California Senate Bill (SB) 1383, which was signed into law in 2016, establishes a goal of reducing the volume of organic waste disposed in California landfills by 75% by 2025. SB 1383 builds on and expands the requirements of Assembly Bill (AB) 1826, which affects all businesses and multi-family properties with five or more units that generate 2 or more cubic yards of waste per week. Under SB 1383, all businesses and multi-family properties, regardless of size, will be required to participate in organics recycling programs. Under SB 1383, organics are defined as lawn and landscaping debris, wood and lumber, food, food-soiled paper and other paper and cardboard products. Currently, two-thirds of this material is landfilled. As organics break down in landfills, they create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which the state of California has identified as a factor in climate change. SB 1383 takes effect on January 1, 2022.
Now is the time to ensure that you will have the necessary carts or dumpsters and collection services in place. At a minimum, you will need:
• Recycling carts or dumpsters to collect clean, dry paper and cardboard products (Under AB 341, many businesses and multifamily properties are already required to recycle paper, along with plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars, and metal cans).
• Organics recycling carts or dumpsters for lawn and landscaping debris and nonhazardous wood waste, as well as food scraps and food-soiled paper products.
In addition, SB 1383 establishes a goal of increasing edible food recovery by 20% by 2025. The regulations specify that certain food related businesses must donate the maximum amount of edible food they would otherwise dispose to food recovery organizations. Mandated food donors fall into two tiers. Tier 1 businesses, such as wholesale food vendors and supermarkets, must have an edible food donation program in place by January 1, 2022. Other food businesses will need to have a donation program in place by January 1, 2024.
Republic Services can assist your business or multi-family property to ensure that you have properly sized carts or dumpsters and the correct type and frequency of collection services in place. If you have questions, call Connie Gonzalez at 747.292.7096 or email Republic Services.