What is Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383)?
SB 1383 is the most significant waste reduction mandate in the last 30 years and expands upon the State’s initiatives to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and air pollution statewide. Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills are a significant source of GHG emissions contributing to global climate change. The law grants the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) the regulatory authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets statewide and requires California to increase edible food recovery by 20% by 2025. Food waste alone accounts for approximately 17-18% of total landfill disposal. Increasing food waste prevention and encouraging edible food rescue, will help reduce methane emissions from organic waste disposed of in California's landfills.
The new regulations require significant changes in the County's recycling and garbage collection, edible food recovery, organic material procurement, and recordkeeping. Many of the regulations go into effect on January 1, 2022, and others will continue to be phased in over the course of the next two years. The County is seeking to reduce impact to the customers by applying for certain waivers; however, these waivers are approved at the discretion of CalRecycle.
What does this mean for me?
As a resident of Stanislaus County, you may be subjected to new required garbage and recycling collection services. The new service will, unfortunately, come with a significant increase in monthly service costs. Businesses will also be subjected to the same requirements for organics and inorganic recycling. Commercial food generators will now be required to donate edible food that would otherwise be disposed of.
For more information on residential service changes, please click here.
For more information on commercial service changes, please click here.
For more information on commercial food recovery requirements, please click here.