How far does the city plan to go in reducing waste? Down to zero, eventually, but it must reduce and reuse first – and Cambridge and other cities face a number of challenges, from local participation in recycling programs to unstable global markets for recycled goods. 

This April, a pilot program in North Cambridge will be expanded to include the entire city with curbside composting offered to households in buildings with 12 units or fewer – a practice that’s both new to the city and very, very old.