What does California do to encourage recycling?

Question

If I'm not mistaken, Seattle has a mandatory recycling program. However, I've also heard that many people dislike this method.

As a Californian, I'm curious to how California encourages recycling. I know it's not mandatory, so what is it?

(This is optional, but much appreciated)

I'd also like some additional information on mandatory recycling.

Answer 1

I used to live in Casa Grande Arizona and they also have mandatory recycling.

Answer 2

The state had mandated that counties reduce the amount of waste going into the landfills and each county has made its own policies about how to do that--most have chosen recycling programs.

The state does charge a redemption charge on each recyclable beverage container you buy, this encourages the individual to recycle in order to recover some of that cost by recycling those containers at redemption centers.

Answer 3

Years ago California required all municipalities to cut the amount of waste going to landfills and gave them 10 years to do it.  I believe the amount to be cut was 30%, but I could be wrong.

In most towns a curb-side recycling program of some sort was started.  San Jose, CA, began a somewhat draconian program which caused a lot of controversy and discord, but finally mellowed out to a relatively workable program.

My (much smaller) town, Morgan Hill, took a more slow and go approach, but it's worked well and I think we do our part.

We have weekly yard waste recycling (which includes kitchen waste and even pizza boxes), and bi-weekly paper, metal, plastic and alkiline battery recycling, plus motor oil as long as you request a container.

Our town also provides composting kits and regular composting classes to all interested residents.

Mandatory recycling is good thing in my opinion.

Answer 4

I'm in San Diego and we have mandatory recycling as well.  At first, they thought that we could fit all of our recycles in these tiny little bins, but soon realized that separating recycles for the boxes was too much effort for some people because the bins held so little and were filled so fast.  Now, we have very large bins on wheels and everything is recycled, glass, paper, plastic, cardboard, and green waste.  They gave us a chart to determine at a glance what is recyclable and what is not.  Most of us only generate one regular trash bin of non-recyclables a month.  They also hold composting classes and have monthly hazardous waste roundups where computers, TVs, batteries, paint and other chemicals can be safely disposed of.  I think in the 20 years I've lived in CA, they have come a very long way with recycling.  I only wish we would start to see recycle trash containers in public places...so we can recycle on the go.