From United magazine (February 2010):

The village of Kamikatsu (2,000 residents), on the island of Shikoku in southwestern Japan, sorts waste into 34 categories, more than the 3 categories of burnable, nonburnable, and recyclable used elsewhere in Japan. By 2020, the villagers believe they will have eliminated the need to burn any waste and will have reached their goal of zero waste.

The Zero Waste Academy, where trash is separated, lies on the edge of town.

San Francisco, by contrast, diverts about 80% of its trash. That’s good for such a large city. But I don’t believe it will get all the way to zero in the next ten years.