Supervisor Leland Yee: Energy Fair Can be a Benefit to All of Us

As the need to address the energy crisis grows, San Franciscans need to increase their efforts to help conserve. Recycling is a way that people of all ages can contribute to helping the environment. The city and county of San Francisco currently recycles 40 percent of its garbage. California law mandates that cities recycle 50 percent of its waste. San Francisco is working to increase the amount of solid waste that is recycled to meet California's statewide standards.

Currently, San Francisco's garbage goes to the Altamont landfill. By reducing the amount of garbage that goes into the landfill, the City is able to extend the life of its landfill space and reduce its landfill costs.

But recycling does not only result in financial savings. When we recycle, we also conserve the Earth's limited natural resources. Paper comprises the largest amount (72 percent) of municipal solid waste. For every ton of paper we recycle, 17 to 31 trees are saved, which results in a savings of 4,102 kilowatt hours of electricity and a savings of 7,000 gallons of water. This is equivalent to the amount of power needed by an average family in San Francisco for 13 months and enough water for a month and a half!

Glass jars and bottles, tin/steel cans, aluminum cans and foil, cardboard boxes, magazines, catalogs and #1 and #2 plastic bottles can all be recycled. San Franciscans can also recycle their organic material, such as non-meat food scraps and yard trimmings by composting these items and using them to fertilize their lawn and garden.

Recently, Norcal and its two subsidiaries that operate in San Francisco (Sunset Scavenger Company and the Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Company) announced the launch of its "Fantastic 3 Recycling Program." A pilot program has been underway with 20,000 Richmond District households for 18 months.

With the implementation of the new system, the City hopes to meet its goal of recycling 50 percent of its waste. For more information about this recycling effort, check out www.norcalwaste.com or call the SF Solid Waste Management Program at 554-7329.

But the best way to reduce waste is to avoid unnecessary packaging and reuse what you can. Here are some suggestions:

Use mugs instead of paper or plastic cups.

Bring a canvas bag to pack groceries at the store instead of using new paper or plastic bags.

Print on both sides of paper.

San Francisco residents can also get more information about recycling as well as see the City's first official Recycled Fashion Show at San Francisco's Sustainability Fair on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Abraham Lincoln High School, 2164 24th Ave. The Recycled Fashion Show will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. during the fair. Using materials such as plastic bags, bubblewrap and other discarded materials, contestants can compete for prizes for the best "out to the clubs" outfit, best "work wear," "most imaginative use of recycled materials," "best accessory" and "best hat."

The Recycled Fashion Show and the rest of the Sustainability Fair is free to the public. To enter the Recycled Fashion Show, call 923-2473 or e-mail kknox@puc.sf.ca.us by Oct. 9. Other exhibits include an ecology debate between high school students and city department heads, elementary school poster contest awards and a middle school inventor's contest. There will also be exciting demonstrations about tree planting, household environmentally-sound cleaning products and free lead testing for your dishes.

Additionally, energy efficient appliances will be given away every hour. Please join me at the Sustainability Fair to learn how you can do your part to increase the sustainability of our Earth and contact me about the fair or anything that concerns you by calling 554-7752 or e-mailing: Leland_Yee@ci.sf.ca.us.