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ORGANICS Recycling COLLECTION

Residential collection of organics recycling (food & yard waste) is rolling out in our communities. 

ORGANICS RECYCLING Collection

Residential collection of organics (food & yard waste) is rolling out in our communities.

Curbside Organics Recycling Collection

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, keep valuable material out of landfills, and create a healthy environment for our community and future generations by recovering natural resources, California has enacted SB 1383, a mandatory organics recycling (composting) law that impacts residents and businesses alike.

The law requires cities to provide organic waste collection as a means to separate organic materials for landfill diversion and recycling.

To comply with SB 1383, High Desert & Mountain communities are working toward introducing their curbside organics collection program.

Communities With Organics Recycling Collection

The following communities have implemented curbside organics collection. Other High Desert & Mountain communities are working toward introducing their curbside organics collection program. We’ll update this information as things change.

California Residential Recycling Laws 

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, keep valuable material out of landfills, and create a healthy environment for our community and future generations by recovering natural resources, California has enacted a mandatory organics recycling law that impacts residents and businesses alike. SB 1383 requires the state to dramatically expand its composting abilities and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. 

Mandatory Organics Recycling Law SB 1383

 

The law sets the following targets to be achieved by 2025:

  1. DIVERT ORGANICS FROM LANDFILL – Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 75% from 2014 levels.
  2. RECOVER EDIBLE FOOD – Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed of edible food (food intended for human consumption) to feed people in need. This portion of the law impacts commercial food generators, not residents.

 

Why Diverting Organic Waste from Landfill is Important

Compost ExamplesOrganic waste (organics) such as food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, and nonhazardous wood waste make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. When organic waste is sent to landfill, it decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) which creates methane — one of the most potent greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant that is 84 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. NASA recently captured satellite images of California landfills and published an inventory showing them as super emitters of methane.
Keeping organic material out of landfills will slow the rate of greenhouse gas accumulation and begin to reduce their impacts.

CalRecycle Logo

Learn more about SB 1383 by visiting the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery website.

Why Curbside Collection of Organics is Important 

Earth Hand

COMPOSTING IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Organic waste (organics) such as food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, and nonhazardous wood waste make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. When organic waste is sent to landfill, it decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) which creates methane — one of the most potent greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant that is 84 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. NASA recently captured satellite images of California landfills and published an inventory showing them as super emitters of methane.
Keeping organic material out of landfills will slow the rate of greenhouse gas accumulation and begin to reduce their impacts.

Composting and Recycling Helps Our Community

COMPOSTING HELPS YOUR COMMUNITY

Composting helps California reach our waste reduction goals by keeping organic waste (food waste, green waste and food-soiled paper products) out of landfill. SB 1383 requires the state to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025. That’s a reduction of 20 million tons annually by 2025. Communities that don’t make significant progress towards achieving these goals can face fines of up to $10,000 per day from the State.

Recycling Economics

COMPOSTING CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

Composting reduces the amount of organic waste you discard in the trash, and this saves you the expense of extra trash cans. Organic wastes, including grass clippings, leaves, and shrub pruning, and food scraps can be a large portion of the waste discarded from a single-family home. Approximately 33% of California’s landfilled waste is uneaten food.

Composting is good for Your Garden

COMPOST IS GOOD FOR OUR GARDENS

Once collected, your organic waste is processed into compost, a rich soil amendment you can use to grow green lawns and lusher gardens. Adding compost to your soil helps it retain water loosens up heavy soils, and improves plant health by providing nutrients.

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