San Diego, CA’s Trash, Waste, Recycling Spike Nearly 20%

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): San Diego’s trash trucks have picked up nearly 7,000 more tons of garbage, nearly 1,400 more tons of recycling and more than 900 more tons of green waste than they did this time last year. An 18 percent spike for trash, a 19 percent jump for recycling and a 17 percent increase for green waste during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city’s fleet of 138 refuse collection trucks and recycling packers are collecting significantly more garbage, recycling and waste because people are eating more meals at home and doing more yard work with the extra time on their hands. City officials compared a 40-day period from March 23 to May 1 this year to a similar period in 2019.

During the 40 days in 2019, city haulers picked up 38,820 tons of trash; 7,236 tons of recycling and 5,562 tons of green waste. During the 40 days this year, they’ve picked up 45,735 tons of trash, 8,591 tons of recycling and 6,480 tons of green waste. The city hauls trash, recycling and green waste for free from 289,000 single-family homes and street-facing duplexes across the city.

Private haulers handle trash and recycling collection for businesses, commercial properties, condominiums, apartment complexes and gated communities. City officials said they’ve requested tonnage data from private haulers, but haven’t yet received it. The spike in trash from single-family homes isn’t expected to put extra pressure on the Miramar Landfill, because a somewhat corresponding dip is expected from private haulers, as less trash is generated by restaurants, malls and offices.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com