City of San José Zero Waste Program Documents
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Citywide Policy
This review, with focus on transportation, aviation, and the environment, allows for a more thorough discussion of legislative principles by Council Committees to advance City policies.
April 2008 memorandum outlines how the Envision San José 2040 General Plan Update process will result in a green General Plan and achieve Green Vision Goal #7.
January 2008 memorandum introduces the preliminary Green Vision implementation plan and its four main components: an overview with specific recommendations; "cross-cutting" issues key to the success of all goals; a project matrix with performance measures; and Council referred items. Pages 43-49 present zero waste initiatives.
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Zero Waste Strategic Planning
The City’s Zero Waste Strategic Plan is a roadmap for achieving Green Vision Goal #5, including analysis of the City’s current waste stream, and descriptions of the policies, programs and facilities that will be needed to bring the City to Zero Waste.
Results of a residential and commercial Solid Waste Characterization Study conducted from March 17 to 28, 2008 will help San José better understand what is still being landfilled in order to plan for and pursue long-term zero waste goals through expanded programs, education, and facilities, including waste-related energy facilities.
The Zero Waste Resolution, adopted on October 30, 2007, sets a goal of 75% waste diversion from landfill by 2013 and a zero waste goal to landfill by 2022.
October 2007 Request for Qualifications sought to find a consultant/firm to assist with strategic planning, develop a Zero Waste Plan for all waste generated in San José and establish policy as it relates to the City’s waste management program through the year 2030.
October 2007 Powerpoint presentation to the Council's Transportation and Environment Committee provided the background to the City's Zero Waste planning process.
Waste characterization data provides a baseline for comparison to the March 2008 study.
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Commercial Program Implementation
In 1985, the City entered into a 30-year agreement for the disposal of up to 475,000 tons of solid waste per year at Newby Island Landfill. The contract was amended in 1995 to eliminate the “put or pay” requirement to deliver a minimum quantity of waste and to extend the term through 2020, or longer if capacity is available. The Second Amendment provides for disposal of waste and residuals from Commercial Redesign, for processing wastes generated by City operations, and for the beneficial reuse of biosolids and the disposal of grease, grit, and screenings from the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant.
June 23, 2009, memorandum regarding negotiation of an amendment to the agreement with International Disposal Corporation of California, Inc., for disposal of municipal solid waste and related services.
The August 2008 memorandum to the Transportation & Environment Committee recommends a new waste collection system that would put the City in a better position to achieve its environmental goals, stabilize revenue, and offer expanded more efficient service to businesses.
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Conversion Technology
San José Environmental Services Department requested Letters of Interest from vendors of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology interested in submitting a proposal for locating a biomethane to transportation fuel production facility on San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant lands. The City of San José used the information to submit grant applications for up to $10 million from the California Energy Commission (CEC) Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program Grant PON-09-003.
This is a list of all 18 companies that responded to the Request for Letters of Interest by the submittal due date.
This Organics-to-Energy document is an addendum to the Zero Waste Strategic Plan (ZWSP) and outlines specific strategies and initiatives to convert organic waste to energy. However, San José remains committed to diversion of waste from landfill through highest and best use principles, including reuse and recycling.
HDR Engineering Inc. in conjunction with Clements Environment has prepared the following qualitative analysis of the responses to the City’s Request for Information (RFI). We have summarized the “pros” and “cons”, our conclusions and potential questions for the each of the Respondents.
The City of San José Environmental Services Department released this RFI in 2007 seeking information to evaluate the cost effectiveness and feasibility of locating an energy recovery facility on San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant lands which would use selected City waste materials. The City is using the information submitted in response to the RFI to evaluate whether an energy recovery facility located on Plant lands would have the potential for providing sufficient benefit, at reasonable cost, to the City and Plant, to merit moving forward with appropriate next steps.
The City of San José has already implements a biomass to energy process at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant through digestion of Plant primary and secondary biosolids to generate digester gas and digested biosolids. This evaluation of additional biomass to energy alternatives was performed based on the following objectives: Summarizing the biomass resources potentially available for conversion to a readily usable fuel or to electricity; Screening technologies to identify those that have been successfully implemented; Performing a technical and economic assessment of the most viable biomass-to-energy technologies; Evaluating the environmental impacts on air emissions, noise, traffic, liquid and solids residuals treatment and disposal, and environmental permitting needs.
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Source Reduction
The purpose of this September 2008 memorandum to the Transportation & Environment Committee is to update the City Council on recent and planned activities regarding the implementation of the Environmentally Preferable Procurement Policy (EP3).
The September 2008 memorandum to the Transportation & Environment Committee recommends that the City of San José join other California cities and counties in supporting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) through legislative initiatives and the efforts of the Product Stewardship Institute and the California Product Stewardship Council.
April 2008 memorandum outlines staff recommendations for pursuing single-use plastic and paper bag use reduction and recycling and next steps for addressing other hard-to-recycle food service packaging.
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