Residential Service Required by Law
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.
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SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutants
SB 1383 is a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants such as methane. The super pollutant reduction strategy rules set in SB 1383 for organics recycling and edible food recovery are part of California’s bold effort to fast track climate progress by reducing landfill methane emissions.
Specifically, the law sets the following targets:
- Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 50% by January 1, 2020 and by 75% by January 1, 2025 (based on 2014 levels).
- Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed of edible food for human consumption by 2025.
Requirements for Residents
SB 1383 went into effect January 1, 2022 requiring all generators of waste (businesses, public entities, and single/multifamily residents) to properly sort their waste, by either placing food scraps, food/beverage soiled paper products, and yard trimmings in the compost cart or self-hauling compostable material to a composting facility or program. Residents must also place recyclables such as paper and cardboard, (and cans and bottles) in the recycling cart. Jurisdictions (cities, counties and special districts) have the authority to assess a fine for non-compliance.
Good News: It’s Easy to be in Compliance
We’ve made this easy for you! Residential Compost, Recycling, and Garbage Service are all part of your normal service package with Mill Valley Refuse.
All you need to do is sort your organic waste correctly including food, food soiled paper and plant debris into your green compost cart, and paper and cardboard (as well as cans and bottles) into your recycling cart.
Not sure what material belongs in what cart (or container/bin)?
Visit these pages to find out:
If you have any questions, please call our office Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at (415) 457-9760.
Why Diverting Organics from Landfill is Important
When organic waste (or compost) such as food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, food-soiled paper, and non hazardous wood 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.
Diverting organic waste to recycling is an integral part of the state’s climate change program and can significantly reduce the impacts of climate change in our lifetime.
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