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Diverting Organic Waste and Recyclables Now Mandatory
Effective January 1, 2022, California state law Senate Bill (SB) 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, requires all businesses, residents, and multifamily properties, to separate organic materials (such as plant debris, food waste, food soiled papers, untreated wood waste) and recyclable materials from trash, and either subscribe to the required collection services or self-haul to an appropriate facility for diversion.
The Goal of SB 1383
- Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025.
- Rescue 20% of surplus edible food for those that need it by 2025.
WHO: Who does this affect?
- Single-Family homes/Condos/Townhomes
- Multifamily properties with 5+ more units
- Commercial Businesses
- Public/Private Schools
WHAT: What Does This Mean?
The SB 1383 law has expanded on the requirements of AB 341 – Mandatory Commercial Recycling and AB 1826 – Mandatory Commercial Recycling.
The Changes:
- This now impacts residents, not just businesses and multifamily properties – sorting of organics and recyclables is now mandatory.
- Large food-generating businesses like Supermarkets and Wholesale Food Distributors are now required to contract with an edible food recovery organization to donate excess edible food to help feed people.
HOW: How Do I Participate?
Here is how you can participate to be compliant with the SB 1383 law:
Residents are expected to use the organics cart for all plant debris, food wastes and food soiled papers. If you do not have an organics or recycling cart, contact your waste collection service company, as it is may already be included in your service fee, depending on the city of where you receive service.
For residents that live in multifamily properties, check with your property management about participating in the organics program.
More information on Curbside Organics.
Food Scrap Pails:
Countertop food scrap pails for easy separation of food wastes and food soiled papers are available at your city’s service counter at no charge.
More information on Food Scrap Pails.
Who to contact for collection service:
For residents located in El Cerrito, contact East Bay Sanitary.
For residents located in all other cities of West Contra Costa County, contact Republic Services.
WHY: Why is this Important?
Complying with this state law helps combat climate change by recycling organic waste correctly. Organic waste is the largest waste stream in California and items like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californian’s dump in landfills. When these organic materials are sent to a landfill, they generate methane, a powerful climate pollutant. Landfills are the third largest source of methane in the state and are contributing to the drought, wildfires, and flooding that we are seeing around the state and nation. In addition, air pollutants contribute to health conditions and breathing issues like asthma.
By diverting organic material to compost facilities, we are directly reducing the amount of climate pollutants generated by our waste materials.
SB 1383: COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT
MONITORING OF PROPERLY SORTING WASTE
As a requirement of SB 1383, annual audits for Residents must be performed to ensure waste is properly sorted.
Your garbage collection company will be conducting random inspections of containers periodically to identify contamination and encourage proper materials separation.
These inspections will involve minimal handling of your material and may include opening of bags to inspect container contents. Auditors will be wearing reflective vests and may spend several minutes conducting their audit activities, in the early morning hours. If your containers have been inspected, you will be notified with a tag placed on your container with the outcome.
If you have any questions, please contact your garbage collection company: Republic Services Customer Service Department at (510) 262-7100 or East Bay Sanitary Customer Service Department at (510) 237-4321.
SB 1383 Requirements and Timeline
Source: CalRecycle
Fighting Climate Change by Recycling Organic Waste
Source: CalRecycle
Landfills are the Third Largest Source of Methane Gas in California
Source: CalRecycle
WHAT GOES IN EACH CART/BIN/DUMPSTER:
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