SB 1383

Click HERE for more information on SB 1383 and how it will affect residents, businesses and multi-family complexes!

What is SB 1383?

SB 1383 is California’s law to reduce organic waste methane emissions and is referred to as California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy.

SB 1383 is the most significant waste reduction mandate to be adopted in California in the last 30 years.

Organics recycling is mandatory for all.  “Organics” is food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard-trimmings; this material must stay out of the landfill.

Why is SB 1383 Important?

California is now experiencing the effects of a climate crisis: hotter summers with world record-breaking temperatures, even more devastating fire seasons, more extreme droughts, and rising sea levels that erode our coastlines.

Scientists tell us that greenhouse gasses released by human activities, like landfilling food and yard waste, cause climate change.

To respond to this climate crisis, California is implementing statewide organic waste recycling and surplus food recovery.

Will recycling food waste and other organics really make a difference?

Landfills are the third largest source of methane in California.

Organic waste in landfills emits:

• 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
• Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma.

Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills.

Reducing Short-Lived Climate Super Pollutants like organic waste will have the fastest impact on the climate crisis.

Much of the details in the questions above are from CalRecycle and more information can be found on their website.

How does SB 1383 affect my service?

SB 1383 is a California law pertaining to all businesses and residents. All WVC&R organics service is provided at no additional charge, it is included with the cost of your garbage service.

If you live in a single family home:

1. Place all food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard-trimmings in your organics cart.  If you have a brown yard waste cart, this is your organics cart.
2. Here’s what’s accepted in your organics cart https://westvalleyrecycles.com/single-family-how-to-guide/#organics.
3. Please contact WVC&R if you haven’t already received a kitchen pail at customerservice@westvalleyrecycles.com or (408) 283-9250.

If you live in a multi-family complex:

1. All residents must place food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard-trimmings into the organics container provided.  There should be at least one organics cart stationed at every garbage/recycling collection area, otherwise, contact your Property Manager to order additional carts.
2. Here’s what’s accepted in the organics container https://westvalleyrecycles.com/multi-family-how-to-guide/#greenwaste.
3. WVC&R will provide kitchen pails to multi-family Property Managers for resident distribution.  Property Managers may contact WVC&R at customerservice@westvalleyrecycles.com or (408) 283-9250 to request kitchen pail deliveries to the Leasing Office or drop-off location.

If you own or manage a business:

WVC&R is here to help your business participate properly in the organics recycling program. WVC&R can provide outreach such as:

• posters for businesses https://westvalleyrecycles.com/how-to-posters/
• organics recycling presentations for employees, tenants, janitors, and contractors
• on-site waste assessments to provide best-practice suggestions for implementation

If you would like to request outreach, please email us at customerservice@westvalleyrecycles.com

What organics are acceptable in my yard trimmings cart?

Acceptable organics include:

FOOD SCRAPS: meat, poultry, fish, bones, egg shells, fruit, vegetables, bread, pasta, beans, solid dairy, coffee grounds/filters and tea bags

FOOD-SOILED PAPER: paper towels/napkins, paper plates, pizza boxes, paper take-out food containers

YARD-TRIMMINGS: flowers, grass clippings, cactus, leaves, plant trimmings, lumber (unpainted/untreated, under 3” diameter and 2’ long), branches (under 3” diameter and 2’ long), ivy, Christmas trees (clean with stand and decorations removed)