DPW Announces Draft Strategies from updated Zero Waste Master Plan

On October 22, the Department of Public Works (DPW) presented nine strategies to City Council’s Health & Environment Committee on draft changes to improve on the City’s waste programs. The draft strategies are part of the City’s updated Zero Waste Master Plan (ZWMP), and the City seeks feedback from all Cambridge stakeholders by November 30, 2024.

The goals of this update ZWMP are to:

• Meet zero waste goals: 50% and 80% reduction by 2030 and 2050, respectively; 2008 as a baseline,
• Improve sanitation and reduce rodent activity,
• Combat climate change, and
• Make the City’s waste programs more accessible.

To achieve these goals, DPW drafted these strategies to achieve in the next 3 years:

1. Require property managers to submit annual solid waste plans,
2. Mandate food waste diversion for all residential and commercial buildings,
3. Pilot methods to reduce move-out trash,
4. Reduce single-use serviceware from food establishments,
5. Improve location and accessibility of the Recycle Center

The draft strategies to achieve in the next 4-6 years are:

1. Enforce mandatory food waste diversion,
2. Research and analyze whether City should implement Hybrid Pay-As-You-Throw,
3. Provide technical assistance to commercial sector to facilitate reduce/reuse and improved recycling/composting,
4. Work with CHA and other property managers to increase diversion and sanitation.

To see the full presentation to City Council, visit here. DPW is seeking feedback on these potential policy or ordinance changes from residents, businesses, property managers, and other stakeholders. Please submit your feedback by November 30, 2024, through this form.