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Commission commends USPS San Francisco District for partnership on zero‑waste training and operations
Summary
The Commission adopted a resolution recognizing the United States Postal Service San Francisco District for work with the Department of the Environment to increase recycling and composting at 31 city post offices, train thousands of employees and achieve substantial diversion and projected cost savings.
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Commission on the Environment approved a resolution March 22 commending the United States Postal Service, San Francisco District, for partnering with the Department of the Environment on a 0‑waste initiative.
Stephen Shiv of the Department’s Zero Waste team summarized an internal audit that showed most of the material in the waste stream at local postal facilities was recyclable or compostable. "Our audit really showed that 90% of the materials that we found in the stream was either recyclable or compostable," Shiv said, describing follow‑up work with USPS staff, Recology and other partners to right‑size services, add containers, and train employees.
USPS representatives described steps taken across 31 San Francisco locations — from updated containers and signage to training and a backhaul program that aggregated recyclable material at a hub. Ted Campbell from the USPS sustainability office said a backhaul stream produced about $200,000 of revenue for the San Francisco district over the year of work, and that the district plans to replicate lessons at other offices.
The resolution recognizes the district for training more than 3,500 employees at 31 local locations, repurposing and placing more than 300 recycling and composting containers in high‑traffic areas, and reducing landfill service by an average of 70% at those post offices, with projected cost savings.
The commission voted to extend its appreciation to the USPS San Francisco District and encouraged other USPS districts to follow the example set in San Francisco.
