According to a recent newsletter by City Councilwoman Jean Quan, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste.org) recently enacted a new law to end the disposal of plant debris in landfills to meet a voter mandate to divert 75 percent of all waste from landfills by the end of this year.

Plant materials, like those in green bins, will be turned into compost.

The ban applies to landscapers and other large producers of yard trimmings (such as property managers, municipalities and institutions) in Alameda County.

Effective immediately, plant debris (such as grass, leaves, shrubbery, vines and tree branches) must be separated from other contaminants, such as bottles, plastic film, fast food containers or construction materials, and must be diverted to "clean green" areas of Alameda County disposal facilities.

For more information, call the Landfill Ban Hotline at 888-893-9929.

The Waste Management Authority is willing to help with many of the changes it wants local residents and business owners to make. The agency offers financial help for waste reduction and prevention projects. Its mini-grants program and the Waste Prevention Fund have an Apr. 30 deadline. Money will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis.

    * Mini-Grants range from $500 to $5,000 for start-up waste reduction projects such as:
          o Desk-side recycling bins and kick-off party supplies
          o Shop floor bins, signs and employee incentives
          o Reusable mugs or restroom hand dryers

    * Waste Prevention Fund grants range from $10,000 to $80,000 for projects that prevent waste before it's recycled or landfilled. Examples include:
          o Buying reusable plastic totes to replace cardboard boxes
          o Replacing physical construction or product modeling with 3D software
          o Implementing paperless software tools to reduce printing

Learn more at StopWaste.org.