Actively promote source reduction, recycling and composting to the Dallas community.
The Dallas community, including residents and businesses generate approximately 2.8 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste annually. [1]To achieve the goals of the City’s Zero Waste Plan and reduce the GHG associated with landfilling waste, the City will increase current education efforts to inform residents and business owners of their options to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle. The public information program should prioritize waste reduction in the commercial sector and identifying opportunities to reduce single use products.
[1] City of Dallas, February 2013. Local Solid Waste Management Plan.
start a required composting program ASAP
The public education campaign should emphasize that many plastics that are put in recycling are never actually recycled and we should focus on refusing or switching to glass, metal, etc. because these materials are much more likely to be reused/recycled.
Is there a way to incentize restaurants to switch from plastic take out packaging to compostable packaging? That would be better but these items will still end up in landfills because most people don't compost at home or in their offices. It is very difficult to find composting services in Dallas and those that exist are expensive.
Exactly. The city needs to take responsibilities to educate the public that many plastics that are put in recycling are never actually recycled and we should focus on reducing plastics and many other materials. City should start financial incentives for waste reduce and composting. And making composting and recycling mandatory is the way to go.
NTCOG is pushing their Waste Management Campaign..so how is City of Dallas sharing this information? Recycling options (which should be th Last Option- Rethinking and ReFusing is first) is not everywhere....where is a recycle can in downtown Dallas as I walk down Elm, Main, or Griffin Street? Yes a TRUE Net Zero Waste plan is overdue. Compost should be educated- easily accessible and HOAs should encourage Not band!