Thanks Gavin Newsom, et al for making this happen! One of the many great things he's done for the city of San Francisco. Hopefully he'll carry that over to Sacramento, acting not only for San Francisco, but for the entire state!

It should be done everywhere.....so your kids will have a clean place to live!

Just more government intervention into our lives.

This annoys me because not everyone can compost, even if they wanted to. I myself don't have the space for a compost pile on my property so in order to do it, I'd have to have a compost pile in my garage or basement, which isn't happening. I mean, it's great if you can do it, but I don't think it should be made mandatory.

I agree with Spectra - great if you can do it, but for some, their living conditions make it very difficult to do and making it mandatory seems a bit excessive.

I would love to compost, it would certainly cut down on our garbage waste, we have to pay per trash can and for 3 people even with recycling a 34gallon can can get mighty full every week. but I doubt my roommates would be up for it...well at least one of them. She's super irresponsible and, uh, immature, so I doubt she'd do it or do it right.

This is ridiculous! Another example of San Francisco bullying it's citizens! First plastic bags, now this? I'm all for sustainability and green living, don't get me wrong, but the fact that it's compulsory is excessive. Green living is something people should want to do, not be forced to. I live in San Francisco, and it annoys me to no end that the local government keeps poking it's nose into things it ought not to. Ludicrous!

How would this work for someone in an apartment setting? My husband and I don't even have room for recycling bins in our apartment, let alone a sizeable enough compost bin to have any kind of impact. Would the whole complex have to have a joint compost pile?

Green living is something all of you 20 and 30 somethings(too many from the "me" generation) should be doing....take a minute to make the effort and maybe your children will grow up with clean air and a world that may stay around for a while. It should never be too hard to compost or recycle.

I'm with spectra. I don't even have room for the recycling in the apartment. Besides, wouldn't that trash can start to smell god awful after a couple of days?

I agree with Spectra as well. I have a very small yard, and for me to compost, I would have to have an expensive bin. Eventually I'd love to, cause I think it makes great fertilizer, but I have to wait until the econ. is a little better. I heard a comment from someone the other day who is anti- compost, and I was wondering if anyone new the answer.

She stated that food in the garbage that gets put into a landfill is what helps other items start breaking down over time, and w/o food and yard waste to start breaking down the garbage, things will just sit there and never decompose. Does anyone know if that is true?

I finally got my parents to start composting after years of needling them. It doesn't smell, as long as you keep it in a sealed container and empty it every week. I imagine that if you live in an apartment building, then there would a larger building wide compost bin for everyone to empty their smaller bins into. My parents have a small one in the garage, and then a larger one in the backyard.

We have a compost box outside, and a recycling trash can inside. I think we fill up the actual "trash" trash can only once every 3 weeks. Before we started composting and cooking at home almost every day we had a lot more regular trash, it's amazing how much we waste on packaging and take out boxes!

This is laughable. The residents of S.F. must love seeing their freedoms fly out of the window...

A $500 fine if you don't comply? Seriously? Is the city going to "invest" in a compost pail for you? This is ridiculous.

I agree with sy and others. This is ridiculous! I agree that it's something that people should do, but to have the government require it is astoundingly ludicrous.

i would love to compost. but i live in a teeny tiny apt, so it really wouldn't be feasible for me!

In Toronto, we have the "green bin" which the government picks up I believe either weekly or every two weeks. We have a small bin for the house and a larger bin for the garage which we put at the road for pick up. No smell and we have compost!

oh... and I should mention that it is mandatory to use the green bin, though I've never heard of anyone getting fined for not using it. Although it was not mandatory in apartment buildings, the government is requiring that all apartment buildings also implement compost, which will also provide the small apartment bin and a larger bin outside the apartment. We've had this for a while now... it has to have been at least a year, and everyone I know uses it.

Yeah, all of Germany has been doing it for years. It's not really a huge deal. And, we have all sort of living conditions, apartments, houses, studios, etc. Then, again, we are provided with all the necessary items to separate the trash, free of charge. And, this is not about government intervention. This is about being environmentally responsible and yeah, some people who don't get that need a little negative incentive to get themselves moving in the right direction.

I live in San Francisco, they supply compost bins along with the normal trash and recycling bins and they come by and pick up weekly.

I'm speechless, really.
So it's finally established that the environment needs to be treated more nicely and people say they're "all for sustainability and green living" but when it comes to actually participating in such acts, they go and say it's infringing on their freedoms?

"The residents of S.F. must love seeing their freedoms fly out of the window"

Are you F*CKING KIDDING ME?! You call it a "freedom" to be lazy and ruin the planet?

" 'The residents of S.F. must love seeing their freedoms fly out of the window'

Are you F*CKING KIDDING ME?! You call it a "freedom" to be lazy and ruin the planet? People like you deserve to be kicked off the face of the planet, seriously. "

No kidding, the use of the word "freedom" in this context is so obscene considering what the people of Iran are going through.

