Inspired by the zero-waste movement, I spent all of 2021 practicing composting and other methods of recycling kitchen food scraps to keep them out of my trash can. Then I realized that my own state, California, made a new law that REQUIRES EVERYONE TO SORT TRASH AND SEPARATE FOOD SCRAPS FROM OTHER GARBAGE. The new law mandates local jurisdictions to provide ORGANIC WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES to all residents and businesses. The goal of the law is to keep organic waste out of landfills which will reduce pollutants in the air that are harmful to all life and the planet. The law went into effect on January 1st, 2022, and is based on Senate bill 1383. Below are the details of the bill plus tips for managing your food scraps.
Have you ever heard a public official admit that something they are doing is harmful to your health? Well, in this bill they say it. Keep reading to get the details.
The Dirty details
SB (Senate Bill) 1383, Lara. Short-lived climate pollutants: methane emissions: dairy and livestock: organic waste: landfills.
The major part of the new law is aimed at keeping organic waste out of landfills. The major goal is to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants which create harmful effects on not only climate change and air quality but on public health.
WHAT IS ORGANIC WASTE? Organic waste includes food, green material, landscape and pruning waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, paper products, printing and writing paper, manure, biosolids, digestate, and sludges (according to SB 1383).
The bill literally states in Section 1.a:
“Short-lived climate pollutants that are toxic air contaminants also are a significant environmental risk factor for premature death.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but I think that getting this information straight from the horse’s mouth is a gift! It’s not just climate change, folks! It’s your health too! They’re finally giving us the goods and it’s time to pay attention! “Premature death” is pretty clear. Here’s more information with the exact wording from Senate Bill 1383:
SECTION 1.a
(1) Short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon, fluorinated gases, and methane, are powerful climate forcers that have a dramatic and detrimental effect on air quality, public health, and climate change.
(2) These pollutants create a warming influence on the climate that is many times more potent than that of carbon dioxide.
(3) Short-lived climate pollutants that are toxic air contaminants also are a significant environmental risk factor for premature death.
(4) Reducing emissions of these pollutants can have an immediate beneficial impact on climate change and on public health.
The Goals of SB 1383
- A 75-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025.
- Reduce methane emissions from livestock manure management operations and dairy manure management operations.
- Not less than 20 percent of edible food that is currently disposed of is recovered for human consumption by 2025.
- Development and use of renewable gas, including biomethane and biogas.
Edible Food waste recovery for human consumption
Another inspiring part of the bill aims to reduce the edible food that is currently being disposed of and recover it to feed people in need. The government’s goal is that 20 percent of all edible food currently being thrown away will be diverted for human consumption by the year 2025.
You may not be aware, nor was I, but apparently there is too much food grown to sell in a timely manner. A lot of that food is currently discarded. The numbers are staggering. Take a peek at this short YouTube video.
recycling infrastructure Must be built
The law intends to adopt policies that will help localities to improve their organic recycling facilities. They understand that it will take a significant investment to develop the infrastructure for the recycling capacity for organics and have allowed an additional two years to comply.
Targets and Penalties:
The state has a goal of reaching a 75-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025. They may include penalties for noncompliance but are allowing time to comply until two years after the effective date of the regulations, which translates to January 1, 2024.
If you’re unsure about how to get started with recycling food waste, here are some tips.
tips for separating food scraps
- How to Store Your Food Scraps: You can use a bin, canister, or any container with a lid to make sure it stays odorless and won’t attract pests. It’s easier to recycle food scraps if your food scrap receptacle is close by and readily accessible. You don’t want to have to put your shoes on and walk outside to your green waste container every time you need to toss out an apple core or banana peel.
- Get a Free Food Waste Bin: Your local waste collection service should provide you with a small container to store your food scraps.
- Where to Store your Container: Place your container in a convenient kitchen location or in a cabinet to keep it out of sight. Another option is to store it in the refrigerator or freezer to keep the gnats away.
- Where to Toss your food Scraps: Once full, take it outside and dump it in the green waste bin.
- What Can Go In? Every locality has different rules: Not all recycling facilities are created equal – every area has different guidelines for what you can put into your trash, recycling, and green waste. It depends on the kind of facilities your county is equipped with. For example, in my county we CAN put chicken bones in our green waste bin but we CANNOT throw in compostable bags or paper.
- How to Get your County Guidelines: To find out the rules of your local Food Waste Collection Program, check Google and input “(your county) green waste rules”, or “(your county) recycling rules.” If you don’t have internet access, you can call your local Public Works office.
- TOP TIP: Make a cheat sheet to help you remember what goes in each bin. Hang your list on the inside of a cabinet door to keep it readily accessible but out of plain sight.
- Other Resources: For more information and guidance, check out my blog post called: How to Reduce Wasted Food, or; to learn more about reducing waste overall, read this blog post called: What is Zero Waste?
You can do it!
It will take some extra effort in the beginning to change our habits, but before you know it, it’ll be like second nature. You may even feel like these small changes won’t matter to the big picture, but they will! If we ALL work together, we ALL can make a big difference!