SCS staff recently prepared the Zero Waste Strategic Plan for Santa Monica. The plan details the policies, programs and infrastructure needs, options and recommendations that will enable the City to reach 95 percent diversion by 2030, as well as its interim, five-year goals.
The project includes preparation of guiding principles and zero waste ordinance, evaluation of the City’s existing solid waste programs and policies, and preparation of a waste generation and characterization study. Based on the projected waste generation, the project team compiled policies, programs and infrastructure options for the City to consider for implementation to meet its zero-waste goals.
The project also includes a funding analysis to calculate the costs for each option, and a rate structure analysis to assess the impacts to residential and commercial rates. An implementation schedule, greenhouse gas emissions reduction analysis and diversion calculations were also prepared as part of the project. The plan was approved by the City Council in January 2014.
