San Diego Delays Decision on Expanded Recycling

SAN DIEGO - The city of San Diego will someday want residents to recycle polystyrene food containers, just not yet.

The City Council's Environment Committee Wednesday ordered up a further staff study of the cost and other implications of adding the material to San Diego's recycling program after hearing a staff report on issues faced by recycling companies.

The city currently accepts what's called "expanded polystyrene" packaging material for recycling, but not the kinds used for food products -- like coffee cups or takeout containers.

According to the report, a consultant found that the city's two contractors have trouble with food containers that do enter the waste stream because they're dirty and contaminate other recycling products, lowering their value.

Food containers and foam cups have to be removed by hand from a conveyor belt and taken to a dump, said Mario Sierra, the city's environmental services director.

Sierra said that because recycling companies would need to upgrade equipment and add labor time to accept food containers, costs to the city would rise by an estimated $290,000 a year. Further study is required to nail down a more precise figure, which could be higher, he said.

Despite the challenges, polystyrene food containers will eventually be added to the list of recycling because the council members adopted a goal of diverting 75 percent of waste from the Miramar Landfill by 2020, and 90 percent by 2035.

City officials said the key will be getting San Diegans to rinse off the food containers before throwing them away.

"I think we can all share our personal experience about how we treat trash and recycling in our own home," committee Chairman David Alvarez said.

"I will tell you with any containers -- whether it's a jar, a tin can or gallons of milk or carton of juice -- what I do is, and I know it's maybe not typical, is I rinse them out so they don't contaminate the rest of your recyclable items," Alvarez said. "That's certainly ... an action that would be transferable to Styrofoam products."

Councilman Scott Sherman said "an education process" will be needed once polystyrene food containers are added to the city's recycling list. He said that based on previous experience, residents have shown they'll support the recycling effort if the benefit is made clear.

The more detailed staff report was scheduled to come back in a few months.

The city's contracts with recycling companies expire in three years, which could provide an opportunity to add the polystyrene food containers, according to Sierra.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock