How San Francisco Became A Global Leader In Waste Management

San Francisco diverts 80% of its waste from landfills, more than any other major city in North America. It hopes to achieve zero waste by 2020. Here's a look at what makes the city's waste management system so successful.

The average American produces about 4.4 pounds of waste per day. Roughly 1.5 pounds of that is composted or recycled, meaning the U.S. avoids sending just 34 percent of its waste to landfills, according to the EPA.