| | Published September 26th, 2012
| The Future of Garbage and Recycling
| | By Sophie Braccini |  | | Photo provided by CCCSWA
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Lamorinda recycles about 65 percent of its garbage today, mostly due to efforts by residential users. By 2020, the State goal is to recycle 75 percent of waste, and to include businesses in a mandatory program. The agency that manages waste collection and recycling locally, Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCCSWA), recently launched an outreach campaign to explain these goals and seek customer input.
CCCSWA's contracts with Allied Waste and Valley Waste Management will expire in February, 2015. The agency has engaged in a lengthy process that will lead to the signing of new contracts with service providers and community input is being sought.
"We cannot do it without the feedback of the community," says CCSWA Program Manager Lois Courchaine. CCCSWA has already held a series of presentations in its service area, and an online survey is available at www.wastediversion.org. Waste no time - the survey closes October 1.
Residents can't meet the State's new goals alone, according to Courchaine. "If we want to improve the quantity of what is recycled, we must have businesses' participation," she says.
"Today businesses generate approximately 50 percent of the materials being disposed, and in our CCCSWA service area their recycling rate is only 23 percent." Courchaine does not blame businesses for the poor performance; CCCSWA used to propose a list of more than 20 different haulers, many offering only niche recycling that made recycling just too cumbersome.
CCCSWA recently reduced the number of accredited providers (six now) that can haul business recyclables, making it easier to organize. Courchaine says new technologies will help make recycling easier for everyone, such as mixed waste processing or 'in-vessel' composting.
The CCSWA is governed by a Board of Directors composed of two representatives from each member agency. Lamorinda's representatives are Lafayette Mayor Carol Federighi and Council Member Mike Anderson; Moraga Council Members Karen Mendonca and Dave Trotter; and Orinda Mayor Steve Glazer and Council Member Victoria Smith.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA