In 2016, California SB 1383 was passed which set methane emissions reduction targets for the entire State of California. This requires jurisdictions to implement mandatory organic waste collection and recycling in a statewide effort to divert organic waste from landfills.
One of the important procedural changes takes place in January of 2022!
The purpose of SB 1383 was to:
- Reduce organic waste dispose by 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 with substantial changes in the way we dispose of food waste as of January 2022; and
- Recover at least 20% of surplus edible food by 2025.
SB 1383 includes all residential property and any commercial property that includes businesses that generate edible food, sell edible food, food haulers and distributors, solid waste facilities, local food banks and food recovery organizations.
Unfortunately, the state has put the responsibility for developing procedures and enforcement on the local jurisdictions which means the new rules and protocol will differ from county to county.
From a personal perspective, the local disposal companies will be implementing new procedures over the next few weeks. Most of us will be required to maintain small compost bins in our homes and dispose of food waste in a new and separate disposal bin for weekly pick up.
From a business perspective, those of you who have any commercial tenants involved in the production, preparation, service, storage, delivery or donation of food will need to ensure that your tenants are in compliance with all new protocol. The larger companies and chain operations have been working on this for the last few years and will already have new protocol and programs in place. Our concern is with your smaller tenants such as the sandwich shops, breakfast vendors, food trucks, etc. They may need some encouragement to get proper programs in place and you need to ensure they aren’t disposing of anything in the landlord’s bins that may be in violation of any new protocol.
Below are links to both Orange County protocol and state resources.
