CA Recycling Mandates

What is SB 1383? 

Senate Bill 1383 (SB 13883) is a California state law aimed at significantly reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfills and cutting methane emissions - a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The bill was signed into law in 2016 and is considered one of the most ambitious waste reduction efforts in the US. 

Statewide Targets

SB 1383 sets the following targets: 

• 75% reduction by 2025
• 20% of edible food currently thrown away must be recovered for human consumption by 2025

The State’s SB 1383 regulations require jurisdictions to conduct comprehensive education and outreach efforts to ensure all community stakeholders understand and comply with organics recycling requirements. These efforts must reach a broad audience, including:

• All residents – to ensure proper separation of organic materials at home.
• All businesses, including those that generate edible food suitable for donation.
• Franchise and non-franchise waste haulers operating within the jurisdiction.
• Solid waste and recycling facilities that process and manage collected materials.

• Local food banks and food recovery organizations – to increase awareness and participation in food recovery programs.

Why was SB 1383 created? 

Organic Waste - such as food scraps, yard clippings and food-soiled paper - makes up a large portion of what Californians throw away. When this material decomposes, it releases methane. a short-lived climate pollutant that is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. 

SB 1383 was developed to: 

• Reduce methane emissions and combat climate change 
• Divert organic waste from landfills 
• Rescue edible food that would otherwise be thrown away

The purpose of these requirements is to:

• Educate the community on the importance of diverting organic waste from landfills.
• Provide clear instructions on proper sorting, collection, and recycling of organic materials.
• Promote the recovery of edible food to reduce food insecurity within the community.
• Ensure compliance with state-mandated organics recycling and food recovery regulations.

Education and outreach activities may include distributing printed materials, conducting workshops and presentations, sharing information through digital platforms and social media, and collaborating with community partners to expand messaging and engagement.

For more information on SB 1383 goals and regulations, visit: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/

How does it help? 

By keeping organic material out of landfills, SB 1383 will: 

• Reduce climate pollution
• Improve air and water quality 
• Support composting and renewable energy 
• Provide surplus food to Californians in need 

Additional information on the City’s SB 1383 Ordinance is available here.

Who does this effect in South Pasadena? 

As part of the City’s compliance with SB 1383, South Pasadena has transitioned from a 2-stream (trash and recycling) to a 3-stream waste collection system, which includes:

1. Trash (black bin) – Non-recyclable waste

2. Recyclables (blue bin) – Paper, metal, glass, and plastics

3. Organics (green bin) – Food scraps, yard waste, and food-soiled paper

All single family, multi-family, and commercial properties are required to properly separate their waste using the Athen's provided containers.

SB 1383 also requires certain businesses - such as supermarkets, food distributors and large food service providers- to recover surplus edible food and donate it to food recovery organizations. This effort supports both waste reduction and food insecurity relief across the state. 

For more information on SB 1383, please visit CalRecycle - California's official resource recycling website. 

Why Zero Waste Matters

Our current culture of consumption is unsustainable. A zero waste approach helps conserve natural resources and reduce pollution. Community-based zero waste strategies build capacity and reduce costs through:

• Composting at community gardens
• Tool and resource sharing

• Skills sharing to reuse and repair materials

Communities can play a role in protecting our environment by reducing waste and supporting local recycling and composting programs.

California Recycling

In October 2011, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 341 into law, settling a 75% recycling goal for California by Year 2020.  This landmark piece of legislation mandates that all California commercial or public entities that generate 4 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week, and for those multifamily dwellings of 5 or more units, must arrange recycling services by the following July 1, 2012.  Jurisdictions will determine compliance measures and due dates.  

To learn more about California's Mandatory Recycling Law, please visit the State of California, CalRecycle website.

AB 341 supports Mandatory Commercial Recycling and also establishes a statewide goal of achieving a 75% reduction in disposal by the year 2020. This legislation emphasizes the need for waste diversion and the implementation of recycling and composting programs to reduce landfill dependency.

Key components of AB 341 include:

• Expanding recycling access and participation for businesses and multi-family complexes
• Increasing public awareness of recycling opportunities and benefits

• Setting ambitious statewide diversion goals to conserve resources and protect the environment

To learn more about the key elements of this law visit CalReycle. 

AB 1826 requires "Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling," meaning that California businesses must now recycle their landscape cuttings and food waste depending on the amount of waste they generate per week.

Organic waste includes waste from: 

• Food 
• Landscaping and pruning 
• Untreated wood waste 
• Food-soiled paper 

For more information contact: Commercial Recycling, LAMD@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Recycling more directly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at multiple stages of product production, including the extraction of raw materials, preprocessing, and manufacturing. One of the key co-benefits of recycling is the diversion of methane emissions from landfills. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is produced when organic materials decompose in landfills.

Additionally, the use of composted organic materials—such as food waste—provides significant environmental benefits, including:

• Enhanced carbon storage in soils
• Reduced reliance on fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation

• Improved soil health and water retention

Mandatory Commercial Recycling was adopted as part of the AB 32 Scoping Plan by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to help meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. This measure requires certain businesses and multi-family properties to recycle in order to help California combat climate change.

Visit California Air Resources Board to learn more. 

California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery [CalRecycle] is a branch of the California Environmental Protection Agency that oversees the state's waste management, recycling and waste reduction programs. CalRecycle was established in 2010 and has been working to reduce food waste since at least 2002, when its predecessor agency conducted a Food Diversion Summit.

The City of South Pasadena proudly partners with CalRecycle to ensure the community has access to the latest resources, from engaging workshops and informative educational materials to a variety of tools designed to keep residents informed and empowered.

 Visit theCalRecycles Websitefor more information.