Organics Recycling (SB 1383)

Climate Food Fight

Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383)

SB 1383 is the most significant landfill waste reduction mandate adopted in California in the last 30 years. The goal of SB 1383 is to reduce organics waste landfill disposal by 75% (from 2014 levels) by 2025. This means diverting more than 20 million tons from landfills. The legislation aims to slow climate change by diverting organic materials from landfills, recovering 20% of edible food and redirecting it to food-insecure Californians. The law also mandates standardization of curbside collections throughout the state. This requires the City and its franchise waste hauler, Waste management, to make changes to how waste is collected at the curb. For more information regarding SB 1383, please visit Calrecycle's website.

Color-Compliant Carts

SB 1383 requires that all communities throughout California utilize collection containers or lids with specific colors, depending on the type of material being collected.  Organics (previously called yard and garden) is green, recycling is blue, and trash is black or grey.  Currently there is a mixture of cart colors and lids throughout the City.  The existing carts will be exchanged for color-compliant carts beginning in early 2024.

Garbage Sorting

What goes in the Organics cart?

Organic materials include food waste and food soiled paper and yard and garden waste. Do not include plastics, including plastics bags, foam, fats, oils, and/or grease, or any type of hazardous waste.

What is food waste?

Food waste now belongs in your organics cart to be recycled to help reduce organic waste in landfills. Food waste, or food scraps, includes any unwanted cooking preparation items and table scraps. Examples of food waste are banana peels, apple cores, vegetable trimmings, bones, egg shells, meat, and pizza crust. Food waste goes directly into the organics cart. Do not bag organics materials. 

Contamination

Contamination occurs when you place non-acceptable items in the wrong cart. Contaminants can ruin an entire truckload of organics or recyclables and prevent these materials from going on to have a second life. Loose plastic bags and bagged materials in organics and recycling containers are the most common contaminants. Please empty your organics and recyclable materials directly into the proper carts to give them the best chance of becoming new products. 

SB 1383 requires that carts be monitored for contamination and that an education and enforcement program be in place to help residents recycle properly. Waste Management will use WM Smart TruckSM technology to help the City comply with this part of the law. Residents will be notified of contamination to allow for correction in the future; however, should contamination become consistent, your trash cart may be upsized to allow for trash to be placed in the proper cart.

WM Smart Truck Technology

WM trucks are fitted with cameras to capture footage of your carts as they are emptied. Beginning in 2023, you may receive a notice if contamination is identified in your recycling or organics cart, or if any of your carts are overfilled causing the lid not to close. 


Compost

For additional information regarding organics and recycling, please visit CalRecycle's website or Waste Managements website.

Edible Food Recovery

Please visit our edible food recovery program page for more information.

Composting

Home composting is an effective and efficient way to dramatically reduce your waste stream at home, while doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint. Organic material sent to landfill creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of our changing climate. By making compost, you are creating a valuable soil amendment that you can use to benefit your landscape, boost plant growth and sequester carbon. For additional information regarding composting at home, please visit CalRecycle's website.