Recycle your organic materials to fight climate change
California residences, multifamily complexes, and businesses will be required to separate organic waste from the garbage and participate in an organics collection program per State Senate Bill (SB) 1383.
What is SB 1383?
Effective January 1, 2022, ALL California residences, multifamily complexes, and businesses will be required to separate organic waste from the garbage and participate in an organics collection program per State Senate Bill (SB) 1383. Why is this such critical legislation?
- Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gasses and a major contributor to climate change.
- Reducing methane is the fastest way to slow global warming.
- Landfills are the third-largest source of methane in California, responsible for 20% of the state’s methane; which is 84 times more polutant than CO2.
- When organic waste such as food, yard trimmings, and paper products break down in a landfill they release methane
Organic waste makes up half of what Californians dump in landfills.
This new strategy is part of California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Law, also known as SB 1383, which sets several statewide goals, including:
- Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 50% by January 1, 2020 and 75% by 2025.
- Recover at least 20% of the currently disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025.
How does this legislation impact unincorporated Santa Clara County residents and businesses?
Modified Solid Waste Requirements have changed for Unincorporated Santa Clara County customers, including the following:
- Require all residential and commercial waste producers to subscribe to three-container waste collection service, with limited exceptions for farms in low-population areas and qualifying businesses.
- Require producers to separate compostable and recyclable waste and place them in the proper containers.
- Require businesses to provide accessible and properly labeled compost and recycling bins for customers, tenants, and employees.
- Require private haulers of organic waste (including yard waste, paper, and cardboard) to obtain a collection permit with limited exceptions.
- Require commercial self-haulers of organic waste to maintain disposal records.
- Adopt procedures for inspections and enforcement of organic waste requirements.
- Requires customers to apply for mandatory service waivers if they qualify.
Benefits of diverting organic waste from the landfill
- reduction of greenhouse gas production from organic waste in landfill
- provision of more edible food for communities in need
- food stocks for compost, mulch, energy and fuel from organics
- reduced need for landfills, freeing land for housing, business and recreation
- reduction of air pollutants like PM 2.5 which come from landfill
By reducing food waste, recovering edible food for human consumption, and diverting organic waste away from landfills for processing into valuable soil and energy products, California can make significant strides toward fighting climate change and improving public health and the environment.
Waiver applications for solid waste collection service
Mandatory three-container collection service can be partially waived for commercial customers that meet certain criteria and receive a waiver from the County. Customers may be eligible for one or more of the waivers listed below.