Recycling & Organics Waste

Recycling & Organics Waste

New Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) regulations went into effect on January 1, 2022.

This law requires jurisdictions to establish organics recycling services for all residents and businesses, including multi-family complexes.

SB 1383 aims to reduce statewide organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025. When disposed in landfills, organic waste emits:

20% of California’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide,
Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma.

All businesses, multi-family complexes, and residents MUST participate in the established program by subscribing to services for Black, Blue, and Green containers and by separating materials.

Black | Trash

Pet Waste

Diapers

Empty Plastic Bags

Expanded Polystyrene

Other Plastic Food Packaging

Disposable Gloves & Masks

Chips Bags

Blue | Recyclables

Clean & Dry Metal Containers

Glass Bottles & Containers

Cardboard

Paper

Newspaper

Plastics #1, #2, & #5

Green | Organics

Food Scraps

Food Soiled Paper

Yard Trimmings

IMPORTANT: Place yard trimmings loosely into the container. Food & food-soiled paper MUST be placed in clear, plastic bags, which will be sorted out and disposed at the processing facility.

How to Comply

All businesses, property owners, and property managers MUST:

Participate in available programs
Educate employees and tenants at least one time per year, and new tenants within 14 days of tenancy
Monitor for proper sorting and take corrective actions when needed
Color code internal bins and place proper signage
Offer customers access to separate collection bins

Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions and fines!

Does Your Business Make, Sell, or Distribute Edible Food?

SB 1383 requires certain food businesses to donate the maximum amount of edible food they would otherwise dispose, to food recovery organizations.

Find a Food Rescue Agency: Visit bit.ly/LACountyFoodDROP. Use Find a Recycler, then select Food Donation to find an organization to collect food from you.

Tier 1 Businesses/Organizations must begin donating effective January 1, 2022.

Tier 1 includes:
Supermarkets Grocery Stores of ≥ 10,000 sq. ft.,
Food Service Providers Food Distributors Wholesale Food Vendors.

Tier 2 Businesses/Organizations must begin donating by January 1, 2024.

Tier 2 includes:
Local Education Agency with an On-Site Food Facility Restaurants with Facilities ≥ 5,000 sq. ft.,
250+ Seat Hotels with an On-Site Food Facility & 200+ Rooms,
Health Facilities with an On-Site Food Facility & 100+ Beds, Large Venues & Events,
Local Education Agency with an On-Site Food Facility.

Edible Food Must Be Donated

Businesses may not knowingly allow edible food to spoil to avoid donation requirements.

Effective January 1, 2022, the city will commence monitoring activities to ensure compliance.

For More Information on Food Donors & Food Recovery bit.ly/CalRecycleFoodDonors

Think Outside the Black Bin!

The easiest, cheapest, and most sustainable way to manage organic waste is to avoid creating it in the first place.

Here are some simple ways to reduce organic waste at its source:

Perform a food waste audit to see what food is being wasted & why
Properly store & label food items
Serve smaller portion sizes
Avoid over purchasing & over preparing