Zero Waste Pasadena 2040 – Department of Public Works (2024)

The City of Pasadena (City) began its journey on the road to ZeroWaste in 2005 with the adoption of the United Nations UrbanEnvironmental Accords, which include a goal of Zero Waste by2040.

In fall 2011, the City began a planning process to identify thepolicies, programs, and facilities that will be needed to move asclose to Zero Waste as possible by 2040. The Zero Waste Plan isthe beginning of a long-term systematic effort to:

• Reduce the total amount of disposed materials originatingwithin Pasadena
• Reduce the quantity of disposed materials generated perperson within Pasadena
• Increase the quantity of recyclable and compostable materialsas these items are diverted from landfills
• Support State and federal efforts to build the environmentaland social costs into the price of products and packaging and
  require manufacturers to take back products at the end of theiruseful life.

In developing Pasadena’s Zero Waste Plan, consideration wasgiven to existing programs and the feasibility of undertakingadditional initiatives. Community involvement was integralthroughout the planning process.

The plan was prepared by the City of Pasadena Department ofPublic Works with input from businesses, schools and communitymembers, all included as stakeholders in the planning process.These stakeholders participated in the Zero Waste workshopsthat were held on February 2, May 24 and August 22, 2012.

This plan describes the policies, programs and infrastructure thatcould be developed to achieve the City’s goal of Zero Waste.To understand the effectiveness of the Zero Waste policies andprograms identified through the Zero Waste planning process, theCity refined and estimated the diversion potential of 19 ZeroWaste initiatives which address each of the generator sectors inPasadena:

• Single-family residential– single-family homes and multiplexresidences up to four units
• Commercial and multifamily– businesses and institutionswith cart service or bin service and multifamily complexes withfive units or more
• Other– Pasadena residents or businesses (includinglandscapers and construction companies) hauling materials to
  a landfill or transfer station in their own vehicles

One destination for Pasadena’s waste is disposal in a landfill.Waste can also be redirected or “diverted” from the landfillthrough activities such as recycling, beneficial reuse andcomposting.

“Generation” is the sum of tons disposed plus tons diverted and itis used to determine the diversion rate. “Diversion Rate” is thepercent of waste diverted from the landfill.

Generation = Disposal + Diversion
Diversion Rate = (Generation – Disposal)/Generation x 100%

For 2010, the State estimated that Pasadena generated as awhole 584,840 tons of waste. Of this total, 152,881 tons weredisposed in a landfill and 431,959 tons were diverted, yielding adiversion rate of just over 73 percent for Pasadena.

A portion of Pasadena’s diverted material consisting of greenwaste, such as tree trimmings, grass clippings and otherlandscaping materials, is used as alternative daily cover (ADC) atScholl Canyon landfill. However, based on legislative trends,diversion credit for ADC is likely to be discontinued. The City’sdiversion rate would be reduced by approximately 3 percent (ordaily per capita disposal would be increased by 0.65 pounds perperson per day) if this material is not diverted by other meanssuch as composting. It is therefore in Pasadena’s best interest todevelop alternatives for diverting food scraps and other organicand compostable materials.

To plan for Zero Waste, we first need to understand what wethrow away. Exhibit ES-1 shows the composition of Pasadena’sdisposed materials based on the results of the 2008 StatewideWaste Characterization Study conducted by CalRecycle.Currently, 77 percent of what is disposed could be recycled orcomposted and the remaining 23 percent are “no market”materials that cannot be recycled or composted.

Recyclable materials include: paper, plastic, metals, glass, andconstruction and demolition materials. Compostable materialsinclude: food scraps, yard trimmings, and compostable paper. Nomarket materials (those that cannot be recycled) include: treatedwood, composite materials (things stuck to other things) anddiapers.

Many cities across the country are adopting Zero Waste Plans tooptimize resources and meet ever higher waste diversion goals.In considering Pasadena’s Zero Waste Plan, it is helpful to look atother California cities to gain perspective. Plans vary dependingon the initiatives selected, infrastructure available, wasteprocessing opportunities and levels of service provided.

Pasadena began the transition from a consuming to a conservingsociety when the Integrated Waste Management Act (AssemblyBill 939) passed in 1989. From the initial blue box curbsiderecycling pilot through implementation of a fully automated Pay-As-You-Throw variable rate system, Pasadena’s diversion ratehas increased from 37 percent in 1995 to 73 percent in 2010.Partnering with the City are the franchise haulers who divert 60percent of mixed waste and 75 percent of Construction andDemolition Materials from the landfill. Although Pasadenadiverted 73 percent of materials from landfills in fiscal year 2010,further diversion is possible. Based on a waste characterizationstudy conducted by CalRecycle in 2008, nearly 77 percent ofPasadena’s disposed materials are reusable, recyclable orcompostable. To move beyond the current level of diversiontoward the goal of Zero Waste, a plan and implementationschedule is needed. This is no small task. The City and its partners will need to increase diversion through existingprograms and develop new, more aggressive programs.The City conducted workshops and solicited input fromstakeholders throughout Pasadena and among differentgenerator sectors to elicit feedback on the interests andpreferences of the community to implement Zero Wasteprograms and policies. Based on this feedback, the City hasdeveloped a 26-year program which is expected to increasePasadena’s diversion rate to a minimum of 87 percent by 2040.

The Zero Waste Plan is a working document. It represents whatthe Department of Public Works believes to be the best initiativesat this point in time to achieve maximum diversion. In developingthis plan, careful consideration was given to the potentialeffectiveness, feasibility and level of community support for eachinitiative proposed. In order for this to be the best possible planfor Pasadena to approach Zero Waste, it will be necessary toreview and update this plan as new technologies, opportunities,and challenges arise. City staff will review and update the planevery three years.

Download and Read the Full Plan

Pasadena Zero Waste Strategic Plan