Meike, how is this not government intervention? Your phrasing is different, but the government forcing of negative consequences is government intervention. Maybe you think government intervention is OK; that's your prerogative. But it obviously is government intervention.

And yeah, last time I checked being lazy is a freedom.

lilkimbo, mind explaining to me how this subject justifies the label of "negative consequences"? Last time I checked, helping the environment was a Good Thing.

And Meike, bringing Iran into this debate is a weak tactic, seeing as how one has nothing to do with the other. But, since you brought it in, considering what the people of Iran are going through, I don't think our government should be wasting any resources on composting. (See how you can make a silly, un-related argument work for either side?)

"And yeah, last time I checked being lazy is a freedom."

Oh how very glad I am to know that not all Americans see it that way. You, however, are a prime example as to why people from e.g. Europe have such a negative opinion about the States as a whole.

Murmur, instead of jumping down my throat, throughly read all of the comments. I was responding directly to Meike's use of the phrase "negative incentive." Last time I checked, paying $500 is a negative consequence, but if you think giving away money is positive, pm me and I'll send you my address so you can send me a check!

You really don't think being lazy is a freedom? What legal basis do you have for that statement?

And I think your consistent personal attacks upon those who disagree with you are make you a prime example as to why people from Europe have such a negative opinion about the States as a whole.

By the way, I'd say you're one of maybe 10 Americans who doesn't think that being lazy is a freedom. That is seriously one of the most bizarre statements I have ever heard.

And for the record, I have been composting literally since I was born. My parents started composting in the 60's and never stopped. I just don't think the government should force it upon us.

Your freedoms are flying out the window.

You may not notice it now because you "agree" with it, but wait until the city (or any other level of govt.) forces you to do something you disagree with it and you'll finally wake up.

In this case, it doesn't matter how "green" you are, or how much you loooooove the planet, it's taking your freedom to choose whether to compost or not away from you. That's a freedom going flying out the window.

I don't understand how that's not obvious.

Oh and I agree with Lil, the idea of not being free to be lazy is hilarious.

What's next? We're not free to be stressed? Free to be angry? Free to assume things about people on the Internets? Free to be apathetic?

Can someone explain to me (and I really want to know, I'm not being sarcastic) how just throwing veg waste in the garbage is really worse than composting? Won't the food waste just break down and "compost" naturally at the dump? I completely understand recycling and not throwing things that won't ever break down into the dumps and landfills, but I genuinely don't understand the environmental implications of throwing organic matter out...

I realize being lazy is a freedom and I feel you completely miss the point of my post. The emphasis was that the new law does far more good for society than the fact that it can simply be labeled as another tactic of, duh, government intervention. It's compost for goodness sake, not freedom of religion, press, speech, or assembly. And, it is towards something GOOD. You also state the negative consequence is a penalty fee for not doing something that would help the environment. It's like me who lived in the desert of Las Vegas who can only water her yard during night for water conservation. The times you could sprinkle your yard was mandated by the city government and you would be penalized if you were caught watering your yard during the sun's peak hours. It's not only helping the environment, it's common sense.

Honestly, if the only negative argument you have against composting and recycling is that it's taking away your freedom to be lazy, then your argument is quite weak against the positive effects of the law.

About my comment on Iran, it has nothing to do with what we can do for them as Americans and has more to do with the fact that they are truly fighting against a government that genuinely is breaching their freedom. And, here we sit as Americans being spoiled by consumerism and declaring we have a right not to compost because it infringes on our rights to be lazy asses. "I'll cry about personal responsibility of other people but not my own."

Syako, there will always be laws I agree with and disagree with. It didn't take any waking up to realize it. I'll fight for laws that are as common sense as water conservation.

Meike, I'm not a moron. I got what you said out of your post. Maybe you meant to say that it is government intervention, but that it's ok because it's for the common good, but that's not what you said. You plainly stated that it's no government intervention. You can try to backtrack and act like I'm an unintelligent person who is incapable of understanding basic points, but what you said stands. Additionally, no one stated that this law is a "tactic," it was simply stated that it is government intervention. It is government intervention, plain and simple. You seem to be alright with the government intervening to do something that you think is GOOD. It's ridiculous to say that because it's not one of the "five freedoms" that it's not important. Are only certain freedoms important? It's a ridiculous argument to make.

I think water (some) water laws are ridiculous as well. However, those tend to be not about helping the environment, but about making sure that people have clean water available to drink when it's needed, so that's another issue entirely. The point about common sense makes no sense in reference to laws because I don't think it's the government's responsibility to be going around legislating common sense.

I am astounded at the fact that you think that the argument that taking away freedom is weak! That's preposterous. Although, you have missed an important distinction. No one here is in any way arguing against recycling or composting. I, along with others, am arguing against forced composting. This is an important distinction, but in your rush to (unsuccessfully) "prove" that my argument is weak, I see that you have chose to ignore it. Or, maybe you didn't ignore it, you just purposely omitted it to try to strengthen your statement.

