When organic waste — food scraps, yard trimmings, and other biodegradable material — ends up in a landfill, it breaks down and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This indicator tracks the annual greenhouse gas emissions generated by organic waste sent to San Diego's landfills.
Reducing these emissions means keeping organic waste out of landfills in the first place through composting, food waste reduction, and food recovery programs that redirect surplus food to people who need it.
IMPORTANT: While the chart shows targets for 2030 and 2035 (green circles), these are illustrative projections, not formal commitments. The City's official climate targets are for total citywide emissions reductions, not for any individual sector.