Beacon Award-Winner San Rafael Makes Sustainability a Priority, continued
Between 2005 and 2010, the city reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 8.1 percent or 30,329 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. (A carbon dioxide equivalent is a term that translates different types of greenhouse gases into carbon dioxide, based on their climate-warming potential.) While the economic downturn and state policies contributed to these reductions, a significant drop resulted from local efforts to conserve energy and water, reduce vehicle miles traveled and divert waste from landfills. To implement its Climate Action Plan, San Rafael relies on three guiding principles: 1. Maintain a steady pace. Whether resources are abundant or limited, San Rafael identifies a few achievable goals to implement each year from its long-term sustainability strategy. As a result, the city’s sustainability efforts remain consistent and achievable;
2. Borrow and share expertise and resources. From funding proposals to ordinance development, the city both shares and borrows expertise to help move projects forward. It relies on city staff and the community to take ownership of sustainability objectives and programs, thus expanding its expertise and resources; and 3. Cultivate and complement community-based programs. The city approaches sustainability as a communitywide effort — with its residents, businesses and local government all serving as equal and important partners. By following these guiding principles, San Rafael has achieved a number of remarkable milestones. The following examples illustrate the accomplishments that helped contribute to San Rafael’s success in the Beacon Award program.
These examples also describe the city’s plans to preserve its assets and create a more economically and environmentally sustainable community.
Converting Waste to Energy To complement its long-standing curbside recycling program, San Rafael implemented a curbside composting program in 2010. The city adopted a zero waste goal and strategic plan in 2011. The strategic plan includes a recycling and reuse ordinance that requires a minimum of 70 percent of construction and demolition waste be recycled rather than disposed in a landfill. This, in part, has resulted in waste being only 2 percent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The city is now partnering with its waste hauler, Marin Sanitary Service, and wastewater service provider, the Central Marin Sanitation Agency, on a
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The Marin Sanitary Service’s pigs played an important role in San Rafael’s composting program in past years. Today they serve as mascots for the Recycling & Resource Recovery Center.
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