My point with Iran is that we can bring in any outside subject, but that they have nothing to do with the argument at hand. I got your point; apparently you didn't get mine. However, if we live in a world where only the most egregious violations of rights matter, I guess we shouldn't be concerned about freedom of assembly, since life is worse for people in Iran! I'm not sure where you're getting anything about personal responsibility, as I haven't mentioned it here at all. You seem to be assuming things about my personal philosophy. That's your right, but I think it would be GOOD if you didn't have that right any longer, so I think I will try to introduce a law that will fine you for assuming things. Additionally, you have missed an important distinction. Generally, those who believe in personal responsibility believe that it's not the government's responsibility to interfere when people get themselves in a mess, which is right in line with the belief that it's not the government's responsibility to interfere in this case, either. It's about minimizing government interference in all aspects of life. Although, as I've said, I have always composted, so I am taking personal responsibility. Forced responsibility is at the opposite end of the spectrum from personal responsibility.

It seems as if you've missed sy's point, as well. She was stating that your only basis as to why this law is just is that you think it's GOOD to compost. What if the government decides we aren't free as you say, to "be lazy," and decides to outlaw television and force us to work out? Technically, from a health standpoint, it's GOOD, so I guess that law is OK, too, right? I mean, being lazy is not a right, right?

Oh, and PinkUnicorn, I meant to respond! The main benefit of composting is that the compost can be used as a natural fertilizer, so it can be used both to grow more crops and to cut down on the use of chemical fertilizers.

Lilkim!

What is SF going to do next? Ban disposable diapers? You those do a heck of a lot more harm than decomposing food.

Cine, I know you're kind of being facetious. But yeah. I give it 1 year before disposable diapers are no longer able to be sold within city limits.

A black market for Huggies! The mob is going to scoop right in.

I quite frankly believe they should ban ALL items that don't compost. Why even waste the time with the so-called "trash". If you all are forced to buy only compostable items then SF will be totally set!

/sarc

Haus I would not put it past SF at all. I just love how an economically failing city and state are suppose to be the ones that the rest of Americans are suppose to "look up to" and modify their behavior after. Seems like we should be acting like Texas not Cali who are issuing IOU's.

If like kimbo said, composting is important because it creates a natural fertilizer and reduces the reliance on chemical fertilizer ..... what do you do with it if you don't need fertilizer? If you don't grow anything on your property, won't use it, etc - what's the difference between composting and letting it decompose just the same in a landfill? Is there someone coming along to collect my newly made compost? Can I sell it for a profit?

I just started reading about San Francisco's composting program today, so I am by no means an expert, but my understanding is that they collect it and give it (sell it?) to local farmers.

For individuals, everyone I know who composts either has a small garden or has a neighbor/friend/relative with a small garden. I'm guessing some larger cities offer pick up, like San Francisco.

Seriously, people, maybe you should actually take a second to read about the issue before commenting? No one is asking anyone to have a freaking compost pile in their backyard. The city will collect food scraps and compost them. This is incredibly easy for people to do, even for those who live in apartments. (I should know, I do it.)

Second, I think the much greater benefit of composting food scraps rather than having them decompose in landfills is that decomposition in landfills often results in the production of methane, an very potent greenhouse gas.

It seems to me that food scraps have to be dealt with in any case -- it makes more sense to put them in a compost bin so they can make fertilizer, than put them in the trash so they fill up the landfill.

Interesting that this is seen as a first -- Seattle has mandatory composting as well (though apartment buildings get to decide whether to participate or not). It works pretty well; you have a yard waste bin to put weeds, kitchen scraps and greasy pizza boxes in, and then your usual garbage can and recycle bin.

Ok quick question, I have a "green waste" can, is this compost. Is this what they are referring to. And if so can I put fruits/veggie scraps in there?

And whatever happened to positive reinforcement? Aren't the libs for no negative reinforcement in child rearing. why not offer a benefit to those that actually compost. The city benefits from people doing this, that is why they impose the fine, because they want to make money, all under the guise of saving the planet. HAHA
Oh and meike, when I was in germany i thought the trash cans were amazing. i have been searching for one here in the states for a while now to no avail. I currently have a regular trash can in the kitchen and separate my recycling in the garage between cans/bottles (which I give to my low income mother) and all other (paper cardboard etc) But it would be so much cooler to have them all in the same place.
So my recommendation to the city of SF is to make it easier for people to recycle. Every public trash can should be like in Germany with the 4 compartments, instead of having to lug around everything that is recyclable until you see a recycling can or get home. Start there. Supply the trash cans to each home. You would be surprised how many people would recycle if their trash cans were divided for them.

I can't believe some of the fuss in these comments. This is no different than recycling plastics. And freedoms? Seriously? Unless you're paying for your own private trash service, you're using city funds. I wish we had mandatory compost collection here, because my property taxes fund not only the collection of your banana peels, but also to haul them down to a landfill 100 miles away when they could be composted right here and then used in the parks around town instead of ground water polluting chemicals that end up in private wells.