Residents and businesses in the unincorporated parts of San Diego County will begin recycling organic waste such as yard and food scraps by the end of the year, under a policy that the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved. The expansion of county recycling programs was one of several environmental items that the board passed unanimously Tuesday, along with directives to coordinate sustainability efforts among county departments while requiring each department to develop a sustainability plan, and a plan to encourage the use of native plants in landscaping.
“During the past few months, this board has indicated its shift toward prioritizing sustainability, climate action, conservation of open space and environmental justice,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Nathan Fletcher said. “Today’s action will bring our county government more in line with these new priorities.”
The organic waste recycling plan will require people to collect materials such as yard trimmings, food scraps, paper and cardboard, wood waste, and manure. Those items can be recycled into products such as paper, cardboard, compost and mulch, the board letter stated.