By engaging in local partnerships, Oakland has achieved high levels of diversion from landfills and expanded community outreach.
To reach its goal of zero waste, Oakland, California, has engaged local businesses and communities. The city has established partnerships with waste collection companies and the local solid waste authority, which has made curbside composting and recycling possible for all Oakland residents. Moreover, to reduce emissions, the fleet of trucks used by waste collection companies was replaced by compressed natural gas-fueled vehicles.
Other partnerships with the city’s local water provider, recycling businesses, and Civicorps, an AmeriCorps program focused on environmental stewardship, have expanded Oakland’s community outreach. The partnerships have also made bulky item pickups available to multifamily buildings and condominiums, and free drop-off events for over-sized trash are now held throughout the year. Oakland is already seeing results: 250,000 tons of materials are diverted from landfills each year and the city’s new solid waste collection measures – including its locally generated CNG-fueled collection fleet – will slash greenhouse gas emissions from waste by more than a third annually.
36% CO2 reduction from Oakland’s waste management by 2020
The challenge
Oakland faced a number of issues in relation to waste management, such as illegal dumping of waste and a lack of knowledge among residents of how to handle waste. By developing partnerships with key local stakeholders, Oakland is diverting waste from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Co-benefits
Environmental The city’s new solid waste measures have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 450,000 metric tons annually.
Health Locally generated compressed natural gas fuels 70% of the waste collection vehicles, which improves air quality for Oakland’s residents.
Social The city’s many partnerships ensure better convenience for citizens when recycling and composting as well as improved equity of service offerings for the city’s renters.
About Oakland
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. Oakland is known for its sustainability practices, including a top-ranking for usage of electricity from renewable resources. Oakland is also known for its history of political activism.
