SAN FRANCISCO—The city of San Francisco failed to secure a $3 million funding opportunity to help aid the consumer and merchant loss that followed the closure of multiple recycling centers across the state.
Over the past five years, hundreds of recycling centers have been shut down in California due to the 33-year-old program struggling to remain profitable. This led to consumers relying on grocery stores to act as recycling depots, but most major grocers will not take back empty bottles as it uses too many of their own resources.
Environmental companies suggested some solutions in response to the shutdowns, such as promoting the recycling centers that remain in the state, or cracking down on major retailers that undercount their deposits or do not take back empty bottles and cans.
San Francisco planned on using the $3 million in funding to operate a mobile recycling center. It would cover trucks and kiosks, processing spaces, labor, and marketing. It has been reported that approximately $700,000 will go towards the program’s funding, which includes a grant through CalRecycle that the city plans on applying for. The scarcity of resources will force the pilot program to be less comprehensive and limited than what the city originally planned.
For more details on the program, on where and how to recycle in San Francisco visit: https://sfenvironment.org/.
