Oakland, Calif., adopted a zero waste strategic plan in 2006 with a goal of implementing a zero waste system by 2020.

Updates on that initiative are chronicled here.

There have been some recent hitches, however. Most recently, Oakland restaurants have decried big increases in composting rates in the city's new trash program.

And last year there was drama surrounding the city's solid waste services contract. In the past, Waste Management handled waste and recycling pickup in the city. But Oakland surprisingly awarded a new contract to California Waste Solutions. After Waste Management sued, a compromise was formed with Waste Management retaining solid waste collection responsibilities with California Waste Solutions took on recycling.