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 We want San José to become a zero waste city. Zero Waste is a systems approach to eliminating the impacts of products and packaging, resource use and reutilization through the implementation of modern materials management and greenhouse gas reduction programs. Impacts are designated as upstream impacts (e.g., pre‐consumer, resource extraction, and production of goods) and downstream impacts (e.g., post‐consumer, end of life, and waste management).
Instead of sending 569,000 tons of garbage to our landfills annually, we are working to divert 100 percent of the waste we generate. Currently, San José has one of the highest recycling rates in the nation. We recycle over 71 percent of our garbage and trash citywide. San José residents recycle 293,000 tons each year through the curbside Recycle Plus program alone.
First, we start by reducing the quantity of waste we create. We will increase the amount we recycle, and we’ll reuse more products. In addition, San José will become a world leader in adopting cutting-edge technologies that transform waste into usable energy. Through partnerships with innovative companies, San José will convert solid waste and biosolids into biodiesel, methanol, biogas, and electricity that will power municipal facilities.
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