SB 1383

In 2016 Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 1383, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California's economy. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025.

Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to global climate change. Organic materials-including waste that can be readily prevented, recycled, or composted-account for a significant portion of California's overall waste stream. Food waste alone accounts for approximately 17 to 18% of total landfill disposal. Increasing food waste prevention, encouraging edible food rescue, and expanding the composting and in-vessel digestion of organic waste throughout the state will help reduce methane emissions from organic waste disposed of in California's landfills.

Implementation Dates & Thresholds

The SB 1383 regulations go into effect January 1, 2022. Following are the implementation dates and thresholds for the legislation:

  • January 1, 2020: No later than this date, the state must achieve a 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level
  • July 1, 2020: By this date, CalRecycle, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, must analyze the progress that the waste sector, state government, and local governments have made in meeting the organic waste reduction targets for 2020 and 2025. If the Department determines that significant progress has not been made in meeting the targets, CalRecycle may include incentives or additional requirements in the regulations to facilitate progress toward achieving the organic disposal reduction targets. The Department may also recommend to the Legislature revisions to the targets
  • January 1, 2022: CalRecycle's regulations to meet the organic waste reduction targets for 2020 and 2025 take effect and are enforceable on this date
  • January 1, 2024: Effective on this date, the regulations may require local jurisdictions to impose penalties for noncompliance on generators within their jurisdiction
  • January 1, 2025: By this date, the state must achieve a 75% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level. In addition, not less than 20% of currently disposed edible food must be recovered for human consumption

What This means for the City of Lynwood

Because of the requirements set forth by SB 1383, compliance is required from:

  • Residents
  • Commercial businesses
  • Commercial food generators
  • Schools
  • Government entities

Organic waste in municipal solid waste generally includes the following:

  • Food scraps including all solid, semi-solid and liquid food such as:
    • Fruit
    • Vegetables
    • Cheese
    • Meat
    • Bones
    • Poultry
    • Seafood
    • Bread
    • Rice
    • Pasta
    • Tea bags
    • Coffee filters
    • Oils
  • Food-soiled paper is the uncoated paper that is soiled by food waste such as:
    • Napkins
    • Paper towels
    • Tea bags
    • Paper plates
    • Coffee filters
    • Other paper and compostable food packaging
  • Yard trimmings include grass clippings, leaves, flowers, hedge clippings, and weeds
  • Non-hazardous wood waste includes tree branches, tree trunks, and untreated lumber

Compliance can be met by subscribing to an organic waste collection service that either "source-separates" the waste (e.g. separate bins), or transports all unsegregated waste to a facility that recovers 75% of the organic content collected from the system.

For More Information

For more information on SB 1383 please visit the CalRecycle SB 1383 page or watch a YouTube video explaining SB 1383.