Topic Briefs

In a linear economy, natural resources are extracted from the environment and transformed into products that are consumed and ultimately disposed as waste. A recycling economy is better, but only addresses what we do with materials at their "end of life." A circular economy aims to eliminate waste and close the loop through product design and innovative business models, continuously cycling materials through the economy and reducing the overall environmental impact over their lifecycles. Read our primer on the circular economy to learn how local governments can benefit from embracing circular

Residents of Alameda County have multiple free and convenient options for safely disposing of leftover hazardous waste: Four drop-off facilities in Fremont, Hayward, Livermore and Oakland are open weekly No charge for residents; fee-based program for small businesses Containers for batteries and light bulbs at hardware stores and public facilities One-day drop-off events held annually at additional sites throughout the county Mattresses and box springs are also accepted at some one-day events For items not accepted at the facilities, alternative disposal options are promoted such as drug

The United States, Europe, Australia and other parts of the world have increasingly relied on China as an export destination for mixed paper (junk mail, newsprint, office paper, etc.) and mixed plastic. Due to concerns about contamination of the material they have been receiving, and to shut down older polluting mills, China has instituted policies (Blue Sky and National Sword) that have effectively closed the doors on most imported mixed recyclables. Global changes are affecting our local programs, and quite abruptly.

Since 1996, StopWaste has provided more than $8 million in funding to local organizations for innovative projects that decrease the amount of waste generated and sent to the county's landfills, and encourage the development, marketing and use of recycled products. The grants program is currently focused on funding waste prevention, reuse and repair projects.

Plastic bags have been one of the most common litter items found in our waterways, and plastic pollution is a growing threat to oceans and marine life. StopWaste’s reusable bag law is designed to: Reduce litter in our local waterways Promote use of reusable bags to prevent waste Save cities money on litter and storm drain cleanup Decrease the number of bags going to landfill

Most of the packaging items that we use are recyclable, but it’s not always clear which parts are recyclable, and how it should be done. Variation in recycling programs, unclear labeling and false recyclability claims can make proper recycling of packaging materials a challenge for consumers. Inaccurate claims of recyclability may also create a liability for manufacturers as perception of green washing can degrade their brand and negate good intentions.

Nearly 40 percent of all the food produced in the United States goes to waste, and of that, 95 percent ends up in landfills or combustion facilities. Though Alameda County residents have access to curbside compost collection, uneaten food, food scraps, and food-soiled paper remain the largest single category of our waste stream. Nearly 100,000 tons of food are discarded by Alameda County businesses and institutions each year, and up to 50,000 tons of that may be edible. The StopFoodWaste campaign helps residents in Alameda County minimize the amount of good food going to waste. StopFoodWaste

About half of the waste steam in Alameda County comes from business, industry, and institutions. Through technical assistance and a mandatory recycling ordinance, StopWaste is working to reduce the amount of recyclable and compostable materials sent to landfill from the county’s 18,000+ businesses.

Over 50,000 mattresses end up in landfills each day, even though most of the materials can be recycled. In Alameda County, StopWaste has worked through multiple channels to increase mattress recycling and recovery.

The Fixit Clinic is a troubleshooting and discovery workshop run by volunteers who help people get their broken things working. StopWaste has awarded Fixit Clinic two $5,000 mini grants to expand the number of clinics held in Alameda County.