Imagine a world in which nothing goes to the landfills or incinerators. We think it's achievable and we're doing everything we can to make it happen in the residential, business, and city government sectors. Today, San Francisco recovers 72 percent of the materials it discards, bringing the city ever closer to its twin goals of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010, and bringing the city to zero waste by 2020.

While we are well on our way to our diversion goals, ultimately we will need to look beyond recycling and composting to get to Zero Waste. This includes passing legislation to increase producer and consumer responsibility. In other words, manufacturers, businesses and individuals will need to be accountable for the environmental impact of the products they produce and use. There are a lot of ideas incorporated in the idea of Zero Waste.

Speaking on behalf of this very important issue are:

Alex Dimitriew, from San Francisco's Department of the Environment, commercial recycling coordinator for the city of San Francisco.

Margaret Callaway of Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Co. and Sunset Scavenger Co. will be speaking on behalf of this very important issue.