🌱 Green Talk #6 Summary
👩🏫 Today's speaker: Michelle Young, Senior Management Analyst for the Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency.
♻️ Topic: Waste Management and Recycling
🔍 Speaker Background
- 30 years in the solid waste industry.
- Experience with renewable energy and recycled water projects.
- Education: Master's in Environmental Science from San Jose State.
📜 Key Legislation
- AB 32: Reducing climate impacts in California.
- SB 1383: Significant legislation in solid waste management in the last 30-40 years.
🌍 Climate Change and Waste
🗑️ Organic materials in landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. 20% of waste is food waste.
🍽️ 1 in 8 Californians face food insecurity while 25% of food purchased is wasted.
📦 Organic Waste Collection Requirements
- Mandatory organic waste collection services in California.
- Education and outreach required for residents and businesses.
- Monitoring and potential citations for improper disposal.
🚛 Advanced Technologies
🤖 San Jose has a state-of-the-art processing facility using robots and lasers for sorting organic waste.
🔋 New technologies include hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicles for waste collection.
🍽️ Food Recovery Initiatives
- Santa Clara County has a robust food recovery infrastructure.
- Organizations are required to collect surplus food for redistribution.
- Refrigerated vehicles and storage are essential for safe food transfer.
🔬 Composting and Recycling Infrastructure
🏭 Santa Clara County has sufficient capacity for food recovery and composting.
📊 154,000 tons of compost needed annually in Santa Clara County.
🔧 Future Directions
🌟 California aims to build 200 more compost facilities to meet demand.
📈 New legislation (SB 54) aims to ensure all materials sold in California are recyclable or compostable by 2030.
❓ Questions and Engagement
💬 Students are encouraged to reach out to Michelle for further questions and insights into the solid waste industry.
👋 Thank you for attending! Stay tuned for the next Green Talk!