Where Do Your Food Scraps Go?
by Kymberly Lawyer | Read Time 2 min
Beginning in January 2022, SB 1383 requires Californians to divert all organic waste from the landfill to organic waste collection facilities. That means all food scraps, food soiled items, and yard clippings must be separated into a designated green bin, or sorted through at a waste management facility. This composting law came to be due to the fact that the EPA estimated that food waste accounts for 21% of the waste in landfills! A major problem is once organic waste is buried and begins to break down, it releases methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The aim of this law is to reduce the disposal of organic waste into landfills by 75% of the 2014 levels by 2025.
But what does this mean for individual households?
The most sustainable thing you can do is divert your organic waste is to compost at home. This small simple practice can do so much good for the environment and your garden. Things like egg shells, coffee grounds, banana peels, and garden clippings can all be composted at home. For more information on how to compost at home, check out our easy guide to the composting basics.
With that said, each city and county has a different approach to adhere to this new composting law. So, make sure you check your local jurisdiction for more information. If you are a resident in the city of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez Valley, and Cuyama Valley you can keep your food scraps and food soiled paper in the trash. So there is no personal responsibility or change in how us central coast residents manage food waste because the waste from these areas goes to the County's ReSource Center where all organic waste is separated out of the trash and turned into compost. Once separated, the organic waste is transformed into compost and energy that powers 3,000 homes a year! This new facility brings SB County’s diversion rate up to 85% which is well over the state mandated requirement. As for our green waste bins, continue to put all your yard clippings in there as the county turns it into mulch!
