Diversion Services

City of Los Angeles

70% Diversion Plan

2000 - 2001

Client Needs

The City of Los Angeles established a goal of reaching 70% diversion by 2020 and hired HF&H to create a strategy to achieve this goal. HF&H was hired to:

• Estimate the diversion potential of a variety of source reduction and recycling programs targeting the residential, commercial, and governmental sectors;
• Provide documented evidence of diversion statistics in other communities with experience in similar diversion programs; and,
• Create a methodology and compile a body of research that can be used by the City and its contractors to revise these diversion estimates as more information becomes available in the future.

HF&H Solutions

Focusing on the materials remaining in the City’s waste disposal volumes, we identified a new source of diversion. On a program by program basis, we estimated the remaining recyclables in the targeted sector. Based on our research of the results of similar programs, we were able to determine diversion potentially attainable by the City.

HF&H prepared a memorandum on commercial food waste diversion, addressing available technology, programs currently in practice or being tested in the City, programs operating elsewhere that could be implemented in the City, and the potential impact of implementing commercial food waste diversion programs on the City’s overall disposal.  

Results

• HF&H provided the City with a strategic approach to implementing diversion programs, with supporting research and calculations as to tonnage to be recovered, that were projected to provide the City with 70% overall diversion.
• HF&H provided the City with a catalogue of research, documenting diversion programs and results from other cities, and research papers and studies applicable to the attainment of the City’s 70% diversion goal.