RESIDENTIAL ORGANIC WASTE RECYCLING CONTINUED

As part of our continued partnership with the Community of Rancho Murieta, Cal-Waste wants to share some information regarding solid waste with your community.

What is the Organic Waste Law?

In September 2016, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1383, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP).

To reduce emissions, SB 1383 focuses on diverting organic waste from landfills. The State found that organic methane waste makes up half of what goes in landfills and accounts for 20% of the State's methane emissions.

SB 1383 requires communities across the state to maintain organic waste recycling programs. SB 1383's enforcement began January 1, 2023, in many communities across the State.

SB 1383 targets are...

·         a 50% reduction of organic waste disposal in landfills by 2020*

·         a 75% reduction of organic waste disposal in landfills by 2025*

·         a 20% increase of currently disposed surplus food by 2025*

*Reduction targets based on 2014 data.

 What is organic waste?

Organic waste includes any and all food, food scraps and food byproducts, yard and landscape waste, lumber, and paper products.

How does that affect residents of Rancho Murieta?

·         All residents are provided with organic waste service and a new green organic waste cart.

·         Organic waste must be separated from trash and recycling into this new green organic waste cart. Similar to how yard and garden waste was separated previously, only now, food waste and food soiled paper should be added to the yard and garden waste.

·         Organic waste carts are serviced on a weekly basis (on the same day as trash service).

·         A sample of carts must be audited to determine the success of the organic waste recycling program each year. (You may see Cal-Waste contamination auditors check carts put out for curbside collection.)

What will happen to the diverted organic waste?

Organic waste will mostly be turned into compost or used in anaerobic digestion to create renewable energy.

What is the recuse of current surplus food?

For commercial food service businesses (that meet the state's Tier 1 and Tier 2 thresholds), surplus edible food must be donated to food recovery organizations instead of thrown away. This will help feed the almost 1 in 4 Californians who are food insecure.

Who is affected?

Everyone; residents, multifamily properties and apartment complexes, businesses, non-profits, and public agencies will all need to comply with the new law and have an organics recycling program.