California's State Organics Law

A new state requirement requires California residents to recycle all organic waste, including household food scraps. You can put all food waste in your curbside green bin, and it will be taken to be composted locally! This small act is a huge step you can take at home towards fighting climate change.

Learn more about SB 1383 here. 

SB 1383 is a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). Specifically, the law sets the following targets:

• Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 50% by January 1, 2020 (based on 2014 levels).
• Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 75% by January 1, 2025 (based on 2014 levels).
• Recover a minimum of 20% edible food safe for human consumption, which is currently being disposed of, by 2025.

CalRecycle is the state agency responsible for creating the regulatory standards for SB 1383:

• Effective January 1, 2022: CalRecycle’s regulations to meet statewide organics reduction and food recovery requirements take effect. Enforcement provisions, including penalties for non-compliance issued by the state, also take effect.
• Effective January 1, 2024: Regulations may require local jurisdictions to impose penalties for non-compliance on regulated entities subject to their authority.