disposal Reporting System (DRS). http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGCentral/DRS/Reports/default.asp#Origin

Population figures from U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html

Explanation and Limitations

To determine per capita waste disposal for each jurisdiction of origin, disposal tons divided was divided by population per year. The Disposal Reporting System (DRS) tracks the amount of solid waste disposed by each jurisdiction in California. Each county or regional agency submits quarterly disposal reports to the Board. Waste facility operators conduct quarterly "jurisdiction of waste origin surveys," to estimate the amount of waste disposed at that facility by each jurisdiction.
Disposal includes:

San Francisco generates about 5,400 tons of solid waste every day, and 31% of this waste (about 1,600 tons) is sent to landfill. The amount of waste generated by San Francisco has been climbing fairly steadily for the past ten years, although the rate of increased waste has slowed over the past three years. However, the City is recycling more and more, and has increased the amount diverted from less than 400,000 tons in 1995 to almost 1.4 million tons in 2005. Total annual waste sent to landfills from San Francisco has been dropping since 2000, from 872,700 tons in 2000 to 594,600 tons in 2008. The City has adopted goals of 75% landfill diversion by 2010, and 0% waste by 2020. Waste diverted from landfills is defined as recycled or composted.

SF Environment Code Chapter 14 establishes the Construction and Demolition Debris Recovery Ordinance, requiring a minimum of 65% diversion from landfill of construction and demolition debris. In 2002 the SF Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 679-02 setting a goal of 75% diversion from landfill by 2010 and promoting the highest and best use of recovered materials and authorizing the Commission on the Environment to adopt a zero waste goal for 2020.

In 2007, San Francisco kept 72% of all recyclable material from going to the landfill, up from 70 percent the year before. The most significant gain was in the area of recycling material from building sites, due to the Mandatory Construction and Demolition Debris Recovery Ordinance.  San Francisco generated 2,100,943 tons of waste material in 2007. Of this, only 617,833 tons went to landfill, the lowest disposal rate since 1977. The increased recovery of construction and demolition debris is a positive trend. However, SF Environment data shows that over two-thirds of the landfill-bound material was recyclable, with nearly 40 percent consisting of mixed compostables (mostly food scraps and soiled paper), 15 percent recyclable paper, and 15 percent other mixed recyclables.

Why is this a Community Health Indicator?

The impacts of solid waste on health relate indirectly to: 1) the use of environmental resources expended in the production of waste and, 2) the externalities related to waste disposal and waste management. Nearly all solid waste represents used commodities that required energy and other environmental resources to produce. The inappropriate storage and disposal of organic waste can attract rodents and insects, which may increase the frequency of gastro-intestinal and parasitic diseases. Illegal waste disposal can also impact water, waste water and storm water systems. Space that is used for waste disposal (i.e., landfills) uses land that can be used for other purposes. The ability to divert waste reduces the need of natural resource extraction, conserves energy and reduces emissions associated with new production and transport. Diverting waste can reduce groundwater contamination from landfills and toxic air emissions from incineration.