Top 10 Cities for Waste Management
by Jennifer Berry
Published on September 24th, 2008
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Sustainlane.com recently revealed the top ranking cities in the U.S. for waste management. Judged on recycling, green waste and composting percentages, these “green” cities are making high recycling rates look easy.
The top 10 cities are:
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Long Beach, Calif.
- New York, N.Y.
- San Jose, Calif.
- Los Angeles, Calif.
- Fresno, Calif.
- Portland, Ore.
- Oakland, Calif.
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Chicago, Ill.
San Francisco’s diversion rate of waste from landfills topped the list at 69 percent. Close behind was New York at 64 percent and Portland at 61.5 percent.
The report is a comprehensive overview of sustainability in the 50 most populous cities in the U.S., with Portland, Ore., ranking overall at number one. The rankings were determined using 16 categories, including metro transit ridership, green building and air quality.
Many cities are also adopting “zero waste” goals to eliminate landfilling. As of this year, Austin, Fresno, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle have officially adopted a “zero waste” plan.
