What California's New Organics Law Means For Your Business
& Grant Application Portal Opens 9am on Thursday 3/17
City of Milpitas - Office of Economic Development | March 15, 2022
Business Guidelines to be Compliant with SB1383
Senate Bill 1383 is the new composting law with statewide methane reduction targets to fight hunger and combat climate change. How? Large amounts of still edible food are sent to the landfill each year when it can instead go to feed those who do not have enough to eat. Additionally, food sent to the landfill breaks down and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is much more potent than carbon dioxide.  For more information, visit the CalRecycle website.
 
How does SB 1383 impact your business?  
 
Effective January 1, 2022, all businesses, including restaurants and apartments/condo complexes, are required to: 
 
  • Subscribe to organics (food scraps/yard trimmings) collection service, or self-haul organic waste to a specified composting facility. 
  • Check organic waste containers for contamination and inform employees of contamination and proper disposal of organic waste.  
  • Provide adequate SB 1383 compliant collection containers for organic waste and recyclables. 
  • Provide educational information to employees, contractors, tenants (within 14 days of move in for new tenants), and customers about organic waste requirements and about how to properly sort organic waste. 

For more detailed information, to subscribe, or if you need technical assistance and training, contact Milpitas Sanitation, Inc at (408) 988-4500 or www.milpitassanitation.com.   
 
Additionally, large grocery stores and food distribution businesses must also donate edible food to food recovery organizations (such as food banks) with other food businesses starting food donations in 2024. The City of Milpitas, along with all Santa Clara County cities, are working together for the SB 1383 edible food recovery effort. For more information, and to find out if you are required to donate excess edible food, visit: www.sccfoodrecovery.org. 
 
What if I don’t produce any organics such as food scraps or yard trimmings?  
 
If you have little to no organics such as food scraps and/or yard trimmings, you may be eligible for a De Minimis Waiver. Contact Milpitas Recycles at MilpitasRecycles@ci.milpitas.ca.gov for more information, or to apply for a De Minimis Waiver.  
 
What if I don’t subscribe to organics (food scraps and yard trimmings) collection?  
 
Unlike previous recycling legislation, SB 1383 authorizes jurisdictions to enforce for  
non-compliance. If you are non-compliant, the City of Milpitas will have the ability to issue citations and penalties.  
 
I have more questions about SB 1383. Who can I contact?  
 
The City of Milpitas and Milpitas Sanitation, Inc are here to help. Contact the City of Milpitas at MilpitasRecycles@ci.milpitas.ca.gov or call Milpitas Sanitation, Inc. at (408) 988-4500.  
New Santa Clara County Grants for Microbusinesses
The County of Santa Clara and the Enterprise Foundation are engaging with eligible businesses and community partners to assist microbusinesses with grant applications. The program is expected to provide grant relief to at least 875 microbusinesses in two phases. This first phase will award 500 grants to qualified businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. The second phase, which will follow, will remain open for at least 45 days and all remaining grants will be awarded on a lottery system. Please note that this is a separate grant program from the Milpitas Small Business Grant Assistance Program.

To qualify for one of the $2,500 grants from the County, a business must have been in business in 2019, have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, made less than $50,000 in total revenue in 2019, and have less than five employees. Applicants’ businesses must still be operating or plan to reopen in 2022. Please click here for full details of the news release.

You can find the application in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese at www.AccessSBDC.org beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 17. Please note that this is a separate grant program from the Milpitas Small Business Grant Assistance Program.
If you have any questions or need business assistance, please visit our website. Additionally, do not hesitate to contact the Office of Economic Development team by sending us an email. Assistance is available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and other languages. The pandemic has created hardship for Milpitas families and businesses alike. Please know that we stand with you as you navigate your way out of the pandemic. We are here to help you!

In community spirit,
Alex Andrade
Director of Economic Development
(408) 586-3046
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