SB 1383: CalRecycle Organics Regulations

Senate Bill 1383: Short-lived Climate Pollutants is part of a statewide effort to reduce the emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (like methane gas) in various sectors of California’s economy. SB 1383 establishes specific statewide targets:

  • Reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills (50% reduction by 2020 and 75% by 2025)
  • Reduce at least 20% of edible food that is currently going to landfills by 2025 and redirect it to people in need

The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) finalized the regulations to achieve the goals of SB 1383 in November 2020 and these regulations take effect in January 2022.

The State has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health, and create clean jobs that support resilient local economies. Organic waste makes up half of what Californians send to landfills, where it emits 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Implementing the statewide plan under SB 1383 will reduce methane emissions and is essential to achieving California’s climate goals.

What does SB 1383 mean for Residents?

Residents must recycle all organic waste, including paper, cardboard, yard materials, food scraps, and food-soiled paper in your organics (green) bin. If you’re not sure what goes where – please visit the Recology San Mateo County website for helpful resources as well was WhatBin.com to search for items you are unsure of.

food-recycling-bin

The Town of Hillsborough is Preparing for SB 1383

The Town of Hillsborough is working with our community partners to prepare for SB 1383 requirements. The image below shows the major components of SB 1383 regulations that apply to the Town. This page provides an overview of the regulations as they apply to the Town of Hillsborough. The full regulations can be found here.

SB 1383 Components

Organics Collection Services

SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to provide automatic organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses. The Town of Hillsborough already has a three-bin collection system for residential and commercial properties.

Edible Food Recovery

SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to establish and enforce a food recovery program that requires food generating businesses to donate edible food and strengthen existing food recovery networks. The County of San Mateo’s Office of Sustainability is leading a countywide edible food recovery program to maximize the impact through the economies of scale.

Procure Recovered Organic Products

Beginning January 1, 2022, the Town must annually procure a certain quantity of recovered organic waste products. Jurisdictions can fulfill their target by procuring any combination of eligible products such as compost, mulch, and renewable energy. The Town is also required to purchase recycled-content paper. The Town has had an environmental purchasing policy in place for years, this policy will be updated by the end of 2021 to fulfill the SB 1383 requirements.

Education and Outreach

SB 1383 regulations will require the Town to conduct specific outreach to residents, schools, businesses, edible food generators, on an annual basis. The outreach must be translated into multiple languages, based on the most recent census results. The Town is currently working with its community partners – the County of San Mateo, SBWMA, Recology, and CalRecycle to provide education and outreach.

Compliance and Enforcement

SB 1383 regulations require the adoption and enforcement of various ordinances. The Town is currently in the process of updating or adopting ordinances to meet the requirements as well as working with community partners on the enforcement and record-keeping requirements. Click here to view the updated Construction & Demolition and Model Water Efficient Landscaping requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What will the new State law mean for me?

Everyone will be required to divert all organic waste from the landfill. Businesses will need to place labeled bins for recycling and organics recycling next to all trash cans. Labels must be complaint with State regulations. Some businesses will need to recover edible food and redirect it to those in need (The County of San Mateo will coordinate with affected businesses on the edible food recovery program).

What is Organic Waste?

The State defines organic waste as food, landscape trimmings, lumber, wood, manure, cardboard, paper products, and other plant and animal-based products.

What is SB 1383?

In September 2016, the State set methane emission reduction targets for California in Senate Bill 1383, intended as a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (like organic waste) in various sectors of California’s economy.

SB 1383 establishes statewide targets to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills (50% reduction by 2020 and 75% by 2025). It also sets a goal to rescue at least 20% of currently disposed edible food by 2025 and redirect that food to people in need.

From 2016-2020, the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) worked to develop regulations to achieve the goals of SB 1383. These new regulations were finalized by CalRecycle in November 2020 and take effect in January 2022.

Commission and Council Discussions

City Council

For More Information

More information on SB 1383 is available on CalRecycle’s webpage: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp