San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom last week signed legislation requiring residents and businesses to sign up for recycling and composting services. The city’s Board of Supervisors passed the legislation in mid-June.

According to a press release from the mayor’s office, “while several other cities require recycling service and participation, San Francisco is the first city to require the collection of food scraps and other compostables. Refuse collection has been mandatory since the 1930s.”

“San Francisco has the best recycling and composting programs in the nation, and we’ve already attained an impressive, and first in the nation, 72 percent recycling rate because of them,” said Newsom in the press release. “I am pleased with the leadership the Board of Supervisors has demonstrated on this important legislation. By collaborating with all of our stakeholders, businesses, colleagues, and citizens, we can build on our success and continue to lead the nation in recycling.”

• For more on solid waste legislation, read "A Flurry of Activity" from Waste Age's May issue.