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 SB 1383 law has expanded on the requirements of AB 341 – Mandatory Commercial Recycling and AB 1826 – Mandatory Commercial Recycling.
The Changes:
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.
Click here for 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.
Click here for more information on Food Scrap Pails.
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.
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.
Starting September 26, 2022, Republic Services will be conducting random inspections of containers (for Republic Services customers) periodically to identify contamination and encourage proper materials separation to accomplish this goal.
These inspections will involve minimal handling of your material and may include opening of bags to inspect container contents. Auditors will be wearing Republic Services’ 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 Republic Services Customer Service Department at (510) 262-7100.
Source: CalRecycle
WHAT GOES IN EACH CART/BIN/DUMPSTER:
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