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Diverting Organic Waste and Recyclables Now Mandatory Under New State Law
As of January 1, 2022, Senate Bill (SB) 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy requires all California businesses, multifamily properties, and residents, to sort and divert recyclable and organic materials from the trash.
Recycling and organics collection containers must be available to tenants by the property owners/managers for use in the same location, or as convenient, as trash containers.
HOW: How Do I Participate?
As a resident in a multifamily property (such as condos or apartments with 3+ or more units, and for City of El Cerrito with 5+ or more units), you can help in sorting the materials your household generates.
Here is how you can participate:
- Sort Waste Materials
Effectively separate all materials your household generates into the provided bins by your property owner or manager, for recycling, organics, and trash. - Food Scrap Pails Program
To help with sorting your organic waste, free food scrap pails are available to each household. Check with your property manager or HOA to see if they have food scrap pails available for you. Learn more about the program and other ways of how you can obtain a food scrap pail. - Violation Reporting
If you are resident that lives in a multifamily property, and you want to report your building/complex for not providing either recycling or organics service (you may submit the report anonymously), please submit the alleged violation and information regarding the situation.
Why is This Important?
Waste generators complying with this state law helps combat climate change by recycling organic waste correctly. When organic materials are sent to landfills, they generate methane, a powerful climate pollutant. 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. By separating out these waste items from the trash, organic materials can be processed and composted into soil amendments that are added to soil to grow crops, food, and green spaces. By choosing to compost instead of landfill, waste generators are contributing to a circular economy that protects our environment for current and future generations.
RESOURCES
Here are some resources to help sort waste properly (for Republic Service area customers):
Apartment & Condominium Waste Services Guide – Brochure
Apartment & Condominium Waste Services Guide – Brochure – Spanish
What Goes Where Poster – Organics
What Goes Where Poster – Recycling
What Goes Where Poster – Trash
What Goes Where – Online Tool:
(select image)
