The Safeway on Market Street straddling the Castro and Lower Haight neighborhoods issued an eviction notice to the recycling center that has operated on their property for almost 30 years. While the grocery store is stepping away from the chain's own commitment to offer bottle recycling, inside the store they're renewing their commitment to offering shoppers grande lattes and frappucinos.
The San Francisco Community Recyclers network will be forced to shut down effective September 6th, Haighteration reports today. According to a spokesperson, the store no longer sees a need for the recycling center thanks to the city's own commitment to comprehensive curbside recycling. That and because removing it will, in the spokesperson's words, "improve parking lot conditions."
The recycling center and the 24-hour Safeway sit at the beginning of the Wiggle and the parking lot is known for being somewhat odorous, as well as a magnet for homeless folks in the neighborhood. The center was installed due to the 1987 California Bottle Bill that required supermarkets to operate recycling centers nearby or otherwise accept drop-offs in store.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose district includes the spot at Market and Church Streets, has been pushing the grocer to look for alternatives since he took office. As he told Haighteration, he would also like to see the Department of the Environment revamp the recycling programs citywide so that they are not concentrated into spots like these and the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council recycling center that was bulldozed last year.
Meanwhile, the Market Street Safeway's in-store Starbucks has expanded from a kiosk to a full-fledged coffee bar, even though there is still a Starbucks location literally steps away in the same plaza. The Planning Commission also shot down a plan to open a 2,100-square-foot Starbucks location a block away at Market and Sanchez after the Castro community spoke out.
While we're examining this corner of Upper Market and the Castro, across the street at the intersection of Market and Dolores work is nearing completion on 38 Dolores, an 81-unit condo development that will include a ground-floor Whole Foods.
