We all compost in San Francisco, or it appears that way. Coffee grinds, left overs, chicken bones, vegetable cuttings, etc. I keep a small tupperware container next to my sink to put organic things into instead of using my garbage disposal. Composting is just one reason we're the greenest
I was not surprised when I saw the articl in the San Francisco Chronicle City Insider today that stated San Francisco comes out tops in major rankings. We are a a role model for the rest of the nation for sustainable composting and recycling. Although I know San Francisco is always looking for ways that we can improve our Green standard of living.
San Francisco has been named the greenest city in the United States and Canada in a study commissioned by Siemens. (Yes, San Franciscans, the occasional annoyances of mandatory composting and not being able to get a plastic bag at the grocery store are paying off.)
The study ranked 27 major cities on environmental policies across nine categories: carbon emissions, energy, land use, buildings, transportation, water, waste, air quality and environmental governance.
San Francisco ranked first overall because of strong showings in just about every category. It performed especially well in the waste category due to mandatory composting and recycling laws. The study also praised the city's energy efficient building standards, low levels of air pollutants and extensive public transportation system. Even Muni is thought highly enough of to get an award? Which many of us find ironic. There is a lot we take for granted.
The results were announced this week at the Aspen Ideas Festival where Melanie Nutter, director of the city's Department of the Environment, was on hand to receive plaudits.
"We worked hard to get where we are, but if we're going to meet all of our audacious goals, we're going to have to continue pushing the envelope," Nutter said in a statement.
Mayor Ed Lee also chimed in, saying, "I believe we were named the greenest city in North America because San Franciscans are always willing to go the distance and find new ways of making our city a more sustainable place."
Vancouver, New York, Seattle and Denver rounded out the Top 5. The least green cities are Cleveland, St. Louis and Detroit.
Source The Chronicle City Insider June 30, 2011
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=92012#ixzz1Qlpj1hz8
