Dear Parma Mayor
I am deeply concerned to learn that Parma is considering incinerating your
citizens discards as a means of waste management. As the mayor of a
large, geographically challenging and physically constrained city, I want
to bring to your attention San Francisco success: we recycle and compost
70% of our waste stream.
We create an organic compost that is in high demand from our green and food
waste stream. This compost enriches our soil, saves on water usage, reduces
pesticide and fertilizer use, while fixing carbon out of the atmosphere –
and grows great produce! All from what was previously landfilled.
Incineration has even greater negative impacts on the atmosphere
Parma is the center of Emilio-Romangnola region of Italy, home to some of
the world’s most famous and delicious foods. This agricultural bonanza is a
legacy from your local soils and farms.
SF is similarly a center of the US food and agriculture. Here our waste
stream is now providing the richest organic compost for our highest quality
organic vegetables, fruits and wines.
I urge the mayor of Parma to come visit SF, as over 100 mayors did for
World Environment Day in 2005. I will personally show you how we recover
over 70% of our waste for beneficial use.
Ciao,
Gavin Newsom
lettera del sindaco di San Francisco al sindaco di Parma
