SB 1383 Organics Requirements

California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy: Fighting Climate Change by Recycling Organic Waste

Overview

In September 2016, Governor Edmund Brown Jr. established methane-emissions reduction targets for California (SB 1383, Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) as part of a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) is the most significant landfill waste reduction mandate adopted in California in the last 30 years.

Its goal is to reduce organic waste sent to landfills by 75% (from 2014 levels) by 2025. This means diverting more than 20 million tons from landfills. The legislation aims to slow climate change by diverting organic materials from landfills, recovering 20% of edible food, and redirecting it to food-insecure Californians.

SB 1383 requires all residents and businesses to reduce organic waste (all food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings) sent to the landfill. Designated businesses that generate large amounts of surplus edible food will be required to have an edible food donation program.

Why Care

Discarding organic materials (all food, garden and grass clippings, nonhazardous wood, and food-soiled paper) takes up landfill space, wastes local resources, and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing food waste, supporting the recovery of edible food, and recycling organic materials are key steps toward building a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system and community.

Impacts of Organics in Landfills

Landfilling organic waste has significant impacts on public health and the environment. When organic waste decomposes in a landfill (anaerobic decomposition), it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane pollutes the air we breathe and heats our climate 84 times more than carbon dioxide over 20 years, making methane a significant contributor to global warming and climate change. Recycling organic waste (aerobic decomposition) releases carbon dioxide instead, which is a far less potent greenhouse gas. Not only that, but by recycling organic waste, we can create compost and/or clean energy that Californians can use.

Impacts of Food Insecurity

In California, the CA Association of Food Banks estimates that 1 in 5 Californians don’t have enough to eat, and the hunger crisis is even greater for Black, Latino, and multiracial households. At times during the year, 22% of households overall and 27% of households with children were uncertain whether they would have or could acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their family members.

Benefits of SB 1383 and Food Waste Prevention

The benefits of preventing food waste, recovering edible food, and composting food waste and other organics are increasingly understood by the public.

Reducing food waste saves money, energy, and resources used to grow, harvest, transport, cool, cook, or otherwise prepare food. Visit the Food Waste Prevention page to learn more.

Donating food helps feed people in need and supports our communities. Visit the Edible Food Recovery page to learn more.

Recycling organic materials builds healthy soils, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to the local economy. Visit the Composting and Green Waste Resources page to learn more.

City of Arcata's Organics Recycling

The City of Arcata has a universal solid waste and recycling collection program, which requires that all residential, multifamily, and commercial business property owners subscribe to the authorized collection contractor, Recology Arcata, for garbage and recycling collection. Effective January 20, 2023, the City Council passed Organic Waste Diversion Ordinance 1560, which amended the Arcata Municipal Code to incorporate mandatory organic waste disposal requirements into the solid waste management provisions.

The City is currently negotiating a new franchise agreement with Recology that will include curbside organic waste pick-up (food and green waste), which is expected to start in summer 2026. More information will be provided to residents prior to the start date. When available, all property owners will be required to subscribe to a three-bin collection service, which will divert organics from the landfill.  All generators will eventually be subject to enforcement.

Compliance Information

When the organics curbside collection service is available, residents in single-family households are required to:

1. Subscribe to and participate in the City’s organics curbside collection service.
2. Properly sort their organic waste into the correct bin.

When the organics curbside collection service is available, businesses, including multifamily residential dwellings of five units or more, are required to:

1. Subscribe to and participate in the City’s organics curbside collection service.
2. Provide organic waste collection services for employees and tenants.
3. Supply an adequate number, size, and location of correctly labeled/colored bins.
4. Annually educate employees/tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins.
5. Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
6. Inspect bins for contamination

A waiver program will be available for businesses and residents with specific qualifications.  If you would like more information on waivers, please refer to the City of Arcata's Organic Waste Diversion Ordinance 1560.

What are the current options for recycling organics?

Food waste is not yet being collected by Recology. However, there are several options for organics recycling in the area.

• Compost at home by buying or building a compost bin.
• Self-haul green waste to a green waste recycling facility. For a list of businesses accepting green waste, visit the Composting & Green Waste Resources page for information.
• Sign up for service with a local community composter.  
  1. Full Cycle Compost provides weekly curbside pickup of compost by bicycle for residents or businesses in the Arcata, Sunnybrae, and Bayside areas. If you live outside of their service area, you can sign up for their drop-off service. Please visit their website for pricing and additional information.
  2. The Local Worm Guy offers residential, curbside, and business food waste pick-up service in Trinidad, Westhaven, McKinleyville, Fieldbrook, Blue Lake, Arcata, and Eureka. They also provide worms for home vermicomposting. Please visit their website for pricing and additional information.

Edible Food Recovery for Businesses

If you are a food-related business, you have additional roles to play in order to comply with SB 1383. Please view the Edible Food Recovery page for information or visit the CalRecyle Food Recovery webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please go to our Frequently Asked Questions page if you have any questions regarding SB 1383.