City Council Passes Zero Waste LA Program

Zero Waste LA is a new public private partnership designed to address the 3-million tons of waste disposed annually by businesses, consumers and residents. This innovative franchise system establishes a waste and recycling collection program for all commercial, industrial, and large multifamily customers in the City of Los Angeles.

The program, which Councilmembers Paul Koretz and José Huizar introduced as a motion in 2010 and worked on during Huizar’s time as Chair of the Energy & Environment committee, will also ensure fair pricing, improve service and working conditions and help us meet our zero waste goals for Los Angeles. Councilmember Nury Martinez helped usher this long-working policy as an advocate and the recently appointed chair of the E&E committee.

While 70% of L.A.’s waste comes from commercial and apartment buildings, this new program aims to reduce landfill disposal by 1 million tons per year by 2025 and reduce waste by 65% in all 11 of the City’s new service zones! The program will also decrease food waste and provide all Angelenos with Blue Bin access, no matter where they live or work.

Zero Waste LA Goals:
The franchise system and its agreements include these environmental outcomes and service mandates:

• Reduction of landfill disposal by 1,000,000 tons per year by 2025;
• Transparent and predictable solid waste and recycling service rates for the next 10-20 years;
• Quality customer service standards with LASAN monitoring and enforcement;
• Franchise hauler accountability for program outcomes and customer satisfaction through a series of measures implemented by LASAN, up to and including liquidated damages;
• Compliance with environmental regulations, including mandatory commercial and organics recycling;
• Investment of over $200 million in new and improved solid resources infrastructure;
• Clean fuel vehicles; and
• Decrease and recycling of food waste, and increase in food rescue.

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