SB 1383 was enacted in 2016 and became effective January 2022. It is a State Law aimed at reducing short-lived climate pollutants and greenhouse gasses. The law requires all organic waste to be recycled, specifically food waste, for the purposes of diverting it from landfills.

This law will help California achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by diverting materials from landfills that produce harmful gasses such as methane. When organic materials are landfilled, they break down anaerobically (without oxygen). This creates methane, a greenhouse gas eighty-four times more potent than carbon dioxide. Organic materials like food scraps, green waste, paper and cardboard, make up almost half of the State’s waste stream. Redirecting these materials to composting or recycling operations will save landfill space, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create valuable soil amendments.

The law impacts all California residents, including those in single and multi-family homes, apartment complexes, as well as commercial entities, schools, and medical facilities. The law requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste collection services to all properties, to separate their organics for landfill diversion and recycling. The law also requires jurisdictions to monitor contamination. How does the mandate affect residents? For single family dwellings and dwellings of 2 to 4 units, food waste may no longer be placed in the regular waste.

Residents should place food scraps and loose green waste in the new green cart provided by West Valley Disposal & Recycling Service.

The law requires jurisdictions to monitor contamination levels in the waste, recycle and organics carts. Annually, West Valley Disposal will perform a curbside audit of discarded materials to identify cart contamination levels. West Valley Disposal staff will randomly select and review cart contents for the presence of contaminants. Findings will be shared with generators.

CalRecycle https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/

West Valley Disposal www.westvalleydisposal.com or (209) 835-3639