San Francisco collects 757,000 tons of food scraps

Dec. 1 -- More than 757,000 tons of food scraps and plants have been collected in San Francisco since the city began its urban compost program in 1996, according to Recology Inc., which provides waste collection and recycling services the city.

This has allowed city residents and businesses to avoid creating 6,280 tons of methane gas and has sequestered 62,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the company said. The numbers are based on "current, approved protocol sent by the Climate Action Reserve," Recology said.

"Composting provides a way for people to connect back to the farm, to feel what we feel on the farm," said agronomist Bob Shaffer, a soil expert and consultant to dozens of Northern California vineyards.

Compost created by Recology is used by area farms and vineyards.

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Jim Johnson at 937-964-1289 or jpjohnson@crain.com

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