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 Diversion Rate
Waste Composition
Community Statistics
Diversion Rate
Making Progress Together
Palo Alto achieved a diversion rate of 80% in calendar year 2010! The diversion rate is based on the pounds per day of garbage going to a landfill for each resident. While we’re making good progress – participation in our recycling and composting programs is crucial to reducing our waste – it’s even better to prevent waste from being created in the first place. Reduce your waste by purchasing in bulk, reusing and repairing items, or eliminating junk mail through opt-out lists. Find more information on ways to reduce your waste and your impact on our environment here. 
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Waste Composition
What's in your garbage?
A waste composition study for Palo Alto found that a significant number of recyclables are still in our garbage. Approximately 43% of what the community throws in the garbage is recyclable! Paper alone comprises 14% (that's 11,200 tons).
It's up to us to work together to achieve Zero Waste by 2021, and maximizing our current recycling program is an excellent way to start. Go to our new ‘What Goes Where Toolkit’ webpage to learn more about our recycling and composting programs and figure out ‘What Goes Where.’
Palo Alto's Garbage Composition
These items were all found in the garbage - NOT the recycling.
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Community Statistics
How do you map out?
We’re all working hard to reduce the amount of stuff we send to the landfill, but have you ever wondered how you compare to your neighbors? This map is designed to give you a pretty good idea. It shows the percentage of households by neighborhood that have put themselves at the forefront of the effort by switching to mini-can garbage service. We’ve chosen mini-cans to measure our residential progress because Zero Waste efforts include waste prevention, reuse and recycling. As we increase our efforts on all these fronts we will throw fewer and fewer resources in the garbage. Mini-cans are the smallest garbage cans offered, holding only 20 gallons. Subscription to the smallest garbage service level is an indication of how well we are fairing on reducing, reusing and recycling. Can your neighborhood ‘go green’ (have 50% of the households subscribe to mini-can service)? It’s not as hard as you might think. According to the 2005 Palo Alto Waste Composition Study, approximately 43% of what the community throws in the garbage is recyclable! Paper alone comprises 14% (11, 200 tons). Many residents may be able to change their service level now, just by putting their waste items in the proper cart. Our new ‘What Goes Where Toolkit’ webpage can help you learn more about our recycling and composting programs and figure out ‘What Goes Where.’ Switching to a mini can will not only reduce the amount of garbage you send to the landfill, you’ll also save money! If you would like to change your service level, contact GreenWaste of Palo Alto by emailing customerservice@greenwaste.com or by calling (650) 493-4894. Percentage of Households with Mini-Can Garbage Service by Neighborhood
Updated December 31, 2011 - Click to view as a pdf
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