San Diego County Launches 'From Waste to Worth' Initiative to Foster Circular Economy
San Diego County has initiated the 'From Waste to Worth: A Circular Economy for Regional Prosperity' project, aiming to reduce waste and build a more sustainable local economy. This initiative focuses on keeping materials in use through practices such as sharing, reusing, repairing, remanufacturing, and upcycling existing materials and products. The project seeks to support local businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leadership by exploring innovative ways to manage resources. A circular economy model, where products and materials remain in use through maintenance, reuse, recycling, and composting, is central to this effort. The county has conducted a baseline assessment, evaluated existing policies and programs, and gathered stakeholder input through interviews, workshops, and surveys. Key themes identified include the need for more space and infrastructure for storage, sorting, repair, and reuse hubs, particularly in East and South County. Other areas of focus are workforce development in repair and d...