Zero Waste
Implementation Plan 00•
City Council Meeting
January 20, 2026
Agenda
1) Introduction and Background
2) Alameda's Zero Waste Goal
3) Outreach Takeaways
4) Goal Date and Focus Areas
5) Proposed Programs
6) Cost and Diversion Analysis
7) Recommendation
Alameda's
Zero Waste
Implementation Plan
(ZWIP)
The Goal
|2010 |2018 (2025
• 2008 Climate Plan • Five key strategies • Reduction, reuse • State diversion goals • Senate Bill 1383 • Equitable
• Measurable
What is Zero Waste for Alameda?
• 89% diversion from landfill
• 1.2 pounds per day (PPD)
per person
• 81% as of 2024 reporting
Engagement Strategy
Focused on:
• Equity Meetings
• Building on existing zero waste culture
• Removing participation barriers
• Building social infrastructure needed
to sustain engagement
Engagement Activities:
Survey
• 12 community meetings and focus
groups
• Statistically valid resident survey
• City Council workshop in 2024
Key Outreach Takeaways
• Increase education and
outreach needed
• Remove existing participation
barriers
• Increase opportunities for
diversion of more materials
• Use both incentives and
enforcement
• Provide opportunities for reuse
Survey Conclusions
• Few know about ZWIP, but overwhelmingly support
the program goals
• Support for conservation, environmental
projection is highly motivating
• Low enthusiasm for reusable foodware, and
division on effectiveness
• Edible food recovery, requiring bins at properties,
bulky pickups all considered "very effective"
• Confusion is the most common barrier to sorting
• Residents know how to dispose of common items,
room for education on others
• Most are throwing away items when not sure
Goal Date and Proposed Programs
• The 2025 ZWIP does not propose a goal date,
rather continued investment in behavior change
• 12 programs for ongoing progress, 4.46%
additional diversion at program maturity
• Changing State legislation may create potential for
additional diversion gains
• Programs and focus areas are based on
assessment of current programs, stakeholder
engagement, and cost and diversion analysis
• Staff recommend four priority programs first
(estimated to yield 1.3% increase in diversion)
Priority
Programs
Proposed Programs
Bolded programs are initial priority programs
1) City Zero Waste Rebrand
2) Multi-Family Bulky Program Community Based
Social Marketing (CBSM) Campaign (Priority)
3) Annual CBSM Campaigns Priority
4) Guidelines for Permitted Events Diversion
5) Zero Waste Policies for City Departments Summary
6) Small Business Support and Resources
7) Grant Program for Takeaway Reusable Cups
8) Expand Construction & Demolition
9) Illegal Dumping Enforcement (Priority)
10) Low Income Community Education and
Resources (Priority)
11) "Cash for Trash" (Priority) Priority
12) Existing Resue Markets
Cost
Summary
Four Priority Programs
• Conduct a multi-family dwelling bulky program
Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM)
campaign
• Conduct enforcement for illegal dumping
• Pilot education and resource program for
Alameda's low-income community
• Pilot a cash for trash program
• These four programs are estimated to yield a
1.3% increase in diversion at program maturity
ESTIMATED COSTS
One-Time On-Going Annual
Program Implementation Costs Costs ($ per Year)
2 Conduct a Multi-Family Dwelling Bulky $186,000 $565,000 CBSM Campaign
9 Conduct Enforcement for Illegal Dumping $111,000 $325,000 10 Pilot an Education and Resource $58,000 --
Program for the Low-Income Community
11 Pilot a Cash for Trash Program $142,000
Total $497,000 $891,000
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN DIVERSION
Program Start Program Maturity
Program
2 Conduct a Multi-Family Dwelling Bulky 0.35% 0.98%
CBSM Campaign
9 Conduct Enforcement for Illegal Dumping 0.49% 0.34%
10 Pilot an Education and Resource 0.02%
Program for the Low-Income Community
11 Pilot a Cash for Trash Program <0.01%
Total 0.87% 1.32%
Recommendation
• Staff recommends approving
the ZWIP as presented
• Approval for program funding
will return to City Council as
future budget items
Zero Waste
Implementation Plan 00•
City Council Meeting
January 20, 2026
Take this with you.
Revisit anytime.
Missed something? Want to explore further?
Scan or click below to open this presentation.
Anytime, anywhere.
View presentation