San Jose City Council is taking significant steps toward improving waste management practices, particularly in separating organic materials from general waste. During a recent budget study session, Council Member Kamay raised concerns about the city's current waste disposal methods, highlighting the need for better separation of food waste to enhance recycling efforts.

In response, city officials noted that California's Senate Bill 1383 mandates all jurisdictions to separate organic materials. Although a pilot program was previously conducted to encourage residents to use separate containers for organic waste, participation was disappointingly low. As a result, the city has shifted to a back-end processing approach, where all garbage is sent to a material recovery facility for sorting. This method allows for the extraction of food scraps and other organic materials from the general waste stream, which are then composted.

Officials emphasized that this system has been effective, with a percentage of residents participating with minimal effort by simply placing organic waste in their black garbage carts. However, they also urged residents to avoid mixing organic waste with green waste, as this can attract pests and complicate the composting process.

The discussion also touched on the growing concern over plastics in waste, particularly non-recyclable items like wipes, which can cause significant plumbing issues. Council Member Duan echoed these concerns, stressing the importance of addressing plastic waste as the city moves forward with its environmental initiatives.

As San Jose continues to refine its waste management strategies, the focus remains on increasing participation in organic waste separation and tackling the challenges posed by plastic contamination. The city aims to enhance its sustainability efforts while educating residents on proper waste disposal practices.